27

Jun

June 27 :Maharaja Ranjit Singh Death Anniversary

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A great diplomat , warrior and secular leader

Jagdish Gautam

New Delhi, 27 June 2024

Although Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) was King of Punjab, he is compared to Akbar the Great. He was an expert in the art of war, well-versed in administration, and as skilled in the art of display as Kautilya, but in the modern context, his most significant contribution was religious unity.

 

He had equal respect for all religions- Hindus, Muslims Sikhs. Once a from Lahore came to sell of copy of the holy Quran. The price was Rs. one lakh. He failed to sell it at Rampur, Lucknow and Hyderabad. But he heard that ever Maharaja Ranjit Singh was also secular. So, he thought he might try his luck there. When he went to the Maharaja's court with the Quran in hand the Maharaja got up from his seat in honour of the Quran he paid Rs. one lakh and purchased it when he was asked why he had purchased it when it was not a book of his religion he said in reply-God has directed me to look at all religions with our eye. That is why people had removed the light from my other eye. It will be said that he had lost his one eye on account of smallpox.

 

 

Article at a Glance

 

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the King of Punjab, is often compared to Akbar the Great. He was a skilled warrior, administrator, and diplomat who promoted religious unity.

 He respected all religions equally and purchased a Quran for Rs. one lakh, saying "God has directed me to look at all religions with one eye." He also ensured that Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims had equal status in his court.

 Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a just ruler, loved by his people. He was kind-hearted, liberal, and respectful of intelligence. He dispensed justice fairly, helped the poor, and was merciful even to those who erred.

His magnanimity and sense of humor are evident in several anecdotes, showcasing his greatness as a leader.

 

In Maharaja Ranjit Singh's court, Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims all had equal status, so much so that he entered into marriage based on religious unity and his wives included Sikhs Hindus and Muslima women. The mosque was constructed by his Muslim spouse Gul Begum is still there at Lohare. Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to lose onto recitations from Hindus as well as from Granth Saheb every day. The construction of the Jwalnuti Temple in Kangra was done by him. He also tried to get back of the gates of the Somnath Temple taken and taken away by Mahmud Gheznavi. One day before his death, he had ordered the Kojo-noor diamond to be donated to the Hari Mandir of Amritsar. It may also be stated that the most trusted and bravest of his generals Hari Singh Nalwa, was a Dogra Rajput.

 

Loved Justice: Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a great dispenser of justice. For the people's petitions to the Maharaja locked boxes were kept at all the eight gates with him and his eldest son Khark Singh. He showed to offers who harassed his subjects. There are notable instances of his love for justice. But one of the instances is a unique one. One day he was going somewhere along with his soldiers. Suddenly, a stone came from the front and hit him on the head. The stone thrower was reached for and caught. An anxious old woman was brought to him. The old woman wept and said I am innocent. My son has been hungry for the last two days I could not get anything from anywhere. I saw some fruit on the yonder tree and tried to pluck them by throwing a stone. It is my misfortune that the stone has hit you. Pardon me, Maharaja.

 

 

Ranjit Singh said to the commander-in-chief Give him some Ashrafis and relieve her.

 

The Commander was surprised and said-what is this justice, my lord ?.

 

Ranjit Singh replied on being hit by the stone even the lifeless tree gives a sweet fruit, then how can I, on being hit by the stone, allow her to go empty-handed?

 

Socialist: Once when there was a f in the state Maharaja Ranjit Singh got ration shops opened to the public. We watched whether the poor got the ration or hot. At one shop he saw that an old man who had got the gowns was unable to carry it. The Maharaja himself carried his one-hand sack onto his house. When he was coming out of his after carrying placing the sack there, his bodyguard chanced to come to there for him humbly hagged where he had gone.

When the old man found that he was no behaviour but the Maharaja himself he began to tremble with fear. The Maharaja said Why are you afraid? I have only done this to keep my body and mind in shape. This way I also come to what the reality is.

 

Kind-Hearted: Whereas Maharaja Ranjit Singh was very hard and ruthless in war, he was very kind-hearted in life. So much so that he had imposed a ban on catching rabbits through dogs. According to him, it was to bill a tiger from a distance using a gun, as it was cowardly. He was very liberal towards children. It is a tribute to his kind-heartedness that wherever he went to a kingdom he never sentenced, anybody to death even for the greatest crimes.

 

There is another incident of his kind-heartedness one day a betel leaf seller who was drinking stopped the Maharajas elephant in Lahoure's bazar and did much mischief. He asked what will you charge for this bull? The next morning the man was presented before the Maharaja. In the Durban, the Maharaja asked him whether he still wanted to purchase the animal. The betel leaf seller said in Punjabi verse- Maharaja the ballgown was made at night and ended with the night. Saying this he craved forgiveness and offered the Maharaja a glorious beeda of betel leaves. The Maharaja forgave him.

 

There are many instances of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's magnanimity. Once a woman brought from her village an iron pan in which she used to cook her food. He said to the Maharaja-Please rub it with your back The Maharaja's men tried to push her away. The Maharaja entered and asked what exactly she wanted. The woman said I am very poor. I have heard that whatever the Maharaja touches become gold I have therefore brought my iron pen so that the Maharaja may touch it and convert it into gold. The Maharaja was mesmerized by the innocence of the women. He saw to it that the woman was given gold equal to her pan in weight.

 

Respect for Intelligence:

 

He was always impressed by intelligence. Once it was the occasion of his 16 years-old grandson Nau Nohal Singh's marriage. The British Union Commander's son Henny Ford aos had come. Rupees one crore was spent on that marriage. In that marriage, every poor man was given a Pataki costing five rupees. The rule was that one man could get only one Bataki. One person came with a Matka on his head. He Said Maharaja my family people did not get anything. The Maharaja asked where are your family people? He brought the matka do from his head and showed it inside. It was full of ants and ants. Ranjit Singh was thrilled at his intelligence and said Count the number of members of your family. and take Batakis equal to the number. or else take a matkaful of batakis. The man his matka with batakis and went his way.

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