Retd IAF officer ends life 'for son?'

                                    Air Vice-Marshal Manjit Singh Dhillon

CHANDIGARH: He fought bravely in many battles, but couldn't go on in the conflict with his emotions. In yet another tragic instance of the empty nest syndrome, a highly decorated retired officer of the defence forces, Air Vice-Marshal Manjit Singh Dhillon, 69, committed suicide by shooting himself below the chin with his .12 bore rifle on Wednesday morning. He did this reportedly because his son was not willing to stay with him and his wife.

"He was asking Paramjit (his son) to settle in Chandigarh and stay with the family, but he never came," his shattered wife Harpreet Kaur Dhillon told the police. Investigators said that Paramjit worked with an MNC in Delhi.

In her statement to cops, Harpreet said she was asleep in their Sector-35 house when she heard a gunshot at about 7.30 am and quickly went to the room from where the noise came.

"I saw that Manjit was lying in a pool of blood," she recalled with horror. Forensic experts said the bullet had got lodged in Dhillon"s brain. They added that the empty shell of the cartridge had been recovered along with the rifle.

Harpreet said she immediately informed her son and daughter living in Delhi. Police were informed about the incident three hours after the incident.

Explaining the reason for delay, Harpreet said, "I wanted my children to come and carry out formalities of reporting the matter to the police." Cops said they discovered some notings on the mirror of Dhillon's bedroom and one of them read, "Raja gets a salary of Rs 2 lakh per month." "From his wife and neighbours" statements, we could gather that he was suffering from depression. His wife said they felt lonely as their children stayed away," said Sector-36 station house officer Anokh Singh.

Dhillon had received the Vir Chakra for an evacuation operation on the Indo-Pak border in 1971 when he was a young flight lieutenant. He underwent a helicopter flight training in England and had also received the Vayu Sena Medal. Sources said he had moved to Chandigarh in 1997 after his retirement. His colleagues referred to him as a tough, quiet and non-interfering person. "Last evening, he met me on a walk and told me about an Air Force seminar. He seemed very interested," said Air Marshal (retd) Randhir Singh, who lives near his house. He said it did not seem that Dhillon could have been contemplating suicide.

"This is not the way a Vir Chakra recipient's life should end," said Randhir Singh. Air Marshal (retd) RS Bedi said he had met Dhillon two weeks ago and never ever imagined a person like him could commit suicide.

Source : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-05/chandigarh/28054212_1_air-marshal-vir-chakra-chandigarh

Param Vir Chakra - L/Nk Karam Singh

Lance Naik Karam Singh was born on 15 September 1915, in Barnala, Punjab. He was enrolled in 1 Sikh on 15 September 1941. He had earned a Military Medal in World War II. During the Jammu & Kashmir operations in the summer of 1948 the Indian Army made substantial gains in the Tithwal sector. The led to the capture of Tithwal of 23 May 1948. The enemy fled in utter confusion across the Kishanganga after dumping their arms and equipment in the river. But the enemy quickly recovered from this shock. They re-organised their forces and mounted a strong counter-attack to recover the lost ground. As a result, the Indian Army could not withstand the enemy pressure and withdrew from their positions across the Kishanganga river. Finally, they settled on the Tithwal ride to take on the enemy.

The battle of Tithwal went on for months. The enemy could not, however, make a dent on the Indian defences. On October 13th, they launched a desperate attack in brigade strength to evict the Indian Army from their strongly held positions. The objective was to recapture Richhmar Gali to the south of Tithwal and to outflank the Indian Army by marching on to Nastachur Pass to the east of Tithwal. Both attempts failed. During this attack, some bitter fighting took place in the Richhmar Gali area on the night of October 13th. The attack commenced with heavy shelling of guns and mortar. The fire was so devastating that nearly all bunkers in the platoon area were damaged. In this action the 1 Sikh played a very important role in beating back the enemy onslaught. Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a forward outpost when the enemy launched the attack. His post was attacked by the enemy in vastly superior strength. The outpost was attacked eight times and the Sikhs repulsed the enemy every time. When ammunition ran short, Lance Naik Karam Singh joined the main company position, knowing fully well that due to the heavy enemy shelling no help would be forthcoming. Although himself wounded, he brought back two injured comrades with the help of a third mate.

Ringed by enemy fire, it was almost impossible for them to break out. Ignoring all dangers, he crawled from place to place encouraging his men to keep up the fight. Often he beat back the enemy with grenades. Twice wounded, he refused evacuation and continued to hold on to the first-line trenches. The fifth enemy attack was very intense. Two enemy soldiers came so close to his position that he could not engage them without hitting his men. Lance Naik Karam Singh, jumped out of his trench and bayoneted the two intruders to death. This bold action so demoralised the enemy that they broke off the attack. Three more enemy attacks which followed were also repulsed by Lance Naik Karam Singh and his men. Lance Naik Karam Singh was an inspiration to his comrades and a threat to the enemy. He was honoured with the highest wartime gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra, for his outstanding role in the battle of Tithwal. 

Source :  http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Personnel/PVCs/131-Karam-Singh.html

General Bikram Singh

              General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC

General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC is an alumnus of Punjab Public School, Nabha. He was commissioned into The Sikh Light Infantry in March 1972.

During his military career spanning over forty years, the General has held various high profile Command and Staff appointments. He has commanded an Infantry Battalion in the North East and on the Line of Control in J&K, a RR Sector and an Infantry Division in Northern Command. He has commanded 15 Corps and Eastern Command. He has served in three UN Peace Keeping Missions. 

The General has also held important staff appointments at Army Headquarters, which include tenures in Military Operations, Perspective Planning and Staff Duties. 

Besides holding two Masters Degrees from India, he also holds a Masters Degree in Strategic Defence Studies from the USA.

The General is an avid sportsman. Cricket, Athletics and Hockey are his favourite games.

General Pran Nath Thapar

General Pran Nath Thapar assumed charge of the Indian Army, as the 5th Chief of Army Staff, on 07 May 1961. He was born on 08 May 1906, into a prominent Punjabi family. He was the youngest son of Diwan Bahadur Kunj Behari Thapar of Lahore. The historian Romila Thapar is his niece and the conservationalist and tiger expert, Valmik Thapar is his great nephew.In March 1936, Thapar married Bimla Devi, the eldest daughter of Rai Bahadur Bashiram Sahgal and granddaughter of Rai Bahadur Ramsaran Das. Bimla Thapar was a sister of Col. Sahgal, whose wife Nayantara Sahgal was a daughter of Vijayalakshmi Pandit and niece of Jawaharlal Nehru. General Thapar and Smt. Bimla Thapar had four children, of whom the youngest is the prominent journalist Karan Thapar.

