Jassa Singh Ahluwalia

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Not to be confused with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia.
Naina Singh
Personal details
Born
Jassa Singh

3 May 1718
Ahlu,
Bandala, Sikh Confederacy
(present-day Amritsar district, Punjab, India)
Resting placeCremated at the Dera Baba Attal, Amritsar
Spouse(s)Mai Sahibji
Sadarani Raj Kaur Sahiba
RelationsBagh Singh (grand-nephew)
Children3
Parents
] (mother)
Military service
Battles/wars
Commander
Dal Khalsa
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Banda Bahadur in 1716 to the founding of the Sikh Empire in 1801. He founded the Kapurthala State
in 1772.

Early life

Jassa Singh was born on 3 May 1718 CE, in the Ahlu village near Lahore, Punjab.[6] Originally known as Jassa Singh Kalal,[7] he styled himself as Ahluwalia after his ancestral village.[8]

Jassa Singh is described as a member of the

Kalals, and the family came to be known as "Ahluwalia Kalal". British administrator Lepel Griffin, who wrote an account of the rulers of Punjab, dismissed this tradition as fictitious.[17]

According to the dynasty's account, Sadhu's Singh's great-grandson Badar Singh and his wife remained childless for a long time, and sought blessings from Guru Gobind Singh. As a result, Jassa Singh was born to them.[18]

The formation of the Dal Khalsa and the Misls

Main articles: Dal Khalsa (Sikh Army) and Ahluwalia (misl)
Gilded equestrian painting of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Punjab Plains, circa 1850

In 1733,

Hari ke Pattan, where the Sutlej river and Beas River meet; the Taruna Dal would control the area east of Hari ke Pattan while the Budha Dal would control the area west of it.[21] The purpose of the Budda Dal, the veteran group, was to protect Gurdwaras and train the Taruna Dal, while the Taruna Dal would act as combat troops. However, in 1735, the agreement between Zakariya Khan and Nawab Kapur Singh broke down and the Dal Khalsa retreated to the Sivalik Hills
to regroup. Later the command of Dal Khalsa was taken by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia who was an able and powerful administrator, even displaced & brought Mughal’s centre of power at the time (Red Fort) under Khalsa flag. He made the foundation of Khalsa firm for future generations to lead.[citation needed]

Military campaigns

Nadir Shah's invasion

Main article: Nader Shah's invasion of India

In 1739,

Shahjahanabad) robbing it of treasures like the Peacock throne, the Kohinoor diamond and the Darya-i-Noor diamond. Meanwhile, all the Khalsa bands got together and passed a resolution that Nadir shah had plundered the city of Delhi and now he is taking Indian women as slaves to his country. Sikhs made a plan to free all the slaves. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was 21 years old at that time, he planned raids to free all slaves. He along with other Sikh bands attacked Nadir shah forces, freed all slaves and sent those slaves back to their families safely.[22][23]

Ahluwalia participated in many battles as well where he proved himself to be a natural leader. In a 1748 meeting of the Sarbat Khalsa, Nawab Kapur Singh appointed him as his successor. His followers awarded him the title Sultan-ul-Qaum (King of the Nation).[24]

The raids of Ahmed Shah Abdali

Main article: Indian campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani

Pashtun khel to which he belonged.[25]

Starting from December 1747 till 1769, Abdali made a total of nine incursions into the north

Nawab of Oudh and Rohillas, defeated the Marathas, who after a treaty signed in 1752 became the protector of the Mughal throne at Delhi and were controlling much of North India, and Kashmir.[25] However they were never able to subdue the Sikhs in the Punjab.[25]

Help of Sikhs to Jats of Bharatpur

Mir Bakshi and Regent at Delhi by Ahmed Shah Durrani. Suraj Mal’s son Jawahar Singh sought help from Sikhs who responded with a Sikh force of 40,000 under the command of Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. The Sikhs crossed the Yamuna on 20 February 1764 and attacked the surrounding areas. Najib ul Daulah rushed back to Delhi thereby relieving the pressure on Bharatpur. Najib ul Daulah suffered another defeat at hands of Sikhs under Ahluwalia after a battle that lasted 20 days in the trans-Yamuna area at Barari Ghat, 20 km north of Delhi. He retired to Red Fort on 9 January 1765 and within a month Sikhs defeated Najib ul Daulah again in Nakhas (horse market) and in Sabzi Mandi.[26]

Jawahar Singh also engaged 25,000 Sikh forces under command of Sardar Jassa Singh against the Rajput Raja of Jaipur in the Battle of Maonda and Mandholi and the Battle of Kama and was defeated in both.[27][28]

