Recently I read about the life of Maharaja Daleep Singh. It was very saddening to read about his life up to the day he died.
The British dethroned Maharaja Daleep Singh, the ruler of Sher-E-Panjab, when they annexed Panjab in 1849. At the age of 8 years old, the child Maharaja Daleep Singh was cunningly converted to Christianity and was taken to England in 1854 where his Kesh were cut and he was given a new lifestyle. He was given the vast Elvedon Estate property for his luxurious living, near Thetford in Suffolk, so that he does not look back to his background.
It was interesting to discover in the book I was reading that Maharaja Daleep Singh was reminded of his past and questioned who he truly was after the Granthi Singh of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's Darbaar who trained Maharaja Daleep Singh and others in Gurmukhi, other languages and Gurmat came to England with a Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. The Granthi Singh, whom Daleep Singh remembered and respected, stayed with him and for a certain amount of time the Granthi Singh read and explained the Paath of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee to him and inspired him with Sikh history. This awakened the consciousness of Maharaja Daleep Singh to be re-initiated into the Sikh Panth and receive Amrit.
Maharaja Daleep Singh started his way for Panjab. On the way he was stopped at the port of Aden. Finding no other way out, the Granthi Singh who had educated Maharaja Daleep Singh, accompanied with 6 other persons (all their names were provided in the book) brought Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee to Aden. Here, Maharaja Daleep Singh received Amrit (Khande Di Pahul) from the Guru-Roop Panj Pyaare on May 25, 1886.
Below is a short video on a summary of Maharaja Daleep Singh's life:
Note: The blog will not be updated for a week as I am away. Details and photos of the trip will be posted when I come back.
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