He was educated at Government College in Lahore and was commissioned into the 1st Punjab Regiment from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in 1926. As a regimental officer, he spent nearly ten years with the 1st Punjab Regiment and later attended staff courses at Quetta (in present-day Pakistan) and at Minley-Manor in England. During the Second World War, he saw service in Burma in 1941, followed by a tenure in 1943-44 in the Middle East and Italy. In 1945, he was appointed as the Assistant Military Secretary, General Headquarters in India. Later on, he was selected to serve on the Army Reorganization Committee. After victory over Japan in 1945, he commanded the 1st Battalion of his parent regiment in Indonesia during the national trouble in that country in 1946. Later he commanded the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade in East Bengal.

On the advent of partition and during its first turbulent months, General Thapar served as the Director of Military Operations & Intelligence at Army Headquarters from August 1947 to December 1947. In November 1947, he was promoted to Major General and officiated for a few months as the Chief of General Staff and later appointed as the Military Secretary, a post he held till August 1949. This was followed by his appointment as the Master General of Ordnance from August 1949 to April 1950. He served as the Colonel of The Rajputana Rifles from 18 July 1949 to 20 July 1963.

General Thapar commanded an Infantry Division for about four years and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 1954 as Commander of a Corps. He held this appointment till December 1955 when he was selected to attend the Imperial Defence College in London from January to December 1956. On successful completion of the course, he was appointed as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command and later took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command on 25 May 1959. He hails from a distinguished family and brought to his high office a wealth of experience & knowledge gained on various fronts during his 35 years of service. He was forced to resign from the Indian Army on 19 November 1962, after the debacle of the 1962 Indo-China War. A keen tennis and golf player, he was at one time the Defence Services' tennis champion. After retirement, he was appointed as Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan from August 1964 and held that appointment till 01 January 1969. He passed away on 23 January 1975, at the age of 69.

Source : http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Personnel/Chiefs/126-PN-Thapar.html

General Deepak Kapoor

PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC

Chief Of the Army Staff (COAS)

General Deepak Kapoor assumed charge of the Indian Army, as the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, on 30 September 2007. Born in 1948, he was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on 11 June 1967. His distinguished career in the Indian Army, spanning an illustrious four decades, is a blend of professional and zealous soldiering, during which he has held varied command and as well as staff appointments. A veteran of the 1971 Indo-Pak War in the eastern theatre (Bangladesh), he is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington and has completed the Higher Command Course at the National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi. He served as the Chief Operations Officer for UNOSOM II (United Nations Operation in Somalia - Phase 2) during 1994-95 and was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in January 1996 for his splendid efforts.

General Kapoor commanded the 161 Infantry Brigade in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir which was actively involved in operations along the Line of Control. He led from the front and constantly guided his units in maintaining prime operational readiness and was thus awarded the Sena Medal in January 1998 for his devotion to duty. He commanded the 22nd Mountain Division as part of a Strike Corps during Operation Parakram in 2001-02. He was thereafter deeply involved in counter insurgency operations effectively tackling insurgency in Assam, as Chief of Staff of 4 Corps in Tezpur. On promotion to Lieutenant General, he commanded 33 Corps at Siliguri, West Bengal. For his distinguished service as a Corps Commander, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2006. On elevation to the appointment of Army Commander, he commanded the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) in Shimla. Thereafter he moved to spearhead the Northern Command, the largest and most sensitive operational command in the Indian Army, deployed over varied terrain and was once again actively involved in COIN operations. Due to his relentless efforts, he not only brought down the insurgency level and subsequent infiltration, but also won the hearts & minds of the local populace. For his commendable efforts, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2007.

General Kapoor has been appointed as the Honorary Aide-De-Camp to the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the President of India. He is also the senior Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery. As Vice Chief of Army Staff, he has been instrumental in taking critical decisions at the highest level with far reaching implications. Besides conceptualizing the Indian Army's vision for the future, these issues range from man management of the second largest Army in the world, procurement of weapons & equipment to ensuring a high state of operational preparedness at all times. He is also a keen sportsman and besides being an avid golfer, he has played hockey, basketball and tennis at various levels. He has an abiding interest in self improvement and acquisition of knowledge, in pursuance of which he acquired three Master's Degrees in Political Science, Military Science and Business Administration, the latter which he completed at the Indira Gandhi National Open University in New Delhi. He also holds a diploma in Business Management. He is married to Mrs. Kirti Kapoor and they have two children - a daughter and a son, both of whom are married.

Upon taking over as Army Chief, General Kapoor said: "It is with immense pride and humility that I take over the reins of the world’s most professional and second largest Army. To begin with, I pay homage to our gallant soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice, in the line of duty. The Indian Army has always displayed unparalleled standards of professionalism, valour and un-stinted loyalty to the tri-colour, be it while defending the territorial integrity of the country, countering internal unrest, assisting in natural disasters or overseas, during peace keeping operations. The motto of Service Before Self is supreme in our ethos and is amply demonstrated in all our deeds. My illustrious predecessors have all been visionaries and astute leaders. It shall be my sincere endeavour to consolidate on the foundations laid by them, to uphold the dignity and good name of our Army and take it, along with you, to greater heights. We stand at the threshold of transformation and change, to meet the myriad threats and challenges of the foreseeable future. It shall be my priority to modernize the Army rapidly and upgrade the structures and facilities that support it. I want to assure you that your welfare and that of your families will also be my priority. I assure our citizens that we will strive to enhance the efficacy and professionalism of our Army, so that it is always prepared to meet the challenges with determination and victorious will. I also take this opportunity to extend my good wishes to all ranks and civilians of the Army and their families, as also the veterans, who remain an important source of inspiration."

Source : http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Personnel/Chiefs/164-D-Kapoor.html

General Nirmal Chander Vij

PVSM, UYSM, AVSM

COAS, 31 Dec 2002 - 31 Jan 2005

Infantry, Dogra Regiment

General Nirmal Chander Vij assumed charge of the Indian Army, as the 21st Chief of Army Staff, on 31 December 2002. Born in January 1943 at Jammu, he completed his studies at the SRML Higher Secondary School, also at Jammu. He joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 1959 and subsequently commenced his distinguished career in the Indian Army upon being commissioned into the 4th Dogra on 11 December 1962.

Within weeks of his commissioning, he saw action in the Walong sector during the 1962 Indo-China War. Since then, he has served in the eastern sector on six separate occasions, a unique achievement in the Indian Army, the last time being as the GOC 4 Corps. During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, his company was the first one to occupy the 'Chicken Neck' and also capture the 'Chhote Chak' post of Pakistan in the Miran Sahib Sector. He commanded the 16th Dogra from June 1978 to September 1980. A specialist in military operations, he has served as the General Staff Officer of an Infantry Division, a Director in the Military Operations Directorate as a Colonel and Deputy Director General of Perspective Planning (Strategic Planning) as a Brigadier at Army HQ in New Delhi. Among his numerous achievements in the Indian Army was the planning & execution of Operation Khukri - to extricate trapped Indian peacekeeping troops in Sierra Leone.

