Maharajah Ranjeet Singh

[Southie]

Re: Maharajah Ranjeet Singh

@Faris_Udeen

The thing that really ruined the Sikhs was thier position and their Army as well. Rajit Singh had alway made a strong central force, true it was drilled in the European fashion and everything but under Ranjit Singh the Khalsa looked only to the Soveriegn for it’s orders.

After Ranjit Singh the Army was the perfect Democracy, with Panchayat system of elected spokesmen making all the big decisions, as an effective Army it was still powerfull but without the strong leadership and Central authority discipline broke down and the Army was betrayed by the Politicians and left to fend for itself.

The other trouble for the Sikhs was they had always been the buffer zone between Muslim dominated Afghanistan and Hindu dominated India, after the campaigns of Ranjit Singh made the Sikhs enemies on both sides they became isolated and this is a lesson for both modern Pakistan and India.

Becuase the Sikhs became dependant on the British more than the British depended on them the Punjabs fate was sealed.

Never thought of it this way - their becoming isolated between Muslim/Hindu zones. Makes sense!