Ranjit Singh's polity was the complete freedom of expression  and worship enjoyed by all his subjects. The institute of monarchy gave primacy to personal and family ambitions over requirements of public interests.

The  most notable trait of Ranjit Singh's  polity was the   complete freedom of expression and worship enjoyed by all his subjects. Though he was born and brought up in the Sikh faith and listened to the recitation from Sikh scripture every day, he did not proclaom Sikhism as the religion of the state. He also did not make any conscious effort to propagate it. His broad religious outlook was reflected in his according due respect all religions. The spirit of forbearance displayed by him was in sharp contrast to the inhuman practice of the Mugal rulers, their plunder, and forced conversions.

Ranjit Singh's rule was characterised by scrupulous observance of rare norms of public conduct and social ethics when the victorious Khalsa army passed through the streets of peshawar, he issued strict instructions to his sardar to observe restraint in keeping with the Sikh tradition, not to damage any mosque, not to insult any woman and not to destroy any crops. He attribute each sucess to the favour of god . When he issued the coins of his empire, he struck them not in thename the guru. The rupee and paise  were called   Nanakshahi.

During his rule, there were no outbursts of communal fanaticisim, forced conversions,attempts at revenge, or language tensions. Ranjit Singh issued no infalibility decree, the idea of divine rights of kings, which connotes divine absolutism had no appeal for him  it was a unique instance where the  king had claimed equality with his subjects.  Cases of bribery and corruption in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's kingdom were rare and his frequent and unexpected tours kept the local official in check. Jawaharlal Nehru in his Discovery of India observes;" Ranjit Singh Was remarkably humane at a time when India and the world seethed with callousness and inhumanity. He built up a kingdom and a powerful army, and yet he disliked bloodshed. He abolished the death sentence for every crime, however heinous it might be, when in England even petty pilferers had to face death."

Ranjit Singh never sat on a throne and never wore a crown.on one occasion, he is said to have punished one of his generals for killing a koel (nightingale) when she was warbling. nobody was allowed to hurt a swan,parrot or sparrow. cow slaughter was banned throughout the empire in deference to the wishesof his hindu subjects known for religious tolerance, social harmony and justice, Ranjit Singh's state was the most progressive state in India.

[The glorious reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh] [Maharaja Ranjit Singh - A visionory ] [The relics and jewel of  Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Toshakhana ]

All data has been compiled by Point Internet Services for business4india.com on the occasion of 200 years of coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Data courtsey: The Tribune

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