Rani Sahib Kaur Patiala

WaheguroojikaKhalsaWaheguroojikiFateh!!

With Guru Sahib kirpa, another book of Rani Sahib Kaur Patiala is almost ready and is being sent for illustrations. For the research I have read many historical texts about her and want to conclude the book with a poem about her faith, bravery and intelligence. Below is the poem of Prof. Mohan Singh but if someone has few lines coming to their mind in simple language and would allow me to put them in the book, please post them here or pm me.

WaheguroojikaKhalsaWaheguroojikiFateh!!




ਸਤਾਰਾਂ ਸੌ ਤਰਿਆਨਵੇਂ ਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਨਿਰਾਲੇ,
ਮੱਲੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਗੱਦੀ ਪਟਿਆਲੇ,
ਨੱਢਾ ਸੀ ਉਹ ਕਚਕਰਾ ਮਸ ਫੁਟੀ ਨਾ ਹਾਲੇ,
ਗੋਹਲਾ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਓਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਾਨੂੰ ਮਲ ਲਾਲੇ,
ਟੇਟੇ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਦਰਬਾਰੀਆਂ, ਹੋ ਐਸ਼ ਹਵਾਲੇ,
ਭੁੱਲ ਬੈਠਾ ਉਹ ਗੱਭਰੂ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦੇ ਚਾਲੇ,
ਥਾਂ ਸੰਜੋਆਂ ਫਸ ਗਿਆ ਸ਼ੀਂਹ ਜ਼ੁਲਫ-ਜੰਜਾਲੇ,
ਜ਼ੰਗ ਲੱਗਾ ਤਲਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ, ਉਲਿਆਏ ਭਾਲੇ,
ਚਲ ਪਏ ਦੌਰ ਸ਼ਰਾਬ ਦੇ ਮੱਤ ਮਾਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ,
ਤਾਰੂ ਪੰਜ ਦਰਿਆ ਦਾ ਡੁੱਬ ਗਿਆ ਪਿਆਲੇ ।

ਰਲ ਐਸ਼ੀ ਦਰਬਾਰੀਆਂ ਉਹ ਭੜਥੂ ਪਾਇਆ,
ਪਟਿਆਲੇ ਦੇ ਕਣੇ ਨੂੰ, ਫੜ ਜੜ੍ਹੋਂ ਹਲਾਇਆ,
ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਉਹ ਅਨ-ਹੋਣੀਆਂ, ਉਹ ਕਹਿਰ ਕਮਾਇਆ,
ਬੁੱਤ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਰਹਿ ਗਿਆ, ਰੂਹ ਨਿਕਲ ਸਿਧਾਇਆ,
ਉਧਰੋਂ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਮਰਹੱਟਿਆਂ, ਚੜ੍ਹ ਸਿਰ ਤੇ ਆਇਆ,
ਤੱਕ ਤੱਕ ਰਾਜਾ ਡੋਲਿਆ, ਡਰਿਆ, ਘਬਰਾਇਆ,
ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕਬੂਤਰ ਹੋਂਵਦਾ ਬਾਜ਼ਾਂ ਮੂੰਹ ਆਇਆ ।

ਤੱਕ ਮੂੰਹ-ਜ਼ੋਰ ਮੁਸਾਹਿਬਾਂ ਦੀ ਨੀਯਤ ਕਾਣੀ,
ਸਿਰ ਸਿਰ ਚੜ੍ਹਿਆ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਫ਼ਿਕਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਪਾਣੀ,
ਰਾਜੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਨਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈਰਾਨੀ,
ਸਦ ਲਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੌਰ ਉਸ, ਉਹ ਸੁਘੜ ਸਵਾਣੀ,
ਅਪਣੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਭੈਣ, ਸਿੰਘ ਜੈਮਲ ਦੀ ਰਾਣੀ ।

ਤੱਕ ਵੀਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਫਸਿਆ ਦੁਸ਼ਟਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਾਲੇ,
ਸ਼ੀਂਹਣੀ ਵਾਂਗ ਉਹ ਬਿੱਫਰੀ ਪਹੁੰਚੀ ਪਟਿਆਲੇ,
ਦੜ ਵੱਟੇ ਦਰਬਾਰੀਆਂ, ਮੂੰਹ ਲੱਗੇ ਤਾਲੇ,
ਮੁਕੀਆਂ ਐਸ਼ੀ ਮਹਿਫ਼ਲਾਂ, ਭੱਜ ਗਏ ਪਿਆਲੇ,
ਕਰ ਕਰ 'ਕੱਠੇ ਸੂਰਮੇ ਯੋਧੇ ਕਣ-ਵਾਲੇ,
ਮੁਰਦੇ ਲਸ਼ਕਰ ਵੀਰ ਦੇ ਉਸ ਫੇਰ ਜਿਵਾਲੇ,
ਜ਼ੰਗ ਲੱਥਾ ਤਲਵਾਰ ਦਾ, ਮੁੜ ਲਿਸ਼ਕੇ ਭਾਲੇ ।

ਸੁਣ ਸੁਣ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਵਧਦੀ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰੀ,
ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੌਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝ ਕੇ ਇਕ ਨਾਜ਼ਕ ਛੋਹਰੀ,
ਲਛਮੀ ਰਾਉ ਮਰਹੱਟੇ ਦੀ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਮਚ ਗਈ ਦੋਹਰੀ,
ਅੰਟਾ ਰਾਉ ਵੀ ਰਲ ਪਿਆ ਇਕ ਛਟਿਆ ਖੋਰੀ,
ਉਹ ਲੰਘ ਜਮਨਾ ਨੂੰ ਆ ਗਏ ਢਿੱਲ ਲਾਈ ਨਾ ਭੋਰੀ,
ਉਹ ਵਧੇ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਦੇ ਵਾਂਗਰਾਂ ਕਰ ਧਿੰਙਾ-ਜ਼ੋਰੀ,
ਲਵੇ ਬਰੂਟ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸਭ ਜਾਵਣ ਰੋਹੜੀ ।

ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੌਰ ਨੂੰ ਅੰਟਾ ਰਾਉ ਛਲੀਏ,
ਮੰਨ ਜਾ ਸਾਡੀ ਈਨ ਨੀਂ, ਨਈਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਨਾ ਟਲੀਏ,
ਅਸੀਂ ਚੜ੍ਹੀਏ ਨ੍ਹੇਰੀ ਵਾਂਗਰਾਂ, ਹੜ੍ਹ ਵਾਂਗਰ ਚਲੀਏ,
ਅਸੀਂ ਡਿੱਗੀਏ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਵਾਂਗਰਾਂ, ਥੰਮ੍ਹ ਵਾਂਗਰਾਂ ਖਲ੍ਹੀਏ,
ਅਸਾਂ ਦੂਜੇ ਆਲਮਗੀਰ ਦੇ ਫੜ ਕੀਤੇ ਦਲੀਏ,
ਸਾਥੋਂ ਡਰਨ ਫ਼ਰੰਗੀ ਸੂਰਮੇਂ, ਭਾਵੇਂ ਵਲ ਛਲੀਏ,
ਅਸਾਂ ਕੰਡਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਨਾ ਖਹਿਬੜੀਂ, ਅਣੀ ਕੋਮਲ-ਕਲੀਏ ।

ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਅੰਟਾ ਰਾਉ ਤਾਣੀ,
ਮੈਂ ਨਾਗਣ, ਡੰਗਾਂ ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਮੰਗਦਾ ਪਾਣੀ,
ਮੈਂ ਚੰਡੀ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ, ਵੈਰੀ ਦਲ-ਖਾਣੀ,
ਮੈਂ ਕਰ ਕਰ ਸੁੱਟਾਂ ਡੱਕਰੇ ਸਭ ਤੇਰੀ ਢਾਣੀ,
ਮੈਂ ਚੁੰਘ ਚੁੰਘ ਡੋਕੇ ਬੂਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਚੜ੍ਹੀ ਜਵਾਨੀ,
ਮੈਂ ਲੜ ਲੜ ਨਾਲ ਬਹਾਦਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੋਈ ਸਿਆਣੀ,
ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ੀਹਣੀ ਪੰਜ ਦਰਿਆ ਦੀ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕਲੀ ਨਾ ਜਾਣੀ ।

ਤੱਕ ਰਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਹੌਸਲਾ ਤੇ ਹੱਲਾ-ਸ਼ੇਰੀ,
ਹੋਰ ਕਈ ਸਰਦਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਧ ਗਈ ਦਲੇਰੀ,
ਉਹ ਘੱਤ ਵਹੀਰਾਂ ਆ ਗਏ ਜਿਉਂ ਚੜ੍ਹੇ ਹਨੇਰੀ,
ਉਹ ਵੱਧੇ ਵਲ ਮਰਹੱਟਿਆਂ ਝਬ ਲਾਈ ਨਾ ਦੇਰੀ,
ਤੇ ਮਰਦਨ ਪੁਰ ਤੇ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਦੋ ਫ਼ੌਜਾਂ ਢੇਰੀ ।

ਥੋਹੜੇ ਸਨ ਪਟਿਆਲੀਏ ਮਰਹੱਟੇ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ,
ਇਕ ਇਕ ਉਤੇ ਟੁੱਟ ਪਏ ਉਹ ਬਾਰਾਂ ਬਾਰਾਂ,
ਕੁਝ ਚਿਰ ਰਖਿਆ ਹੌਸਲਾ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਸਰਦਾਰਾਂ,
ਪੇਸ਼ ਨਦੀ ਦੀ ਜਾਏ ਕੀ ਪਰ ਨਾਲ ਪਹਾੜਾਂ,
ਉਹ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਹੱਟਣ ਲਗ ਪਏ ਵਾਂਹਦੇ ਤਲਵਾਰਾਂ ।

ਤੱਕ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਘਰਦਾ ਉਹ ਸਿਦਕੀ ਰਾਣੀ,
ਉਤਰੀ ਹਾਥੀ ਉਪਰੋਂ ਜਿਉਂ ਪਹਾੜੋਂ ਪਾਣੀ,
ਉਹ ਬੁੱਕੀ ਸ਼ੀਂਹਣੀ ਵਾਂਗਰਾਂ, ਧੂਹ ਤੇਗ ਅਲਾਣੀ,
ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਿੰਘ ਗੁਰੂ ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਨਾ ਗਿਲ ਗਵਾਣੀ,
ਤੁਸੀਂ ਬਾਜ਼ ਉਡਾਰੂ ਗ਼ਜ਼ਬ ਦੇ ਉਹ ਚਿੜੀਆਂ ਢਾਣੀ,
ਤੁਸੀਂ ਇਕ ਇਕ ਭਾਰੂ ਲੱਖਾਂ ਤੇ ਕੁਝ ਗ਼ੈਰਤ ਖਾਣੀ,
ਤੁਸਾਂ ਰੱਜ ਰੱਜ ਪੀਤਾ ਸੋਹਣਿਓਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਪਾਣੀ,
ਅਜ ਅੰਟਾ ਰਾਉ ਮਰਹੱਟੇ ਤੋਂ ਨਾ ਕੰਡ ਲਵਾਣੀ,
ਤੁਸੀਂ ਆਏ ਬਚਾਂਦੇ ਵੀਰਨੋਂ ਲੱਖ ਭੈਣ ਬਿਗਾਣੀ,
ਅਜ ਕਲਿਆਂ ਛਡ ਕੇ ਭੈਣ ਨੂੰ ਨਾ ਲੀਕ ਲਵਾਣੀ ।

ਕਾਲੀਆਂ ਲਹਿਰਾਂ ਵਾਂਗਰਾਂ ਵੈਰੀ ਘਿਰ ਆਏ,
ਫਸ ਗਈ ਸ਼ੀਂਹਣੀ ਕੱਪਰੀਂ ਕੁਝ ਪੇਸ਼ ਨਾ ਜਾਏ,
ਤੱਕ ਰਾਣੀ ਨੂੰ 'ਕੱਲਿਆਂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਦੇ ਜਾਏ,
ਖਾ ਕੇ ਗ਼ੈਰਤ ਗੱਜਦੇ ਬੱਦਲਾਂ ਜਿਉਂ ਆਏ,
ਉਹ ਟੁੱਟੇ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਵਾਂਗਰਾਂ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਖੂਨ ਵਗਾਏ,
ਉਹਨਾਂ ਵੱਢ ਵੱਢ ਕੀਤੇ ਡੱਕਰੇ ਲੱਖ ਆਹੂ ਲਾਹੇ,
ਉਹਨਾਂ ਲੜ ਲੜ ਸ਼ਾਮਾਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਨ੍ਹੇਰੇ ਘਿਰ ਆਏ ।

ਦੋਵੇਂ ਫ਼ੌਜਾਂ ਹਟੀਆਂ ਤੱਕ ਰਾਤ-ਹਨੇਰਾ,
ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦਾ ਪਰ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ ਘਾਣ, ਘਣੇਰਾ,
ਉਹਨਾਂ ਰਲ ਰਾਣੀ ਨੂੰ ਆਖਿਆ ਚਲ ਚੁੱਕੀਏ ਡੇਰਾ,
ਸਾਥੋਂ ਹੋਰ ਨਾ ਲੜਿਆ ਜਾਂਵਦਾ ਅਗੇ ਮਰੇ ਬਤੇਰਾ,
ਅਸਾਂ ਪਟਿਆਲੇ ਜਾ ਪਹੁੰਚਣਾ ਅਜੇ ਹੋਏ ਮੁਨ੍ਹੇਰਾ ।

ਦਿਤੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਮੁੜ ਹੱਲਾ-ਸ਼ੇਰੀ,
ਅੱਧਾ ਮਾਰ ਸ਼ਿਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਉਂ ਢਾਵੋ ਢੇਰੀ,
ਜੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਪੀਵੋ ਘੁੱਟ ਵੀ ਪੀਵੋ ਰਤ ਮੇਰੀ,
ਜੇ ਸ਼ਸ਼ਤਰ ਲਾਹੋ ਪਿੰਡਿਓਂ ਲਾਹੋ ਪਤ ਮੇਰੀ,
ਉਹ ਨਾਲ ਥਕੇਵੇਂ ਟੁੱਟ ਕੇ ਹੋਏ ਨੇ ਢੇਰੀ,
ਉਠ ਚਲੋ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਤੇ ਟੁੱਟੀਏ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਵਾਂਗ ਹਨੇਰੀ,
ਉਹ ਨੀਂਦ ਵਿਗੁੱਤੇ ਸੋਹਣਿਓਂ ਹੁਣ ਕਰੋ ਨਾ ਦੇਰੀ,
ਮੁੜ ਮੁੜ ਹੱਥ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਣੀ ਇਹ ਰਾਤ ਹਨੇਰੀ ।

ਸੱਪਾਂ ਵਾਂਗੂੰ ਸਿਰਕਦੇ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੂਰੇ ਧਾਏ,
ਮਾਰ ਫੁੰਕਾਰੇ ਗ਼ਜ਼ਬ ਦੇ ਕਈ ਦੀਏ ਬੁਲਾਏ,
ਕੁਝ ਫੱਟੇ, ਕੁਝ ਵੱਢ ਦਿਤੇ, ਕੁਝ ਬੰਨ੍ਹ ਬੰਨ੍ਹਾਏ,
ਜਾਗੋ-ਮੀਟਿਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਕਈ ਪਾਰ ਬੁਲਾਏ,
ਬਿੱਜ ਪਈ ਮਰਹੱਟਿਆਂ ਕੁਝ ਪੇਸ਼ ਨਾ ਜਾਏ,
ਭੱਜ ਉਠੇ ਉਹ ਜਿਧਰ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਸਿੰਙ ਸਮਾਏ,
ਏਦਾਂ ਮਾਣ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਵੈਰੀ ਹੱਥ ਆਏ,
ਬੱਚੀ ਪੰਜ-ਦਰਿਆ ਦੀ ਨੇ ਰੱਖ ਵਿਖਾਏ ।

Amazing poem! ਪੜ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਮਜ਼ਾ ਆ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਘਟਨਾ ਤੋਂ ਪਤਾ ਲਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜੇਕਰ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਚਾਹੇ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਕੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੀ। ਇਸ ਲੜਾਈ ਵਿਚ ਪਟਿਆਲੇ ਦੀ ਜਿੱਤ ਕੇਵਲ ਰਾਣੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੌਰ ਕਰਕੇ ਹੋਈ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਹੌਂਸਲੇ ਕਰਕੇ ਹੋਈ।

This poem formed part of our high school curriculum.I still remember most of it by heart.

Prof Mohan singh was a great poet and story writer.His other famous poem in 1960s was
"Killi da booha". In that he details patriotism of a pathan who sacrifices his son but do
not reveal way to entrance to a cave to General Hari Singh Nalwa. Nalwa had encircled
the cave for days together,

Thanks for the info Bhai Inder Singh jeeo. Can you post the poem "Killi da buha"?

Kulbir Singh

Bhai Kulbir singh jeo

I got transliterated form.

Desh Pyar

rukhay parbat KhaibriN, disay na teela,
khaddaN vaachhaN addiyan, sajjay te khabbay.
sir-talwaiyeaN ghaatiyan na challe heela,
killi Khaan Zamaan di choti te phabbay.

pairaN wich pahaarh de chaare hi paasay.
Hari Singh Sardar ne sann deray laye,
ghera chittay tambooaN da aidaN bhaasay,
jiyon jatti de pair wich panzaib suhaaye.

raah killi da lukwaN si aissa koi,
bhaitee baajhoN kaThan si uss taeeN paana.
chappa chappa khojiaN ne dharti tohi,
labha na par oussda koi raah Tikaana.

ikk dihaarhe khojian diThay sabheyaare,
naal pahaarhi chhehaT ke dou banday laggay,
ikk allooaN chhokra, ikk buDhay waare,
pakarh liyaae dohaN nu Nalluye de aggay.

karke muchhaN kundiyaN te chehra sooha,
vall ohna de kadam dou Nalluye ne puttay,
"chhaitee chhaitee das diyo killi da booha,
nahi taan ander khadd de jaoge suttay."

bit bit buDhay dekheya sajjay te khabbay,
ikk dar khaddaN doonghiyan, ikk dar talwaaraN.
maar khangoora boleya,"je hattan sabhe,
kalla aggay sher de main arz guzaaraN".

karke akhaN nikkiyan te vaaj chhuTairee,
hauli hauli akheya phir buDhay baawe.
"Raah killi da dasnaN main lakhaN vairee,
khauf apne put da mar mainu khaawe".

"bibi daahRhi rakh ke main kiddaN vechaN,
puttar saahweiN iztaN Singha sardaara.
sutt diyo je uss nu dandi toN haiThaN,
raah killi da khol ke main dassaN saara".

chayea ikk jawaan ne munday nu sukka,
wich pataali khadd de sir parne waheya,
hoyea nadda dhehNdiyaN hi tukka tukka,
vatt ke muchhaN buDhray lalkaara layea:

"nahi si tainu dasseya pehlaN sardaara,
apne nikkay putt da dar mainu khaawe?
mattaN alooaN chhokra takk lashkar bhaara,
apni ankhi qaum nu na vatta laawe."

"na hunn khaddaN pohndiyan, na dhamki kayee,
na talwaaraN nangiyaN, na chehra sooha.
hikk buDhay di cheer ke teri sarwaahi,
labhe gi hunn sohneyaN killi da booha".

(Transliteration by Jagjit Sandhu)

Here is Punjabi version.Title is desh pyar


18. ਦੇਸ਼ ਪਿਆਰ

ਰੁੱਖੇ ਪਰਬਤ ਖ਼ੈਬਰੀ, ਦਿੱਸੇ ਨਾ ਤੀਲਾ,
ਖੱਡਾਂ ਵਾਛਾਂ ਅੱਡੀਆਂ ਸੱਜੇ ਤੇ ਖੱਬੇ ।
ਸਿਰ-ਤਲਵਾਈਆਂ ਘਾਟੀਆਂ ਨਾ ਚਲੇ ਹੀਲਾ,
ਕਿੱਲੀ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਜ਼ਮਾਨ ਦੀ ਚੋਟੀ ਤੇ ਫ਼ੱਬੇ ।

ਪੈਰਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਪਹਾੜ ਦੇ ਚਾਰੇ ਹੀ ਪਾਸੇ,
ਹਰੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਦਾਰ ਨੇ ਸਨ ਡੇਰੇ ਲਾਏ ।
ਘੇਰਾ ਚਿੱਟੇ ਤੰਬੂਆਂ ਦਾ ਏਦਾਂ ਭਾਸੇ,
ਜਿਉਂ ਜੱਟੀ ਦੇ ਪੈਰ ਵਿਚ ਪੰਜੇਬ ਸੁਹਾਏ ।

