Moran Sarkar

Moran Sarkar (Punjabi: موراں سرکار) was a Punjabi Muslim married to Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab in 1806.[2] She was a nautch girl before she became a queen. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was supposedly punished by flogging by Akali Phula Singh for marrying her.[3] Mai Moran was sent to live in Pathankot district, in 1811.[4][5]

Moran Sarkar
A miniature painting of Moran.
Born1781
Died1862 [1]
Burial placeMiani Sahib Graveyard, Lahore[1]
SpouseRanjit Singh

Life

Mai Moran was born in a Muslim family in Makhan Windi, near Amritsar.[1] She was a nautch girl. Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to meet her in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. She used to dance for him at the Baradari of Maharaja Ranjit Singh halfway between Amritsar and Lahore. The place was since called Pul Kanjri but now its name has been changed to 'Pul Moran'.[6] She later married Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a year after he became the maharaja of Lahore at the age of 21 and was officially given a name as Maharani Sahiba.

She was considered to be very learned in arts and letters. She was known for her philanthropic[7] acts and in bringing Maharaja's attention to many problems.

The Maharaja at Moran's request, built a mosque called as Masjid-e-Tawaifan, which was renamed in 1998 as Mai Moran Masjid in Lahore.[8] This is located in Lahore's bazaar now called Pappar Mandi near Shah Almi Gate.[3]

٘٘٘٘Mai Moran Masjid in Lahore
The dilapidated Baradari at Pul Moran on the India - Pakistan border

Play

Her life story with Maharaja Ranjit Singh was made into a play by Manveen Sandhu and directed by Kewal Dhaliwal.[9] The same play written by Manveen Sandhu was translated and directed by Rajiv Kumar Sharma principal Spring Dale Senior School, Amritsar during CBSE National Sahodaya Conference held at Amritsar in November 2013. The audience consisted of appx. 1000 school principals, CBSE officials and other delegates. The cast entirely consisted of school teachers. Rajiv Kumar Sharma presented the play Moran Sarkar

one last time in the same year during Indo-Pak Peace Festival Saanjh 2013 held at Spring Dale Senior School, Amritsar.

See also

References
  1. "Mosque of Moraan Tawaif — built by the beloved wife of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh - Daily Times Pakistan". 9 June 2018.
  2. The Sikh Review. Sikh Cultural Centre. 1998.
  3. "HARKING BACK: Mai Moran and ever-changing face of Pappar Mandi". 26 June 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  4. Kapūra, Prithīpāla Siṅgha; Singh, Dharam (2001). Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Commemoration Volume on the Bicentenary of His Coronation, 1801-2001. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. ISBN 978-81-7380-728-2.
  5. The Sikh Review. Sikh Cultural Centre. 1993.
  6. "Memories of a Dancing Peacock - Indian Express". 28 August 2011.
  7. "Fame and infamy". Business Line. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  8. "Maharaja-Moran relationship in new light". Tribune India. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  9. "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum".
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