Rescue of Maratha women by Sikhs

An account appearing in the 19th century texts, Munshi Kanhaiyya Lal's Tareekh-e-Punjab and Gian Singh's Shamsher Khalsa, credits Jassa Singh with rescuing Hindu women captured by

Sutlej river, rescued over 2,000 of the captured women, and sent them back to their families.[29] Thereafter, he was known as Bandi chhor, or the Liberator of captives.[30][24]

The Sixth Abdali Incursion, 1762

In early 1762, Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded India to crush Sikhs power[31][32] Ahmad Shah Durrani with his Soldiers reached Malerkotla, west of Sirhind, then attacked a 20,000 Sikh army escorting 40,000 women and children, along with the elderly. In one of their worst defeats—known as Vadda Ghalughara—the Sikhs lost perhaps 5–10,000+ soldiers and had 20,000 civilians massacred. The Afghan forces of Ahmad Shah Durrani came out victorious with the night ambush on the large convoy.[33][34]

Despite the Ghalughara disaster, by the month of May, the Sikhs were up in arms again. Under Jassa Singh, they defeated the Afghan faujdar of Sirhind in the Battle of Harnaulgarh.[35] By autumn, the Sikhs had regained enough confidence to foregather in large numbers at Amritsar to celebrate Diwali. Abdali made a mild effort to win over them and sent an envoy with proposals for a treaty of peace. The Sikhs were in no mood for peace and insulted the emissary. Abdali did not waste any time and turned up at the outskirts of Amritsar.[citation needed]

The Battle of Pipli Sahib was fought in the grey light of a sun in total eclipse. It ended when the sunless day was blacked out by a moonless night with the adversaries retiring from the field: The Sikhs to the fastness of the jungles of the Lakhi (the forests of a hundred thousand trees located in Central Punjab) and Abdali behind the walled safety of Lahore.[36]

Conquest of Jalandhar and Malerkotla

In June 1763, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia marched towards Jalandhar, Sadat Yar-Khan, the Governor of Jalandhar so much terrified he did not stir out of his capital, Jassa Singh sacked Jalandhar, In December 1763, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia defeated and Killed Bhikhan Khan, the Nawab of Malerkotla, and plundered Morinda,[37]

Conquest of Sirhind

In January 1764,

Sirhind, Zain Khan Sirhindi, the Governor of Sirhind was killed, Sikhs captured Sirhind and divide Province between themselves, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia captured the territories of Jagaon, Bharog, Fatehgarh,[37]

Sikh Invasion of Ganga-Yamuna 1764

In February 1764, the Sikhs crossed

Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba, Baghel Singh, and Gurbaksh Singh, at the head of strong force. They plundered Saharanpur, Shamli, Kandhla, Miranpur, Deoband, Jawalapur, Chandausi, Muzaffarnagar, and Najibabad. Najib ad-Dawlah made peace with the Sikhs by offering them 11 lakhs of rupees tribute.[38]

Ahmad Shah Durrani Seventh Invasion

In 1765,

Gujar Singh positioned on the left.[39][40]

furious battle took place with the Sikhs overpowering the right wing of the Durrani army after applying their usual tactic where Hari Singh dashed upon Shah Vali Khan and Jahan Khan and then retired to draw the Afghans to pursue them, where the Sikhs would then return and ambush the Afghans.[40][39] Ahmad Shah who was quite aware of the usual tactics of the Sikhs of hit and retiring and then returning to attack again, called and warned Nasir Khan about this stratagem of the Sikhs.[40][39] But despite the warning, Nasir Khan and his soldiers rushed in pursue only for another contingent of Sikh soldiers to rush to position themselves in between, cutting off both Ahmad Shah and Nasir Khan and then circling the retreating Baluchis army where a close bloody combat took place.[41][42] The whole battle ended due to nightfall with both parties retiring.[41][42]

Next morning, with sunrise, the Afghans moved onward but right after 5 km, they again came across the Sikhs who attacked the Durranis from all sides.

river Chenab, the Durranis were harassed and assaulted for seven days where the Sikhs returned again and again only to retire in same prevalence, as this was their war tactic.[43][44]

Conflict with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia

In 1775, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia one day was going to Achal near Batala, he was attacked by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia brothers Khushal singh, Tara singh, and Mali singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was taken prisoner, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia apologized for the misbehaviour of his brothers and honorably returned Ahluwalia with gifts but, the differences between two increased, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia took the oath, He will drive Ramgarhias out of country,

In 1778, Jai Singh Kanhaiya and Haqiqat Singh Kanhaiya supported by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia attacked Jassa Singh Ramgarhia headquarter Sri Hargobindpur and after tough resistance expled him to the desert of Hansi and Hisar, he set up his headquarters at Tosham[45]

