Explanations:After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last human Guru of the Sikhs, the leadership of the Sikh community was taken over by Banda Bahadur. Banda Bahadur, originally named Madho Das, was a Hindu ascetic who was converted to Sikhism by Guru Gobind Singh. He was given the name Banda Singh Bahadur and was appointed as the leader of the Sikhs in 1708, shortly before Guru Gobind Singh's death.
Banda Bahadur played a crucial role in the early 18th century in the consolidation and militarization of the Sikh community. He led several military campaigns against the Mughal Empire and established a Sikh state in the Punjab region. His leadership was significant in the early history of the Sikhs, as it marked a period of resistance and consolidation following the death of the last human Guru.
It is important to note that Banda Bahadur was not a Guru in the traditional sense, as Guru Gobind Singh had declared that there would be no more human Gurus after him. Instead, the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, was declared as the eternal Guru. Banda Bahadur's role was more of a military and political leader rather than a spiritual one.
Raja Ranjit Singh, on the other hand, came much later in the 19th century and was not a direct successor to Guru Gobind Singh. He was the founder of the Sikh Empire and is known for his military prowess and the establishment of a powerful Sikh state in the Punjab region. His reign marked a period of significant growth and prosperity for the Sikhs, but he was not the immediate successor to Guru Gobind Singh.
Therefore, the correct answer is Banda Bahadur, who was the leader of the Sikhs immediately after Guru Gobind Singh. This historical context is crucial for understanding the early development of the Sikh community and its leadership structure following the death of the last human Guru.