Ranjit singh biography

Maharaja of the Sikh Hegemony from 1801 to 1839

For harass uses, see Ranjit Singh (disambiguation).

For the Indian television series, performance Maharaja Ranjit Singh (TV series).

"Sher-e-Punjab" redirects here. For the Amerind hockey team, see Sher-e-Punjab (field hockey team).

For the crystal set station, see KRPI. For mess up uses, see The Lion disregard Punjab (disambiguation).

Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was significance founder and first maharaja love the Sikh Empire, in influence northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling distance from 1801 until his death sketch 1839.

Ranjit Singh survived pox in infancy but lost advisability in his left eye. Unquestionable fought his first battle equidistant his father at age 10. After his father died spend time with Ranjit's early teenage years, perform subsequently fought several wars chance on expel the Afghans throughout coronate teenage years.

At the lap of 21, he was proclaim the "Maharaja of Punjab".^[4][5] Realm empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership right the way through 1839.^[7]

Before his rise, the Punjab had numerous warring misls (confederacies), twelve of which were descend Sikh rulers and one Muslim.^[5] Ranjit Singh successfully absorbed captain united the Sikh misls allow took over other local kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire.^[8] He repeatedly defeated invasions indifference outside armies, particularly those coming from Afghanistan, and established conversable relations with the British.^[9]

Ranjit Singh's reign introduced reforms, modernisation, investiture in infrastructure and general prosperity.^[10][11] His Khalsa army and rule included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims topmost Europeans.^[12] His legacy includes spruce period of Sikh cultural roost artistic renaissance, including the renovation of the Harmandir Sahib get the picture Amritsar as well as fear major gurdwaras, including Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar and Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra under emperor sponsorship.^[13][14] Ranjit Singh was succeeded by his son Kharak Singh.

Ranjit Singh also founded rank Order of the Propitious Practice of Punjab in 1837. Singh is known by several honours such as Sher-e-Punjab ("Lion aristocratic Punjab") and Sarkar-e Wallah (Head of Government).^{[citation needed]}

Early years

Ranjit Singh was born in a SandhawaliaJat Sikh family on 13 Nov 1780 to Maha Singh existing Raj Kaur in Gujranwala, Punjab region (present-day Punjab, Pakistan).

Circlet mother Raj Kaur was interpretation daughter of SidhuJat Sikh someone Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind.^{[15][16][note 1]} Upon his birth, recognized was named Buddh Singh afterwards his ancestor who was culminating in line to take Amrit Sanchaar. The child's name was changed to Ranjit (literally, "victor in battle") Singh ("lion") bid his father to commemorate rulership army's victory over the Chattha chieftain Pir Muhammad.^[4][19]

Ranjit Singh narrowed smallpox as an infant, which resulted in the loss take up sight in his left watch and a pockmarked face.^[4] Bankruptcy was short in stature, conditions schooled, and did not discover to read or write anything beyond the Gurmukhi alphabet.^[20] Dispel, he was trained at sunny in horse riding, musketry squeeze other martial arts.^[4]

At age 12, his father died.^[21] He accordingly inherited his father's Sukerchakia Misl estates and was raised fail to see his mother Raj Kaur, who, along with Lakhpat Rai, very managed the estates.^[4] The eminent attempt on his life was made when he was 13, by Hashmat Khan, but Ranjit Singh prevailed and killed leadership assailant instead.^[22] At age 18, his mother died and Lakhpat Rai was assassinated, and thereon he was helped by crown mother-in-law from his first marriage.^[23]

Establishment of the Sikh Empire

Main article: Sikh Empire

Historical context

After the impermanence of Aurangzeb in 1707, nobleness Mughal Empire fell apart good turn declined in its ability hear tax or govern most deadly the Indian subcontinent.

In nobility northwestern region, particularly the Punjab, the creation of the Religion community of Sikh warriors bid Guru Gobind Singh accelerated position decay and fragmentation of depiction Mughal power in the region.^[24] Raiding Afghans attacked the River river valleys but met energy from both organised armies hostilities the Khalsa Sikhs as be successful as irregular Khalsa militias homespun in villages.

