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Ranjit Singh: Maharajah Of The Punjab
A substantial and perceptive study of the Sikh ruler of the Punjab. reprint of 1962 work. includes illustrations
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
About the author
Khushwant Singh
260 books1,355 followersKhushwant Singh, (Punjabi: ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, Hindi: खुशवंत सिंह) born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali, Undivided India, (now a part of Pakistan), was a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, was among the most widely-read columns in the country.
An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.
An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 19, 2017
It’s a fairly good read if you are interested to know about the Sikh Empire and the political scenario of the Northern part of India during early to late Eighteenth century. But those who wanted to know more about the persona life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will find it a long and tiring read with little outcome. Though it is a well-researched book, and the lucid writing of Khushwant Singh makes it an exciting read, but continuous introduction of various small fights or trivial information make the whole book a rather boring affair. Most part of the book consists of the diary notes of British representatives, descriptions of various battles that Maharaja’s army fought and the visits of Maharaja to various cities. After a point, everything becomes redundant and useless information.
More than a biography, this book is a detailed record keeping of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Though it is the most authentic source to read about Maharaja and there is no contest about the great empire that he had created. But if you want to compare him with his other illustrious contemporaries like Napoleon and Mohammed Ali, then you need to tell his stories in more elaborated form, and not in a date-to-date description of Maharaja’s life (mostly through the diaries and letters of British people).
I wanted to know more about Maharaja’s personal life including his dealing with family members, his relationship with wives and children. Especially, as per many claims, I wanted to know about his marriage with a nautch dancer. According to my knowledge he had to apologize to Akal Takht and had to make huge offerings. I didn’t find record of it in book; I hope I haven’t overseen it.
Over all, a good book which won’t quench your thirst about the history. At most, it will give you an early hint of British Raj in starting and the great empire that Maharaja Ranjit Singh built so tirelessly. And oh yes!! There is a proper story of Kohinoor.
More than a biography, this book is a detailed record keeping of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Though it is the most authentic source to read about Maharaja and there is no contest about the great empire that he had created. But if you want to compare him with his other illustrious contemporaries like Napoleon and Mohammed Ali, then you need to tell his stories in more elaborated form, and not in a date-to-date description of Maharaja’s life (mostly through the diaries and letters of British people).
I wanted to know more about Maharaja’s personal life including his dealing with family members, his relationship with wives and children. Especially, as per many claims, I wanted to know about his marriage with a nautch dancer. According to my knowledge he had to apologize to Akal Takht and had to make huge offerings. I didn’t find record of it in book; I hope I haven’t overseen it.
Over all, a good book which won’t quench your thirst about the history. At most, it will give you an early hint of British Raj in starting and the great empire that Maharaja Ranjit Singh built so tirelessly. And oh yes!! There is a proper story of Kohinoor.
June 5, 2016
Typical Khushwant Singh. Pithy and tight narrative. It is the story of a man who was the first in a almost a thousand years to turn the tide on the invaders from the North West frontier of undivided India. His life is fascinating, as it is not the tale of a savage warrior but an example of a shrewd tactician. Never does one find a single instance of wanton revenge or bloodletting in his conquests which, considering the era he lived in, is most striking. In less than a hundred years from the time Nadir Shah and Abdali struck terror into the Indian heartland, his generals had the Sikh standard hoisted across the forts of North West India. A great king if India has seen one.
September 15, 2020
This book talks more about wars Ranjit Singh fought. I had an expectation that this would be a biography where more would be said about Maharaja Ranjit Singh, but this talks majorly about the wars he fought!
What i learnt from this book was that Maharaja was a man of passion, if he liked something, He made sure he get it. Be it a beautiful house (Gauharbar / laila ) or a beautiful girl or a city/ region or even Kohinoor! Ranjit owned it all! He was the one who captured And ruled in Lahore , captured Multan ( even if he had to fight for it 5 times) captured Peshawar, Kashmir , signed a treaty with britishers that they can’t cross Sutlej river and so on! His greatest cannot be listed!
What i learnt from this book was that Maharaja was a man of passion, if he liked something, He made sure he get it. Be it a beautiful house (Gauharbar / laila ) or a beautiful girl or a city/ region or even Kohinoor! Ranjit owned it all! He was the one who captured And ruled in Lahore , captured Multan ( even if he had to fight for it 5 times) captured Peshawar, Kashmir , signed a treaty with britishers that they can’t cross Sutlej river and so on! His greatest cannot be listed!
