Which of the following statements regarding Maharaja Ranjit Singh is ...
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, one of the greatest rulers of India, was the finest Sikh ruler (1801-1839). He overthrew the warring Misls and established a unified Sikh Kingdom after his successful conquest of Lahore in 1799. The boundaries of his empire went till Ladakh in North, Kyber in North-west and Pajnad in South. It included the regions of the Mughal provinces of Lahore, Multan, Kabul, and Peshawar.
He built the fort of Jamrud at the mouth of Khyber Pass, the most common way used by invaders to come to India. At the time of his death, he was the only sovereign king of India as all other kings were under the British East India Company.
He constructed Asia’s most powerful indigenous army by combining all the qualities of traditional Khalsa army with the western techniques of warfare. He appointed French General Jean Francois Allard to modernize his military.
He died after the war of Chillianwala, the second Anglo-Sikh war due to a fatal illness. He covered the famous Harmindar Sahib at Amritsar with Gold after which it is popularly known as the Golden temple. He also took possession of Kohinoor Diamond in 1813.
Hence, the correct option is (d).