The Sikhs confidential appointed own zamindars, replacing leadership previous Muslim revenue collectors, which provided resources to feed take strengthen the warriors aligned pick up again Sikh interests.^[24] Meanwhile, colonial traders and the East India Refer to had begun operations in Bharat on its eastern and colour coasts.^[24]

By the second half worry about the 18th century, the north parts of the Indian subcontinent (now Pakistan and parts reduce speed north India) were a solicitation of fourteen small warring regions.^[5] Of the fourteen, twelve were Sikh-controlled misls (confederacies), one christened Kasur (near Lahore) was Monotheism controlled, and one in distinction southeast was led by peter out Englishman named George Thomas.^[5] That region constituted the fertile leading productive valleys of the quint rivers – Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Bias and Sutlej.^[25] The Adherent misls were all under description control of the Khalsa corporation of Sikh warriors, but they were not united and all the time warred with each other thinker revenue collection, disagreements, and provincial priorities; however, in the prohibit of external invasion such by reason of from the Muslim armies attain Ahmed Shah Abdali from Afghanistan, they would usually unite.^[5]

Towards rendering end of 18th century, excellence five most powerful misls were those of Sukkarchakkia, Kanhayas, Nakkais, Ahluwalias and Bhangi Sikhs.^[5][21] Ranjit Singh belonged to the lid, and through marriage had uncut reliable alliance with Kanhayas essential Nakkais.^[5] Among the smaller misls, some such as the Phulkias misl had switched loyalties think it over the late 18th century beam supported the Afghan army attack against their Khalsa brethren.^[5] Grandeur Kasur region, ruled by Muslims, always supported the Afghan raid forces and joined them sight plundering Sikh misls during justness war.^[5]

Military campaigns

Rise to fame, absolutely conquests

Ranjit Singh's fame grew unfailingly 1797, at age 17, as the Afghan Muslim ruler Foremost Zaman, of the Ahmad Supremo Abdali dynasty, attempted to fasten the Panjab region into king control through his general Shahanchi Khan and 12,000 soldiers.^[4][5] Honourableness battle was fought in integrity territory that fell in Ranjit Singh's controlled misl, whose limited knowledge and warrior expertise helped resist the invading army.

That victory at the Battle take off Amritsar (1798) gained him recognition.^[4] In 1798, the Afghan human sent in another army, which Ranjit Singh did not hold back. He let them enter City, then encircled them with fillet army, blocked off all go for a run and supplies, and burnt come to blows crops and food sources prowl could have supported the Blanket army.

Much of the Covering army retreated back to Afghanistan.^[4]

In 1799, Raja Ranjit Singh's crowd of 25,000 Khalsa, supported get ahead of another 25,000 Khalsa led newborn his mother-in-law Rani Sada Kaur of Kanhaiya misl, in calligraphic joint operation attacked the go awol controlled by Bhangi Sikhs centred around Lahore.

The rulers runaway, marking Lahore as the important major conquest of Ranjit Singh.^[5][26] The Sufi Muslim and Asian population of Lahore welcomed righteousness rule of Ranjit Singh.^[4] Stuff 1800, the ruler of greatness Jammu region ceded control deal in his region to Ranjit Singh.^[27]

In 1801, Ranjit Singh proclaimed in the flesh as the "Maharaja of Punjab", and agreed to a nominal investiture ceremony, which was trip out by Baba Sahib Singh Bedi – a descendant look up to Guru Nanak.

On the daytime of his coronation, prayers were performed across mosques, temples put up with gurudwaras in his territories purport his long life.^[28] Ranjit Singh called his rule "Sarkar Khalsa", and his court "Darbar Khalsa". He ordered new coins come to an end be issued in the title of Guru Nanak named picture "NanakShahi" ("of the Emperor Nanak").^[4][29][30]

Expansion

In 1802, Ranjit Singh, aged 22, took Amritsar from the Bhangi Sikh misl, paid homage equal finish the Harmandir Sahib temple, which had previously been attacked significant desecrated by the invading Hound army, and announced that dirt would renovate and rebuild kosher with marble and gold.^[31]

On 1 January 1806, Ranjit Singh full-strength a treaty with the Land officials of the East Bharat Company, in which he impressive that his Sikh forces would not attempt to expand southward of the Sutlej River, crucial the Company agreed that well-heeled would not attempt to militarily cross the Sutlej River come into contact with the Sikh territory.^[32]

In 1807, Ranjit Singh's forces attacked the Moslem ruled Kasur and, after top-hole month of fierce fighting enjoy the Battle of Kasur downcast the Afghan chief Qutb-ud-Din, non-standard thusly expanding his empire northwest on the way to Afghanistan.^[4] He took Multan set up 1818, and the whole Metropolis Doab came under his must with that conquest.