February 26, 2017
Khushwant Singh can make any topic interesting with his impeccable writing skills. This too was an extremely interesting read with all the details of the era being imbibed so well that you can live the times.
November 22, 2016
3.75 stars
November 13, 2021
A straightforward retelling of one of the great kings of undivided India, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Author Khushwant Singh gives a rundown of how Punjab looked in the late 18th century when Ranjit Singh was born and the events that led to his coronation as a king a mere 21 years later. The life of the king is then chronologically narrated, his various battles, his love for drinking, his relationship with the frenemy - the English. This book will give you a sense and feel of the warrior Ranjit Singh, but it is too short at 300 odd pages to give you any deep insights on how the fearless king thought and felt on various issues during his reign. There is little melodrama but still a lot of excitement as you will walk along with Ranjit Singh from Amritsar to Lahore and Peshawar and Kashmir. Here is a king who was loved and feared, who was shrewd and warm, who shines in the pages of history like the Kohinoor that he possessed. This is a good starting point to learn about him…
July 7, 2016
Excellent read from a historical perspective. My history reading had sort of jumped from the 1757 battle of Plassey and 1761 battle of Panipat straight to the 1857 mutiny, missing about 100 years. So the Ranjit Singh era from 1800 to 1839 was a really good eye opener in many ways. What a remarkable life - he unified the Punjab clans and made Punjab and India secure from Muslim attacks from the North West which had plagued India for 300 years. I was kept wondering how history would have turned out if this had been achieved earlier. Also, how he would have reacted if still alive during 1857. Amazing that he never ordered the death of a king or general he had defeated. But the book is also hagiographical - the negative aspects of Ranjit Singh are generally not dealt with. And a bit tedious, with too much emphasis on military aspects. Recommended for history lovers and North Indians.
March 28, 2017
We Punjabi's all have heard of the ruler and know that Ranjit Singh was the only king left who was able to deal with the English men. The book is a well-researched account of the various aspects of Ranjeet Singh's life. One surely comes to know what was Punjab and the way of life of the Punjabi's during the 19th century. How a son of a petty chief with his shrewdness, courage and diplomacy rose up the ranks to become the king of a strong empire.
June 6, 2021
Started as a petty 'misldar', Ranjit rose to the Maharaja of Punjab. An intelligent and progressive young lad who became the Raja of Punjab when he was just 18. An extraordinary personality, whose high-spirits and dynamic disposition made him the conqueror of impenetrable lands like Peshawar and Sindh. No doubt, a remarkable biographical account by Khushwant Singh and a must read.
March 18, 2016
Book was really a classic but seemed a bit boring at some times though Kushwant's description about Ranjit and his whole life was really fantastic.
May 15, 2016
Not much impressed by this book, only the glorious side of Ranjeet is displayed
November 22, 2016
I want this's book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2020
In the 1790’s Punjab looked like a jigsaw puzzle of fourteen pieces with 5 arrows piercing it from the sides. 12 of those 14 pieces were Sikh Misls (Territories under protection of local Sikh lords/families) and of the remaining 1 was controlled by Pathans (Kasur District) and the other by an independent English adventurer (Hansi District). The 5 arrows stabbing these 14 districts from the sides were Afghans in the North west, Rajputs of Kangra in the North, Gurkhas in North East, British in the East and the Marathas in the South East.
Punjab was in a precarious position. The misls were not a united fraternity. Repeated incursions by the Afghan invaders had sowed seeds of dissent among territories.
Ranjit Singh by Khushwant Singh is the story of a young boy who rose to power following the untimely death of his father. With an ambition that knew no bounds he went on to not only unite a fragmented Punjab but also command a Sikh Empire that at its height extended its domain from the Khyber Pass in the northwest to the Sutlej River in the east and from the Kashmir region at the northern limit of the Indian subcontinent southward to the Thar Desert.
Khushwant Singhs lucid style of writing makes this an exciting book to read as he works chronologically through Ranjit Singhs life and conquests while carefully painting the socio-political backdrop of the early 19th century Indian subcontinent. Explaining the life of Ranjit Singh in terms of the historical movements of that time is important because it explains the meteoric rise and equally meteoric collapse of the Sikh Empire as a culmination of a historic movement. Punjabi Nationalism was the deceptively still undercurrent beneath the swell on which Sikhs and Ranjit Singh rode to power. Similarly the fall of the Sikh Kingdom was not simply due to misfortunes in the battle but akin to a wave crashing on the sands completely spent when its driving force was gone.