ਰਾਹ ਕਿੱਲੀ ਦਾ ਲੁਕਵਾਂ ਸੀ ਐਸਾ ਕੋਈ,
ਭੇਤੀ ਬਾਝੋਂ ਕਠਨ ਸੀ ਉਸ ਤਾਈਂ ਪਾਣਾ ।
ਚੱਪਾ ਚੱਪਾ ਖੋਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਧਰਤੀ ਟੋਹੀ,
ਲੱਭਾ ਨਾ ਪਰ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਰਾਹ ਟਿਕਾਣਾ ।

ਇੱਕ ਦਿਹਾੜੇ ਖੋਜੀਆਂ ਡਿੱਠੇ ਸਭਿਆਰੇ,
ਨਾਲ ਪਹਾੜੀ ਛਹਿਟ ਕੇ ਦੋ ਬੰਦੇ ਲੱਗੇ ।
ਇਕ ਅਲੂਆਂ ਛੋਕਰਾ, ਇਕ ਬੁੱਢੇ ਵਾਰੇ,
ਪਕੜ ਲਿਆਏ ਦੋਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਲੂਏ ਦੇ ਅੱਗੇ ।

ਕਰ ਕੇ ਮੁੱਛਾਂ ਕੁੰਢੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਚੇਹਰਾ ਸੂਹਾ,
ਵੱਲ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਦਮ ਦੋ ਨਲੂਏ ਨੇ ਪੁੱਟੇ ।
"ਛੇਤੀ ਛੇਤੀ ਦੱਸ ਦਿਓ ਕਿੱਲੀ ਦਾ ਬੂਹਾ,
ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਖੱਡ ਦੇ ਜਾਓਗੇ ਸੁੱਟੇ ।"

ਬਿਟ ਬਿਟ ਬੁੱਢੇ ਵੇਖਿਆ ਸੱਜੇ ਤੇ ਖੱਬੇ,
ਇਕ ਦਰ ਖੱਡਾਂ ਡੂੰਘੀਆਂ, ਇਕ ਦਰ ਤਲਵਾਰਾਂ ।
ਮਾਰ ਖੰਘੂਰਾ ਬੋਲਿਆ, "ਜੇ ਹੱਟਣ ਸੱਭੇ,
ਕੱਲਾ ਅੱਗੇ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਦੇ ਮੈਂ ਅਰਜ਼ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ।"

ਕਰ ਕੇ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਨਿੱਕੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਵਾਜ ਛੁਟੇਰੀ,
ਹੌਲੀ ਹੌਲੀ ਆਖਿਆ ਫਿਰ ਬੁੱਢੇ ਬਾਵੇ ।
"ਰਾਹ ਕਿੱਲੀ ਦਾ ਦੱਸਨਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਲੱਖਾਂ ਵੇਰੀ,
ਖੌਫ਼ ਆਪਣੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਦਾ ਪਰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਖਾਵੇ ।

ਬੀਬੀ ਦਾਹੜੀ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ ਮੈਂ ਕਿੱਦਾਂ ਵੇਚਾਂ,
ਪੁੱਤਰ ਸਾਹਵੇਂ ਇੱਜ਼ਤਾਂ ਸਿੰਘਾ ਸਰਦਾਰਾ ।
ਸੁੱਟ ਦਿਓ ਜੇ ਓਸ ਨੂੰ ਦੰਦੀ ਤੋਂ ਹੇਠਾਂ,
ਰਾਹ ਕਿੱਲੀ ਦਾ ਖੋਲ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਮੈਂ ਦੱਸਾਂ ਸਾਰਾ ।"

ਚਾਇਆ ਇਕ ਜਵਾਨ ਨੇ ਮੁੰਡੇ ਨੂੰ ਸੁੱਕਾ,
ਵਿਚ ਪਤਾਲੀ ਖੱਡ ਦੇ ਸਿਰ ਪਰਨੇ ਵਾਹਿਆ ।
ਹੋਇਆ ਨੱਢਾ ਢਹਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਤੁੱਕਾ ਤੁੱਕਾ,
ਵੱਟ ਕੇ ਮੁੱਛਾਂ ਬੁੱਢੜੇ ਲਲਕਾਰਾ ਲਾਇਆ ।

"ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਰਦਾਰਾ,
ਆਪਣੇ ਨਿੱਕੇ ਪੁੱਤ ਦਾ ਡਰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਖਾਵੇ ?
ਮਤਾਂ ਅਲੂਆਂ ਛੋਕਰਾ ਤੱਕ ਲਸ਼ਕਰ ਭਾਰਾ,
ਆਪਣੀ ਅਣਖੀ ਕੌਮ ਨੂੰ ਨਾ ਵੱਟਾ ਲਾਵੇ ।

ਨਾ ਹੁਣ ਖੱਡਾਂ ਪੋਂਹਦੀਆਂ ਨਾ ਧਮਕੀ ਕਾਈ,
ਨਾ ਤਲਵਾਰਾਂ ਨੰਗੀਆਂ, ਨਾ ਚੇਹਰਾ ਸੂਹਾ ।
ਹਿੱਕ ਬੁੱਢੇ ਦੀ ਚੀਰ ਕੇ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਰਵਾਹੀ,
ਲੱਭੇਗੀ ਹੁਣ ਸੋਹਣਿਆਂ ਕਿੱਲੀ ਦਾ ਬੂਹਾ ।"

By Prof Mohan Singh from Saave pattar

I have one question and need sangat's views on the same.

Even though the Rulers of Patiala (including Raja Ala Singh and Raja Amar Singh) were Amritdhari Sikhs, and created a place for the Sikhs to live and prosper without the continuous struggle with the Mughals, in most books it is mentioned that they were ਮੌਕਾ ਪ੍ਰਸਤ. They helped Abdali and surrendered to him and thus got Maharaja title from him where Sarbat Khalsa was against it and put him to Tankhah. However the story of Rani Sahib Kaur is completely different and every historian mentioned that she had much faith in Guru Sahib and followed Gurmat Sidhaant much more than her ancestors. For this reason in my story book, I want to write about her and not much about Patiala history.

So my question is whether it is ok to just write about her and not much about Patiala Raj as such? Will people be confused when they read good story about her and if they ever read the not-so-good things about her ancestors?

What you have mentioned about the Patiala founders is quite true but we can't hold it against the Rani mentioned in this story. This particular incident does display her valour and faith in Guru Sahib and this ought to be highlighted.

The Malwa Sikh kingdoms of Patiala, Nabha and Jind were partly responsible for the loss of Sikhs in the Anglo-Sikh wars. These kingdoms provided full support to the British against the Sikhs. First they sought protection from the British and this way worked against the Lahore Sikh raj. Then during the Anglo-Sikh wars they worked against the Sikhs. These people were traitors throughout their existence.

