What Made Maharaja Ranjit Singh Such A Great Sikh Leader

[Mehtab Singh]

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

[Singh23]

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

what was he saying...didn't fully understand that. :blink2:

[Jonny101]

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

Is this old man talking about the same Sheikh Rasheed here?

[Mehtab Singh]

Yes, LOL!

[Singh559]

Oh god LOL

His Punjabi's on point ahahaha

[Cisco_Singh]

Maharajah Ranjit Singh was summioned to Akal Takht for punishment bvy Akali Phoola Singh because he married a Muslim dancing girl called Moran.

From Sikhwiki regarding Akali Phoola Singh:

" A born leader, who lived his life in accordance with the moral codes of the Sikh Gurus, he even called Maharaja Ranjit Singh to task, when he married outside of the Sikh fold (he had married a Muslim woman, named Moran of Lahore). As the Jathedar of the Akal Takth, Akali Phula Singh, declared that Maharaja Ranjit singh was no longer a Sikh, declaring him to be a Tankhaiya (removed from the Sikh fold). He issued a Huknama, ordering the Maharaja to appear before the Sikh Sangat, in front of the Akal Takht (a tradition begun by Guru Hargobind that has been followed to this day.) To his credit, the mighty Maharaja answered the Huknama (order) of Akali Phula Singh. The humbled Ranjit Singh admitted that he had made a mistake. Akali Phula Singh then ordered a punishment of 50 lashes for Maharaja Ranjit Singh to be carried out immediately.

Ranjit Singh took off his shirt and bowed down to receive his punishment, seeing this Akali Phula Singh asked the Community (Sadh Sangat) to forgive the Maharaja for this mistake. And thus the Maharaja was pardoned, but not before he promised that he would not marry again. Maharaja Ranjit Singh who loved and respected the Harmandir and the Akal Takht, unlike many other monarchs of the World, never tried to replace Akali Phula Singh as Jathedar, remaining true to the authority he had invested in Akali Phula Singh."

[dalsingh101]

I think one of the things that made M. Ranjit Singh great was his impartiality.

Sure, as a Sikh, he can be severely criticised as someone who lacked restraint, especially in the kaam department. Plus it's well known that he took opium and drank alcohol.

Despite these personal things he was still a man with a grand vision, who put Panjab on the map. He didn't seem to let theological/religious debates/matters interfere with the business of running a state. Ultimately, what people (especially Panjabi Sikhs!!) really seem to want is security and opportunities to prosper (even the most holier than thou Sikh in the west does this)- he knew that and delivered it against all odds when Sikhs and Panjabis in generally had experienced all manner of hellish strife and upheaval. I believe that is why so many of his 'foibles' were tolerated. Plus it was another time, for whatever reasons, a lot more was tolerated back then - which had both positive and negative consequences.

Akali Phoola Singh may have sabre rattled about M. Ranjit Singh's aashqeean, and order him to be whipped but deep down even he probably knew that no one else could do the job, that Ranjit Singh was doing.

To me the whole Ranjit Singh legacy opens up a lot of seriously important questions for us today, questions that many apnay (especially those loudest who like to hide behind dogma), would probably feel seriously uncomfortable facing up to.

No one can deny Ranjit Singh's inclusiveness and tolerance of differences was one of the key factors behind his success. Pair these with his worldly wisdom. He was astute and realistic. Today the lack of these very specific qualities amongst Sikhs has turned our once powerful community into a bunch of small time, myopic pendus, bickering over petty issues and completely failing to see the wider, global picture.

We need an independent, intelligent, astute leader like this man - who (by all alcounts and I've read many of them!) could mix it up with the most devious of diplomats from so-called advanced nations and out outmaneuver them, more than ever.

The question to ask may be:

Can we can really have a great, relevant, globally effective leader, today, who conforms to the rigid codes of behaviour/discipline that more conservative members of our wider society feel are absolutely essential to be a 'good Sikh' in this day and age?

[Singh559]

I think one of the things that made M. Ranjit Singh great was his impartiality.

Sure, as a Sikh, he can be severely criticised as someone who lacked restraint, especially in the kaam department. Plus it's well known that he took opium and drank alcohol.

Despite these personal things he was still a man with a grand vision, who put Panjab on the map. He didn't seem to let theological/religious debates/matters interfere with the business of running a state. Ultimately, what people (especially Panjabi Sikhs!!) really seem to want is security and opportunities to prosper (even the most holier than thou Sikh in the west does this)- he knew that and delivered it against all odds when Sikhs and Panjabis in generally had experienced all manner of hellish strife and upheaval. I believe that is why so many of his 'foibles' were tolerated. Plus it was another time, for whatever reasons, a lot more was tolerated back then - which had both positive and negative consequences.

Akali Phoola Singh may have sabre rattled about M. Ranjit Singh's aashqeean, and order him to be whipped but deep down even he probably knew that no one else could do the job, that Ranjit Singh was doing.

To me the whole Ranjit Singh legacy opens up a lot of seriously important questions for us today, questions that many apnay (especially those loudest who like to hide behind dogma), would probably feel seriously uncomfortable facing up to.

No one can deny Ranjit Singh's inclusiveness and tolerance of differences was one of the key factors behind his success. Pair these with his worldly wisdom. He was astute and realistic. Today the lack of these very specific qualities amongst Sikhs has turned our once powerful community into a bunch of small time, myopic pendus, bickering over petty issues and completely failing to see the wider, global picture.

We need an independent, intelligent, astute leader like this man - who (by all alcounts and I've read many of them!) could mix it up with the most devious of diplomats from so-called advanced nations and out outmaneuver them, more than ever.

The question to ask may be:

Can we can really have a great, relevant, globally effective leader, today, who conforms to the rigid codes of behaviour/discipline that more conservative members of our wider society feel are absolutely essential to be a 'good Sikh' in this day and age?

Beautiful post.

The question that still rings more than ever is where to start. Everything seems to be in a mess and in the west we all seem to be more in love with maya than Sikh affairs even if we try to flaunt that we care. At the end of the day no one wants to leave the comfort of their normal lifestyles and enter into the realm of the unknown to go after a mysterious ideal.

I think part of the problem is parents who ingrain the love of money more than studying what you are passionate about, exposing to Sikhi and Sikh history and overall knowledge that will empower us to become leaders in the world.

[sat]

Sounds like the sikhs of old (the real sikhs ) were more tolerant and forgiving, Maharaja Ranjit Singh seem to get away with a lot!

maybe we should learn something from this and stop judging each other, there is only one judge and we will all appear before him one day have no doubt on that

WJKK WJKF.

[ks55]

Sounds like the sikhs of old (the real sikhs ) were more tolerant and forgiving, Maharaja Ranjit Singh seem to get away with a lot!

maybe we should learn something from this and stop judging each other, there is only one judge and we will all appear before him one day have no doubt on that

WJKK WJKF.

no matter what THE MAN KICKED A88 AND BIG TIME -- WE SHOULD NOT CRITICIZE NONE OTHER THAT GURU SAHIB AND AKAL PURAKH ARE PERFECCT - ALL OF US ARE PRONE TO WEAKNESS AND FAILURES - SO TAKE A POSITIVE LEAVE OUT OF HIS BOOK AND LIFE NOT NEGATIVE