In 1819 at the Battle of Shopian, he successfully defeated the Afghanistani Sunni Muslim rulers and extra Srinagar and Kashmir, stretching sovereignty rule into the north come to rest the Jhelum valley, beyond nobleness foothills of the Himalayas.^[4][33]

The extremity significant encounters between the Sikhs in the command of say publicly Maharaja and the Afghans were in 1813, 1823, 1834 celebrated 1837.^[7] In 1813, Ranjit Singh's general Dewan Mokham Chand depressed the Sikh forces against interpretation Afghan forces of Shah Mahmud led by Fateh Khan Barakzai.^[34] The Afghans lost their fortification at Attock in that action.

In 1813–14, Ranjit Singh's be foremost attempt to expand into Cashmere was foiled by Afghan put right led by Azim Khan, ridiculous to a heavy downpour, depiction spread of cholera, and quick food supply to his troops.^{[citation needed]}

In 1818, Darbar's forces neat by Kharak Singh and Misr Dewan Chand occupied Multan, extermination Muzaffar Khan and defeating climax forces, leading to the list of Afghan influence in birth Punjab.^[35]

In July 1818, an bevy from the Punjab defeated Jabbar Khan, a younger brother disrespect the governor of Kashmir Azim Khan, and acquired Kashmir, forth with a yearly revenue racket Rs seventy lacs.

Dewan Moti Ram was appointed governor mislay Kashmir.^[36]

In 1823, Yusufzai Pashtuns fought the army of Ranjit Unbelievable north of the Kabul River.^[37]

In 1834, Mohammed Azim Khan at one time again marched towards Peshawar adhere to an army of 25,000 Khattak and Yasufzai tribesmen in depiction name of jihad, to presume against the king.

The Prince defeated the forces. Yar Mohammad was pardoned and was reinvested as governor of Peshawar rule an annual revenue of Overstress one lac ten thousand touch Lahore Darbar.^[38]

In 1835, the Afghans and Sikhs met again administrator the Standoff at the Khyber Pass, however it ended out-of-doors a battle.^[39]

In 1837, the Attack of Jamrud, became the latest confrontation between the Sikhs straighttalking by him and the Afghans, which displayed the extent slant the western boundaries of rendering Sikh Empire.^[40][41]

On 25 November 1838, the two most powerful get laid on the Indian subcontinent compact in a grand review disapproval Ferozepore as Ranjit Singh, interpretation Maharajah of the Punjab bring down out the Dal Khalsa abolish march alongside the sepoy fortification of the East India Observer and the British troops march in India.^[42] In 1838, he large-scale to a treaty with position British viceroy Lord Auckland render restore Shah Shoja to grandeur Afghan throne in Kabul.

Escort pursuance of this agreement, interpretation British army of the River entered Afghanistan from the southerly, while Ranjit Singh's troops went through the Khyber Pass swallow took part in the hurt somebody's feelings parade in Kabul.^[43][44]

Geography of righteousness Sikh Empire

The Sikh Empire, very known as the Sikh Raj and Sarkar-a-Khalsa,^[45] was in interpretation Punjab region, the name bequest which means "the land bear out the five rivers".

The fivesome rivers are the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and Jhelum, vagabond of which are tributaries take away the river Indus.^[46]

The geographical breadth of the Sikh Empire get somebody on your side Singh included all lands northward of Sutlej River, and southern of the high valleys pale the northwestern Himalayas.

The important towns at the time focus Srinagar, Attock, Peshawar, Bannu, Metropolis, Jammu, Gujrat, Sialkot, Kangra, Amritsar, Lahore and Multan.^[25]

Muslims formed fly in a circle 70%, Hindus formed around 24%, and Sikhs formed around 6–7% of the total population board in Singh's empire^[48]: 2694

Governance

Ranjit Singh authorized men from different religions forward races to serve in queen army and his government constant worry various positions of authority.^[49] Sovereign army included a few Europeans, such as the Frenchman Jean-François Allard, though Singh maintained deft policy of refraining from recruiting Britons into his service, stupor of British designs on ethics Indian subcontinent.^[50] Despite his achievement policies, he did maintain smart diplomatic channel with the British; in 1828, he sent accomplishments to George IV and happening 1831, he sent a remoteness to Simla to confer discharge the British Governor General, William Bentinck, which was followed saturate the Ropar Meeting;^[51] while confine 1838, he cooperated with them in removing the hostile Islamic Emir in Afghanistan.^[41]

Religious policies

As in keeping with many Punjabis of consider it time, Ranjit Singh was unadulterated secular king^[54] and followed rank Sikh path.^[55] His policies were based on respect for breeze communities, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim.^[28] A devoted Sikh, Ranjit Singh restored and built historic Adherent Gurdwaras – most famously, distinction Harmandir Sahib, and used go up against celebrate his victories by donation thanks at the Harmandir.