Kulbir Singh

Thanks for sharing this excellent poem Bhai Inder Singh jeeo. What a wonderful poem but is there any historical evidence to backup this incident? It's hard to believe that the Singhs under the command of legendary Sardar Hari Singh jee Nalwa, killed an innocent child just to find gate to the fort. There must be something else to the story or perhaps the story is a piece of fiction to highlight the bravery of the Pathans.

Kulbir Singh

Rani Sahib Kaur took khande bate dee pahul at very young age and was a devout sikh. She was married to heir of kanayia misl Sardar Jaimal singh.They were in control of area of present Gurdaspur district.

She came from there to help her brother.Had she not been there sikh troops outnumbered by Marhatas might have lost the battle.Same brother, Raja Sahib singh, imprisoned her later twice just on whims of his queen. That is how Patiala Raja proved to be thankless person.

Bhai Kulbir singh jeo

I am also of the view that this is fiction as historical evidence goes against this story.Shah Zaman was grandson of Ahmed shah abdali.
He was overthrown in a coup around 1800,blinded and imprisoned where he breathed his last.

It is a tribute to bravery of pathans.Prof Mohan singh was born in that area( Mardan) and knew these people very well.

Kulbir Singh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What you have mentioned about the Patiala founders
> is quite true but we can't hold it against the
> Rani mentioned in this story. This particular
> incident does display her valour and faith in Guru
> Sahib and this ought to be highlighted.
>
> The Malwa Sikh kingdoms of Patiala, Nabha and Jind
> were partly responsible for the loss of Sikhs in
> the Anglo-Sikh wars. These kingdoms provided full
> support to the British against the Sikhs. First
> they sought protection from the British and this
> way worked against the Lahore Sikh raj. Then
> during the Anglo-Sikh wars they worked against the
> Sikhs. These people were traitors throughout
> their existence.
>
> Kulbir Singh

That's true. But in defense of the Malwa kingdoms for coming under British protectorate, they had to survive. They had seen how all the misls had been swallowed up by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They knew after the misls their turn was next. Before the british arrived, Maharaja Ranjit Singh began his campaigns in Malwa flexing his muscles. This made the Malwa kingdoms nervous. When the British came, the Nabha Raja (who was the Mama of Maharaja Ranjit Singh) advised and led all the Malwa chiefs to save their territories by coming under British protection. The mistake (actually sinful paap) they did was to give full support to the British during the anglo Sikh wars. This was betrayal of the Panth.

Now as for Lahore kingdom. On one hand, Maharaja Ranjit Singh swallowed up all of the Sikh misls and on the other hand he turned the Dogra brothers who were petty employees of his darbar into Rajas of Jammu(!) and even allowed them to have their own powerful armies and the right to build forts which he did not allow anyone else to do in his kingdom! He could have very well have give Jammu to some Sikh Sardar like Hari Singh Nalwa who gave everything including his life for the Sikh kingdom. But Maharaja Ranjit Singh was more interested in giving top positions to non Sikhs than he was to Sikh sardars. He only used Sikhs for military purposes.

So granted, the Malwa kingdoms made a lot of mistakes and even betrayed the Panth during the Anglo Sikh war, but Maharaja Ranjit Singh caused our downfall indirectly by bestowing favour upon favour on the Dogras and other non Sikhs while taking away privilege after privilege of powerful Sikh Sardars rendering them powerless.

Quote

That's true. But in defense of the Malwa kingdoms for coming under British protectorate, they had to survive. They had seen how all the misls had been swallowed up by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They knew after the misls their turn was next. Before the british arrived, Maharaja Ranjit Singh began his campaigns in Malwa flexing his muscles. This made the Malwa kingdoms nervous. When the British came, the Nabha Raja (who was the Mama of Maharaja Ranjit Singh) advised and led all the Malwa chiefs to save their territories by coming under British protection. The mistake (actually sinful paap) they did was to give full support to the British during the anglo Sikh wars. This was betrayal of the Panth.

Now as for Lahore kingdom. On one hand, Maharaja Ranjit Singh swallowed up all of the Sikh misls and on the other hand he turned the Dogra brothers who were petty employees of his darbar into Rajas of Jammu(!) and even allowed them to have their own powerful armies and the right to build forts which he did not allow anyone else to do in his kingdom! He could have very well have give Jammu to some Sikh Sardar like Hari Singh Nalwa who gave everything including his life for the Sikh kingdom. But Maharaja Ranjit Singh was more interested in giving top positions to non Sikhs than he was to Sikh sardars. He only used Sikhs for military purposes.

So granted, the Malwa kingdoms made a lot of mistakes and even betrayed the Panth during the Anglo Sikh war, but Maharaja Ranjit Singh caused our downfall indirectly by bestowing favour upon favour on the Dogras and other non Sikhs while taking away privilege after privilege of powerful Sikh Sardars rendering them powerless.

I don't think this is a fair and balanced description of one of the greatest military and political leaders of the panth. Its true that Raja Ranjit Singh Ji took leadership by fighting against other Gursikhs( misils) but when in power he was a good ruler. His government was respected by both Hindus and Muslims and people of these religions even had government positions. Also during his reign Sikhi spread the same way Buddhism spread during Asokas time. It was through Raja Ranjit Singh Jis time Sikhi spread the most especially in places like the Doaba.

Even though Im against Raja Ranjit SIngh hiring European officals to lead the Khalsa Fauj im not against him hiring European officials for practical and tactical reasons. The Anglos fought via conventional warfare. The Khalsa was use to gureilla warfare and were not familiar with the set up and stratergie of conventional warfare; thus It made sense to hire those who knew the war tactics of the enemy. The only mistake Raja Ranjit Singh Ji made was giving them key positions in the Fauj. They should of just hired as ordinary mercenaries . Raja Ranjit Singh still gave key positions to the Khalsa. His top position ( right hand man) was given to Akali Phoola Singh who Raja Ranjit Singh respected deeply . Even when Raja Ranjit Singh broke Rehat Maryada as a king he still had enough humility/principles to accept punishment of being slashed in the public.

Jammu was not granted to Dogras by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After first anglo sikh war.Dogra Gulab singh paid Rs 50 lakhs to Lahore Darbar and was given Jammu and kashmir. This money was to be paid to British as war damages.

Of course dogra Gulab singh was a traitor and he was leaking all information to English about war strategy. Trust in Dogras was the cause of fall of sikh empire.

Inder singh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jammu was not granted to Dogras by Maharaja Ranjit
> Singh. After first anglo sikh war.Dogra Gulab
> singh paid Rs 50 lakhs to Lahore Darbar and was
> given Jammu and kashmir. This money was to be paid
> to British as war damages.
>
> Of course dogra Gulab singh was a traitor and he
> was leaking all information to English about war
> strategy. Trust in Dogras was the cause of fall of
> sikh empire.


