Who was Maharaja Ranjit Singh?
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niaz
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I have read a few books about the History of the Sikh rule including Khuswant Singh’s History of the Sikhs. Perhaps the best-unbiased account of his rule is given in the Travelogue of Alexander Burns while traveling to Lahore up the river Indus through Sind with 4 Dray Horses (Large English horse) along with a State Carriage gifted to the Maharaja by the King of England.
While Burns praises the hospitality of Ranjeet Singh to the English party, efficiency of his army ( trained by the French Officers), and the general peace that existed in Punjab during this period; he also noticed that call of the Prayers from the mosques as well as the Muharram procession was forbidden, Badshahi mosque Lahore was being used as storage of Gun Powder. Muslims were only allowed to worship indoors. Understand Jamia Masjid of Srinagar remained closed for 21 years under the Sikh rule.
Ranjeet Singh ruled over all the Punjab until the Sutlej in the East (Bahawalpur State not included), nearly all of KPK excluding FATA as well as all of the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Since most of Ranjeet Singh’s domain is now a part of Pakistan; it is logical to say that 50 year period of Sikha Shahi (1799-1849) forms an integral part of Pakistan’s history.
How should one rate Ranjeet Singh? In my view, while being of small stature, illiterate and blind in one eye, he was a man of exceptional military ability and overall a competent ruler. Also despite being no more than 10 or 12% of the population (78-80% Muslim & 10% Hindus), Sikhs managed to overcome the Durrani rulers (Ahmad Shah captured Punjab in 1747) because Afghan governors assigned to Punjab were unjust and inept, Hence Muslim Punjabis did not support them. (https://www.thefridaytimes.com/durrani-ambitions-and-the-agony-of-the-punjab/ )
All of Sikha Shahi was however bad for the Punjabi Muslims, and perhaps that is why the English were seen as the liberators.
While Burns praises the hospitality of Ranjeet Singh to the English party, efficiency of his army ( trained by the French Officers), and the general peace that existed in Punjab during this period; he also noticed that call of the Prayers from the mosques as well as the Muharram procession was forbidden, Badshahi mosque Lahore was being used as storage of Gun Powder. Muslims were only allowed to worship indoors. Understand Jamia Masjid of Srinagar remained closed for 21 years under the Sikh rule.
Ranjeet Singh ruled over all the Punjab until the Sutlej in the East (Bahawalpur State not included), nearly all of KPK excluding FATA as well as all of the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Since most of Ranjeet Singh’s domain is now a part of Pakistan; it is logical to say that 50 year period of Sikha Shahi (1799-1849) forms an integral part of Pakistan’s history.
How should one rate Ranjeet Singh? In my view, while being of small stature, illiterate and blind in one eye, he was a man of exceptional military ability and overall a competent ruler. Also despite being no more than 10 or 12% of the population (78-80% Muslim & 10% Hindus), Sikhs managed to overcome the Durrani rulers (Ahmad Shah captured Punjab in 1747) because Afghan governors assigned to Punjab were unjust and inept, Hence Muslim Punjabis did not support them. (https://www.thefridaytimes.com/durrani-ambitions-and-the-agony-of-the-punjab/ )
All of Sikha Shahi was however bad for the Punjabi Muslims, and perhaps that is why the English were seen as the liberators.
El Sidd
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They live on Ranjits side of the border. Cannot shake the Hornets nest so casually.
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