Lehna Singh Majithia (died 1854), also romanized as Lahina or Lahna, was a polymath, inventor, warrior, and statesman. He had an interest in statecraft, architecture, mathematics, astronomy, firearms, mechanics, languages, art, and ordnance. He was a courtier of the Lahore Darbar of the Sikh Empire. Lehna Singh was the father of famous businessman and philanthropist, Dyal Singh Majithia.
Biography
Family background Lehna Singh belonged to the Majithia family and was the son of Desa Singh Majithia, a feudal chief who had sworn allegiance to Ranjit Singh in 1809, later serving in the military expedition to Kangra, which pushed the Gurkhas out of the Punjab Hills region. Thus, Desa was named the governor of Kangra and the city of Amritsar. In 1818, Desa served in the Multan campaign. Lehna was the eldest son of Desa. Service in the Sikh Empire
With the death of his father in 1832, Lehna inherited his father's administrative positions as governor of Kangra and Amritsar. As the governor of the city of Amritsar, Lehna had purview over the governance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Sikhism's central shrine. During the governance of Lehna, the Golden Temple underwent renovations, such as the laying of marble slabs around the inner parkarma (temple causeway) of the temple complex, with gardens being established elsewhere in the holy city.
He is noted for having a scientific inclination. Skilled in language-learning, it is purported that Lehna had translated works of Euclid into Punjabi. Lehna assisted general Claude Auguste Court in constructing cannons based on European models.
He was also a skillful mechanic and inventor. He designed a mechanism resembling a clock, showing the hour, the date, the day of the week and the phases of moon and other constellations. At the request of the Maharaja, he also modified the calendar and engaged in astronomy."Sardar Lehna Singh Majithia: The purest gem of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's court, Varinder Walia", The Tribune.
He had been awarded the titles of Kasir-ul-Iktidar ('Chief of Exalted Dignity') and Hasam-udaula ('the Sword of the State') by Ranjit Singh.
Later life He left Punjab in March 1844 for Haridwar, eventually settling in Banaras. He was arrested and kept under surveillance by the British from 23 January 1846 until the end of the First Anglo-Sikh War. He returned to Punjab in 1851 and stayed for two years before returning again to Banaras where he died in 1854.
Inventions
Compass Sikh calendar Sikh firearms (notably pistols) Sikh cannons, some of which were renowned as being technologically superior to the cannons the Britishers possessed Clock-like mechanism that showed hour, weekday, date, time, moon phase, and constellations. It was called the Dhup Ghari (meaning 'sun clock')
Construction projects Supervised the renovation of the Golden Temple and the reconstruction of Amritsar during Sikh-rule Assisted with the construction of the Summer Palace of Ranjit Singh (known as Ram Bagh) A garden that spread over 84 acres surrounded by a high wall and a moat. It contained rare plant species
Gallery
References
External links A GOLDEN LEAF FROM THE ANNALS OF SIKH HISTORY
Further reading