|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maharaja Ranjit Singh,
Ruler and Warrior
T.R. Sharma, the editor of the book, mentions Ranjit Singh’s contributions as a warrior, which resulted in the creation of a vast empire that extended up to Tibet in the north, Khyber Pass in the west and Sind in the southwest. The introduction by Sharma throws light on the Maharaja’s persona. He was a powerful monarch yet humbly listened to the demands of his people. But there is a group of analysts who feel that Ranjit Singh was a coloniser who had the hill rajas under his control. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, according to political analyst Balraj Puri, viewed the Maharaja as an imperialist. Puri eulogises the local hero, Deedo, who attacked the army of Ranjit Singh again and again. It took three Dogra brothers — Gulab Singh, Dhian Singh and Suchet Singh — to defeat Deedo. With this the direct rule of Ranjit Singh ended and the territory was handed over to Gulab Singh. The diplomacy of Ranjit
Singh in Sind shows that he was pragmatic. Knowing the strength of the
British Army, Ranjit Singh avoided a clash with them, concludes Sukhdev
Sharma, senior lecturer Satyavir Singh, lecturer in Government College, Sector 11, contends that Ranjit Singh was a great military leader and strategist and, thus, emphasised the need for a well-equipped and efficient fighting force. Kirpal Singh, a noted historian, discusses about the secular attitude of Ranjit Singh, who used to get inspired by the teachings of Sikh Gurus. There is an eloquent description of the adornment of Darbar Sahib in Amritsar. The line which stands out is, "He (Ranjit Singh) wanted to see the Guru’s house magnificent." Maj Gen Rajender Nath, a well-known defence analyst, lists the different areas that had been brought under the kingdom of Ranjit Singh. The annexed places included Lahore, Kangra, Attock, Multan and Ladakh. Nath’s essay has also praised brave generals like Zorawar Singh and Hari Singh Nalwa. Maj Gen Jaswant Singh discusses the Zenana Corps — the Amazon Corps — one of the "capricious whims" of the Maharaja. This was a "detachment of one hundred and fifty warriors — the prettiest girls from Kashmir, Persia and the Punjab, magnificently dressed, armed with bows and arrows and mounted on horseback to amuse and entertain the Maharaja and his distinguished guests during their drinking bouts." Dr Shiv Kumar Gupta, professor of history in Punjabi University, calls Ranjit Singh a Machiavellian and a "true representative of the Kautilya tradition". He focuses on renowned historian Fauja Singh’s analysis of the Maharaja. S.K. Pachauri concludes that one reason for Ranjit Singh’s frustration was that his dream of being the Maharaja of the whole Punjab remained unfulfilled. But his statesmanship and his amicable relations with the British led to his own survival. S. S. Bhatti, former Principal, Chandigarh College of Architecture, throws light on the art and architecture of Ranjit Singh’s era. He talks in detail about the architecture of not only the Darbar Sahib but also about various buildings, gardens, coins, wood carving and medals designed during Ranjit Singh’s time. Ashvini Aggarwal writes about Ranjit Singh’s devotion to Hindu deities. Veena Sachdeva’s illustrations with clear, detailed maps are a treat to the eyes. Her paper deals with the "political process through which Ranjit Singh occupied the territories from Sikh and non-Sikh rulers of the former Mughal Province of Lahore." The book attempts to understand Ranjit Singh not only as a ruler but also as a warrior. It is a critical assessment of the man otherwise known as the Lion of Punjab. The essays have been selected with great care and, thus, there is no repetition. The book is a must read not only for students of history but also for others who are keen on historical facts and want to put the past in a correct perspective. |
MAHARAJA Ranjit Singh, a
military genius who united the misls and went on to make Punjab a
strong, prosperous state, is the subject of this book brought out by the
Centre for Defence and National Security Studies, Panjab University,
Chandigarh. The centre organised a national seminar to mark the
bi-centenary celebrations of the coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Various papers were read out by retired senior army and air - force
officers, defence analysts and historians extolling the statesmanship of
Ranjit Singh. The book comprises seminar papers which highlight the
prominent aspects of the ruler.