Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Background, Military Campaign, Religious Policies

In the early 19th century, Punjab, the land of five rivers, was governed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, famously known as 'Sher-e-Punjab' (Lion of Punjab). His reign was characterized by secular ideals, fostering diversity and equality throughout his empire.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought significant reforms, modernization, and infrastructure development, collectively leading to widespread prosperity in his empire. In 1839, Maharaja Ranjit Singh bequeathed the Koh-i-Noor diamond from Shuja Shah Durrani of Afghanistan to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Early Life and Background

Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a transformative leader in Indian history, known for uniting the Sikh community and establishing a prosperous Sikh Empire in the early 19th century. 

• Early Life: Maharaja Ranjit Singh hailed from a Sandhawalia Jat Sikh family in Gujranwala, Punjab (present-day Pakistan). He was born on November 13, 1780, to Maha Singh and Raj Kaur, the daughter of the Sidhu Jat Sikh ruler.
  • Ranjit Singh's original name was Buddh Singh, which was later changed to Ranjit Singh to celebrate his father's victory over Chattha Chieftain, Pir Muhammad.
  • Maharaja Ranjit Singh is known to have lost vision in his left eye due to a smallpox outbreak while helping those affected.
  • After his father died, Ranjit Singh, at the age of 12, took over the Sukerchakia Misl estates, which were managed by his mother, Raj Kaur, and Lakhpat Rai. 
  • When he was 13, he survived an assassination attempt by Hashmat Khan. In the confrontation, he ultimately killed the attacker.
  • Maharaja Ranjit Singh lost his mother, Raj Kaur, and Lakhpat Rai to assassination at the age of 18
  • Following his first marriage, he received support from his mother-in-law.
• Background: Following Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal Empire fragmented and struggled to govern or tax much of the Indian subcontinent. In the Indus River Valley, Guru Govind Singh’s Khalsa Community of Sikh warriors helped weaken Mughal authority by resisting Afghan raiders.
  • Following this, the Sikhs appointed their zamindars to replace the previous Muslim revenue collectors.
  • Meanwhile, European traders and the British East India Company started their activities along the eastern and western coasts of India.
• Fragmented Sikh Territories: By the second half of the 18th century, the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent were divided into fourteen small conflicting territories.
  • Among these, twelve were Sikh-controlled misls while the other two were controlled by a Muslim leader located in Lahore and by the Englishman George Thomas.
  • These Sikh warriors frequently clashed over revenue collection and local issues.
  • However, they typically united to confront external threats from the Muslim armies of Ahmed Shah Abdali in Afghanistan.
• Shifts in Power Among Sikh Misls: There were five most powerful misls towards the end of the 18th century: Sukkarchakkia, Kanhayas, Nakkais, Ahluwalias, and Bhangi Sikhs.
  • Maharaja Ranjit Singh was part of the Sukkarchakkia misl.
  • Meanwhile, some smaller misls, like the Phulkias, shifted their loyalties to support the Afghan invasion.
  • However, the Muslim-ruled Kasur region allied with Afghan forces to raid Sikh misls during the conflict.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Military Campaign

Maharaja Ranjit Singh rose to prominence in 1797 at the age of 17 when Afghan ruler Shah Zaman tried to annex Punjab. Utilizing his regional knowledge and warrior skills, Maharaj Ranjit Singh successfully resisted the invasion at the Battle of Amritsar in 1798.

• Later in 1798, when Shah Zaman dispatched another army, Ranjit Singh allowed their entry into Lahore and then encircled them.
• He blocked their supplies and destroyed crops, prompting much of the Afghan army to withdraw back to Afghanistan.
• In 1801, Maharaja Ranjit Singh declared himself the 'Maharaja of Punjab' during a ceremonial installation led by Guru Nanak's descendant, Baba Sahib Singh Bedi.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh referred to his rule as "Sarkar Khalsa" and his court as "Darbar Khalsa”.
• He then ordered the creation of new coins called "NanakShahi" to honor Guru Nanak.

Wars and Conquests 

At the age of 22, Maharaja Ranjit Singh seized Amritsar from the Bhangi Sikh misl and honored the Harmandir Sahib temple ( Golden Temple) in 1802. 

