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The Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is often interpreted either as ‘secular polity’ or a ‘coercive imperial’ one, but there is a lot to be said about the Sarkar-i-Khalsa as a functional Sikh polity.
GNDU published this interesting volume of papers some years ago. Some extracts: https://twitter.com/sialmirzagoraya/status/1311233777897598976
GNDU published this interesting volume of papers some years ago. Some extracts: https://twitter.com/sialmirzagoraya/status/1311233777897598976
The greatest success of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was his ability to convince - in a very short period of time - both Hindu and Muslim ruling classes that their ‘rights’ would be protected in the new polity : built on the foundation of the Sikh Misl Confederacy.
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The key to this was - foremost - the assurances given in terms of religion : generous grants were given to Sikh, Muslim and Hindu institutions; Ranjit Singh allocated a larger share of state revenue to these institutions than, even, Akbar.
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The sheer number of Gurudwaras/temples renovated/rebuilt by Ranjit Singh is quite remarkable. Almost Augustinian in scope.
(Mostly ignored is the refurbishment of some mosques, with the largest Muslim share going to Pir-Sufis, whom the Sikh state preferred over Mullahs).
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(Mostly ignored is the refurbishment of some mosques, with the largest Muslim share going to Pir-Sufis, whom the Sikh state preferred over Mullahs).
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That Muslim subjects of the Empire felt equally represented - as a constituency - is highlighted by Shah Muhammad in the Jungnama.
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A few more interesting extracts which show that loyalty was paid back by the Muslim aristocracy in kind.
The Muslim aristocracy allowed to hold their jagir-rights contributed soldiers to the Sikh army. /6
The Muslim aristocracy allowed to hold their jagir-rights contributed soldiers to the Sikh army. /6
The loyalties of the Muslim aristocracy might have a lot to do with their self-identification as Punjabis.
The reciprocity of rights in a Punjabi regime of the Sikh Empire further entrenched this identity.
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The reciprocity of rights in a Punjabi regime of the Sikh Empire further entrenched this identity.
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The ideology of Punjabiat was, in a sense, created and cultivated by the Sikh Empire.
The high culture of this golden age of Punjabi culture - a culmination of what Guru Nanak has begun in Kartarpur - is best captured by GW Leitner in this extract:
The high culture of this golden age of Punjabi culture - a culmination of what Guru Nanak has begun in Kartarpur - is best captured by GW Leitner in this extract:
Why was the Sikh polity so, we might say, Modern in its constitution.
It was founded on the core ideas of Sikh political theory. Sirdar Kapur Singhji’s views on these core ideas, discussed here : https://twitter.com/sialmirzagoraya/status/1311235233207910400
It was founded on the core ideas of Sikh political theory. Sirdar Kapur Singhji’s views on these core ideas, discussed here : https://twitter.com/sialmirzagoraya/status/1311235233207910400
