HISTORY, LEGENDS & MYTHOLOGY

Ranjit Singh 'panorama' provides an insight
into Punjab's history
by Ravinder Singh Robin

     Amritsar: Maharaja Ranjit Singh's reign was also known for all round development, secular values and patriotic fervour. Keeping all these aspects in mind, the Amritsar has come up with many such things that reminds one of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule. The National Council of Science Museums in cooperation with the State government has recently set up Maharaja Ranjit Singh panorama, which is only second of its kind in the country. Spread on a sprawling 4.5 acres of land in the historic Rambagh heritage Garden, the panorama with its long, cylindrical architecture, is an all-captivating marvel for visitors. Inside, there are three sections that take a person back in time through 200 years of Sikh History. The main attraction, however, is the life-like panorama of the various major wars, which comes alive through the 12 meters high and 100 meters long panoramic painting depicting six major battle expeditions of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

    At the entrance to the main panorama, a visitor comes across the most-attractive Darbar-e-Khalsa (or, Court of Khalsa) of Ranjit Singh. The scene is the replica of a rare picture adorning the walls of the Lahore Fort. The battle expeditions were presented with a lively three dimensional diorama on the foreground consisting of many mannequins of warriors, soldiers, horses, camels, weapons and so on. The battles include his victory at Lahore, the capture of Kangra, the battle for the fort of Attock, victory at Multan, the conquest of Kashmir and the battle of Naushera. The Maharaja's Grand Durbar at Lahore has also been recreated in the panorama hall through a large three dimensional presentation where Maharaja is seen with his chiefs, nobles and also the poor and destitute celebrating Dussehra with a great zeal and zest. The other landmark is the vibrant life span of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It has been presented through eight smaller dioramas in the ground floor halls. Theses include Maharaja in childhood, Maharaja's marriage, capture of Zamzama, gold cladding of Shri Harmandir Sahib, acquisition of Koh-i-noor and modernization of his army. According to Sunil Dutti, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama is a landmark, which city offer to its visitors. Five touch-screen computers alongside the main hall of the Panorama have been installed to help visitors to identify the important Sikh generals and courtiers of the Maharaja. Gurdial Singh, a visitor, who came with his relatives was of the opinion that the panorama presents the history in a form which enables a person to visualise the events during the wars of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He said that he has brought his relatives who comes from US to show our great "virasat" (culture and heritage) and to show that how our great King established great Kingdom. Gulshan, a visitor from the United States finds the display marvellous and really making an on the mind of visitor.

     Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a Sikh born in 1780 in Gujranwala in modern day Pakistan, into the Sansi-Sandhawalia family. At that time, much part of Punjab State was under Sikh rule who had divided the territory among factions known as misls. Ranjit Singh's father Maha Singh was the commander of the Sukerchakia misl and controlled a territory in west Punjab based around his headquarters at Gujranwala. Ranjit Singh succeeded his father at the young age of 12. After several campaigns, his rivals accepted him as their leader, and he united the Sikh factions into one state and he took the title of Maharaja on April 12, 1801 (to coincide with Baisakhi day), with Lahore having served as his capital from 1799. In 1802 he took the holy city of Amritsar. He then spent the following years fighting the Afghans, driving them out of western Punjab. He also captured Pashtun territory including Peshawar. Singh also hired European mercenaries to train his troops, creating a powerful military force whose presence delayed the eventual British colonization of Punjab.
-Nov 30, 2006    

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