By the end of the 18th century, Islamic rule had ended in Punjab and many Sikh kings established their rule, of which Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the most powerful. The logic of the entire Sikh sect of that time being related to the ancient cultural roots of India, became clear from the first page of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s official military manual, in which the figures of Tridev (Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma) and Goddess Lakshmi were inscribed in the sacred ॐ of Hindus. (Book: Narrative ka Mayajal, Author: Balbir Punj, Page: 165)
The life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, known as Sher-e-Punjab, was also inspired by the culture of Bharat. Following the teachings and traditions of the Ten Gurus, he provided protection to Brahmins during his rule and also prescribed death penalty for cow slaughter. Under several military campaigns, he freed the Pandits from the cruel Islamic rule in Kashmir and asked the defeated Afghans to return the looted doors of the Somnath temple and brought back the country’s heritage and the rare Kohinoor diamond from the Islamic rulers to India.
He died on 27 June 1839, then in his will he asked to offer this Kohinoor at the feet of Lord Jagannath in Puri, but due to British cunningness, even today that diamond is present in the crown of the Queen of Britain.
In his lifetime, Maharaja Ranjit Singh also offered a lot of gold to the Vishwanath temple of Kashi and the Jwalamukhi temple of Himachal Pradesh. In fact, Maharaja Ranjit Singh taught to live one’s life by following the teachings of Gurus and Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. The images of Brahma, Ganesha and Devi were carved on red sandstone at the entrance of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s tomb in Lahore.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the most powerful Sikh administrator. He established the Sikh Empire by ending the rule of Islam from Kashmir and the northwestern provinces. Due to their military superiority, the British gradually occupied India but it was difficult to rule India on the basis of military power. To establish their rule in India for a long time, the British adopted the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’, the victim of which was Punjab after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The only heir of the then Sikh Empire, Yuvraj Dilip Singh, was made the king at a young age. The British separated the child Dilip Singh from his mother Maharani Jindan Kaur and sent him to London and converted him and by giving him the title of ‘Sir’, distanced him from the culture of Punjab and India.
In England, Dilip Singh was handed over to John Spencer Logan and his wife, where he was converted into Christianity and Christian’s holy book was put in his hands. Then he was forced to present the Kohinoor diamond as a gift to the Queen of Britain.
Famous author Khushwant Singh has written in his book ‘A History of Sikhs’ that Maharaja Ranjit Singh, besides being a true Sikh, had unwavering faith in Indian traditions and culture, due to which his cremation was also done according to Indian customs.
In fact, Macauliffe and British cunningness had an impact on the relations between Sikh and Indian culture. As a result, ideological differences were planted on the land of India which promoted separatism. At present, the soul of Punjab, Punjabiat, is being harmed by spreading ideological differences in which some power-hungry political organizations are involved. To give a befitting reply to such treacherous organizations, On the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, I appeal to the entire Punjabi community to establish harmony and brotherhood in Punjab by following the teachings of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji so that Punjab can be made a golden bird again.
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