The Secular Maharaja (Maharaja Ranjit Singh)

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Maharaja Ranjit Singh was one of the great Indian rulers. He enjoys an important place in the history of our country. In fact, he has an exclusive place in the history of Punjab. He was the only independent ruler of the land for the last many centuries. His greatness cannot questioned by any of his rivals. He was a soldier per excellence, an unmatchable commander and a great leader. No doubt, he was illiterate, in the literal sense of the word, but he was a shrewd and able statesman. A man of robust commonsense, he was an astute judge of men.

Ranjit Singh was the founding father of secularism in the country. He was a benign ruler and always cared for the welfare of his subjects irrespective of their caste or creed. He tried to uplift the poor and the downtrodden and gave them a respectable place in society.

It is but natural that many legends grew around the Maharaja. A vast mass of legendary literature depicting Maharaja's personality and character had even grown up in his life time. However, the literature on the life and times of Ranjit Singh is very hazy, contradictory and very often repetitive, with the result that his clear image does not emerge out of it. I have tried, therefore, in all my earnestness and dispassionate analysis of his personality. An effort has also been made to clear mist which hangs over this great man.

"He was a born ruler", says Lepel Griffin, "with the natural genius of command. Men obeyed him by instinct. and because they had no power to disobey. The control which he exercised, even in the closing years of his life, over the whole Sikh people, nobles, priests and people, was the measure of his greatness."

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