Emperor of the Five Rivers : The Life and Times of Maharajah Ranjit Singh

Ranjit Singh was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and one of the greatest figures in the history of the Punjab. Despite the difficult conditions he faced, including harsh terrain, a mixed ethnic population and surrounding aggressors (particularly the British in India), Ranjit Singh managed to unite the various Sikh factions and built a nation that neighbours soon learnt to treat with respect. Following his death, the empire fell into gradual decline and in 1845, just six years after Ranjit Singh's death, the Sikhs were defeated in battle by the British and fell under the influence of the East India Company. It was Ranjit Singh's leadership skills and personal characteristics which kept the Sikh empire strong and united in the face of adversity. Unusually for the time, the empire that Singh led was secular and he sought to promote inter-faith unity through policies of equality and non-discrimination. This new biography sheds new light on this important figure in Sikh history. Mohamed Sheikh's accessible account of Ranjit Singh's life illustrates the extraordinary leadership qualities, military prowess and political skills which ensured his success as a leader in challenging circumstances. "In 1801, at the age of just 20 years old, Ranjit Singh became the Maharaja of the Punjab Empire and subsequently became one of the greatest figures in the history of India. He was a fiercely brave leader, capturing the city of Lahore before becoming Maharaja and overcoming a variety of challenges during his 40-year rule, such as harsh terrain, an ethnically and religiously diverse population and strong aggressors including the British and the Afghans. Despite such challenges, Ranjit Singh was able to unite Punjab's various factions yet rule a nation that was strictly secular; the Maharaja was benevolent to his subjects no matter their ethnicity or religion and sought to promote interfaith unity through policies of equality and non-discrimination. Aside from building his own nation, Ranjit built solid strategic relations with his most challenging aggressor - the British. Through stamina and political will, he managed to establish a formal treaty between the two and secured from 1809 Britain's protection against third party attempts to conquer the Punjab. Following Ranjit Singh's death in 1839, the Empire fell into decline. Just six years later, the Punjabis attacked the British, and in 1845 they were beaten and forced to sign the Treaty of Lahore, essentially conceding control to the British.Ranjit Singh's personal characteristics and leadership skills were what held the Punjab nation together in a tumultuous period in history. Mohamed Sheikh's new account of Singh's life illustrates these characteristics and skills and illuminates the man who singlehandedly created and sustained the Empire."-- In 1801, at the age of just 20 years old, Ranjit Singh became the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and subsequently emerged as one of the greatest figures in the history of the Punjab. Despite the difficult conditions he faced, including harsh terrain, a mixed ethnic population and surrounding aggressors (particularly the British in India), Ranjit Singh managed to unite the various Sikh factions and built a nation that neighbours soon learnt to treat with respect. Following his death in 1839, the empire fell into gradual decline and in 1845, just six years after Ranjit Singh's death, the Sikhs were defeated in battle by the British and fell under the influence of the East India Company. It was Ranjit Singh's leadership skills and personal characteristics which kept the Sikh empire strong and united in the face of adversity. Unusually for the time, the empire that Singh led was secular and he sought to promote inter-faith unity through policies of equality and non-discrimination. This new biography sheds new light on this important figure in Sikh history. Mohamed Sheikh's accessible account of Ranjit Singh's life illustrates the extraordinary leadership qualities, military prowess and political skills which ensured his success as a leader in challenging circumstances Dedication 4 Contents 6 List of Plates 8 Maps 10 Principal Characters 12 Introduction 20 1. The Foundations 24 2. Ranjit’s Early Years and Entry into Power 38 3. Reaching Out Beyond Lahore 52 4. Enter the British 70 5. The Second Decade 86 6. At the Midpoint: The Flourishing State 106 7. Secularism and Tales of the Hero 120 8. The Third Decade 128 9. A Grand Summit of Equals and Ranjit’s Nobles 148 10. Afghan and British Provocation 162 11. Fateful Conclusion with the British 180 12. Vicious Aftermath 194 Conclusion 204 Postscript: Maharaja Duleep Singh 210 Notes 218 Bibliography 230 Index 234 Plates 246