Battle of Delhi

In March 1783,

Dal Khalsa under Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Baghel Singh was advancing upon Delhi,[46][47]Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Joined Dal Khalsa at March 10, 1783, On 11 March, Dal Khalsa entered in the royal palaces in the red fort, In the Diwan-e-Am Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was placed on the throne of Delhi as Badshah Singh of Delhi by Sikhs, Through Ramgarhia was in minority, yet he challenged the Ahluwalia and called upon him to get down immediately. Both sides drew out swords and were about to pounce upon each other when Jassa Singh Ahluwalia at once renounced the honour,.[46][47]
Mughals agreed to construct 7 Sikh Gurudwaras in Delhi for Sikh Gurus.[48][49][50][51]

Death and legacy

Photo of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia's haveli, circa early 20th century

Jassa Singh Ahluwalia died on 23 October 1783 in Amritsar.

He (Jassa Singh Ahluwalia) had the great privilege of conquering Lahore and issuing his own coin ... [and] sitting on the throne of the Mughal Emperors in the Red Fort at Delhi [after conquering it]. He fought a number of times face to face with Ahmad Shah Durrani, the greatest Asian general of his days. The invader tried to win him over in vain. The Maharajas of Patiala and Jind stood before him in all reverence and humility. The Rajas of Nalagarh, Bilaspur, Kangra Hills and Jammu touched his knees. The Nawabs of Malerkotla and Kunjpura paid him homage. And yet he remained a humble and docile disciple of Guru Gobind Singh. In the person of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, the Guru actually made a sparrow kill hawks. Jassa Singh was a great warrior, mighty general and eminent organiser. He bore thirty-two scars of sword cuts and bullet marks on the front part of his body and none on his back. He was a giant in body. ... Qazi Nur Muhammad who saw him fighting against Ahmad Shah Durrani called him a mountain.


He was a great warrior, mighty general and eminent organiser. He bore thirty-two scars of sword cuts and bullet marks on the front of his body and none on his back. He was a giant in body. His breakfast consisted of one kilogram of flour, one half kilogram of butter, one quarter kilogram of crystalline sugar slabs ( misri ), and one bucketful of butter-milk (lassi). One he-goat sufficed him for two meals…. These were the days of physical prowess, and only men possessed of indomitable will power could compete with ferocious Afghans on better footing. He was wheatish in colour, tall, fat, with a broad forehead, wide chest, loud and sonorous voice which could be clearly heard by an assemblage of 50,000 men….. The horses under him must have been the size of an elephant. This is why he could be clearly seen by Qazi Nur Muhammad in a body of fifty or sixty thousand men. His long arms came down to his knees. This enabled him to strike his sword right and left with equal valour.

— Hari Ram Gupta[52][excessive quote]

Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Government College (NJSA Government College) in Kapurthala, established in 1856 by Raja Randhir Singh of Kaputhala is named after him.[53] A commemorative postage stamp on Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was issued by Government of India on 4 April 1985.

