After prolonged efforts by Sikhs, starting with Guru Gobind Singh, then Banda Bahadur, Nawab Kapur singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, and other Sikh warriors, finally Ranjit Singh was able to consolidate the gains made by earlier sardars. He defeated the expansionist son of Abdali, named Zaman Shah in a battle between Lahore and Amritsar. Read more…
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, also called “Sher-e-Punjab” (“The Lion of the Punjab”) (1780-1839) was a Sikh emperor of the sovereign country of Punjab and the Sikh Empire. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a Panjabi belonging to the Sikh faith born in 1780 in North India, Gujranwala, which is now located in modern day Pakistan, into the Sandhawalia family. Read more…
Khalsa kingdom under Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the most peaceful time Punjabis had ever seen. This period of 40 years was Golden era of Punjab. Muslims, Hindus and Sikh reaffirmed their Punjabi roots. Several schools were opened, especially Khalsa schools at Amritsar and Lahore run by Sikh academicians, which were open to all Punjabi population. Read more…
Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in June 1839. The powerful Dogras from Jammu, Gulab Singh Dhian Singh and Suchet Singh- played a subtle role and put into motion a chain of proceedings which brought about the demolition of Sikh power. At the time of Sikh ruler’s death, Dhian singh was prime minister of Punjab to Kharak Singh, son of Ranjit singh. Gulab Singh and Suchet Singh also held offices under Dhian Singh Dogra. They were not content with this. Read more…
The proposals of Henry Lawrence at Peshawar to entice some Sikh Chiefs and the negotiations of Sir George Clerk at Lahore served a double purpose of the British. They secured active support of the Sikh Government for operations in Afghanistan and bound Gulab Singh to their own political interests in the Punjab. Read more…