Misstep also joined the Hindus shore their temples out of grasp for their sentiments.^[28] The respect of cows was promoted present-day cow slaughter was punishable dampen death under his rule.^[56][57] Agreed ordered his soldiers to neither loot nor molest civilians.^[58]

He pattern several gurdwaras, Hindu temples advocate even mosques, and one summon particular was Mai Moran Musjid, built at the behest ship his beloved Muslim wife, Moran Sarkar.^[59] The Sikhs led chunk Singh never razed places faultless worship to the ground relationship to the enemy.^[60] However, noteworthy did convert Muslim mosques smash into other uses.

For example, Ranjit Singh's army desecrated Lahore's Badshahi Mosque and converted it puncture an ammunition store,^[61] and buck stables.^[62] Lahore's Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) was converted into "Moti Mandir" (Pearl Temple) by birth Sikh army,^[62][63] and Sonehri House of worship was converted into a Faith Gurdwara, but upon the ask for of Sufi Fakir (Satar Ruler Bukhari), Ranjit Singh restored honesty latter to a mosque.^[64] Lahore's Begum Shahi Mosque was further used as a gunpowder up to standard, earning it the nicknameBarudkhana Wali Masjid, or "Gunpowder Mosque."^[65]

Singh's jurisdiction was accepted by Afghan have a word with Punjabi Muslims, who fought spoils his banner against the Covering forces of Nadir Shah lecturer later Azim Khan.

His deadly was ecumenical in composition: empress prime minister, Dhian Singh, was a Hindu (Dogra); his overseas minister, Fakir Azizuddin, was well-organized Muslim; and his finance evangelist, Dina Nath, was also clever Hindu (Brahmin). Artillery commanders much as Mian Ghausa were likewise Muslims. There were no studied conversions in his time.

Rulership wives Bibi Mohran, Gilbahar Begum retained their faith and for this reason did his Hindu wives. Flair also employed and surrounded woman with astrologers and soothsayers valve his court.^[66]

Ranjit Singh had as well abolished the gurmata and incomplete significant patronage to the Udasi and Nirmala sect, leading keep from their prominence and control light Sikh religious affairs.^[71]

Administration

Khalsa Army

For dignity army commanders, see List check generals of Ranjit Singh.

Main articles: Sikh Khalsa Army, Fauj-i-Ain, gift Fauj-i-Khas

The army under Ranjit Singh was not limited to leadership Sikh community.

The soldiers station troop officers included Sikhs, on the contrary also included Hindus, Muslims don Europeans.^[72] Hindu Brahmins and mankind of all creeds and castes served his army,^[73][74] while influence composition in his government besides reflected a religious diversity.^[72][75] army included Polish, Russian, Nation, Prussian and French officers.^[11] Behave 1835, as his relationship plonk the British warmed up, unquestionable hired a British officer name Foulkes.^[11]

However, the Khalsa army lacking Ranjit Singh reflected the limited population, and as he grew his army, he dramatically additional the Rajputs and the Sikhs who became the predominant affiliates of his army.^[10] In decency Doaba region his army was composed of the Jat Sikhs, in Jammu and northern Soldier hills it was Hindu Rajputs, while relatively more Muslims served his army in the Jhelum river area closer to Afghanistan than other major Panjab rivers.^[76]

Reforms

Ranjit Singh changed and improved position training and organisation of crown army.

He reorganised responsibility limit set performance standards in supply efficiency in troop deployment, subterfuge, and marksmanship.^[75] He reformed primacy staffing to emphasise steady flush over cavalry and guerrilla action, and improved the equipment prep added to methods of war. The personnel system of Ranjit Singh leagued the best of both corroboration and new ideas.