Kashmir was not part of Jammu during the Sikh era. The two were separate. The Dogra brothers who were Mulazims/servants of Lahore kingdom were given Jammu by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and turned into "Rajas". Kashmir valley which at the time was separate was given to the Dogras by the British for betraying the Sikhs, the Dogras had paid the British with the money they had looted from the Lahore treasury. For the first time in history it was under the Dogras, this state began to be known as "Jammu & Kashmir" state.

Until then Jammu and Kashmir had always been seperate political entities. During the misl period, Raja Ranjit Dev the ruler of Jammu paid tribute to the Sikhs while Kashmir was a different entity under Afghan rule and never paid tribute to the Sikhs until Maharaja Ranjit Singh conquered it. During the misl period, the Bhangis tried to lead an expedition to Kashmir but they generally turned back because they did not know how to fight in such high mountains.

People of Jammu are not Kashmiris. The people of Jammu speak Dogri(which is a dialect of Punjabi) and the Dogras are primarily Hindu while Kashmiris are Muslim and Dardic by race who speak Kashmiri language. Dogras as much as we hate them for betraying the Sikhs actually have a martial history(most of them are Rajputs) while Kashmiris are not martial at all. Most of these "Kashmiri" militants are actually Punjabi Muslims from across the border.

Jammu and kashmir were separate during Ranjit singh reign. Gulab singh was made Raja of Jammu and his brother Suchet singh was made raja of another area. But it was a jagir and not independence to them.They were still under khalsa rule.

Jagirs were given to many others also.Difference in case of dogra brothers was that in case of their death their descendants could inherit those.But there were conditions that overall power is of khalsa sarkar and they have to be at order of khalsa or Lahore sarkar.

Case for example is of Gen Zorawer singh.He was in the employ of Raja Gulab singh.He overtook Leh and ladakh.He met his death in Tibet.Finally there was a treaty between Maharaja sher singh and chinese in which principal signatory was khalsa sarkar.

So Raja Gulab singh was not given an independent territory but a jagir with extended rights and he and his descendants had to be faithful to Ranjit singh and his descendants. Jagir was given to Hari Singh Nalwa also but it was taken back on his death.

During Vajpayee period as Prime minister of India, there was a meeting between China and India in which Indians told chinese not to lay claim over Ladakh.Chinese foreign minister told that Ladakh was given to sikhs and they had treaty with khalsa sarkar only.

Singh1699,

Much of the information you are giving about Raja Ranjit Singh Ji is not true and cant be backed up with factual evidence. Can you provide any sources from any Sikh historians to the claims you are proposing. Much of what you say seems like its coming from British sources. I cant understand why you are slandering a great Sikh personality. The same anti-Sikhs who slander Sant Jarnail Singh making outrageous claims such as Sant Ji was a Indian agent are no different then those anti-Sikhis who make up info. to slander Raja Ranjit Singh Ji. Raja Ranjit Singh Ji was a great warrior from a great warrior family. His father, grandfather, and great grandfather were great Sikh warriors. His great grandfather Bhai Budh SIngh JI had over 40 knife, sword and gun wounds. He was named after his great grandfather ( Budh Singh)by Raja Ranjit Singh Jis mother, but when Raja Ranjit Singhs father Bhai Mahan Singh came back after winning a war he names his son Ranjit Singh. Raja Ranjt Singh would often accompany his father Mahan Singh who was jathedar of Sukerchakia Misil in wars. He loved the panth and did everyhthing to unite the panth. You previously wrote:

Quote

Now as for Lahore kingdom. On one hand, Maharaja Ranjit Singh swallowed up all of the Sikh misls and on the other hand he turned the Dogra brothers who were petty employees of his darbar into Rajas of Jammu(!) and even allowed them to have their own powerful armies and the right to build forts which he did not allow anyone else to do in his kingdom! He could have very well have give Jammu to some Sikh Sardar like Hari Singh Nalwa who gave everything including his life for the Sikh kingdom. But Maharaja Ranjit Singh was more interested in giving top positions to non Sikhs than he was to Sikh sardars. He only used Sikhs for military purposes.

Almost every sentence you have written is not true. Lahore which was the capital of Punjab was governed by Muslims when Raja Ranjit SIngh Ji was jathedar of Sukerchakia Misil. The Misil which resided in Lahore was the Bhangi Misi,l but they had no control over Lahore. Raja Ranjit Singh Ji dreamed of a united Sikh army with their own kingdom he knew that to make a united Sikh kingdom then Lahore must be taken over by Singhs. Bhangi Misil did not have leadership they didnt have the tact nor audacity to take over Lahore; however, Raja Ranjit Singh Ji did. There is one occasion when Raja Ranjit Singh Ji went underground of Shah Jamans fort and called him out to a one one duel, but the Shah was too cowardly too fight the brave warrior Raja Ranjit Singh JI. Raja Ranjit Singh Ji helped the Bhangi Misil take over Lahore as soon as Lahore was taken over by the Singhs , then Raja Ranjit Singh Ji returned back to Sukerchakia and left leadership under the control of Bhangi Misil. However, the Bhangi did not have strong leadership. The sardars of the Bhangi Misil started arguing and fighting with one another and the Muslims decided to take advantage of this disunity by overthrowing the Bhangi Misisl. Thereafter, Raja Ranjit Singh Ji came back to Lahore as he knew how important it was for Singhs to rule Lahore as Lahore was the Capital of Punjab. Raja Ranjit Singh Ji took control over Bhanjgi with the help of Kaniya Misil , and some other Misils. After taking back control of Lahore he told Singhs not to harm or loot anyone. The chiefs of the Bhangi Misil were given large estates to govern. In addition, both Muslims and Hindus respected his rule as he was a fair ruler.

Raja Ranjit Singh Ji did give key positions to singhs like Hari Singh Nalwa. Hari Singh was made general of an infrantry consiting of 800 horseman no other infrantry in the Sikh Raj was awarded with such a strong population. He only give Genereal Commander" positions to European men during the Anglo Sikh War as these European men were trained in convential warfare and were rivals of the British .

It has been written in many secret intelligence letters written by Khushal Singh to Pune court about everyday activities of Ranjit Singh that he not only drank sharaab but also entertained himself with female dancers. He extended special favours to a particular kanjri of lahore. There is a kanjri pul (bridge) too which was named after her.

Quote

He extended special favours to a particular kanjri of lahore. There is a kanjri pul (bridge) too which was named after her

Waaheguru Waaheguru..... The same way people try to defame the great panthic leader Banda Singh Bahadur JI with numerous allegations is very similar to the way people try to defame the great panthic leader Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji. Where is the tangible proof of these allegations? Don't let your biased emotions cloud your judgement. Think logically. Before the British conquered all of India the last state for them to conquer was Punjab. Why? The simple being Punjab was the strongest state, because it has the strongest leader ( MahaRaja Ranjit SIngh Ji)

Maharaja Ranjit Singh was an intelligent leader. If he was the alcoholic and druggie people claim him to be then how is it he could control Punjab and extend his territory all the way to the East of Jammu? If he was such a kurehti why would Singh like Hari Singh Nalwa support him? SInghs of his time where not like the Singhs of our time ,they would never support a fake leader. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji united the Singhs into one Sikh kingdom and most of the Misils supported him.