Ranjeet took over Punjab by bringing together territories under the protection of a central power - the Durbar. Once Punjab was consolidated he secured its borders by countering and eliminating threat of Afghans from the west. In doing so he became the first person in almost a thousand years to turn the tide of foreign invaders from the north west frontier. It was during his reign the Attock fort, a gateway to India for the Afghan invaders, was conquered.
It was not the story of a mere conqueror but of a sharp and shrewd tactician. From a band of intrepid horsemen and matchlockmen he raised a disciplined formidable army that recruited soldiers from a number of nationalities and had units trained by veteran French and Western commanders. However, it was not just armies that fueled his ambitions but equal parts political savvy as well. As his empire stretched into Peshawar, Kashmir and south into Multan he secured the eastern fronts through the Treaty of Amritsar ensuring the British would not interfere in lands west of Sutlej.
His life was fascinating. He built a vast empire without engaging in wanton revenge or bloodletting as one would expect. Time and again his allies engaged in betrayal followed by seeking forgiveness that he gave gracefully. He never ordered the death of a king or general that he defeated. His rule marked decades of peace between the three dominant religion of the land. It was remarkable.
On that note this book, while historical, is also hagiographical. It extols many virtues of Ranjit Singh without going into the negative aspects (no man, a conqueror no less, can be a saint which is why when it comes to reading history - a pinch of salt is important)
I wanted to read more about this personal life as well however this book is not very detailed on that account as it is on his military and political life. It ends right at his death so I had to do some extra reading online trying to understand more about what happened afterwards that fractured this once powerful empire so violently.
Punjab was in a precarious position. The misls were not a united fraternity. Repeated incursions by the Afghan invaders had sowed seeds of dissent among territories.
Ranjit Singh by Khushwant Singh is the story of a young boy who rose to power following the untimely death of his father. With an ambition that knew no bounds he went on to not only unite a fragmented Punjab but also command a Sikh Empire that at its height extended its domain from the Khyber Pass in the northwest to the Sutlej River in the east and from the Kashmir region at the northern limit of the Indian subcontinent southward to the Thar Desert.
Khushwant Singhs lucid style of writing makes this an exciting book to read as he works chronologically through Ranjit Singhs life and conquests while carefully painting the socio-political backdrop of the early 19th century Indian subcontinent. Explaining the life of Ranjit Singh in terms of the historical movements of that time is important because it explains the meteoric rise and equally meteoric collapse of the Sikh Empire as a culmination of a historic movement. Punjabi Nationalism was the deceptively still undercurrent beneath the swell on which Sikhs and Ranjit Singh rode to power. Similarly the fall of the Sikh Kingdom was not simply due to misfortunes in the battle but akin to a wave crashing on the sands completely spent when its driving force was gone.
Ranjeet took over Punjab by bringing together territories under the protection of a central power - the Durbar. Once Punjab was consolidated he secured its borders by countering and eliminating threat of Afghans from the west. In doing so he became the first person in almost a thousand years to turn the tide of foreign invaders from the north west frontier. It was during his reign the Attock fort, a gateway to India for the Afghan invaders, was conquered.
It was not the story of a mere conqueror but of a sharp and shrewd tactician. From a band of intrepid horsemen and matchlockmen he raised a disciplined formidable army that recruited soldiers from a number of nationalities and had units trained by veteran French and Western commanders. However, it was not just armies that fueled his ambitions but equal parts political savvy as well. As his empire stretched into Peshawar, Kashmir and south into Multan he secured the eastern fronts through the Treaty of Amritsar ensuring the British would not interfere in lands west of Sutlej.
His life was fascinating. He built a vast empire without engaging in wanton revenge or bloodletting as one would expect. Time and again his allies engaged in betrayal followed by seeking forgiveness that he gave gracefully. He never ordered the death of a king or general that he defeated. His rule marked decades of peace between the three dominant religion of the land. It was remarkable.
On that note this book, while historical, is also hagiographical. It extols many virtues of Ranjit Singh without going into the negative aspects (no man, a conqueror no less, can be a saint which is why when it comes to reading history - a pinch of salt is important)
I wanted to read more about this personal life as well however this book is not very detailed on that account as it is on his military and political life. It ends right at his death so I had to do some extra reading online trying to understand more about what happened afterwards that fractured this once powerful empire so violently.
