Punjab under Sikh Rule : 1762- 1849

[Desi_Action]

The Sikhs Existence (1762-1849 A.D.)
The Sikhs’ establishment was witnessed in the Punjab after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir passed away in 1707. After his death, the whole country saw the number of changes through the country and the situation of anarchy was witnessed. The head of the Sikhs clan, Charat Singh, by sensing the shaky situation, established his throttlehold in Gujranwala in 1763. In 1774, Charat Singh passed away leaving the room for son, Mahan Singh who then became the father of the most luminous leader in the history of the Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Ranjit Singh was the one brilliant leader who got the whole Punjab as united under one flag. Maharaja’s rule elongated from the shores of the Jamuna to the Khyber and then from Kashmir to Multan. Of the whole lot of the Sikh leaders, Maharaja Ranjit Singh happened to be the most powerful Sikh leader who ruled for 40 years. After Maharaja’s death, the Sikh empire got divided into tiny principalities looked after by numerous Sikh jagridars. Seeing the weak condition, the British of East India Company found this the great opportunity to rule and the same happened that they put the full stop to the Sikh throttlehold in the Punjab in 1849.
Sikh community is the follower of Baba Guru Nanak Sahib, who was the son of Mehta Kalu Chand and Tripta Devi – both his parents were Khatris by caste. Baba was born in 1464 at Nankana Sahib.
It is believed that the Sikh religion happens to be the product of the Sufi and Bhakti school of thought. Glancing at Sikhism, the fact comes up that the basic principles of the Sikhism happen to be widely closer to Islam than Hinduism.
Sikh Shrines (The Gurdwaras) are the places where Sikhs worship. These Gurduwaras serve as instiutions, meeting places and also as rest houses for the travelers. They are called the most essential part of any Sikh’s religious and social life. As Sikhs ruled over the subcontinent for nearly 100 years, one find hubdreds of Gurdawaras all over Pakistan and most of them are situated in Punjab. A few are more famous like Nankana Sahib and Punja Sahib.

Here is Sikh construction style in Nankana Sahib; near Lahore

 

[contra]

Glancing at Sikhism, the fact comes up that the basic principles of the Sikhism happen to be widely closer to Islam than Hinduism.

1. This statement is factually wrong.

2. Yes, Sikhism is against idol worship, but, its values etc. are similar to other Indian religions.
It is a tolerant religion, it is not a missionary religion i.e. not obsessed with converting others to it.

 

[Desi_Action]

First Guru Baba Nanak was son of Hindu Khatri, but at early age he was fascinated by Bhakti and Sufi thoughts. That is where his mystic journey starts from the heart of Punjab to the rest of the world, he traveled to Varanasi, Baghdad and Mecca. He certainly was monotheist but his concept of God is not quite like Islamic traditions. Last Guru Gobind somehow changed the landscape of Sikhism, by emphasizing more on politics and wars. Khalsa thoughts of 1700s were overwhelming on rest of teaching, which led this religion in two dimensions from that time on ward: Continuous political rivalry between Sikh Gurus and Mughal Kings brought two religions face to face; Punjab was slipped from Mughal hands and that later provided chance for Ranjeet Singh to step up and claim for some more areas and announce his title of 'Maharaja' in 1801 in Lahore. (it becomes much easy to understand why Khalsa people ignited the devastation of 1947 in Punjab ).

 

[aneeskhan]

Sikhs are loosing their identity very fast ,majority is merging with hindu,s in india & overseases,it was man made religion thats why vanishing.

 

[Desi_Action]

Sikhs are loosing their identity very fast ,majority is merging with hindu,s in india & overseases,it was man made religion thats why vanishing.

Now it is been told interesting thing. OK, enlighten us more about this claim of yours. Which is man made and which is not man made religion? How can we check the durability of these religions. In my views, the number of people is increasing, because number of births are increasing, while number of dying people is somehow less than number of births, so in a way, every day, every year more and more people are adding on this earth. So I wonder, what is your point?

 

[GEEMA]

Sikha are Kaafir and should be killed and we should also ban their visits to Pakistan.

 

[Temojin]

The one claiming that sikh religion is closer to hinduism should read granth sahab once before commenting, I hope it would help him understand what the poster had published.

 

[contra]

The one claiming that sikh religion is closer to hinduism should read granth sahab once before commenting, I hope it would help him understand what the poster had published.

Nobody is saying that Sikhism is "closer" to Hinduism.
Please read my statement again, i said Sikhism is closer to Indian Religions.

 

[sarbakaf]

1. This statement is factually wrong.

2. Yes, Sikhism is against idol worship, but, its values etc. are similar to other Indian religions.
It is a tolerant religion, it is not a missionary religion i.e. not obsessed with converting others to it.