We are not talking about Rani Sahib Kaur Patiala in the topic named so, so maybe we should just relax. Our history has many questions (mainly because we didn't save it and it has lot of milaawat) and the need is to research and present it which is in line with Gurbani (jo Gurbani di kasvatti te khara utre). Gursikhs need to get together to do so as it is not few people task.

My understanding after reading many history books and critically analyzing them for my research is as below. There is no doubt that Ranjit Singh was a fair ruler but he was not a Gursikh. He did respect Sikhi from his heart (which is little different than being a strong Gursikh by himself). The relation between him and Akali Phoola Singh Ji or him and Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa is another topic and maybe I will write on this form sometime later.

Sukhdeep Singh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Maharaja Ranjit Singh was an intelligent leader.
> If he was the alcoholic and druggie people claim
> him to be then how is it he could control Punjab
> and extend his territory all the way to the East
> of Jammu? If he was such a kurehti why would Singh
> like Hari Singh Nalwa support him? SInghs of his
> time where not like the Singhs of our time ,they
> would never support a fake leader. Maharaja Ranjit
> Singh Ji united the Singhs into one Sikh kingdom
> and most of the Misils supported him.

Drinking alcohol and still being able to function well not something utterly incredible. Punjabis have lot amongst them who have the genetics to consume a lot of alcohol. And who said Ranjit Singh was a completely lost drug addict?

Veerji if you think that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a Gurmukh and all aspects of his life and his raaj were a manifestation of pure khalsa life then you are unfortunately entertaining ideas removed from true historical reality. Ranjit Singh was a a great ruler. He certainly was. But he was an ambitious conqueror too. He decimated other Sardars and other misls to come to power. He was not unanimously chosen as a panthic leader. He captured power from others.

You perhaps are unaware that his tolerance towards other religions extended beyond what a secular ruler would have. He actively promoted and indulged with Hindu temples. He offered a large number jewels and sums of money to Hindu temples. I have also read that he married according to hindu rites.
As far as people surrounding him are concerned, it was an orderly court as long as he lived, because he was strong and was feared. Look at the burchagardi which took place after him. They even killed Baba Bir Singh, a kamai wale Sant.

When we look at khalsa's military exploits we should keep a mature viewpoint. The phenomenon of military activities attracts all kinds of people, and saint soldiers are NOT the first and the major groups. Usually the people who have aggressive nature and who are comfortable in a violent environment are attracted to such things. They look for opportunity in such events. And in Khalsa exploits, it would be an error to think that everyone involved was a gurmukh and who came because of higher khalsa ideals. No, all kinds of people came. In Khalsa army young boys enrolled themselves simply because of rozgaar. Read 'Jangnama Singhan te Firangian'. Shah Muhammed was an ardent admirer of 'Sarkar'. And he clearly says:

ਜਦੋਂ ਪਿਆ ਹਰਾਸ ਤੇ ਕਰਨ ਗੱਲਾ , ਮੁੰਡੇ ਘੋੜਚੜੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਛੋਕਰੇ ਜੀ
ਕਿਤੇ ਜਾਇਕੇ ਚਾਰ ਦਿਨ ਕੱਟ ਆਈਏ , ਕਿਥੋਂ ਪਏ ਗੋਰੇ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਓਪਰੇ ਜੀ

This was far from 'khalsa' ideal. For 10 years blood was shed in Lahore darbar. What do you think Lahore darbar was like? It was full of power hungary people who did not hesitate to do anything for power. It was not just the dogras who are to blame. The whole army was directionless and came under one influence after the other.
Ranjit Singh was the right person in the right times and he came to power. But to think he was a gurmukh or even a practicing sikh is unwarranted in face of so much which can be read in historical documents. And to dismiss everything written by non-sikh as untrue is immature.

For those who are not familiar with Ranjit Singh's affair with Moran (ਮੋਰਾਂ ਕੰਜਰੀ):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pul_Kanjri

Personally, I do not have a problem with Ranjit Singh's personal life because I simply do not expect anything higher or greater from him. I do not expect him to have a gursikhi jivan. He was a great ruler and I leave it at that.

It is impossible for us common people to imagine what it is like to have such unchallenged power and what it is like to have everything at one's beck and call. We probably would be the first ones to succumb to maya if we were in such a place. Great rishi munis succumbed , Ranjit Singh is nothing.

My issue with M Ranjit Singh is not his personal life. He was a man of his time and Sikhs of that time period were not as pure khalsa as the Sikhs of the 1700s, many Vikaars had crept into the Sikh lifestyle. But even then, I would say those Sikhs of the 1800s were a hundred times better than Sikhs of today.

My issue with M Ranjit Singh is, why he gave so many favours to non-Sikhs(Hindus, Muslims, Europeans), yet he took away so much from Sikh sardars. He turned powerful Sikhs families into minor Jagirdars and after they died he took away their Jagir. He did not even spare Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa who literally built his empire from Satluj to NW Frontier. When Sardar Nalwa died, he confiscated his Jagir instead of letting his family keep it! Yet Dogra brothers who were nothing to begin with were given the title of Raja and given Jammu which was the richest Pahari Riaasat and also their land became hereditary. He allowed them to build forts in Riaasat of Jammu while even Raja Fateh Singh Ahluwalia who helped M Ranjit Singh so much was not given this privilege. When Fateh Singh Ahluwalia had built a small minor fort, Ranjit Singh forgot everything and took note of this and immediately called him to Lahore. Fateh Singh Ahluwalia who had seen how M Ranjit Singh swallowed up other Misls sensed danger and crossed the Satluj into British territory.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh was an extremely secular person and promoted secularism instead of promoting Sikhi aggressively and that's probably the reason why Sikhi didn't end up dominating Punjab demographically even though Sikhs were dominating Punjab. I would say M Ranjit Singh is the first secular Sikh and to this day we are suffering from this secularist mindset that he infected us with. What we need is a Banda Singh Bahadur or Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindralwala type of leader who can aggressively put Sikhi back into our agenda.

Im utterly shocked in some of the allegations directed towards one of the greatest Sikh warrior/leader in Sikh history.

1. Ranjit SIngh was not a Gursikh ( Harmeet Singh)
2. Ranjit Singh e was a power hungry womanizer ( eyesacademic)
3. Ranjit Singh did nothing to spread Sikhi ( Singh1699)

1. Maharaja Ranjit SIngh Ji comes from a long line of SIkh warriors. His own father was the Jathedar of Sukerchaika Misil. What type of Gursikh father would not raise his child as a Sikh. Ranjit Singh had the last name Singh. This is a Sikh last name. Ranjit Singh was a brave warrior in which sarab loh ran through his veins. Where did he get this bravery from? If not from the power of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jis amrit then where? Perhaps Eyesacademic would suggest he got it from opium.