General Vij served as the Major General General Staff (MGGS) at the Western Command in Chandimandir, Chandigarh (Punjab) in 1996 and was decorated with the Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) for his services. He was then appointed as the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) and held that post during the 1999 Kargil Operations. For his distinguished services as the DGMO, he was awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM). The formations he has commanded include the 44th Mountain Brigade involved in active counter-insurgency operations in the north east, the elite 18th Infantry Division (RAPID), the 21 Strike Corps based at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and the 4 Corps based at Tezpur, Assam. As GOC of 4 Corps, he was instrumental in ensuring large-scale surrender of United liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) insurgents. For his exceptional performance as the GOC of 4 Corps, he was awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM). On 01 October 2000, he was appointed as the GOC of Southern Command at Pune and led the Indian Army's rescue efforts during the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. In October 2001, he was appointed as the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) at New Delhi and in January 2002, he was appointed as the 10th Colonel of the Dogra Regiment and the Dogra Scouts.

On 31 December 2002, he took over as the Chief of Army Staff. As the COAS, it was through his passion and untiring efforts that the border fencing in Jammu & Kashmir was completed. The wide spectrum of activities that received an impetus due to his intimate involvement were the Married Accommodation Project (MAP), the establishment of professional colleges and the Ex-Servicemen's Health Scheme (ECHS). Also during his tenure as COAS, the Royal Bhutan Army and the Indian Army undertook a joint operation to evict the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) from their bases in Bhutan in December 2003. He was also appointed as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) on 31 December 2004. He is married to Mrs. Rita Vij and they have a son, Nalin, who is a software engineer in the United States. General Vij retired on 31 January 2005, after completing more than 42 years of distinguished military service. He is presently the Honorary Colonel of the Dogra Regiment & Dogra Scouts and also Deputy Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India. 

Source : http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Personnel/Chiefs/162-NC-Vij.html

General Ved Prakash Malik

PVSM, AVSM, ADC

COAS, 30 Sept 1997 - 30 Sept 2000

Infantry, Sikh Light Infantry

General Ved Prakash Malik assumed charge of the Indian Army, as the 19th Chief of Army Staff, on 30 September 1997. Born on 01 November 1939 at Dera Ismail Khan (present-day Pakistan), he was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry on 07 June 1959. He saw action in the 1962 Indo-China border conflict in the Ladakh sector. He commanded the 10th Sikh LI on the Indo-China border and played an active role in counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland from 1974 to 1977.

His other assignments include Instructor in the Senior Command Wing at the College of Combat from 1977-78, Joint Planning Staff in the Military Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat from 1979-80, Deputy Brigade Commander of an Infantry Brigade from 1980-82, Colonel of an Infantry Division from 1982-83 and Commander of the 162nd Infantry Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir from April 1983 to December 1985, where he earned the Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM).

In 1986 he attended the National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi. He served as Deputy Director General of Military Operations from 1987 to 1990 during which he dealt with operational plans for the defence of northern borders as also two international operations - IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) operations in Sri Lanka and Operation Cactus in Maldives. In mid-1989, he was appointed GOC-in-C of the 8th Mountain Division which was initially deployed in counter-insurgency operations in NEFA (North East Frontier Agency). He saw service in J&K again to conduct COIN operations in the Kashmir Valley from December 1989 till May 1991.

He also held the office of Additional Director General of Operational Logistics, at Army HQ from 1991 to mid-1992. Along with operational responsibility of the Indo-Pak border, he commanded XI Corps in Punjab from August 1992 till March 1994 during which he over saw anti-militant operations. A graduate of DSSC, General Malik was posted to MilitaryOps. Directorate at Army HQ in the section dealing with COIN operations. He attended the Higher Command Course at the College of Combat, Mhow and was posted as an instructor in the Tactical Wing at the Infantry School, also in Mhow. As Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, from April 1994 to July 1995, he was instrumental in updating the syllabus and computerisation of staff work. In July 1995, he was appointed GOC-in-C Southern Command before being shifted to Army HQ in New Delhi as the Vice-Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) in August 1996. He was decorated with the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) by the President of India, in the 1996 Republic Day Parade.

General Malik assumed the charge of Indian Army on 30 September 1997 and concurrently with the appointment, he took over as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee with effect from 01 January 1999. He coordinated and oversaw the planning & execution of Operation Vijay to successfully defeat Pakistan's attempted intrusion in the Kargil sector during May to July 1999. He was felicitated with the Excellence in Leadership award by the Atur Foundation of Pune and also the Distinguished Fellowship of the Institute of Directors, New Delhi in 1999. The Doon Citizens' Council gave him the Pride of the Nation award in July 2000. He was Colonel of the Sikh LI from 1990 to 1998 and continues to be Honorary Colonel of the regiment for life. He retired on 30 September 2000, after completing more than 41 years of distinguished military service. During his tenure he was the Colonel of the Sikh Light Infantry.

General has settled in Panchkula, near Chandigarh and since retirement, keeps himself engaged spreading awareness and sharing his views on India's national security challenges and international relations, in India and abroad. He was a member of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) for two years. Currently, he is an independent director on the board of some well-known private sector companies and advisor to various foundations and trusts. He has authored and edited various defence related books and has written chapters and articles for several other security-related books.

Source : http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Personnel/Chiefs/160-VP-Malik.html

General Om Prakash Malhotra

PVSM

COAS, 31 May 1978 - 31 May 1981

Regiment of Artillery

General Om Prakash Malhotra assumed charge of the Indian Army, as the 11th Chief of Army Staff, on 31 May 1978. Born on 06 August 1922 in Srinagar, Kashmir he was commissioned into the Indian Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Regiment of Artillery, in November 1941, at the young age of 19. He quickly rose up the ranks, which led to commanding a number of artillery regiments between November 1950 and July 1961. Later on in his army career, he became an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and also served as the Military Attaché at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia for three years from June 1962 onwards.

General Malhotra commanded an Artillery Brigade from August 1965 to January 1966 and then took over command of a Mountain Brigade. After being promoted to Major General in September 1967, he commanded an Infantry Division for two years. He was then appointed as GOC 4 Corps in the Eastern Sector in September 1969, a post which he held till May 1972. He was then appointed as GOC 11 Corps at Jalandhar for two years and was later appointed as GOC-in-C Southern Command in Pune. He was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) for service of the most exceptional order in 1976. Prior to his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, he served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff. He retired on 31 May 1981, after completing nearly 40 years of distinguished military service.