Sikh is tolerant religon but what do u mean other indian religions ????
what other religion was in india....Buddhism wasnt indian ,
Hindus and every tribe had different gods....so they merged all of them to call it hinduism....they worship every thig from male organs to snakes and monkeys....

Then muslim came and many converted to islam ....and in history no one can prove that islam was forced on hindu population but they crowded t accept islam

lastly many hindus coverted to christanity to get political and financial gains......


so if your brain is like a monkey please do not think and certainly do not post stupid posts coz they stink just like u

 

[Islamabadi1]

Sikha are Kaafir and should be killed and we should also ban their visits to Pakistan.

I have a slightly different opinioin...GEEMA's are kaafirs and should be killed and also banned from visits to Pakistan.

 

[sngilani]

Sikhism is no where near Islam but many sikhs were violently attacked after 9/11 by American extremists in retaliation. They thought they were also muslims.

 

[Zionist Hindu]

As far as I am concerned Sikhism is a separate religion Just like Buddhism, It feel it is a nice religion just like other peaceful religion that originated in this subcontinent. It is upto Sikhs to decide if they are near to Indian/Hindu culture or Arab culture.

 

[contra]

Sikh is tolerant religon but what do u mean other indian religions ????
what other religion was in india....Buddhism wasnt indian ,

:13::13::13:
1. Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism etc. are known as Indian religions.
Ever heard of Bodh-gaya where Buddha attained enlightenment? It is in India.

Then muslim came and many converted to islam ....and in history no one can prove that islam was forced on hindu population but they crowded t accept islam

2. Come on!!! Don't you have any shame?

 

[Desi_Action]

Sikha are Kaafir and should be killed and we should also ban their visits to Pakistan.

What are you doing in Kaafir world. EU- is Kaafir area, as it is gathering of 30 + non Islamic countries, so come back immediately to 'Dar Ul Islam'.

 

[GEEMA]

Pehli baat to yeh hai k zaroori nahi hai k jo profile per likha hai wohi meri location or baaqi yeh hai k hamein kaafiroun ko ya to muslamaan karna hai ya..........

 

[Desi_Action]

Guru Gobind's five K's for his followers and Khalsa.
The Five K’s:
1. Kesa- long hair, never cut; a turban covers it
2. Kangah-comb
3. Kacha-short pants
4. Kara-metal bracelet
5. Kirpan-a ceremonial dagger

 

[Desi_Action]

It is famous that Lahore sufi- Mian Mir (spiritual teacher of prince Dara Shikoh - son of Mughal emperor Jahanghir) put the foundation stone of Golden temple (Gurudewara Harmandir Sahib) in year 1588. Temple was later attacked by Mughals and it was totally destroyed by the army of Ahmed Shah Abdali in 1760.

 

[Indocanadian]

[h=1]Sikh Empire[/h]From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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[TD="class: mergedtoprow fn org summary, colspan: 2, align: center"]Sikh Empire
ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਰਾਜ
Khālsā Rāj[/TD]
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[TD]Flag[/TD]
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[TD="colspan: 2"]Anthem
Deg o Tegh o Fateh[/TD]
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Ranjit Singh's Empire[/TD]
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[TD="width: 50%"]Capital[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%"]Gujranwala (1799-1802)
Lahore & Amritsar (1802-1849)[/TD]
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[TD]Language(s)[/TD]
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Maharaja[/TD]
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[TD] - 1733-1735[/TD]
[TD]Nawab Kapur Singh[/TD]
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[TD]Sultan ul Quam BabaJassa Singh Ahluwalia[/TD]
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[TD]Ranjit Singh Ji[/TD]
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[TD]Nau Nihal Singh[/TD]
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[TD] - Death of General Baba Banda Singh Bahadur[/TD]
[TD]1799[/TD]
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[TD] - Second Anglo-Sikh War[/TD]
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History of South Asia and India[/TR]
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The Sikh Empire was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The empire, based around the Punjab region, existed from 1799 to 1849. It was forged, on the foundations of the Khalsa, under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from a collection of autonomous Punjabi Misls.[SUP][1][/SUP][SUP][2][/SUP] At its peak, in the 19th century, the empire extended from the Khyber Pass in the west, to Kashmir in the north, to Sindh in the south, and Tibet in the east.
The foundations of the Sikh Empire could be defined as early as 1707, starting from the death of Aurangzeb and the downfall of the Mughal Empire. The fall of the Mughal Empire provided opportunities for the Sikh army, known as the Dal Khalsa, a rearrangement of the Khalsa inaugurated byGuru Gobind Singh, to lead expeditions against the Mughals and Afghans. This led to a growth of the army, which was split into different confederacies or semi-independent "Misls". Each of these component armies, known as a Misl, controlled different areas and cities. However, in the period from 17621799, Sikh commanders of their Misls appeared to be coming into their own.
The formal start of the Sikh Empire began with the merger of these "Misls" under Ranjit Singh. He was crowned on 12 April 1801 (to coincide withBaisakhi), creating a unified political state. Sahib Singh Bedi, a descendant of Guru Nanak Dev, conducted the coronation.[SUP][3][/SUP] Ranjit Singh rose to power in a very short period, from a leader of a single Sikh Misl to finally becoming the Maharaja of Punjab. He began to modernize his army, using the latest training as well as weapons and artillery. After the death of Ranjit Singh, the empire was weakened by internal divisions and political mismanagement. Finally, by 1849 the state was dissolved after their defeat in the Anglo-Sikh wars.
The Sikh Empire was divided into four provinces Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Kashmir from 1799-1849.

