By A.S. Gill
It goes to the credit of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to liberate Punjab from foreign rule, to bring order in Conditions of anarchy and to put a stop to the invasion from the west forever.
For the first time Khalsa rule was established under which Punjabis enjoyed freedom of speech, freedom of worship and justice for all without any discrimination due to caste creed color or even faith.
Brief History
Rajit Singh was born on November 13, 1780 in the family of brave soldiers. His great grandfather S. Budha Singh founded the Shukarchakya Misal one of the leading Misals (semi-autonomous groups) among twelve missals. Ranjit Singh’s father Mahan Singh, took the command of the missal at the age of fourteen years. He gave Ranjit Singh religious education and trained him in all skills of war, Mahan Singh suddenly took ill in a battlefield. After entrusting the command to Ranjit Singh, who was twelve at the time, he left for his native place Gujjranwale, and he died soon after.
Ranjit Singh was assisted by loyal officials of his father like Dal Singh and Lakhpat Rai, and his mother Raj Kaur was of course his greatest help. Advice also came from his mother in law Rani Sada Kaur. Rani Sada Kaur was the Sardani of Kanhya Misal. After Ranjit Singh’s marriage with Matah Kaur daughter of Sardar Gurbax Singh and Sardani Sada Kaur Kanya Misal was merged with Shukarchakya Misal. Thus this became a strong unit under the command of Ranjit Singh with the able advice of Sada Kaur.
Repulsing Attacks of Shah Zaman
Shah Zaman the grandson of Armad Shah Abdali made number of attempts to conquer India but without any success. The first was in 1787 and the second in 1788. These attacks were repulsed by Khalsa Army and he could not come beyond Panja Sahib (Hassan Abdal). In 1796 he made a third attempt and captured Lahore. He wrote to Ranjit Singh to summit to him. Ranjit Singh strongly rejected this and challenged him for a fight.
‘Shah Zaman advanced towards Amritsar but Khalsa Army repulsed the attack. Shah Zaman retreated to Lahore fort Khalsa Army chased him and laid a siege of the Lahore fort.
Ranjit Singh with very few of his followers went near the Suman Burj of Lahore fort where Shah Zaman was staying, Ranjit Singh challenged him. He said, “Grandson of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the grandson of Charrat Singh has come to meet you in a duel. Come if you area son of man.” Shah Zaman did not reply and he soon Retreated to Kabul.
Conquering Lahore
After the retreat of Shah Zaman Lahore was returned to Bhangi Sardars. All the three Bhango Sirdars Sahib Singh, Chet Singh, and Mohar Singh were always fighting among themselves. They were poor administrators and were careless Nizam Din of Kasur was waiting to attack and conquer Lahore. But people of Lahore hated him and thought him to a be a greater evil. People had heard of generosity and administrative ability of Ranjit Singh.
So people of Lahore, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs invited Ranjit Singh through a letter written signed by leading citizens of Lahore like Hakim Rai, Mahir Mobkani Din, Mian Mohammad Chakar, Mian Mohammad Tahir, Mian Ashiq Mohammad and Bhai Gurbax Singh etc. to take up the administration of Lahore.
Ranjit Singh who was politically very shrewd knew the strategic value and yestige importance of Lahore. Without Lahore it was impossible to bring the whole Punjab under one Khalsa rule, he knew.
Ranjit Singh sent one of his close associates Razi Abdul Rehman to Lahore to personally access the situation, He himself left for Batala for consultation with Rani Sada Kaur. Both of them agreed and made a march together towards Lahore. The army camped at the garden of Wazir Khan.
Ranjit Singh divided the army in two parts and one part under his command attacked Lahoni gate and the second part under the command of Rani Sada Kaur attacked from Delhi gate. Bhangi Sardars were no match to Ranjit Singh, so they fled away. So on July 7, 1799 Lahore came under the control of Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh awarded Jagirs (estates) to Bhangi Sardars. Conquering Jammu
After Lahore Ranjit Singh marched towards Jammu and on the way conquered Mirowal and Narowal. Raja of Jammu accepted the supremacy of Ranjit Singh and presented him an elephant and twenty thousand rupees. On the religious journey Ranjit Singh also took over Sialkot and Diwalgarh.
Seeing the conquests of Ranjit Singh and his rising power the British Indian Empire sent Yusuf Ali Khan with lots of presents as their ambassador of goodwill. Ranjit Singh received him courteously and welcomed the gesture of goodwill and friendship.
Ranjit Singh Becomes Maharaja
On the Vaisakhi of 1858 (April 13, 1801) a large Darbar was held in Lahore Fort in which all the Hindu Rajas, Muslims Nawabs and Sikh Sirdars and many well known and well respected citizens were invited.
As per the Sikh tradition Ardas (Prayer) was recited and then Ranjit Singh sat on the royal throne. Baba Sahib Singh Bedi presented the Raj Tilak and with the consent of all, Ranjit Singh was declared the Maharaja. Nanak Shai coins were issued under the seal of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh. The coins that were produced on first day were distributed freely among the poor.