In popular culture

Television

See also

References

  1. ^ Singh, Sewa (1984). Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1718-1783). Punjab State Archives Department. p. 3.
  2. ^ Ganda Singh 1990, p. 51.
  3. ^ H. S. Singha 2005, p. 31.
  4. ISBN 9788186769126
    .
  5. ^ Chhabra, G.S (1960). The Advanced Study in History of the Punjab: Guru and post-guru period upto Ranjit Singh. Sharanjit. p. 470.
  6. ^ H. S. Singha 2005, p. 111.
  7. ^ Ahluwalia, M. L. (1989). Life and Times of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
  8. OCLC 612533097
    .
  9. ISBN 978-0-520-00770-3
    . Retrieved 14 August 2022. With the rise to political power of Jassa Singh Kalal, the most famous Sikh chiefofthe eighteenth century, the importance of the Kalals had increased and there had been a tendency among them to abandon their degrading hereditary occupation…In addition to abandoning their hereditary occupation the Kalals tried to raise their status by changing their caste names and by claiming more respectable social origins. Jassa Singh Kalal had styled himself Ahllu- walia from the name of his ancestral village, a title which was still borne by his descendants, the royal family of the Native State of Kapurthala in British times; and one which the Sikh Kalals generally adopted as the name of their caste. By the early twentieth century some of the Ahlluwalias had gone further by claiming Khatri or Rajput origin.
  10. ^ Gandhi, S.S. (1980). Struggle of the Sikhs for Sovereignty. Gur Das Kapur. Retrieved 4 August 2022. The Ahluwalia Misl is also interesting for the same reason as it was led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, a member of Kalal caste, or distillers of palm wine . The Kalals rank among the artisans castes of the Sikhs
  11. ISBN 978-81-215-0540-6
    . Retrieved 4 August 2022. There lived a young man named Badar Singh of the Kalal caste known as distillers of wine...It was there that Badar Singh got a son in 1718, named Jassa Singh.
  12. ^ M. L. Ahluwalia (1989). Life and Times of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. Punjabi University. p. 3. ...the original homeland of Jassa Singh's ancestors was Mauza Mullu Sadhu-Ke in Majha. His qaum (caste) was Kalal alias Tulsi (sub-caste).
  13. ISBN 978-1442236004
    . ...the ruling family of Kapurthala (the descendants of Jassa Singh Ahluvalia) was also Kalal. So successful have they been that today their Kalal antecedents have been largely forgotten [...] Jassa Singh Ahluvalia, though not a Jat, was regarded as the principal misl chieftain
  14. ISBN 978-81-7304-737-4
    . Retrieved 14 August 2022. Nevertheless, differences of caste was discounted by the Jatts themselves. Sukha Singh, a Tarkhan, was 'brought up' by Shiam Singh, a Sandhu Jatt. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, a Kalal, was similarly 'brought up' by Kapur Singh, a Virk Jatt.
  15. ^ Sohan Singh Seetal (1981). The Sikh Misals and the Punjab States. Lahore Book Shop. Everybody had been dubbing the Kapoorthala dynasty as Kalaals, meaning wine vendors. But, during the time of Raja Kharak Singh, the penultimate chief of the state, an attempt was made to relate this dynasty to the Bhatti Rajput Rajput rulers of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
  16. ^ Ganda Singh 1990, p. 1With the passing of time, they got mingled with the Jats who constituted at that time the majority community of this area. They began to enter into matrimonial alliances with them. Thus, gradually they also became Jats.
  17. ^ Ganda Singh 1990, p. 4.
  18. ^ Ganda Singh 1990, p. 6.
  19. ^ H. S. Singha 2005, p. 37.
  20. ^ Narang, K. S.; Gupta, H. R. (1969). History of Punjab: 1500 - 1558. p. 216. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  21. ^ H. S. Singha 2005, p. 39.
  22. ISBN 9780140290455
  23. ISBN 9781642490060
    .
  24. ^ a b H. S. Singha 2000, p. 111.
  25. ^
    ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7
    .
  26. ^ "Sikh Relations with Jats of Bharatpur". The sikh encyclopedia. 19 December 2000. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  27. ^ Herrli, Hans (2004) [1993]. The Coins of the Sikhs (2nd ed.). Munshiram Manoharlal publishers Pvt ltd, New Delhi. p. 233. In December 1765 Jawahir singh marched against Jaipur with 25000 sikhs who were bought off by Raja Mado Singh, but in March 1768 Jawahir Singh, supported by 20000 Sikh mercenaries, again attacked and routed Mado Singh"
  28. ^ Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. New Delhi: Rupa Publication. pp. 726, 736.
  29. ^ a b Singh, Khushwant (1963). A History of the Sikhs: 1469–1839 (Vol. 1). Princeton University Press. p. 151.
  30. ^ Ganda Singh 1990, p. 106: "...he became famous as a Liberator of bonded women. (Ghanaya Lal, Tareekh-i-Punjab-100; Gian Singh, Shamsheer Khalsa, 145/507"
  31. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6
    . Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  32. ^ Bhatia, Sardar Singh. "Vadda Ghallurghara". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University Patiala. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  33. ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5
    . Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  34. ISBN 9789690100351
    .
  35. ISBN 9788186505465
    .
  36. ISBN 9781490714417
    . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  37. ^ a b c Gupta, Hari Ram. History Of The Sikhs Vol II Evolution of Sikh Confederacies. Munshilal Manohorlal, Pvt Ltd.
  38. ISBN 978-0-19-567308-1
    . Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  39. ^ a b c Gupta 1999, p. 221.
  40. ^ a b c Singh 1959, p. 304.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g Singh 1959, p. 305.
  42. ^ a b c d e f Gupta 1999, p. 222.
  43. ^ Singh 1959, p. 306.
  44. ISBN 9780195673081
    .
  45. ISBN 9780199756551
    .
  46. ^
    ISBN 978-81-7304-236-2
    .
  47. ^ a b "sikhchic.com | The Art and Culture of the Diaspora | Restoration of The Bunga Ramgharia". www.sikhchic.com.
  48. ISBN 9788190825986
    .
  49. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1
    .
  50. ^ H. S. Singha 2000.
  51. ^ Bhagata, Siṅgha (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. pp. 271–282. Baghel Singh, Baghel Singh took the leadership of karorisingha misl.
  52. ^ H. R. Gupta 1982, p. 43.
  53. The Tribune
    . 1 October 2006.

Bibliography

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