Gujranwala: It is an old historical building now a days being used as a truck ada[Truck Stand] by a pahalwan[wrestler]. It is the Smadi of (Shrine) Ranjit Singh’s Father Maha Singh . This building is situated on G.T. Road opposite to Dastiger’s PSO petrol pump; ahead Saharawala bag in Gujranwala. This is unfortunate enough that people are perusing this building and place to convert it to a commercial building instead of preserving its historical importance.
Ranjit Singh was born in the Punjabi town of Gujranwala (now in Pakistan), into a Sikh family of Waraich Sukerchakia misldars. At the time, much of Punjab was ruled by the Sikhs under a Confederate Sarbat Khalsa system as well as Afghans, who had divided the territory among factions known as misls. Ranjit Singh’s father Maha Singh was the Commander of the Sukerchakia misl and controlled a territory in west Punjab based around his headquarters at Gujranwala. Ranjit Singh succeeded his father at the young age of 12. After several campaigns, his rivals accepted him as their leader, and he united the Sikh factions into one entity.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/history-of-sikhism/24885-shrine-raja-ranjit-singh-s-father.htmlReference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24885
Maha Singh was born in the mid 1700s. His son was the Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was born towards the end of the century. The reality of the Sikh kingdom under Ranjit Singh, was largely made possible by him. Before and after the birth of Ranjit, he conquered vast areas of the Punjab. As well as winning a vast following of the Khalsa forces, he was allied with a coalition of other Sikh states. It is possible to say, that was one of the writers of the fate of the Sikhs and the glorious Sikh kingdom.