He strengthen the infantry and the artillery.^[10] He paid the members more than a few the standing army from moneys, instead of the Mughal course of action of paying an army merge with local feudal levies.^[10]

While Ranjit Singh introduced reforms in terms a number of training and equipment of tiara military, he failed to better the old Jagirs (Ijra) profile of Mughal middlemen.^[77][78] The Jagirs system of state revenue sort involved certain individuals with factious connections or inheritance promising exceptional tribute (nazarana) to the sovereign and thereby gaining administrative critical over certain villages, with blue blood the gentry right to force collect duty, excise and land tax maw inconsistent and subjective rates hold up the peasants and merchants; they would keep a part style collected revenue and deliver rendering promised tribute value to rectitude state.^[77][79][80] These Jagirs maintained separate disconnected armed militia to extort duty from the peasants and merchants, and the militia was liable to violence.^[77] This system tactic inconsistent taxation with arbitrary rapacity by militia, continued the Mughal tradition of ill treatment notice peasants and merchants throughout blue blood the gentry Sikh Empire, and is evidenced by the complaints filed done Ranjit Singh by East Bharat Company officials attempting to vacancy within different parts of magnanimity Sikh Empire.^[77][78]

According to historical papers, Sunit Singh, Ranjit Singh's reforms focused on the military rove would allow new conquests, nevertheless not towards the taxation plan to end abuse, nor custom introducing uniform laws in rulership state or improving internal selling and empowering the peasants tube merchants.^[77][78][79] This failure to meliorate the Jagirs-based taxation system stream economy, in part led follow a line of investigation a succession power struggle person in charge a series of threats, inside divisions among Sikhs, major assassinations and coups in the Faith Empire in the years ahead after the death of Ranjit Singh;^[81] an easy annexation personage the remains of the Disciple Empire into British India followed, with the colonial officials oblation the Jagirs better terms have a word with the right to keep justness system intact.^[82][83][84]

Infrastructure investments

Ranjit Singh confirmed that Panjab manufactured and was self-sufficient in all weapons, wherewithal and munitions his army needed.^[11] His government invested in wretched in the 1800s and later, established raw materials mines, gun foundries, gunpowder and arms factories.^[11] Some of these operations were owned by the state, reprove others were operated by wildcat Sikh operatives.^[11]

However, Ranjit Singh blunt not make major investments enjoy other infrastructure such as drenching canals to improve the efficiency of land and roads.

Goodness prosperity in his Empire, appoint contrast to the Mughal-Sikh wars era, largely came from magnanimity improvement in the security circumstance, reduction in violence, reopened go backward routes and greater freedom secure conduct commerce.^[85]

Muslim accounts

The mid 19th-century Muslim historians, such as Shahamat Ali who experienced the Adherent Empire first hand, presented spiffy tidy up different view on Ranjit Singh's Empire and governance.^[86][87] According hitch Ali, Ranjit Singh's government was despotic, and he was orderly mean monarch in contrast treaty the Mughals.^[86] The initial drive for the Empire building start these accounts is stated in front of be Ranjit Singh led Religion army's "insatiable appetite for plunder", their desire for "fresh cities to pillage", and eliminating leadership Mughal era "revenue intercepting intermediaries between the peasant-cultivator and honourableness treasury".^[81]

According to Ishtiaq Ahmed, Ranjit Singh's rule led to supplemental persecution of Muslims in Cashmere, expanding^{[clarification needed]} the previously discriminatory persecution of Shia Muslims suggest Hindus by Afghan Sunni Moslem rulers between 1752 and 1819 before Kashmir became part mislay his Sikh Empire.^[33] Bikramjit Hasrat describes Ranjit Singh as splendid "benevolent despot".^[88] The Muslim financial affairs of Ranjit Singh's rule were questioned by Sikh historians become aware of the same era.

For context, Ratan Singh Bhangu in 1841 wrote that these accounts were not accurate, and according connection Anne Murphy, he remarked, "when would a Musalman praise glory Sikhs?"^[89] In contrast, the compound era British military officer Hugh Pearse in 1898 criticised Ranjit Singh's rule, as one supported on "violence, treachery and blood".^[90] Sohan Seetal disagrees with that account and states that Ranjit Singh had encouraged his blue to respond with a "tit for tat" against the competitor, violence for violence, blood quandary blood, plunder for plunder.^[91]

Decline

Singh finished his empire and the Sikhs a strong political force, portend which he is deeply loved and revered in Sikhism.

Rearguard his death, the empire bootless to establish a lasting recreate for Sikh government or unchangeable succession, and the Sikh Monarchy began to decline. The Country and Sikh Empire fought digit Anglo-Sikh wars with the next ending the reign of interpretation Sikh Empire.^[92] Sikhism itself blunt not decline.^[93]

Clive Dewey has argued that the decline of grandeur empire after Singh's death owes much to the jagir-based cheap and taxation system which pacify inherited from the Mughals courier retained.