[h=2]The Maharaja Ranjit Singh[/h]

Ranjit Singh's Empire​

Ranjit Singh was crowned on 12 April 1801 (to coincide with Baisakhi). Sahib Singh Bedi, a descendant of Guru Nanak Dev, conducted the coronation.[SUP][23][/SUP]Gujranwala served as his capital from 1799. In 1802 he shifted his capital to Lahore. Ranjit Singh rose to power in a very short period, from a leader of a single Sikh misl to finally becoming the Maharaja (Emperor) of Punjab.
He then spent the following years fighting the Afghans, driving them out of the Punjab. He also captured Pashtun territory including Peshawar (now referred to as North West Frontier Province and the Tribal Areas). This was the first time that Peshawari Pashtuns were ruled by Punjabis. He captured the province of Multan which encompassed the southern parts of Punjab, Peshawar (1818), Jammu and Kashmir (1819). Thus Ranjit Singh put an end to more than a thousand years of Muslim rule. He also conquered the hill states north of Anandpur Sahib, the largest of which was Kangra.
When the Foreign Minister of the Ranjit Singh's court, Fakir Azizuddin, met the British Governor-General of India, Lord Auckland, in Simla, Lord Auckland asked Fakir Azizuddin which of the Maharaja's eyes was missing, Azizuddin replied: "The Maharaja is like the sun and sun has only one eye. The splendor and luminosity of his single eye is so much that I have never dared to look at his other eye." The Governor General was so pleased with this reply that he gave his gold watch to Azizuddin.
Ranjit Singh's Empire was secular, none of the subjects were discriminated against on account of their religions.[SUP][24][/SUP] The Maharaja never forced Sikhismon his subjects.
[h=3]Banda Singh Bahadur[/h]Banda Singh Bahadur was a Hindu ascetic who converted to Sikhism after meeting Guru Gobind Singh at Nanded. A short time before his death, Guru Gobind Singh ordered him to reconquer Punjaband gave him a letter that commanded all Sikhs to join him. After two years of gaining supporters, Banda Singh Bahadur initiated an agrarian uprising by breaking up the large estates of Zamindar families and distributing the land to the poor Sikh, Hindu and Muslim peasants who farmed the land.[SUP][9][/SUP] Banda Singh Bahadur started his rebellion with the defeat of Mughal armies at Samana andSadhaura and the rebellion culminated in the defeat of Sirhind. During the rebellion, Banda Singh Bahadur made a point of destroying the cities in which Mughals had been cruel to Sikhs, including executing Wazir Khan in revenge for the deaths of Guru Gobind Singh's sons after the Sikh victory at Sirhind.[SUP][10][/SUP] He ruled the territory between the Sutlej river and the Yamuna river established a capital in the Himalayas at Lohgarh and struck coinage in the names of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh.[SUP][9][/SUP] In 1716, his army was defeated by the Mughals after he attempted to defend his fort at Gurdas Nangal. He was captured along with 700 of his men and sent to Delhi, where he was tortured and executed after refusing to convert to Islam.
[h=3][edit]Hari Singh Nalwa[/h]Hari Singh Nalwa was Commander-in-chief of the army of the Sikh Empire. He is known for his role in the conquests of Kasur, Sialkot, Multan, Kashmir, Attock and Peshawar. Nalwa led the Sikh Army in freeing Shah Shuja from Kashmir and secured the Koh-i-Nor diamond for Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He served as governor of Kashmir and Hazara and established a mint on behalf of the Sikh Empire to facilitate revenue collection. His frontier policy of holding the Khyber Pass was later used by the British Raj. Nalwa is responsible for expanding the frontier of Sikh Empire to the Indus River. At the time of his death, the western boundary of the Sikh Empire was khyber pass. His death at the Battle of Jamrud was a significant loss to the Sikh Empire.
[h=3][edit][/h]