History of the Sikhs: Sikh Lion of Lahore/Maharaja Ranjit Singh

History of the Sikhs is a five volume survey aiming to present a comprehensive view of the rise, growth and development of Sikh thought and action in every direction. The present volume-The Sikh Lion of Lahore, 1799-1839-deals with Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh rose from the status of a petty chieftain to become the king of an empire extending from Gilgit and Tibet to the deserts of Sindh and from the Khyber Pass to the Satluj. He persuaded the turbulent Sikhs and Muslims to the Punjab to become the willing instruments of an expansionist policy which brought the Kashmiris and the Pathans of North-West Frontier and Baluchis of Multan province under his subjugation. His success was undoubtedly due to his ability to arouse the nascent sense of nationalism amongst his people and make them conscious that more important than their religion was the fact of their becoming a united people leading a harmonious life. The book consists of six parts, Part One deals with the campaigns and conquests of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Part Two depicts his relation with neighbours and others. Part Three deals with his attitude towards secularism. Part Four describes Ranjit Singh's interest in establishing a cosmopolitan society in the Punjab and introducing an element of merriment in their humdrum life. Part Five deals with economic prosperity with special reference to the development of agriculture and growth of industry, trade and commerce. Part Six gives vivid portrait of the Sikh Lion of Lahore.