Maharaja Ranjit Singh 180th death Anniversary

Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruler of Punjab

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Nov 1780-june1839) was the leader of Sikh Empire, popularly known as Maharaja of Punjab, Maharaja of Lahore, Sher-e-Punjab. He was born in 1780 on 13 November, to Maha Singh Sukerchakia and Raj Kaur, the daughter of Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind, in Gujranwala, in the Majha region of Punjab. His birth name was Buddh Singh but after  that, the child’s name was changed to Ranjit’s Singh by his father which means victory in battle. He lost sight in his left eye due to smallpox in infancy.

First Battle

His first battle was fought at the age of 10 along with his father. He

was short in stature and never schooled, however, he was trained at home in horse riding, musketry and many of the other martial arts. 
 His empire grew in Punjab region under his leadership. In the Regin of Ranjit Singh’s, many reforms occur like improved infrastructure, modernization, and general prosperity.

Life after his father death

After the death of his father, at the age of 21, he inherits his father’s estate. His mother Raj Kaur, along with Lakhpat Rai also manages the estate. Hashmat Khan made the first attempt on his life when he was only 13 years old. His mother died when he was only 18 and Lakhpat Rai was assassinated for him. Ranjit Singh was addicted to alcohol in his teens, which intensified in the later decades of his life, otherwise, he neither smoked nor ate beef and required all officials in his court.

Marriage

At the age of 18, he took over as misaldar of the Sukerchakia Misl. He married much time in different ceremonies, almost he has twenty wives. At the age of 16, he was married to Mehtab Kaur (d. 1813), daughter of Sardar Gurbakash Singh Sandhu (d. 1785), of the Kanhaiya Misl, in 1796. Then again, in 1798, he married Raj Kaur, alias Maharani Datar Kaur (d. 1838), the daughter of Sardar Ran Singh Nakai (d. 1781), of the Nakai Misl.

Rule of Sher-e-Panjab Ranjit’s Singh

During the Rule of Sher-e-Panjab Ranjit’s Singh, the Sikh Population was 10 million strong. Sikhism  was mainly based in the central parts of the Punjab - areas like Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Lahore, Kasur, Jalandhar Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur. Sikhism was originated in Punjab region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent around the end of 15th century. One of the youngest of the major world’s fifth largest religion, as well as the world’s ninth-largest over all religion, based on spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism(1469-1539). In the early 21st century, there were nearly 25 million Sikhs worldwide, the great majority of them are living in Punjab.

Warrior King

Shah Mohammad (famous Sufi poet of Punjab) writes in his,” Jang Namah” on the decline of Ranjit Singh’s kingdom:

"Ranjit Singh was a born warrior-king. He gave his feel to the country. He conquered Kashmir, Multan, Peshawar and made Chamba, Kangra, and Jammu bow before him. He extended his territories up to Ladakh and China and struck his coin there. O Shah Mohammed! For fifty years, he ruled the estate with satisfaction, glory, and power."

This fearless soldier, strong warrior, able administrator, great ruler, statesman and liberator of Punjab died in 1839 on June 27. His Samadhi (memorial) is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.