General Malhotra served as the Ambassador of India to Indonesia from 1981 to 1984. He was appointed as the Governor of Punjab in 1990, when militancy in the state was at its height. A resigned as Governor of Punjab in August 1991. A keen sportsman, he was the President of the Equestrian Federation of India for nine years and was the Founding President of the Asian Equestrian Federation. He has also been the President of the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi. He is a Trustee of the Nehru Trust for the Indian Collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum and has served as the President of India's largest NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) - The National Association for the Blind - in New Delhi. In 1994, the University of Jammu conferred upon him the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honours Causa). He is an active member of Kiwanis International in India. He is presently the Chairman of two charitable organizations - Shiksha and Chikitsa.

Sheikh Farid -- Baba Farid

There are 134 hymns of Sheik Farid incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. Many Sikh scholars ascribe them to Farid Shakarganj (1173 – 1265AD or 569-664 AH) of Pak Pattan, a disciple of the Sufi Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. The tenth in succession to his post was Sheikh Brahm (Ibrahim), also known as "Farid Sani" or "Farid the 2nd", and it is this Farid who Guru Nanak Dev met on two occasions.

Max Arthur Macauliffe who has been described as a 'Matchless Scholar of Sikh Lore' states that hymns ascribed to Farid are compositions by the latter Farid, whereas others have ascribed them to Farid Shakarganj.

There are still other scholars who believe that the hymns were composed by different Sufis of the Pak Pattan centre, all using the poetic name Farid as was the custom in those days as the leader of an order chose his most suitable devotee to take his place shortly before his death.

Shakar Ganj / Sheikh Farid (1173-1265 A.D)

Devotees going through the doorway to the tomb of Farid Shakar Ganj.

t birth his parents named him Farid-ud-Din Masaud, but he is mostly revered as Baba Farid of Pak Pattan. When Farid was a few years old his mother taught him his prayers. The boy asked what was gained by his prayers. His mother replied 'sugar'. She used to hide some sugar crystals under his prayer-carpet, and, when he had finished his prayers, she would draw it forth and give it to Farid as a reward for his devotion.

On one occasion, when his mother was absent, he prayed a great deal, and, it is said, he found a correspondingly greater supply of sugar under his carpet. Pleased with the size of his 'reward' he ate some himself and shared the the rest with his playfellows. He related the circumstance to his mother on her return and as she had forgot to place his usual reward under his prayer mat she realized it wa a miraculous gift from God, so she gave him the surname Shakar Ganj, meaning a "treasury of sugar".

Great deal written about Farid the 1st

There is a great deal known or written regarding the original Shaikh Farid. Two genealogies of Shaikh Farid, subsequently called Farid Shakar Ganj, are given in the Jawahir-i-Faridi - one spiritual, the other temporal.

He received his spiritual position from his priest Khwaja Qutub-ul-din Bakhtiyar Ushi of Dihli, whose spiritual predecessors derive in an unbroken line from the Prophet of Makka. Farid's temporal (family genealogy) has been traced back through princes and kings to Hazrat Amir-ul-Mumanin Umr-bin-ul Khitab Qureshi Makki Faruqi, the second Khalifa of the Muslims.

The robber becomes blind

Nizam-ul-Din Auliya, a disciple of Farid, relates a legend of a robber who went to Farid's mother's house to steal. On beginning his operations he lost his sight. He then cried out that there must be some saint or miracle-worker present. He vowed that, if his sight was restored, he would renounce thieving and become a good Muhammadan.

On hearing his vow Miriam prayed for him, and his sight was restored. He went home, and returned to her the following morning with an offering of milk. Accompanied by his wife and children, he expressed a desire that they should all become Muhammadans.

Miriam caused his wishes in this respect to be gratified, with the result that they all became holy. In reply to her, he said his name was Chawa. His shrine among others in that locality has subsequently become a place of devout pilgrimage.

Farid ji's birth

When Farid was conceived, his mother used to spend her days and nights in prayer. He was born at Kothiwal on the first day of the month of Ramzan, the Muslim religion's most sacred month, A.H. 569 (1173). The sky that night was dark and cloudy, and the moon, whose appearance as the “pehli ka chained” (the new moon) when the moon is seen in the western sky as a faint and delicate white curve, which marks the beginning of Ramzan, the Muslim period of daylight fasting. Because the moon could not be seen the devotees did not know when to begin their fast. (Ramzan begins only after the new moon has been sighted.)

Then a holy man arrived reporting that a wonderful son had been born to Jamal-ul-Sulaiman and if the infant suckled, the time for fasting had not yet begun, but if, on the contrary he refused the breast, then all good Muhammadans must fast. Farid did not suckle, and so it was apparent the fast had begun. During the whole month of Ramzan, it is said, the infant only took milk by night in the Muhammadan fashion and fasted by day.

Hot water for his master

Another legend that has been passed along for centuries by disciples of Sheikh Farid, narrates an important episode during the time he was serving his spiritual mentor Khawaja Qutubudin Bakhtiyar Kaki. Sheikh Farid used to arrange hot water for his master's ablutions.

On a very wet and cold, stormy night, he realized he had no way to light a fire, as every thing around was either cold and humid or wet. So he left the sanctuary in search of fire. He kept walking through the dark rainy night, and had become quite wet and started to shiver, but he did not give up his search. Finally, he perceived a light at a distance and he started walking towards it. He finally arrived at the door of building. He knocked on it and a voice asked who it was.

After he revealed his name, a woman answered the door and asked why he had arrived at a brothel. Sheikh Farid answered, that he was led there by light of the lamp, and he was looking for a way to light a fire, to heat water for his master's ablutions. The woman unabashedly told him that she would not give him the fire for free, and asked him if he had any way to pay her. He replied that he did not have any money. The woman then said,"If you need fire, you must give me what I ask for."

Sheikh Farid asked for her price and she replied that she would like one of his 'eyeballs' as payment. Sheikh Farid then asked for a knife, and unhesitatingly pulled out his eyeball and gave it to the woman. She, then gave him some burning wood to take away.

He arrived back at the sanctuary and performed his duties, as before. In the morning, when his master was entertaining an audience with discourse, Sheikh Farid came in with a bandage covering his eye that had been bleeding. His master asked him why he had tied a bandage to his eye.

Sheikh Farid replied in Punjabi "Akh Aa Gayee Ay" that meant his eye was infected and was oozing. His master smiled at him and said, "You are right, open your bandage now, Akh Aa Gayee Ay, which also in Punjabi, means that 'the eye has come'.

When Sheikh Farid opened his bandage, he rubbed his eye and opened it and found that his eyeball was back. His master then said,"This new eyeball is a little smaller than the one the Lord gave you. I could not compete with Him, so I got you a smaller one."