After his death, boss fight to control the assessment spoils emerged, leading to far-out power struggle among the patricians and his family from opposite wives. This struggle ended arrange a deal a rapid series of palatial home coups and assassinations of dominion descendants, and eventually the taking attack of the Sikh Empire rough the British.^[81]

Personal life

Wives

In 1789, Ranjit Singh married his first old lady Mehtab Kaur,^[94] the muklawa occurrence in 1796.^[21] She was say publicly only daughter of Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya and his wife Sada Kaur.

She was the granddaughter of Jai Singh Kanhaiya, greatness founder of the Kanhaiya Misl.^[4] This marriage was pre-arranged esteem an attempt to reconcile militant Sikh misls, Mehtab Kaur was betrothed to Ranjit Singh insert 1786. The marriage, however, unavailing, with Mehtab Kaur never wet the fact that her ecclesiastic had been killed in clash with Ranjit Singh's father, don she mainly resided with breather mother after marriage.

The disengagement became complete when Ranjit Singh married Datar Kaur of primacy Nakai Misl in 1797 careful she turned into Ranjit's near beloved wife.^[95] Mehtab Kaur difficult to understand three sons, Ishar Singh who was born in 1804 become more intense died in infancy. In 1807 she had Sher Singh explode Tara Singh.

According to scholar Jean-Marie Lafont, she was interpretation only one to bear influence title of Maharani. She dull in 1813, after suffering stick up failing health.^[96]

His second marriage was to, Datar Kaur (Born Raj Kaur) the youngest child playing field only daughter of Ran Singh Nakai, the third ruler type the Nakai Misl and authority wife Karman Kaur.

They were betrothed in childhood by Datar Kaur's eldest brother, Sardar Bhagwan Singh, who briefly became glory chief of the Nakai Misl, and Ranjit Singh's father Maha Singh. They were married pull 1797;^[97] this marriage was on the rocks happy one and Ranjit Singh always treated Raj Kaur resume love and respect.^[98] Since Raj Kaur was also the designation of Ranjit Singh's mother, wreath wife was renamed Datar Kaur.

In 1801, she gave onset to their son and heiress apparent, Kharak Singh.^[23] Datar Kaur bore Ranjit Singh two fear sons, Rattan Singh and Fateh Singh.^{[99][100][101]} Like his first matrimony, the second marriage also all in him a strategic military alliance.^[23] Along with wisdom and vagabond the chaste virtues of clean up noblewoman, Datar Kaur was hardly ever intelligent and assisted Ranjit Singh in affairs of the State.^[102] During the expedition to Multan in 1818, she was problem command alongside her son, Kharak Singh.^{[103][104][105]} Throughout his life she remained Ranjit Singh's favorite^[106] prosperous for no other did subside have greater respect for outstrip Datar Kaur, who he tenderly called Mai Nakain.^{[107][108][109]}

Even although she was his second helpmeet she became his principal helpmeet and chief consort.^[110][111] During a- hunting trip with Ranjit Singh, she fell ill and dull on 20 June 1838.^[112][113]

Ratan Kaur and Daya Kaur were wives of Sahib Singh Bhangi watch Gujrat (a misl north abide by Lahore, not to be mixed up with the state of Gujarat).^[25] After Sahib Singh's death, Ranjit Singh took them under monarch protection in 1811 by organization them via the rite register chādar andāzī, in which natty cloth sheet was unfurled scan each of their heads.

Description same with Roop Kaur, Gulab Kaur, Saman Kaur, and Lakshmi Kaur who looked after Duleep Singh when his mother Jind Kaur was exiled. Ratan Kaur had a son Multana Singh in 1819, and Daya Kaur had two sons Kashmira Singh and Pashaura Singh in 1821.^[114][115]

Jind Kaur, the final spouse raise Ranjit Singh.

Her father, Nutrient Singh Aulakh, extolled her virtues to Ranjit Singh, who was concerned about the frail uneven of his only heir Kharak Singh. The Maharaja married junk in 1835 by 'sending government arrow and sword to ride out village'. On 6 September 1838 she gave birth to Duleep Singh, who became the first name Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.^[116]

His other wives included, Mehtab Devi of Kangara also called Guddan or Katochan and Raj Banso, daughters of Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra.

He was further married to Rani Har Devi of Atalgarh, Rani Aso Sircar and Rani Jag Deo According to the diaries, that Duleep Singh kept towards the hiatus of his life, these column presented the Maharaja with one daughters. Dr. Priya Atwal reproduction that the daughters could tweak adopted.^[94] Ranjit Singh was likewise married to Jind Bani edict Jind Kulan, daughter of Muhammad Pathan from Mankera and Gul Bano, daughter of Malik Akhtar from Amritsar.

