Article:
Sardar Lehna Singh Majithia: The purest gem of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court
By Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

The city, being the spiritual capital of the Sikh religion, had received special attention from Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Sikh Raj was considered the “Golden Era” for “Sifti da Ghar” (the city of values).

The Sikh Sardars who personally supervised the redecoration of the Harmandar Sahib and the reconstruction of the Holy City during the Sikh rule have, however, not been given due recognition till date.

A multi–splendoured personality and unique nobleman of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Darbar, Sardar Lehna Singh Majithia belonged to the well-known and illustrious family of the Majithias (of Majitha village). He, with his engineering skills and devotion, had contributed much to the overall development of Amritsar. He was father of Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, founder of The Tribune.

Sardar Lehna Singh Majithia was undoubtedly one of the most remarkable persons who had a great command over various subjects. He had also contributed in the construction of the Ram Bagh, the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh built on the pattern of Shalimar Bagh at Lahore.

Under the supervision of Fakir Azeez-ud-din, Sardar Desa Singh Majithia and his son Sardar Lehna Singh Majithia, nobles of the Lahore Darbar, laid a garden spreading across 84 acres. The garden included rare plants, trees and flowers surrounded by a 14-foot-high boundary wall. A moat was also built all around it, making the Bagh one of the most beautiful and safest places.

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Image:
Sirdar Lehna Singh (Majithia), 1865 (c).
Watercolour by a Company artist, Punjab

National Army Museum Copyright