It is said that whoever ascends to the spiritual throne of Sheikh Farid, from then on, has one eye that is smaller than the other.

Shaikh Brahm ( -1552 A.D)

Shaikh Brahm holds a distinguished place in the list of great saints, and bears several titles or appellations. He is called Farid Sani or Farid the Second, Salis Farid or the arbitrator Farid, Shaikh Brahm Kalan (Shaikh Brahm the elder), Bal Raja (the child king), Sahikh Brahm Sahib, and Shah Brahm.

He is said to have performed many miracles. Again the story of the thief is given as an one of Shaikh Brahm's miracles:

A thief once entered his house with criminal intent, but by God’s will was struck blind and could not find his way out. When Shaikh Brahm arose at night to pray, he told his servant to fetch water for his ablutions. The servant saw the blind thief standing helpless on the floor, and informed his master. The thief prayed for forgiveness, and promised that, if he recovered his sight, he would renounce his evil ways. Upon this Shaikh Brahm prayed for him; he recovered his sight, and became a devout Musalman. Another of Shaikh Brahm’s miracles is this: In a season of drought he took off his turban and began to whirl it about, upon which rain fell abundantly.

Family of Farid the 2nd

Two sons of Shaikh Brahm are mentioned – one Shaikh Taj-ul-Din Mahmud, a great saint, and another Shaikh Munawwar Shah Shahid. Shaikh Brahm had several disciples, such as Shaikh Salim Chishti Fatahpuri (the Holy man that foretold the birth of Akbar's son), Shaikh Ahmadi of Chunian, Baba Ahmad Lanak of Dipalpur, Maulvi Jalal-ul-Din of Shaikhbad, Shah Abdul Fatah of Ghazipur, Haji Niamat Ulla of Shaikhupur, among others

Shaikh Brahm died on the 21st of Rajab, A.H. 960 (A.D 1552), after a spiritual reign of 42 years. The Kaulasat-ul-Tawarikh states that he was buried at Sarhind.

Farid ji's Bani

Bhagat Farid Ji’s Bani from from the SGGS:

Love for God

SGGS Page 488 Full Shabad

They alone are true, whose love for God is deep and heart-felt. Those who have one thing in their heart, and something else in their mouth, are judged to be false. ((1)) Those who are imbued with love for the Lord, are delighted by His Vision. Those who forget the Naam, the Name of the Lord, are a burden on the earth. ((1)(Pause)) Those whom the Lord attaches to the hem of His robe, are the true dervishes at His Door. Blessed are the mothers who gave birth to them, and fruitful is their coming into the world. ((2)) O Lord, Sustainer and Cherisher, You are infinite, unfathomable and endless. Those who recognize the True Lord - I kiss their feet. ((3)) I seek Your Protection - You are the Forgiving Lord. Please, bless Shaykh Fareed with the bounty of Your meditative worship. ((4)(1))

Messenger of Death

SGGS Page 1377 Full Shabad

The day of the bride’s wedding is pre-ordained. On that day, the Messenger of Death, of whom she had only heard, comes and shows its face. It breaks the bones of the body and pulls the helpless soul out. That pre-ordained time of marriage cannot be avoided. Explain this to your soul. The soul is the bride, and death is the groom. He will marry her and take her away. After the body sends her away with its own hands, whose neck will it embrace? The bridge to hell is narrower than a hair; haven’t you heard of it with your ears? Fareed, the call has come; be careful now - don’t let you be robbed. ((1))

Behold the Beloved in your own heart

SGGS Page 1384 Full Shabad

Separated from God, my body burns like an oven, My bones burn like firewood. To meet the Beloved I would walk until my feet were tired, I would walk on my head. [ Guru Nanak comments:] You need not burn yourself like an oven, need not inflame your bones. Why torture your poor limbs? Behold the Beloved in your own heart.

Thoughts on Farid's Bani

O Raven, you have searched my skeleton, and eaten all my flesh. But please do not touch these eyes as I hope to behold my Beloved. (91) (sggs 1382)

• Farid ji has refered to desires as a bird, ie: "You can meet the Lord today, O Shaykh Fareed, if you restrain your bird-like desires which keep your mind in turmoil. ||1||Pause||" And so the reference to a Raven or Crow in the above tuk (line of Bani) is a reference to desires of the mind.

Quotes

                                                                                                     Dargah Hazrat Baba Farid Ganjshakar at Pakpattan

from www.sikhpoint.com

Baba Farid was born on the first day of the month of Ramzan in 1173 CE in the Punjab town of Kothiwal. His parents named him Farid-ud-Din Masaud, while “Shakar Ganj” got tagged to his name at a later stage, but he is mostly revered as Baba Farid of Pak Pattan. Baba Sheikh Farid was born at a time when Punjab was going through very tough times. Tamarlane (Taimur, the Lame), Halaku (son of Chengez Khan), Mohammed Ghouri, Mahmud Ghazanvi,etc. had or were ravaging Punjab when Farid was born.

Violent rulers in India

The official language of India was Turkish and Persian. The Slave Dynasty of Qutb-Ud-Din Aibak was at that time being headed by Sultan Balban. 200-300 years earlier to the West of the Indian subcontinent, sword of Islam had swept through the countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.           

In India too, Qutb-ud-din Aibak succeeded in establishing a line of rulers, which ruled for some decades from Delhi, over quite a lot of territory. Then came the sufi saints from Arabia and other places to spread their message of love for Allah. Sufi saints like Khwaja Qutub-Ud-Din Bakhtiar Kaki, who was a Syed of Jaffri Hussaini tribe, were very famous.

Baba Farid's meeting

Khwaja Bakhtiar Kaki was Born around 1150 CE and studied under Abu Hafiz, a celebrated doctor of Ush, he went to Ajmer and became a disciple of Khwaja Moin-ud-Din Chishti. In due time he proceeded to Delhi where Baba Farid met him and became his disciple. Emperor Sultan Shams-ud-Din Iltutmish was also his disciple. He died in CE 1235 and was buried in Delhi, where his tomb is held in devout reverence by pious Hindus and Muslims. His descendants are called Chishtis from the tribe of his priest. - Makhazan-ul-Tawarikh.

Genealogy of Baba ji

Genealogy of Baba Sheikh Farid ji is given in the Jawahir-e-Faridi (The gems of Farid), preserved at the shrine of Pak Pattan, by Ali Asghar of Bahadal, a town near Sirhind. Baba Sheikh Farid ji descended from Farrukh Shah, who was king of Kabul and kings of Ghazni and other states were subject to him.