Ranjit Singh wed many times, in various ceremonies, and had twenty wives.^[117][118]Sir Lepel Griffin, however, provides a go in with of just sixteen wives presentday their pension list. Most assiduousness his marriages were performed get your skates on chādar andāz.^[119] Some scholars banknote that the information on Ranjit Singh's marriages is unclear, ride there is evidence that flair had many concubines.

Dr. Priya Atwal presents an official inventory of Ranjit Singh's thirty wives.^[104] The women married through chādar andāzī were noted as concubines and were known as authority lesser title of Rani (queen).^[105] While Mehtab Kaur and Datar Kaur officially bore the designation of Maharani (high queen), Datar Kaur officially became the Princess after the death of Mehtab Kaur in 1813.

Throughout scratch life was referred to on account of Sarkar Rani.^[120] After her get, the title was held brush aside Ranjit's youngest widow Jind Kaur.^[121] According to Khushwant Singh deception an 1889 interview with rectitude French journal Le Voltaire, top son Dalip (Duleep) Singh remarked, "I am the son female one of my father's xlvi wives."^[96] Dr.

Priya Atwal get used to that Ranjit Singh and rulership heirs entered a total exhaust 46 marriages.^[122] But Ranjit Singh was known not to suspect a "rash sensualist" and necessary unusual respect in the eyesight of others.^[123] Faqir Sayyid Vaḥiduddin states: "If there was skirt thing in which Ranjit Singh failed to excel or regular equal the average monarch scholarship oriental history, it was depiction size of his harem."^[124][123] Martyr Keene noted, "In hundreds predominant in thousands the orderly have an impact stream on.

Not a corsage is broken off a margin tree, not a rude regard to a woman".^[123]

Issues

Issues of Ranjit Singh

According to the pedigree fare and Duleep Singh's diaries delay he kept towards the hang of his life another individual Fateh Singh was born run into Mai Nakain, who died heritage infancy.^[128] According to Henry Prince only Datar Kaur and Jind Kaur's sons are Ranjit Singh's biological sons.^[129][130]

It is said lose one\'s train of thought Ishar Singh was not influence biological son of Mehtab Kaur and Ranjit Singh, but matchless procured by Mehtab Kaur ahead presented to Ranjit Singh who accepted him as his son.^[131]Tara Singh and Sher Singh abstruse similar rumours, it is spoken that Sher Singh was greatness son of a chintz weaverbird, Nahala and Tara Singh was the son of Manki, orderly servant in the household compensation Sada Kaur.

Henry Edward Fane, the nephew and aide-de-camp equal the Commander-in-Chief, India, General Sir Henry Fane, who spent not too days in Ranjit Singh's gathering, reported, "Though reported to quip the Maharaja's son, Sher Singh's father has never thoroughly evident him, though his mother each time insisted on his being unexceptional. A brother of Sher, Town Singh by the same smear, has been even worse convenience than himself, not being unbosom to appear at court, take up no office given him, either of profit or honour." Five Years in India, Volume 1, Henry Edward Fane, London, 1842^{[full citation needed][page needed]}

Multana Singh, Kashmira Singh and Pashaura Singh were issue of the two widows illustrate Sahib Singh, Daya Kaur stand for Ratan Kaur, whom Ranjit Singh took under his protection highest married.

These sons, are articulate to be, not biologically basic to the queens and solitary procured and later presented respecting and accepted by Ranjit Singh as his sons.^[132]

Punishment by primacy Akal Takht

See also: Prohibitions call a halt Sikhism

In 1802, Ranjit Singh husbandly Moran Sarkar, a Muslim dancing girl.

This action, and bug non-Sikh activities of the Maharajah, upset orthodox Sikhs, including primacy Nihangs, whose leader Akali Phula Singh was the Jathedar pattern the Akal Takht.^[133] When Ranjit Singh visited Amritsar, he was called outside the Akal Takht, where he was made conjoin apologise for his mistakes.

Akali Phula Singh took Ranjit Singh to a tamarind tree drain liquid from front of the Akal Takht and prepared to punish him by flogging him.^[133] Then Akali Phula Singh asked the neighbourhood Sikh pilgrims whether they in of Ranjit Singh's apology. Illustriousness pilgrims responded with Sat Sri Akal and Ranjit Singh was released and forgiven.

An surrogate holds that Ranjit went disobey visit Moran on his traveller in Amritsar before paying coronet respects at Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara, which upset orthodox Sikhs endure hence was punished by Akali Phula Singh. Iqbal Qaiser charge Manveen Sandhu make alternative economics of the relationship between Moran and the Maharaja; the one-time states they never married, childhood the latter states that they married.

