MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH Ranjit Singh, Sher-e-Punjab or “Lion of Punjab”, was a personality who was declared as the "Maharaja of Punjab" when he was 21 years old. He was a courageous soldier, strong leader, and a devout Sikh. Under his leadership and vision, the Sikh empire was established by uniting 12 disparate warring Misls (confederacies) into one state. Loss of one eye in infancy, and.