Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s statue permanently installed at Kartarpur

Statue was originally installed at Lahore's Shahi Qila, where it was vandalised three times by extremists

LAHORE:

The statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the first Sikh ruler of Punjab, has been permanently installed at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. The statue had been housed at the gurdwara for the past year.

Punjab's Minister for Minority Affairs and Chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, along with officials from the PMU Kartarpur and Sikh pilgrims from India, attended the installation ceremony.

Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora emphasised the importance of protecting the statue. “The restored statue has been installed at Kartarpur Sahib so that Sikh pilgrims and general tourists from the Kartarpur Corridor and around the world can view it,” he said. He also mentioned that the restoration of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's samadhi in Lahore would commence soon.

The statue was originally installed at Lahore's Shahi Qila in June 2019 to mark the 180th anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death. However, it was vandalised three times by extremists. The bronze statue, weighing between 250 and 350 kg, was initially placed in front of Rani Jindan’s haveli in the fort.

Gifted by Sikh historian Bobby Singh Bansal, President of the UK's SK Foundation, the statue depicts Maharaja Ranjit Singh riding his Arabian horse, 'Kehar Bahar'. It was crafted under the supervision of Faqir Saifuddin, Director of Faqir Khana Museum.

Also read: Ranjit Singh’s statue arrives at Kartarpur

Despite repairs, the statue faced repeated attacks, with significant damage occurring in September and December 2020, and again in August 2021. The Walled City of Lahore Authority repaired the statue but hesitated to reinstall it due to the risk of further vandalism. Consequently, the statue was moved to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in December 2023, where it had been placed near the Kartarpur Darshan Point for the past year.

Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib attracts Sikh pilgrims from India and worldwide, along with other tourists. Currently, Sikh pilgrims from various countries, including India, are in Pakistan to commemorate the 185th anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death, with a ceremony scheduled for June 29 in Lahore.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh conquered Lahore in the early 19th century and ruled Punjab for 40 years, promoting religious tolerance. Despite accusations of damaging Mughal-era buildings, his reign is noted for the inclusion of several Muslim ministers in his administration.