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| Related Articles: Outline Of Sikh Art http://sikhnet.com/sikhnet/discussion.nsf/3d8d6eacce83bad8872564280070c2b3/7cc90cd68046ccaf872568140071a73f!OpenDocument The Maharaja http://sikhnet.com/sikhnet/discussion.nsf/3d8d6eacce83bad8872564280070c2b3/3abf0b5421f3d898872565f300177f67!OpenDocument ************************************************************* G.S. Dhillon, the modern historian of the Sikhs, dedicates three of his articles to the character of Sikh Raj of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Singh Sabha Movement and Anglo-Sikh relations. The reign of Ranjit Singh has been methodically compared by the author to that of his contemporaries in India as well as in Europe. He brings out the distinct features of the Khalsa Sarkar marked by a sense of justice, humanism, catholicity, peace and prosperity. His quoting of Gardner is remarkable. "The Punjab was not the same, semi-starving, terrified, looted by the rulers, and poorly clothed during his reign. It was a prosperous, homogeneous and peaceful state with all the communities, Hindu, Muslims and Sikhs, fully satisfied partners in the Government, in military and civil administration, and it was the happiest state communally in Asia" [p. 494]. G.S. Dhillon effectively shows that Ranjit Singh was a characteristic product of the Sikh tradition. (Ref. Sikhism: It's Philosophy and History) http://www.sikh-institute.org/Reviews/sikhism.htm ************************************************************* Remnants Of Glorious Past Tribune News Service AMRITSAR, Nov 3 (PTI) Frail, thin and small built and an eye lost due to small pox, yet he became the "Lion of Punjab" and a legend in his lifetime. Such was Maharaja Ranjit Singh s appeal. Loved and respected by all his subjects, his reign symbolised the best in the tradition of Punjab. Today, remnants of Maharaja Ranjit Singh s glorious past are preserved in his erstwhile summer palace in the sprawling Ram Bagh Gardens of this holy city, now being used as a museum. A veritable treasure trove of information on the life and times of the "Lion of Punjab", the museum, the only one of its kind in North India, also has ample information on Sikh kingdoms during the 18th and 19th centuries. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had occupied Amritsar in 1805 and made the holy city his "spiritual capital". In 1818, he built a beautiful garden in the north of the city on the pattern of Shalimar Bagh in Lahore and named it Ram Bagh after Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city. Divided into parts, the museum comprises the palace and gardens on one side and houses prized possessions such as manuscripts, paintings, jewellery, artefacts and other priceless embodiments of the reign of the Maharaja. Despite low funds for maintenance from the government, the museum is upholding traditions of the Maharaja s reign by preserving its art and craft. The main entrance to Ram Bagh Gardens is through Darshani Deori, a protected monument, and in the centre stands a two-storeyed palace, built at a cost of 1,25,000 "Nanakshahi" rupees. Encircled by solid masonry walls with four towers on the corners, the sprawling gardens, now being used as the museum has a moat, the water from which is used in the garden. Next to the palace is a bathing pool for the royal ladies and the central building served as a reception room. The buildings and garden were constructed under the supervision of Faqir Azizuddin, Sardar Dessa Singh Majithia and his son Sardar Lehna Singh. It is said Faqir Azizuddin brought special workmen from Delhi to adorn the buildings with the visible red stone work. Inside the museum are miniature paintings which show the camp and court of the Maharaja. The paintings present him as a thin little man with an attractive face with an eye lost due to small pox. Bedecked with gold ornaments and pearls, he carries a sword embedded with diamonds and emeralds. The paintings have a rich combination of colours of varied patterns. A huge painting on the city of Lahore with its fort and architectural beauty, showing arches, doorways and even pavements of locally made brick, is also displayed in the museum. There are also oil paintings of the Maharaja, his sons Karak Singh and Sher Singh, besides his grandson Naunihal. The most important painting is by a Viennese artist who visited Lahore in 1841 during the period of Maharaja Sher Singh. The collections also include a number of paintings by Lord Auckland's sister Emily Eden, who visited Lahore in 1838. She was the last among the artists to paint Maharaja Ranjit Singh when he had become almost invalid, according to available information. There are also a large number of coloured lithoprints showing a series of battle scenes between the British and Sikhs which contain a wealth of information on war, including weaponry, the formation of troops and even uniform of that age. In a separate section of the museum are kept arms and armours of the times of the Sikh kingdom. The handies, guards and scabbards of swords are beautifully decorated with gold and silver work inlaid with costly jewels. But the most important manuscript preserved is the military manual which has coloured illustrations along with the text. A Persian sword which was presented to General Allard by Maharaja Ranjit Singh has a horse-head shaped jade hilt studded with rubies, with a miniature portrait of the Maharaja. There is also an iron and brass shield of exquisite workmanship in relief and cut work prepared by a Muslim craftsman of Lahore, whose name is inscribed on it. The Zafarnama issued by Maharaja Ranjit Singh is a military manual pertaining to the rules and training of the Army during his reign. One of the most remarkable objects on view is a "parwana" of the Maharaja addressed to Raja Fateh Singh of Kapurthala. It bears the seal of the Maharaja and his palm impression in saffron. Inscribed on April 13,1827, it is still intact. Other important correspondence with the chief is also preserved. Several coins kept in the museum display the secular outlook of the king. One of the coins even has a trident of Lord Shiva and on another "Om" inscribed. In some coins "Ram" is written in Devnagri script. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had become a legend in his lifetime loved and respected by all his subjects. Religion was given equal weight in the administration and his reign symbolised the best in the tradition of Punjab that could bring all its people together. The museum truly relives the glorious times of the Maharaja which needs funds to spread the saga of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. |
 | History - " Remnants Of A... (Preet Mohan S Ahluwalia - 4.Nov.99) |
| . . News - A Relic Lies Forgo... (Preet Mohan S Ahluwalia - 11.Nov.99) |
