Gujranwala is a big but comparatively a new city. Though settlements existed in this area for long time, but the foundations of the modern city were laid down in 1758, when Charat Singh constructed a small mud fort at Sirai Kambohaan.
He was sardar of Sukerchakia Misl and grandfather of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. 18th century was a period of turmoil in Punjab. Foreign invasions by Nadir Shah and then Ahmad Shah Abdali, ravaged the whole region from Indus to Jamuna and the authority of Mughals totally collapsed by 1750s. Sikhs were already active and made full use of this anarchy and in 1760s quickly emerged as the supreme force in Punjab. Especially the central Punjab fell to their control. Even Lahore was captured by Sikhs on 16th May, 1764. Then except for a few months in 1767 and later for a few days in 1797, it remained in control of Bhangi Misl. Misls were twelve independently operating Sikh groups, under different warlords, active in different regions of Punjab. One of them was Sukherchakia Misl, based at Gujranwala and controlling surrounding areas, and constantly at war with neighbouring Muslim chiefs like Chatthas etc and also with other Sikh or Hindu chiefs. In these circumstances Ranjit Singh was born on 13th November, 1780 and at the death of his father Mahan Singh in April, 1790, he though just a boy, became the sardar of his Misl. His rise was quick and by 1799 he occupied Lahore and by 1809 wrested the control of all the areas west of Sutlej from other Sikh Misls. By a treaty in the same year River Sutlej was agreed upon as the border between the British India and his state. So he changed his focus to other directions and by the time he died in 1839, the whole of present day Pakistani Punjab (except Bahawalpur State), most of KP and Kashmir was conquered by him.
Sikhs rightly take a great pride in the rise of Ranjit Singh, being the greatest ruler they ever produced. Though, Muslims don’t have many fond memories of the Sikh Rule. But, one thing is certain that he brought a certain degree of stability to Punjab and ended the anarchy and depredations of Sikh Misls and Afghans and was tolerant towards other religions as well. Because of the strong state that he created due to his immense talents and energy, he is often called Sher-e-Punjab or the Lion of Punjab.
In search of some traces of the family of Ranjit Singh I reached Gujranwala on 16.03.2011. Our first destination was Sheranwala Bagh, the Garden of Lions. Ruins of a house can still be seen there. At that time I thought these ruins to be the residence and birthplace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. But later on found that to be incorrect. Actually a big haveli exists inside the old city, which is probably the residence of his family. In the bagh we talked to some idle sitting old gentlemen and one of them pretended to be the authority on the affairs related to Ranjit Singh, but even he did not mention this haveli, which was just half a kilometer away. The ruins in Sheranwala Bagh are located at 32° 09' 21.17" N, 74° 11' 18.81" E.
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