MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH, COURT, and CULTURE: JRSP, Vol
MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH, COURT, AND CULTURE: JRSP, Vol. 58, No 2 (April-June 2021) Khola Cheema* Tohid Ahmad** MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH, COURT, AND CULTURE OF LAHORE DARBAR Abstract The study of the court and culture in Lahore Darbar under Maharaja Ranjit Singh is the primary purpose of this paper. Maharaja Ranjit Singh created an environment of peace and stability, resulting in the making of Lahore ‘center of cultural activities’. Another objective of this paper is to explore the significant developments in all domains of art and culture, and especially the impact of various religious traditions on the court and culture of Lahore Darbar. The overall development and new themes in Art, Painting, crafts, industries, luxury carpet waving, metalwork, astrological instruments, textile, vessel, gardens, and monuments are analyzed in this paper. A historical, analytical, and descriptive approach is adopted. Key Words: Ranjit Singh, Sikhs, Punjab, Court, Culture After becoming Maharaja of Punjab, Ranjit Singh provided an environment that permitted and encouraged the growth of the whole state’s cultural life. However, this aspect of his administration is not highlighted much because of his other essential and dominant characteristics. The most important thing in this respect was that Maharaja provided complete peace and harmony to the region from foreign invaders and eliminated internal chaos. That environment was essentially needed to encourage overall cultural activities, cultural development, and industrial growth in the region. Harmonious co-existence and patronage, provided by Maharaja to all communities and followers of every religion, took ‘Sikh art’ beyond the inflexible limitations. Hence Sikh Art & Culture can be seen as having much variety in its themes, inspirations, styles, methods, and techniques.
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