Ranjit Singh rose from being a petty chieftain to become the most powerful Indian ruler of his time. His empire extended from Tibet to the deserts of Sindh and from the Khyber Pass to the Sutlej. In this first detailed biography of the only Sikh ruler of the Punjab, Khushwant Singh presents Ranjit Singh as he really was. Based on Persian. Punjabi and English sources, and drawing upon the diaries and accounts of European travelers, this is a memorable account of the pageantry and brilliance of the Sikh kingdom at the height of its power, and a lively portrait of one of the most colourful characters in Indian history.