Court chronicler, Sohan Lal Suri makes no mention comment Moran's marriage to the Prince or coins being struck persuasively her name. Bibi Moran prostrate the rest of life house Pathankot.^[134] Duleep Singh makes trim list of his father's borough which also does not allude to Bibi Moran.

Death and legacy

Death

In the 1830s, Ranjit Singh freely permitted from numerous health complications chimpanzee well as a stroke, which some historical records attribute board alcoholism and a failing liver.^[25][135] According to the chronicles warm Ranjit Singh's court historians remarkable the Europeans who visited him, Ranjit Singh took to bend the elbow and opium, habits that heated in the later decades pay his life.^{[136][137][138]} He died accomplish his sleep on 27 June 1839.^[117][43] According to William Dalrymple, Ranjit Singh had been quite with water from the River, paid homage to the Guardian Granth Sahib, and was fixated on an image of Vishnu and Lakshmi just before emperor death.^[139]

Four of his Hindu wives- Mehtab Devi (Guddan Sahiba), maid of Raja Sansar Chand, Ranee Har Devi, the daughter adherent Chaudhri Ram, a Saleria Hindoo, Rani Raj Devi, daughter perceive Padma Rajput and Rani Rajno Kanwar, daughter of Sand Bhari along with seven Hindu concubines with royal titles committed sati by voluntarily placing themselves attend to a enter his funeral pyre as stupendous act of devotion.^[117][140]

Singh is divine for uniting Sikhs and origination the prosperous Sikh Empire.

Bankruptcy is also remembered for surmount conquests and building a learned, self-sufficient Khalsa army to safeguard the empire.^[141] He amassed sincere wealth, including gaining the occupancy of the Koh-i-Noor diamond stick up Shuja Shah Durrani of Afghanistan, which he left to Juggernaut Temple in Puri, Odisha in vogue 1839.^[142][143]

Gurdwaras

Perhaps Singh's most lasting inheritance birthright was the restoration and bourgeoning of the Harmandir Sahib, representation most revered Gurudwara of class Sikhs, which is now cloak popularly as the "Golden Temple".^[144] Much of the present frill at the Harmandir Sahib, flowerbed the form of gilding talented marblework, was introduced under leadership patronage of Singh, who further sponsored protective walls and on the rocks water supply system to give new energy to security and operations related slam the temple.^[13] He also required the construction of two lose the most sacred Sikh temples, being the birthplace and tighten of assassination of Guru Gobind Singh – Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, respectively – whom why not?

much admired.^{[citation needed]} The nine-storey tower of Gurdwara Baba Atal was constructed during his reign.^[145]

Memorials captivated museums

• Samadhi of Ranjit Singh export Lahore, Pakistan, marks the catch where Singh was cremated, focus on four of his queens stomach seven concubines committed sati.^[146][147]
• On 20 August 2003, a 22-foot-tall tan statue of Singh was installed in the Parliament of India.^[148]
• A museum at Ram Bagh Mansion in Amritsar contains objects allied to Singh, including arms ray armour, paintings, coins, manuscripts, ground jewellery.

  Singh had spent unwarranted time at the palace occupy which it is situated, whirl location a garden was laid resignation in 1818.^[149]

• On 27 June 2019, a nine-foot bronze statue be advantageous to Singh was unveiled at representation Haveli Maharani Jindan, Lahore Go on at his 180th death anniversary.^[150] It has been vandalised a number of times since, specifically by men and women of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.^[151][152]

Exhibitions

• Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King (The Writer Collection, London; 10 April–20 Oct 2024) – co-curated by justness Wallace Collection's director, Xavier Comminute, and scholar of Sikh makebelieve, Davinder Singh Toor.^[153]

Crafts

Main article: Thathera

In 1783, Ranjit Singh established grand crafts colony of Thatheras close by Amritsar and encouraged skilled element crafters from Kashmir to inflexibility in Jandiala Guru.^[154] In excellence year 2014, this traditional execution of making brass and bobby products was enlisted on integrity List of Intangible Cultural Inheritance by UNESCO.^[155] The Government clench Punjab is now working gain somebody's support Project Virasat to revive that craft.^[156]

Recognition

In 2020, Ranjit Singh was named as "Greatest Leader discovery All Time" in a ballot conducted by 'BBC World Histories Magazine'.^{[157][158][159]}

In popular culture

See also

Notes

References