Punjab Came Under One Rule
Now it was time for the Maharaja to concentrate on administration. Maharaja was a good judge of people and appointed right people for the right job. All the appointments were without any discrimination due to caste creed or faith.
Lahore was divided into number of Mohalls (blocks) and one Chaudhari (headman) was appointed as in charge of Mohalla. Muslim Shariat (Muslim Code of Conduct) was applied to disputes among Muslims. Quazi Nurdin was appointed Quazi of Lahore and Syed Ullah Chisti and Mohammad Shah were appointed Mutties.
“Inspite of all these odds Maharaja bought most of the Punjab under Khalsa rule.”
A free hospital under the charge of Hakim Nurdin was started. To maintain law and order and peace in the city, police was kept. Imam Bakhsh was appointed Kotwal (Police Chief). Generous grants were given to schools, mosques, and temples. Villages were brought under panchayats (local governments). It was mandatory for the government employee to work for the welfare of the people.
Political Situation
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was very ambitious to bring whole of Punjab under one Khalsa rule. At that time Punjab was divided into a number of tiny states. Central Punjab Doaba and Malwa were ruled by twelve misals Kasur Multan Dera Ismail Khan Bannukot, Tonk, Attock, Kashmir and Bahawalpur were under pathan Nawabs and Jammu, Mandi, Kangra, Suket, Basoli and Kulu were under Hindu Rajas. Afghans in the north and the British in south had their eyes on fertile and prosperous Punjab,
Inspite of all these odds Maharaja bought most of the Punjab under Khalsa rule and for the first time Punjab was devoid of communal hatred and Punjabis with Punjabiat at heart became real Punjabies.
To bring unity in Punjab Maharaja conquered small Misals and gave the Jagirs to their Sirdars. The powerful Misals Kanya and Nagui and Shukarchakya misals were united through marriage. Withthe Ahluwalia Misal Sirdar he exchanged turbans. He got dispute between Nabha and Patiala settled and he developed personal friendship with them. He won confidence of Jind and Kapurthala he gave some of the area around Phagwara after capturing that area. In this way he unified the scattered Khalsa power.
Conquering Pathan Areas
After consolidating the area he had conquered and establishing rule of law he then decided to expand Punjab by bringing areas under Pathian Nawabs.
In 1801 he ammexed Kasur by subduing Nizam Din and 1803 Muzafar Khan of Multan. But it was in 1810 that Multan was annexed to Punjab. In 1813 he sent Hari Singh Nalwa, Desa Singh Majitha and Dewan Mohkan Chand to attack. Fateh Khan of Kabul sent a large army under the command of his brother Dost Mohammad to help the Nawab. Sikhs captured the fort before his arrival but a fierce battle was fought at Hazro. Dost Mohammad was injured and the Afghan Army left. Sikh Army captured a number of forts and established the khalsa rule.
In 1814 Khalsa forces attacked Kashmir and captured Anandpur and Hamirpur. The ruler Azim Khan capitulated.
“Maharaja Ranjit Singh was always vicious as his name suggest, “RAN Battlefield and Jit victorious, The reason of his success laid in his dealings with the people.”
In 1819 Kashmir was arrived and was bought under Khalsa rule. In 1818 a historic battle at Naushihra was fought in which Akali Pherla Singh died. In 1821 he conquered Dera Ismail Khan. Slowly and steadily Mahahaya expanded Khalsa rule beyond Jamrand Kohat and Bannu. Conquering Hill Rajas Maharaja also bought Kulu — Kamgra and other Rajas in his kingdom. Treatise Maharaja signed a treaty with Britishers in 1838 agreeing that each party will not cross Sat by, will respect each other’s supremacy in the area.
Amritsar Treaty
In 1805 when Maharaja had gone to Multan he received a message that after getting a defeat from the British Jaswant Rao Hulkar Raja of Indore had come to seek refuge and help. Maharaja immediately came back and arranged for his story at Amritsar.
Hulkar asked for help against British Maharaja did not want to make Punjab a battlefield. So Maharaja migrated between Hulkar and Britishers. Both the parties agreed to Maharaja’s suggestion. Britishers returned much of the captured territory to Hulker.
Helping Kangra Ruler
The younger brother of Sausar Chand ruler of Kangra met Maharaja at Jullunder and asked his help against the general Amar Singh Thaper of Nepal. Maharaja reached Kangra with his troops but Thape fled away before Maharaja’s arrival, In 1807 Maharaja captured Pathankot Jasrota and Chamba.
Maharaja liberated Shab Shuzab and gave him the refuge. In return Begam Shah Shuza presented the World Famous diamond Kohinoor.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was always vicious as his name suggest “RAN Battlefield and Jit victorious. The reason of his success laid in his dealings with the people. He was generous fair but firm. He was terror to the enemy. He was a good administrator and never discriminated among people.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 30, 1989