• Treaty of Amritsar: Maharaja Ranjit Singh signed the Treaty of Amritsar with the British East India Company in 1809. The Treaty of Amritsar is also known as the Minto Metcalfe Treaty.
  • He agreed that his Sikh forces would not expand south of the Sutlej River, while the Company pledged not to enter Sikh territory.
  • He gained from the treaty as it allowed him to seize territories such as Kashmir and Peshawar.
• Battle of Kasur: In the Battle of Kasur (1807 ), Ranjit Singh's army defeated the Afghan Chief Qutb-ud-Din at Kasur in expanding the Sikh Empire northwest towards Afghanistan.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh conquered Multan in 1818.
• Battle of Shopian: Maharaja Ranjit Singh overcame Afghan Sunni Muslim rulers in the Battle of Shopian in 1819, which expanded his rule into Kashmir and the Jhelum Valley.
• In 1813, Ranjit Singh's general Dewan Mokham Chand defeated Afghan forces at Attock, expanding Sikh territory.
• Darbar forces led by Kharak Singh and Misr Dewan Chand in 1818 captured Multan resulting in the death of Muzaffar Khan and his troops.
  • This event finally marked the end of Afghan authority in Punjab.
• In 1818, Sikh forces conquered Kashmir, appointing a new governor Dewan Moti Ram.
• Coins were minted during Maharaja Ranjit Singh's reign.
• In 1835, Afghans and Sikhs faced each other at the Khyber Pass but did not engage in battle.
• Battle of Jamrud: In 1837, the Battle of Jamrud marked the final clash between Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Sikhs and the Afghans, highlighting the western limits of the Sikh Empire.
• In 1838, Maharaja Ranjit Singh reached an agreement with British Viceroy Lord Auckland to reinstate Shah Shoja as the Afghan ruler in Kabul.
• Following this, the British army advanced into Afghanistan from the south, while Ranjit Singh's forces traversed the Khyber Pass to celebrate the victory in Kabul.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Religious Policies

Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a secular ruler who followed the Sikh faith. He promoted religious tolerance and respected all communities, including Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims.

• He renovated and built significant Gurdwaras, particularly the Harmandir Sahib ( Golden Temple) using gold and marble.
• He also participated in Hindu temple celebrations.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh constructed various Gurdwaras, Hindu temples, and mosques, including the Mai Moran Masjid.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh Court: His court was composed of various faiths, including a Hindu prime minister, Dhian Singh, a Muslim foreign minister, Fakir Azizuddin, and a Hindu finance minister, Dina Nath.
• During Ranjit Singh's reign, there were no forced conversions.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh supported the Udasi and Nirmala sects, strengthening their role in Sikh religious affairs.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Administration

Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a transformative ruler whose administrative policies fostered a spirit of unity and collaboration among diverse religious and ethnic communities in Punjab. He is renowned for his military conquests and for building a strong, independent Khalsa army to defend the empire.

Khalsa Army

Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army was diverse, comprising not only Sikhs but also Hindus, Muslims, and Europeans. Although his Khalsa army initially included various religious groups, it increasingly became dominated by Rajputs and Sikhs as it expanded.

In the Doaba region his army was composed of the Jat Sikhs, in Jammu and northern Indian hills it was Hindu Rajputs. In contrast, a higher number of Muslims were part of his forces in the Jhelum River area, which is closer to Afghanistan.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Reforms

Maharaja Ranjit Singh improved the training and organization of his army, setting clear standards for efficiency, deployment, and shooting skills. He shifted the focus from cavalry and guerrilla tactics to emphasize steady fire and improved military equipment and methods.

• His military system blended traditional and modern strategies, strengthening both infantry and artillery units.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh funded his army directly from the treasury, instead of relying on local taxes as was common in the Mughal Empire.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh focused on improving his military for expansion but neglected to reform the taxation system, create uniform laws, or support trade and agriculture.
• However, the failure to reform the Jagir-based taxation system led to internal conflicts and power struggles within the Sikh community after Ranjit Singh's death.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Aftermath

Maharaja Ranjit Singh is admired for making the Sikhs a powerful political force. Following the death of Ranjit Singh on June 27 1838, the empire lacked a stable government and succession plan, leading to its decline. 

Duleep Singh, the youngest son of Ranjit Singh, was then declared Maharaja with Rani Jindan serving as regent. His reign marked the last chapter of the Sikh Empire, during which court factionalism worsened.The British and the Sikh Empire fought two Anglo-Sikh wars, with the second leading to the end of the Sikh Empire's rule. Despite this, Sikhism continued to thrive.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh FAQs

Q1. Who gave Koh-i-Noor to Ranjit Singh?

Ans. Ranjit Singh acquired the Koh-i-Noor diamond from Shuja Shah Durrani, the deposed ruler of Afghanistan.

Q2. Who is called Sher-e-Punjab?

Ans. Maharaja Ranjit Singh is famously known as "Sher-e-Punjab," which means "Lion of Punjab." 

Q3. Who gave Gold for the Golden Temple?

Ans. Maharaja Ranjit Singh is credited with donating gold to cover the upper floors and domes of the Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, in Amritsar.

Q4. Who crowned Ranjit Singh?

Ans. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was crowned as the Maharaja of Punjab on April 12, 1801, in a formal ceremony conducted by Baba Sahib Singh Bedi, a descendant of Guru Nanak.

Q5. When did Maharaja Ranjit Singh die?

Ans. Maharaja Ranjit Singh died on June 27, 1839.