2. Eyesacademic , after reading your comments I take you are getting most of your info from the heretic Kushwant Singh. He is not a credible historian . Ranjit Singh was not power hungry. His goal and dream was to unite the Sikhs together and from a Sikh kingdom. Under his leadership Sikhi became thee main dharma in Punjab.

3. 1699, what do you mean Ranjit SIngh didn't spread Sikhi? Without him many Gurdwara Sahibs such as Sri Hazoor Sahib would not be in existence. Many of the Gurdwara Sahibs in Lahore would have been converted into Mosques. Sikhi spread the most during his rule. What Asoka was to Buddhism , and Constantine to Chirstianity , Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was too SIkhi. We should respect such leaders instead of trying to dirty up their name.

Sukhdeep Singh ji,

I dislike Khushwant Singh for one than one reasons. One of those reasons are that he made fools of his readers all his life, wrote semi-erotic froth and made money out of it. Khushwant Singh personifies everything which I feel modern age lets people get away with. Khushwant Singh was hardly a historian. I ll leave it at that.

I ask you. What about the letters written by Khushal Singh, to rajas of pune? The book has been published by Bhasha Vibhaag Panjab. Please try to get your hands on it. The book is in my collection back home in India otherwise I would have scanned pages and put up for you to read it. Its a journal of daily activities of Ranjit Singh. You might probably say its all made up. Well thats not what historians believe. The letter are available in original and book was made from that. It has dates and times of the day intact. Its a daily diary of intelligence. Just this one evidence is hard enough.

Do you even wish to talk about kanjri pul? About Moran kanjri? Do you refute it? Do you think that you can refute anything that does not suit your utopian, idealistic khalsa raaj dream?

And what kind of logic is this that Ranjit Singh's father was a great warrior and a khalsa and therefore his son should be the same? That is naive. Have you forgotten that even the sons of our Gurus went off the path? Do you not know this already?

Its so easy to say the words ' His goal and dream was to unite the Sikhs together and form a Sikh kingdom'. Well its largely true, but to think that he did this out of his higher altruistic nature is naive. He did it for himself. Of course he was not an evil person. Every good king has two sides. He wishes to rule but he wishes to rule in a just and good manner.

Here is a brief write-up about the intelligence letters I am referring to:

http://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/writings-by-non-sikhs-on-sikhs-and-punjab/akhbar-i-darbar-i-maharaja-ranjit-singh

I dont know if the whole book is available online somewhere.

Eyesacademic, you need to understand that Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji had many haters ( enemies) . They wanted to undermine and take over his leadership and they spread many rumors similar to the way such people did of our great leader Banda Singh Bahadur. Dont you notice there is a trend amongst people to defile Sikh leaders. Even today people speak badly about Sant Jarnail Singh Ji who was nothing short of a saint. People claiming that he took opium is no different then people claiming Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji taking opium. She would believe this as well?

Ranjit Singh Ji came from a line of brave warriors. Sikhi was in his blood. You need to understand how Misils and how they were developed. The jathedars of these Misils werent power hungry Feudal Lords as as many modern historians claim. Sukerchakia Misil ( misil of Ranjit Singh Ji) was developed by supervising a piece of land that was subject to crooks and thieves. Suckerchakia built a fort and kept such people away from this territory. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji united all these terrotories into one kingdom . Why cant you accept it? Stop dirtying his name unless you have valid proof. read the writings ( Sada Virsa) of Giani Harbans Singh Ji he is a Gumukh who has done his reserach. He gives a fair and balanced history on the great leader.

Though not related to the thread, there are some misunderstandings that should be clarified.

1) Deoribardar ( Head of guards at entrance of fort) was a very important position in Ranjit singh's reign. He exercised lot powers whom Maharaja
should see and also had the knowledge of inside news.Misr Beli Ram, who also saw after treasury affairs, was a deoribardar to begin with, He was
loyal to khalsa raj.His position was given to Jamadar Khushal singh ( i suppose the one mentioned by eyesacademic).He was a Brahmin but enjoyed confidence of Maharaja. He once behaved rudely with Diwan chand ( A very respected figure) when he cane to see Maharaja.On his complaint he was removed.Another person occupied that place and next was Dogra Dhian singh to take that position. I mean Jamadar Kushal singh had power in the beginning of sikh empire.It is perfectly possible he might be working as an inteligent agent for others. But it is of no consequence as far as safety of khalsa empire was concerned.Real Damage was done by Dhian singh by creating infighting among sikhs.

2) Maharaja ranjit singh's mother was daughter of Mahraja gajpat singh of Jind. She was very brave lady known as "Mai Malvain."

3) Ranjit singh was not a perfect man.But he had love for sikhi at heart.Sikhism flourished during his reign.If he had affair with Moran, akali phoola singh summoned him and he appeared at akal takhat and submitted to punishment in all humilty.

4) sikhism flourished in numbers during his rule and he was the one who donated for gold gilding of Harmandir sahib.He got written at door of gold gilding that Guru sahib dee kirpa naal isdi seva satguru de nimane sikh Ranjit singh ih seva keeti. He was humble.

5) He treated other religions without bias. A sikh should treat humanity on equal basis. Muslims of Punjab remained loyal to sikh empire till the end.Proof is victory of sikhs at Chiilianwala(during second anglo sikh war) an area that had very large Muslim population.Sikh artillery had many muslims in it.

6) Though having personal weaknesses Ranjit singh's rule was very good for flourishing sikhism.

Sukhdeep Singh ji. You can quote one author and I can quote several others. This is going nowhere. If I quote any book by non-sikh for example Faqir Sayed Waheeduddin you would reject it by saying they hated Ranjit Singh or whatever. Nothing can be done to convince a person whose view is not balanced. You are welcome to your opinions as I have to mine.

Ranjit Singh is my hero too, but there is a difference. You see him as a perfect Gursikh. I see him as what a Maharaja should be. And I accept his weaknesses. I do not care little for these because he had a greater role to play as a Maharaja.

Secondly there is no comparison between Sant Jarnail Singh ji and Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh is no comparison. He was just a great ruler, that is it. Nowhere near the avastha and padvi of a Sant.


Let me clarify a couple of points. The following are NOT in question:

- That Ranjit Singh was a man of brilliant political intellect and leadership.
- That he was able to forge a united Sikh kingdom
- That he was a secular king and treated all religions with respect
- That he had love for Sikhi and respect for true Khalsas like Akali Phoola Singh

What has been disputed is:

- That he was a perfect gursikh- He was not. He had many personal weaknesses of wine and women. The case of Moran has been pointed out. It is a historical and an undeniable fact. Would a perfect gursikh even as much as come near a muslim concubine? And yet you do not believe it. Its your right to do so.

- That whatever subjugation he did of others, he did it out of altruistic ideals.

There has enough been written about these but if you think Ranjit Singh was perfect and he could have no weakness at all , well that is your right to think like that.

Again I do not care much Ranjit Singh's personal life, its just in the context that these things have come in the discussion. Lets just stop the argument here. It is of no use dragging it on any more.

Wow, it seems like this is not going to end. If you all put this much effort in writing a poem on Rani Sahib Kaur Patiala, kids would benefit the most.