Ranjit Singh’s statue finds safe haven

Restored statue installed at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur

LAHORE:

The statue of Punjab's first Sikh ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, has been permanently installed at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.

The statue, which had been kept at the Gurdwara for the past year, was installed in a ceremony attended by Punjab's Minister for Minority Affairs and Chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, officials from PMU Kartarpur, and Sikh pilgrims from India. A special prayer was also held on this occasion.

Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora emphasised that the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will be well-protected.

He stated that the restored statue was installed at Kartarpur Sahib so that Sikh pilgrims and tourists from around the world, including those visiting the Kartarpur Corridor, could view it. He also mentioned plans to soon commence the beautification of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Samadhi in Lahore.

It is noteworthy that the statue was initially 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 250-350 kg statue was originally placed in front of Rani Jindan’s Haveli at Shahi Qila. It was gifted by Sikh historian Bobby Singh Bansal, President of the UK's SK Foundation. The bronze statue depicts Maharaja Ranjit Singh riding an Arabian horse named "Kif Bahar."

The statue, a beautiful masterpiece, was created under the supervision of Faqir Saifuddin, Director of Faqir Khana Museum. However, it was damaged by extremist religious group members in September 2020, again in December 2020, and a third time in August 2021.

Despite repairs by the Walled City of Lahore Authority, the statue was not reinstalled at Shahi Qila due to concerns about further vandalism. As a result, in December 2023, it was moved to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, where it has been placed near the Kartarpur Darshan Point for the past year.

Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib attracts Sikh pilgrims from around the world, including India, as well as other tourists. Currently, Sikh pilgrims from various countries are in Pakistan to commemorate Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary. The 185th death anniversary will be observed on June 29 in Lahore.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh conquered Lahore in the early 19th century and ruled Punjab for 40 years, according to Sikh traditions. While his reign is sometimes criticised for damaging Mughal-era buildings, it is also noted for promoting religious tolerance, with several key ministers in his administration being Muslims.