LAHORE, PAKISTAN — Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s bronze statue was inaugurated on his 180th death anniversary in Lahore, Pakistan. Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of Punjab)’s reign, with Lahore as its capital, is considered a golden era for the lands that span from borders of Tibet, eastward from the present city of Ludhiana, westward to Peshawar and to the south of Multan.
“The statue is a great symbol of unity and strength, which celebrates the rich history and contributions of the residents of Lahore to the world. It infuses life into a period that has so much to celebrate,” said UNITED SIKHS CEO Jagdeep Singh. “Maharaja’s reign encompassed almost all of present day Pakistan. We are elated to see such a magnificent and well-deserved tribute to the people and culture of those lands. This piece of art will draw international tourists to the City of Lahore in even greater numbers.”
Arguably the best times when art, education and different religions all flourished greatly was under Maharaja Singh’s rule, which also benefited from a strong foreign policy and internal governance systems. During the rule, the region enjoyed excellent relations with other governments in the South Asian sub-continent, treaties with the British while employing French generals and artisans in Lahore.
This extraordinary global effort was spearheaded by U.K. based Bobby Singh Bansal of S.K. Foundation, Akrum Sheikh of Layla Corp., Raj Singh Kapany and Mandeep Singh Arora of Sikh Foundation, USA, in partnership with the Walled City Lahore Authority, Department of Archaeology, the Government of Pakistan and the people of Lahore. UNITED SIKHS congratulate the artists and all the collaborators who came together to create this stunning art piece that embodies so much more than just an image of a ruler.
All through his life, the Maharaja epitomized what a ruler should be, humble and always available for service to his people. His rule was not named after him; he never sat on a throne and simply used a chair when conducting the affairs of the government in his court. The life-size bronze statue of Maharaja Singh will remain permanently on display in the Fort of Lahore.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh served as leader of the empire from the late 18th century to the mid 19th century. His legacy includes a distinct cultural and artistic renaissance, including the guilding of Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, as well as contributing to other major mosques, temples and gurudwaras, including Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar and Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra.
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