ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ranjit Singh

Ranjit Singh was a very important person in the history of India. He was a Sikh leader and became the Maharaja, which is like a king, of the Sikh Empire.

When Ranjit Singh was a little boy, his father died, so he became the leader of his small kingdom. He was very brave and smart, so he was able to conquer other nearby kingdoms and expand his empire.

One of the things that made Ranjit Singh famous was that he united many different groups of people under his rule. He wanted everyone, no matter what religion they practiced or what language they spoke, to be treated equally.

Ranjit Singh was also very religious. He followed the Sikh religion and built many beautiful temples called gurdwaras. He even had a special golden temple called Harmandir Sahib built in the city of Amritsar.

People loved and respected Ranjit Singh because he was fair and listened to his people. He made sure everyone had enough to eat, had a place to live, and felt safe. He also made laws to protect people's rights and encouraged different arts and crafts to thrive in his empire.

One of the most interesting things about Ranjit Singh was his love for animals. He had a collection of different animals from all over the world. He had elephants, lions, tigers, and even a special diamond-eyed falcon!

Ranjit Singh died when he was around 59 years old, but his legacy lives on. People still admire him for his bravery, leadership, and his efforts to unite different communities. His empire lasted for some time even after his death, until it eventually became a part of British India.