Maharaja Ranjit Singh History

Lion of Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born on 13 November 1780, to Maha Singh Sukerchakia and Raj Kaur – the daughter of Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind, in Gujranwala, in the Majha region of Punjab (now in Pakistan).

Ranjit Singh contracted smallpox as an infant, which resulted in the loss of sight in his left eye and a pockmarked face. He was short in stature, never schooled, and did not learn to read or write anything beyond the Gurmukhi alphabet. His father trained him in horse riding, musketry and other martial arts.

Ranjit Singh birth name was Buddh Singh, after his ancestor who was a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh, a Khalsa, and whose descendants created the Sukerchakia misl before the birth of Ranjit Singh, which became the most powerful of many small Sikh kingdoms in northwestern Southern Asia in the wake of the disintegrating Mughal Empire.

Later his Father changed the child’s name to Ranjit (“victor in battle”) to commemorate his army’s victory over the Muslim Chatha chieftain Pir Muhammad.

At age 12, his father died.

The Hashmat Khan made first attempt on his life when he was age 13, by , but Ranjit Singh prevailed and killed the assailant instead. Later at age 18, his mother died and assassin killed Lakhpat Rai. Soon his mother-in-law from his first marriage helped him.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Kingdom

His empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership through 1839.

Prior to his rise, the Punjab region had numerous warring misls (confederacies), twelve of which were under Sikh rulers and one Muslim.

Ranjit Singh successfully absorbed and united the Sikh misls and took over other local kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire. He repeatedly defeated invasions by outside armies, particularly those arriving from Afghanistan, and established friendly relations with the British.

Ranjit Singh’s reign introduced reforms, modernisation, investment into infrastructure and general prosperity. His Khalsa army and government included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Europeans.

His legacy includes a period of Sikh cultural and artistic renaissance, including the rebuilding of the Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar. He also built  Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar and Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra. He was popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab, or “Lion of Punjab”.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh son Maharaja Kharak Singh succeeded him.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Serial

Sher-e-Punjab: Maharaja Ranjit Singh (English: Lion of Punjab: King Ranjit Singh) is an Indian historical drama based on the life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780 –1839).

Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum

Located on the GT Road in Ludhiana, Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum not only pays homage to the soldiers but also educates the citizens of India about the role of defense.

Spreading across four acres in area, this museum came into existence in the year 1999. The Punjab Government constructed the museum as a gesture of tribute to the courageous soldiers who struggled and laid their lives during various wars and battles that have been fought so far.

Keeping up the museum with the International standards was the prime focus of the Government of Punjab.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Caste

Several different clans have claimed Ranjit Singh as their own. His grand-daughters – the daughters of his son Duleep Singh – believed that their true ancestors belonged to the Sandhawalia family of Raja Sansi.

Ranjit Singh has been described as “Sansi” in some records, which has led to claims that he belonged to the low-caste Sansi tribe.

However, it is more likely that he belonged to a Jat gotra named Sansi. The Sandhawalias, who claimed Rajput descent, belonged to the same gotra.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Pictures

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort

Ranjit Singh sent  Dewan Mohkam Chand,about the year 1809, to take possession of the Imperial Serai. Soon he converted it into  a formidable Fort with the help of his French and Italian officers.

It  was built in reply to the British who had built a small Fort at Ludhiana on the remnants said to be of an old Lodhi Fort, and to guard  the ferry of Phillaur.

The British occupied this Fort in 1846 after defeating Sikhs in the battle of Aliwal. Phillaur, thereafter, became  a Cantonment. The Fort remained under the charge of Army authorities till 1890. Later Army handed it over to the Civil authorities. Thereafter civil authority used it for police training purposes.

On 6th April, 1973, Punjab Government renamed the fort as ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort’.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Sons

Ranjit Singh had eight sons. Kharak Singh was the eldest from his second wife. His first wife gave birth to Ishar Singh, who died at the age of two. Later after her separation from Ranjit Singh, she gave birth to the twins Tara Singh and Sher Singh.

The two widows he took under his protection and married gave birth to Multana Singh, Kashmira Singh and Pashaura Singh. Duleep Singh was from his last wife. Ranjit Singh acknowledged only Kharak Singh and Duleep Singh as his biological sons

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Palace

Ram Bagh Palace, was the palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of Sikh Empire in Punjab, India. Ranjit Singh  used it as summer palace. The palace is situated in the center of a garden popularly known as Ram Bagh or Barandari.

He had a deep interest in the development and beautification of various areas under his rule. Amritsar being the central hub of spiritual and cultural activities of Sikh Empire and stronghold of Bhangi Misl got special attention of Ranjit Singh.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Capital

He divided his empire into four provinces: Lahore, in Punjab, which became the Sikh capital, Multan, also in Punjab, Peshawar and Kashmir from 1799 to 1849.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Book

Ranjit Singh – Maharaja of the Punjab

The Last Sunset: The Rise & Fall of the Lahore Durbar