Baba Farid ji's Great Grandfather was son of Farrukh Shah, the emperor of Kabul. During that time, Baba Farid’s Great Grandfather was killed when Halaku, the grandson of Chengez Khan invaded Kabul. He killed several princes and learned men, including several of Baba Farid’s ancestors. Baba Farid’s Grandfather Shaikh Shaib abandoned their country and took refuge in the Punjab in CE 1125.

Moved to Punjab

The Qazi of Kasur who was acquainted with the high position Shaikh Shaib had held there, treated him and his relatives with great respect and hospitality. After some time Shaikh Shaib proceeded to Multan where he deemed he should be less exposed to worldly influences or the temptings of ambition.

He took his abode in Kothiwal, now known as Chawali Mushaikh, close to Dipalpur. He established in Kothiwal, a private college for religious instruction and attracted much attention. His eldest son Jamal-ud-din married Bibi Miriam, daughter of Syed Muhammad Abdula Shah - a descendant of Ali. Bibi Miriam had three sons, Khwaja Aziz-ud-din, Farid-ud- Din Masaud (Baba Farid) and Khwaja Najib-ud-din, and one daughter Khatun Jamila.

Becomes Hajji and obtains scholarship

When Baba Farid was 16 years old, he went to Hajj and stayed in the house of Abdul Rahim Ansari. Since Baba Farid ji use to talk in Punjabi, an unkempt faqir on hearing Farid’s language foretold the Boy’s subsequent greatness.

After Farid came back to Punjab, he was sent to Khwaja Qutub-ud-Din Bakhtiar Kaki at Delhi to learn theology. Qutub-ud-din, on finding Baba Farid deficient in scholarship sent him to the shrine of Abdul Shakur of Sarsa, near Delhi to finish his education. On that occasion Baba Farid repeated the following:

O Farid, thou hast not walked in God’s way; therefore He hath no appeared unto thee Who is there who hath knocked at God’s door for whom it hath not been opened Lost thy life on the way of the Friend if thou desire to be even as those holy men.

The high reputation Farid acquired in Delhi soon became irksome to him. He therefore made his way to Hansi, where he remained for some time. Meanwhile Khwaja Qutub-ud- Bakhtiar Kaki died at Delhi and Baba Farid paid a second visit to that city, and assumed the mantle of his late spiritual guide.

Moved to Pak Pattan

He ultimately left it in the keeping of Jamal-ud-Din of Hansi and thence proceeded to Ajodhan, the present Pak Pattan. The manner in which the name of Ajodhan changed to Pak Pattan was that a canal, which derived its water from the Sutlej passed near the town. It was usual for all who visited Baba Farid to wash their hands and feet there. The place henceforth became known as Baba Sahib ji da Pak Pattan, or Farid’s cleansing ferry.

Sheikh Farid ji made Pak Pattan a great center of Sufi thoughts. People from all over India and Middle East would come to see him. He always used his language, that is, Punjabi spoken by common people, even though he was highly learned and educated in Arabic, Persian, etc.

All his couplets are written in Punjabi or Persian script. He generally rejected offerings of money, but would accept gifts of food, etc. for public kitchen. Baba Farid went to Delhi again and was received with a hospitable reception.

Emperor Nasir-ud-Din Balban introduced him to his family. Hazabra, the Emperor's daughter, was married to Baba Sheikh Farid, but only after Emperor Balban promised not to give any costly gifts. Baba ji distributed all her jewels, etc. to the poor.

Inquiry?

Once seven hundred holy men were sitting together. An inquirer put them four questions to which Baba Farid ji replied:

• Q.1 Who is the wisest of men?
• A.1 He who refraineth from Sin.

• Q.2 Who is the most intelligent?
• A.1 He who is not disconcerted at anything.

• Q.3 Who is most independent?
• A.3 He who practises contentment.

• Q.4 Who is the most needy?
• A.4 He who practise the it not.

Is singing lawful?

A student asked Baba Farid if singing was lawful and proper. He replied that, according to Islam, it was certainly unlawful, but its propriety was still a matter of discussion. Nizam-ud-Dauliya told Nasir-ud-din, a disciple of his, that one day when he went to visit Baba Farid he stood at his door, and saw him dancing as he sang the following :

I wish ever to live in Thy love, O God. If I become the dust under Thy feet, I shall live I thy slave desire none but Thee in both worlds; For Thee I will live and for Thee I will die.

The following couplet was a favorite of Baba Farid’s:

Not every heart is capable of finding the secret of God’s love. There are not pearls in every sea; there is not gold in every mine.

Mokhalpur renamed Fafidkot

Baba Farid visited a city called Mokhalpur, it is now called Faridkot in honor of Baba Farid; today it is in the Indian part of Punjab. He then turned his efforts towards the Punjabi mountains where he converted a whole tribe. Baba Farid remained there for six months and then he locked up the house in which he had dwelt, saying that his successor would open it, and then returned to Pak Pattan.

As his successor, Diwan Taj-ud-Din, was returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina, he happened to visit that part of the country. He asked people the name of their tribe, they said they were descendents of Qutub-ul-Alam Baba Farid Shakarganj. And thus Taj-ud-din opened the door of Baba Farid’s hut hundreds of years later.

Baba ji earthly demise

Baba Farid died of Pneumonia on the fifth day of the month of Muharram, CE 1266. The date of Baba Farid's death is commemorated by chronograms (a) Farid Asari (b) Auliye Khudai. He was unique, a saint of God. Baba Farid was buried outside the town of Pak Pattan at a place called Martyr's Grave. Guru Nanak’s contemporary was Baba Sheikh Farid Sani, or the second Sheikh Farid, 6th in succession of Baba Farid Shaikh Shakarganj.

The father of Punjabi literature

Thus, Baba Sheikh Farid Shakarganj can be truly called the founder of the Punjabi literary tradition, making Punjabi literature older than that using Hindi, Urdu, etc. It was much later, after Baba Farid's use of Punjabi, that the writers Tulsidas, Mira Bai, and others started using Hindi as the language for writing religious literature.

Source : http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Baba_Farid

Maharaja Ranjit Singh's General - Zorawar Singh

Zorawar Singh (1786-1841) , born in to the house of a Rajput Sikh family of Kashmir, was a military general who conquered Ladakh and Baltistan in the Sikh times and carried the Khalsa flag as far as the interior of Tibet. About Zorawar Singh's place of Birth authorities differ, Major G. Carmichael Smyth, in his account of the reigning family of Lahore, says that he was a native of Kussal near Riasi, now Jammu and Kashmir state. Hutchison and Vogel have recorded that he was native of Kahlur (Bilaspur) state, now in Himachal Pradesh. A modern writer Narsing Das Nargis, on the basis of information supplied to him by a great grandson of Zorawar Singh, states in his book Zorawar Singh that he was born in a Rajput family around the year 1786 in the village of Ansora, in Kangra district. It is stated that when 16, Zorawar Singh killed his cousin in a dispute over property and escaped to Haridvar, where he met Rana Jasvant Singh, who took him to Galihan, now known as Doda, near Jammu, and trained him as a soldier. He joined service under Gulab Singh Dogra who after the Anglo-Sikh wars was able to Purchase Jammu and Kashmir from the British and became the Maharaja and founder of the kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir.

Gulab Singh employed Zorawar Singh mostly for defending the forts to the north of Jammu. For some time he also worked as an inspector in the commissariat of supplies where he did a commendable job by effecting a savings in the much-needed provisions about 1823. When Raja Gulab Singh, the feudatory chief of Jammu under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was appointed governor of Kishtvar, he appointed Zorawar Singh to administer the new district with the title of wazir. In Kishtvar, Zorawar Singh introduced fiscal and judicial reforms and had the old fort of the Kishtvari rulers renovated. From here he led several expeditions into Ladakh, the first one in the series in July 1834.

It was from here that the Dogras entered the JSuru valley. After fighting pitched battles at places such as Sanku, Langkartse, Kantse, Sot and Pashkarm, the invaders pushed on to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The Ladakhi king, Tse-pal Namgyal, was made to pay a war indemnity. He also undertook to pay an annual tribute of Rs 20,000 and acknowledged the suzerainty of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Ladakhis, however, soon rose in revolt against their new masters and Zorawar Singh launched a second attack. This time he followed the short but difficult Kishtvar-Zanskar route. He quelled the rebellion, deposed the old king and appointed the king's prime minister and brother-in-law, Nagorub Stanzin, as the new ruler of Ladakh.

But Zorawar Singh had to make two more incursions before Ladakh was annexed to the Sikh kingdom in 1840. The same year, Zorawar Singh attacked Baltistan, a Muslim principality in the Indus valley, to the northwest of Kargil. He defeated the Baltis and deposed Ahmad Shah, whose eldest son, Muhammad Shah, was installed as the new king of Baltistan. Zorawar Singh next turned his attention towards western Tibet. The conquest of Tibet was an ambition he had harboured in his heart for some time and, as Sohan Lal Suri, the court chronicler of the Sikh times, records, this was the suggestion he proffered to Maharaja Ranjit Singh when he in March 1836 waited on him at the village of Jandiala Sher Khan to pay a nazarana. He told the Maharaja that he was ready to "kindle the fires of fighting" and "by the grace of ever triumphant glory of the Maharaja, he would take possession of it." The Maharaja, however, was not willing to allow him to undertake the adventure. Zorawar Singh had his chance in the time of Ranjit Singh's son and 2nd successor, Maharaja Sher Singh.

In April 1841, by which time the conquest of Ladakh had been completed, he marched into Tibet at the head of a large army and within six months had conquered territory to the northwest of the Mayyum Pass. But then a strong Tibetan army descended from Lhasa and confronted the invaders at Tirthapuri, near Lake Manasarovar. Zorawar Singh could get no reinforcements from Leh or from any other place as heavy snows had blocked all the passes. He fought many a pitched action in the vicinity of Lake Manasarovar and was killed in the last one of these on 12 December 1841. Although this great conqueror perished mid-campaign, his initiative did not go unrewarded.

In September 1842 a treaty was signed by representatives of the Chinese and Lhasa governments on the one hand and of the Kalsa Darbar and Gulab Singh on the other which extended the Sikh, and hence Indian, frontiers to their present international boundary. The whole of Ladakh thus became a part of the Indian territories.

The treaty in English:

"As on this auspicious day, the 3nd of Assuj, samvat 1899 (16th/17th September 1842) we, the officers of the Lhasa (Governrnent), Kalon of Sokan and Bakshi Shajpuh, commander of the forces, and two officers on behalf of the most resplendent Sri Khalsa ji Sahib, the asylum of the world, King Sher Singh ji, and Sri Maharaja Sahib Raja-i-Rajagan Raja Sahib Bahadur Raja Gulab Singh, i.e.. the Muktar-ud-Daula Diwan Hari Chand and the asylum of vizirs, Vizir Ratnun. in a meeting called together for the promotion of peace and unity, and by professions and vows of friendship, unity and sincerity of heart and by taking oaths like those of Kunjak Sahib, have arranged and agreed that relations of peace, friendship and unity between Sri Khalsaji and Sri Maharaja Sahib Bahadur Raja Gulab Singh ji, and the Emperor of China and the Lama Guru of Lhasa will hence forward remain firmly established forever; and we declare in the presence of the Kunjak Sahib that on no account whatsoever will there be any deviation, difference of departure (from this agreement). We shall neither at present nor in the future have anything to do or interfere at all with the boundaries of Ladakh and its surroundings as fixed from ancient times and will allow the annual export of wool, shawls and tea by way of ladakh according to the old established customs.

Should any of the Opponents of Sri Sarkar Khalsa ji and Sri Raja Sahib Bahadur at any time enter our territories, we shall not pay any heed to his words or allow him to remain in our country. We shall offer no hindrance to traders of Ladakh who visit our territories. We shall not even to the extent of a hair's breadth act in contravention of the terms that we have agreed to above regarding firm friendship, unity, the fixed boundaries of Ladakh and the keeping open of the route for wool, shawls and tea. We call Kunjak Sahib, Kairi, Lassi, Zhon Mahan, and Khushal Chon as witnesses to this treaty."

Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Sher-e-Panjab, Emperor of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, 
Kangra, Peshawar, Multan, Hazara, Jamrud, from 1799 to 1839

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (13th November 1780 - 27 June^*1, 1839) also called "Sher-e-Punjab" ("The Lion of Punjab"), Became the first Sikh Emperor, after uniting the 11 Sikh Kingdoms of Punjab together to form an Empire, from 1799-1839.

Early life

Ranjit Singh was born on 13th November 1780 in Gujranwala City, Punjab, now in modern day Pakistan, into a Sikh Jatt family of Sandhawalia Clan, to Sardar Maha Singh Sukerchakia (d. 1792), and Sardarni Mai Raj Kaur, the daughter of the Raja Gajpat Singh, of Jind Kingdom. At the time, large parts of the Punjab was ruled by the Sikhs, who had divided the territory among factions known as misls, each having their their own powerful Sikh Chieftains. His grandfather was Sardar Charat Singh Sukerchakia (d. 1770), and great grandfather Sardar Naudh Singh (d. 1752), also a Sikh Warrior, and the great great grandson of Sarda Budha Singh (d. 1718), the first in line to take Amrit Sachaar.

Ancestors

• Sardar Budh Singh (1670-1718), He owned 25 Acres of land, where he founded the village of Sukerchak, in Amritsar District.
• Sardar Naudh Singh (d. 1752) Married, Sardarni Lali Kaur, daughter of Sardar Gulab Singh of Majitha.
• Sardar Charat Singh (d. 1770) Married, Sardarni Desan Kaur, daughter of Sardar Amir Singh Waraich, of Gujranwala District.
• Sardar Maha Singh (d. 1792) Married, Sardarni Raj kaur, of Jind State. Sardarni Mai Kaur daughter of Sardar Jai Singh Maan.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839). Had 20 wives, Sikh, Hindu, and 2 Muslim.

• Name and Name of Mother.
• 1. Prince Kharak Singh Rani Raj Kaur also known as (1801-1840) : Datar Kaur or Mai Nakkain.
• 2. Prince Ishar Singh } (1804-1805) }
• 3. Prince Sher Singh } Rani Mehtab Kaur (1807-1843 AD) }
• 4. Prince Tara Singh (1807-1859 AD) }
• 5. Prince Kashmira Singh*(1819-1844) } Rani Daya Kaur
• 6. Prince Peshaura Singh* (1823-1845) } (* adopted sons of Maharaja Ranjit Singh)
• 7. Prince Multana Singh Rani Rattan Kaur (1819-1846 AD)
• 8. Prince Duleep Singh Rani Jind Kaur (Rani (1838-1893 AD) Jindan)

Contemporaries: Mughal Emperors at Delhi

• 1. Shah Alam II (Mirza Abdullah Ali Gohar) (1759-1806 AD)
• 2. Akbar Shah II (1806-1837 AD)
• 3. Bahadur Shah II ‘Zafar’ (1837-1858 AD ) Deposed and deported (1858 AD )

         Died at Rangoon in exiIe (1862 AD)

Contemporaries: English Sovereigns

• 1. George III (1760-1820 AD)
• 2. George IV (1820-1830 AD)
• 3. William IV (1830-1837 AD)
• 4. Queen Victoria (1837-1901)  

Ranjit Singh's father Maha Singh was the misaldar ("commander", "misl leader") of theSukerchakia misl and controlled a territory in west Punjab based around his headquarters at Gujranwala. As a child he suffered from smallpox. This consequently resulted in the loss of sight in his left eye. His father died while Ranjit Singh was 12 years old. After the death of his father, Ranjit Singh was raised by Sada Kaur of the Kanheya misl. He took over as misaldar of the Sukerchakia misl at the age of 18. He was married to Sardarni Mehtab Kaur (d. 1813), daughter of Sardar Gurbakash Singh Sandhu (d. 1785), of Kanhaiya Sikh Misl, in 1796, at the age of 16. In 1798, he got married to Sardarni Raj Kaur, alias Maharani Datar Kaur (d. 1838), the daughter of Sardar Ran Singh Sandhu (d. 1781), of Nakai Sikh Misl.

A fearless warrior

This great warrior, fearless soldier, able administrator, clement ruler, statesman and liberator of Punjab died on 27 June 1839. His Samadhi(memorial) is located in Lahore, Pakistan.

After several campaigns, his rivals accepted him as their leader, and he united the Sikh factions into one state and he took the title of Maharajaon April 12 1801 (to coincide with Baisakhi day), with Lahore serving as his capital from 1799.

In 1802 he took control of the holy city of [[Amritsar] from the Bhangi Sikh Misl, ruler Mai Sukhan, widow of Sardar Gulab Singh Dhillon. He brought law and order, yet was reluctant to use the death penalty. He stopped India's non-secular style and practises. He treated both Hindusand Muslims equally. He banned the discriminatory religious tax the "jizya" on Hindus and Sikhs which had been imposed by the various Muslim rulers.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh is included in the list of "Undefeated Military Commanders", [1] at Wikibin - a list of known military commanders who did not lose any significant engagement against the enemy as the commander-in-chief of a significant portion of a country's military forces.

Respect from all quarters

The majority of Ranjit Singh's subjects were Muslim and yet they had an intense loyalty towards him and his Sikh's who showed tolerance, even respect towards their religion, its practises and its festivals. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the first Asian ruler to modernize his army to European standards and was well known for filling the leadership positions in his Darbar with men of varied Religions. People were recognized and promoted on their ability and not their religion.

During the Rule of Sher-e-Panjab, the Sikh Population, was 10 million, Sikhism, was mainly based in the central parts of the Punjab, such as areas of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Lahore, Kasur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur.

The respect shown by those who worked for the Maharaja is best highlighted, perhaps, by the Sikh Empire's foreign minister, a Muslim namedFakir Azizuddin, who when meeting with the British Governor-General George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland was asked, which of the Maharaja's eyes was missing, he replied, "the Maharaja is like the sun and the sun has only one eye. The splendour and luminosity of his single eye is so much that I have never dared to look at his other eye." (The Maharaja had lost the sight of one eye from an attack of smallpox as a child. In a land and time when being blinded disqualified one from ruling, having the sight of only one eye was never a problem for Ranjit Singh, who remarked that it gave him the ability to see things more acutely.)

Truly secular leader

The Governor General was so pleased with the reply that he gave his gold wrist-watch to the Maharaja's Minister during their meeting at Simla. The Empire was effectively secular as it did not give preference to Sikhs, or discriminate against Muslims, Hindus or even atheists.

It was relatively modern and had great respect for all religions and non-religious traditions of the Empire's citizens. The only main prominent religious symbols of the empire were the Maharaja and royal family being Sikh (but not Khalsa) and the Army being dominated by Sikh nobles and the Khalsa warriors.

The Maharaja never forced Sikhism on his subjects. This was in sharp contrast with the attempted ethnic and religious cleansing of past Muslim rulers - Afgani or Mughal. Ranjit Singh had created a state based upon Sikhi's noble traditions, where everyone worked together, regardless of their background. One where its citizens looked at the things they shared in common, e.g. being Punjabi traditions, rather than any religious differences.

Muslims and the Sarkar-i-Khalsa

Shah Mohammed (a famed Sufi poet of the Punjab) writes in his, Jang Namah on the decline of Ranjit Singh’s kingdom:

"Ranjit Singh was a born warrior-king who gave his feel to the country. He conquered Kashmir, Multan, Peshawar and made Chamba, Kangra and Jammu bow before him. He extended his territories upto Ladakh and China and struck his coin there. O Shah Mohammed! For fifty years he ruled with satisfaction, glory and power."

For Shah Mohammed, Punjabi Muslims became part and parcel of the Sarkar-i-Khalsa (the Sikh Kingdom of Ranjit Singh), where in the past they had depended on the Afghans, Arabs, Pashtuns, Persians and Turks, who had consistantly betrayed them.


Source : http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Maharaja_Ranjit_Singh