December 1, 2023
Khushwant Singh's "Ranjit Singh: Maharajah Of The Punjab" paints a captivating portrait of one of India's most charismatic and formidable rulers. In this masterful biography, Singh delves into the life and legacy of Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, who ruled over Punjab from 1780 to 1839. Singh's captivating narrative brings to life Ranjit Singh's remarkable rise to power, his astute political maneuvers, and his unwavering commitment to the Sikh faith!
Singh vividly portrays Ranjit Singh's military prowess, strategic alliances, and diplomatic acumen. He highlights Ranjit Singh's ability to unite the Sikh people under his leadership, transforming them into a formidable force that defied the British Empire's expansion in the region. The book masterfully interweaves historical accounts with anecdotes and personal insights, revealing Ranjit Singh's complex personality and the profound impact he had on his people and the course of Indian history. Singh's engaging prose and rich storytelling make the book an engrossing read.
Singh also explores the cultural and social milieu of Ranjit Singh's era, providing a broader context for his reign. He delves into the Sikh faith's influence on Ranjit Singh's decisions and his efforts to foster tolerance and coexistence within his diverse empire!
In conclusion, Khushwant Singh's "Ranjit Singh: Maharajah Of The Punjab" is a remarkable tribute to one of India's most exceptional leaders. Singh's captivating narrative and insightful analysis make this book an essential read for anyone interested in Indian history, political leadership, and the power of personal belief.
Singh vividly portrays Ranjit Singh's military prowess, strategic alliances, and diplomatic acumen. He highlights Ranjit Singh's ability to unite the Sikh people under his leadership, transforming them into a formidable force that defied the British Empire's expansion in the region. The book masterfully interweaves historical accounts with anecdotes and personal insights, revealing Ranjit Singh's complex personality and the profound impact he had on his people and the course of Indian history. Singh's engaging prose and rich storytelling make the book an engrossing read.
Singh also explores the cultural and social milieu of Ranjit Singh's era, providing a broader context for his reign. He delves into the Sikh faith's influence on Ranjit Singh's decisions and his efforts to foster tolerance and coexistence within his diverse empire!
In conclusion, Khushwant Singh's "Ranjit Singh: Maharajah Of The Punjab" is a remarkable tribute to one of India's most exceptional leaders. Singh's captivating narrative and insightful analysis make this book an essential read for anyone interested in Indian history, political leadership, and the power of personal belief.
May 14, 2023
Khushwant Singh's Ranjit Singh is a well-written and informative biography of the Punjab's first Sikh ruler. The book is based on a number of sources, including Persian, Punjabi, and English documents, as well as European travel accounts. Singh does an excellent job of weaving these sources together to create a comprehensive and engaging story.
The author's ability to bring the past to life is one of the things that makes him so enjoyable. He accomplishes this through vivid descriptions, intriguing anecdotes, and insightful analysis. He depicts a man who was a brilliant military strategist as well as a compassionate leader. Ranjit Singh was a brave and determined man who was willing to give up everything for his people.
Ranjit Singh is an excellent read for anyone interested in Punjab history around the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's life. Singh's book is an important addition to the literature on this significant figure, and it will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
The author's ability to bring the past to life is one of the things that makes him so enjoyable. He accomplishes this through vivid descriptions, intriguing anecdotes, and insightful analysis. He depicts a man who was a brilliant military strategist as well as a compassionate leader. Ranjit Singh was a brave and determined man who was willing to give up everything for his people.
Ranjit Singh is an excellent read for anyone interested in Punjab history around the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's life. Singh's book is an important addition to the literature on this significant figure, and it will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
December 25, 2024
This book is less of a biography and more of a detailed record of how Maharaja Ranjit Singh created the Punjabi Empire (I deliberately use this term and not Sikh Empire because the book repeatedly emphasizes this and Ranjit Singh's actions reflect this.) You do get glimpses of the person Ranjit Singh was, especially in the initial part of the book, but later it just becomes a narrative of various battles, large and small, that went into the creation of the empire. Despite Kushwant Singh's command over the English language and short descriptions, for a lay person like me, it became tedious, especially since there were no insights.
I did not learn much about the Maharaja as a person, which I hoped to, because I read this book as a precursor to reading Chitra Banerjee Divakrauni's The Last Queen.
I did not learn much about the Maharaja as a person, which I hoped to, because I read this book as a precursor to reading Chitra Banerjee Divakrauni's The Last Queen.
December 13, 2018
Never easy writing a biography of someone of this stature and making sure it compels the reader to keep going. Khushwant Singh's writings reek of the Punjabi Spirit. He has made it sound like a story which keeps you going. What I like about him is the fact that he moves away from the very orthodox style of writing biographies by stuffing the book with historical facts and all. I like how he actually paints the picture of the pre partition Punjab. How it looked, how and why was it different from other monarchies. The book is highly recommended.
October 8, 2024
The life and times of the Maharaja of the kingdom of Punjab told by one of the most important Sikh, Punjabi and Indian intellectuals of the twentieth century.
Told in a simple and elegant language, Ranjit Singh: Maharaja of the Punjab bears testimony to Khushwant Singh’s wide learning and erudition.
As it was first published in 1962, the accompanying bibliography, predictably, reflects the scholarship of that era.
However, the book is definitively a good starting point for those who wish to delve deeper in the Sikh history.
Told in a simple and elegant language, Ranjit Singh: Maharaja of the Punjab bears testimony to Khushwant Singh’s wide learning and erudition.
As it was first published in 1962, the accompanying bibliography, predictably, reflects the scholarship of that era.
However, the book is definitively a good starting point for those who wish to delve deeper in the Sikh history.
February 19, 2021
Book is written in such a profound manner of Khushwant Singh, which only he can write in my opinion. Research was extremely amazing and how he was able to point out difference in some of the moments described in this book. Though this book is sold as a biography, but it cannot be pinpointed to be in such a way, because it to be described in a way which was of a storyteller, giving us main events of Great Maharaja Ranjit singh, whom I got to understand and learn about so much from this book.
March 11, 2018
what an amazing book. A perfect delight to read.
Ranjit Singh was neither a selfless patriot nor an avaricious freebooter. He was neither a model of virtue nor a lascivious sensualist. Above all he was too warm and lively a character to have his life told in a lifeless catalogue of facts, figures and footnotes.
Ranjit Singh was neither a selfless patriot nor an avaricious freebooter. He was neither a model of virtue nor a lascivious sensualist. Above all he was too warm and lively a character to have his life told in a lifeless catalogue of facts, figures and footnotes.
February 2, 2022
Ranjeet Singh the man who turn the tide of invasion of Bharat Bhoomi from Islamists.
A story every Indian and especially every Punjabi must know.
Written in very simple language.👌
It's takes to our past when Sikhs saved this very nation and it's culture and made Punjab a state.
Every body should go for this book to understand Punjab politics and it's past.👍
A story every Indian and especially every Punjabi must know.
Written in very simple language.👌
It's takes to our past when Sikhs saved this very nation and it's culture and made Punjab a state.
Every body should go for this book to understand Punjab politics and it's past.👍
February 24, 2022
A dry, factual account – The Last Queen and The Exile were more readable.
May 11, 2019
eargerness to know the history was born in my mind when i was in punjab. Khuswant Singh has satisfied my eagerness very well. He describes the history beautifully without loosing the track with easy readiness.
October 19, 2019
Amazing book, but it provides lot of information with too many characters and in such short span. It’s difficult to grasp all the knowledge relative to geography and characters in our history. It’s a good overview. But It doesn’t portray the period, which led to demise of sikh empire in Punjab.
December 1, 2021
Must read for each and every Sikh!
The most authoritative book on life and times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sikhs will be indebted forever to Late Khushwant Singh ji for compiling this monumental book together.
The most authoritative book on life and times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sikhs will be indebted forever to Late Khushwant Singh ji for compiling this monumental book together.
May 2, 2019
I have translated this book from English into Urdu for Nigarshat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan. The title of Urdu translation is Maharaja Ranjit Singh مہاراجا رنجیت سنگھ.
November 15, 2020
"'With four rare things Multan abounds / Heat, beggars, dust, and burial grounds.'" (133)
July 11, 2022
Not like usual Kushwant Singh's books.
November 4, 2022
This book is absolutely amazing! With detailed accounts of historical events as well as a fabulous opinion on the maharaja's personality from different viewpoints.
June 15, 2019
You would want to go back in early 1800 and join his court . Its such an amazing story seldom told. The last empire to stand when Britishers ruled almost all of India . Its so much fun and a absolute joy.
10/10
MUST READ
10/10
MUST READ
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews