Nishaan-e-mard-e Momin ba too moyam,
Choon marg aayad, tabassum bar lab-e-ost
(You ask me for the signs of a man of faith?
When death comes to him,
He has a smile on his lips.)
Shauq-e-tool-o-peych is zulmat qade mein hai agar,
Bengalee ke baat sun aur Bengalan key baal deykh
(If you like to add legnth to a story, put a twist in its tail,
Hear a Bengali talk (endlessly) and gaze upon his woman's long hair.)
Voh waqt bhee dekhya tareekh kee gharion nay,
Lamhon nay khataa kee thee,
Sadiyon nay sazaa payee
(The ages of history have recorded times,
Where for an error made in a few seconds,
Centuries had to pay the price.)
create-
Jawahir Singh Kapur
edit-
Delhi
History of Delhi
India Gate
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Connaught Place
Rajpath
Janpath
South Delhi
Central Delhi
Pakistani Sikhs
air marshal arjan singh
manmohan singh
milkha singh
sir khem singh bedi
The Sikh Revolutionary and Durbar Wars, sometimes called the Great Durbar War, were a series of conflicts between the Sukherchakia Raj and several kingdoms in India under the British East India Company. They encompass the Misl Unification War against the various Misls and from 1805 onwards the Lahore-Patiala War, Afghan-Sikh Wars, First Anglo-Afghan War, First Durbar War, Second Durbar War, Third Durbar War and Lahore Durbar Mutiny of 1856.
- First Afghan-Sikh War (Abdali)
- Gangetic Campaign of the Sikhs
- Rajputana Campaign of the Sikhs
- Third Hill States-Sikh War
- Fourth Hill States-Sikh War
- Second Anglo-Maratha War
- First Misl Unification War
- Second Afghan-Sikh War (Timur Shah)
- Katoch-Sikh War
- Dogra-Sikh War
- Nepal-Sikh War
- Second Misl Unification War
- First Baloch-Sikh War
- Burmese-Sikh War
- Second Baloch-Sikh War
- Third Afghan-Sikh War (Zaman Shah)
- Muslim Rebellion of 1830
- Fourth Afghan-Sikh War (Nalwa)
- Standoff in the Khyber Pass
- Fifth Hill States-Sikh War
- Fifth Afghan-Sikh War (Basawan)
- Maqpon-Sikh War
- Tatar-Sikh War
- Sino-Sikh War
- Panchayati Revolution
- First Anglo-Sikh War
- Second Anglo-Sikh War
- Parakramabahu VIII of Kotte----Shivnabh Parakramabahu VIII of Kotte
- Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghuri----Sultan Hamid Karun of Misar
- Afonso I of Kongo
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Channi64+Pandit Keshav Das etc)
Wazir Patar
Albums-
- Sanu Dekhda Zamana (2020)
- Street Knowledge (2023)
Extended Plays-
- Sajna Da Shehar (2021)
- Keep it Gangsta (2022)
- Enigma (2022)
- Some Memories (2023)
- Back to Skool (2023)
- Estrellas (2024)
Singles-
- Daru Pe Ke Roye Ni (2017) feat. Jordan Sandhu, Kiss 'N' Teel
- Mar Jana (2019) feat. Major Chanalia, Miss Jasrina
- Bas Tere Karke (2020) feat. Jeona Sandhu
- Att Chaki Aa (2020) feat. Guri Gill
- Tu Hi Dass (2020) feat. Lakshh
- Kuj Harf (2020)
- Scania Truckan Wale (2020) feat. GXZ, Kiran Sandhu
- Vairi De Pind Nu (2020)
- Suneha (2020) feat. Hunar Buttar
- Salook (2020)
- Intro (2020) feat. Lakshh
- Jatti (2021) feat. Amana
- Tere Baad (2021) feat. Kiran Sandhu
- Aapna Hi Shehar (2021)
- Bp Up (2021) feat. Roop Bhullar
- Notorious (2021)
- Hello (2021) feat. Jeona Sandhu
- Pind Di Nigaah (2021) feat. Jeona Sandhu, Kiran Sandhu
- Kabooter (2021) feat. Jeona Sandhu, Dr. Aashmeen Shahi
- God Knows (2021) feat. Jeona Sandhu, Vijay Brar
- Chan Banke (2021)
- GOAT (2021) feat. Sidhu Moose Wala
- Malwa Block (2021) feat. Sidhu Moose Wala
- Trend (2021)
- Southside (2021) feat. Jimmy Maines
- Tinny (2021) feat. GXZ, Kiran Sandhu
- Gaani (2021) feat. Jeona Sandhu
- Janaza (2022)
- Niggh (2022) feat. Simiran Kaur Dhadli, Bunty Bains)
- Bae (2022) feat. Jeona Sandhu
- Bajwa Duet (2022) feat. Bajwa, Gurlez Akhtar
- Wahzirinthehood (2022)
- The Last Ride (2022) feat. Sidhu Moose Wala
- Convict (2022)
- New Bars (2022)
- Punjab Jeha- From Maa Da Ladla (2022) feat. Tarsem Jassar, Kiran Sandhu
- 911 (2022) feat. Mani Virdi
- Street Lori (2023) feat. DIVINE
- Mashli (2023) feat. Kahlon, Sumeet Dhillon
- Sher (2023) feat. Jenny Johal
- Suneya Main (2023)
- Ankha Di Gall (2023) feat. Roop Bhullar, Salma Qurreshi
- Semi-Auto (2023) feat. Jordan Sandhu
- Vasiyat (2023) feat. Lakshh
- Udd Jana (2023) feat. Rashmeet Kaur
- Executioner (2024)
- See My Hype (2024) feat. Roop Bhullar
My father died at ninety, a few minuites after he had his last sip of Scotch. My mother followed him eight years later when she was ninety-four. Her last request, made in a feeble, barely audible voice, was 'Viskee'. It was given to her. She threw it up and spoke no more.
Events in Sikh history:
- Singh Sabha Movement (Amritsar, Lahore, Bhasaur)
- World War I
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
- Third Anglo-Afghan War
- Non-Cooperation Movement
- Akali Movement
- Nankana Sahib Massacre
- Babbar Akali Movement
- New Delhi Development Project
- Civil Disobedience Movement
- World War II
- Sikhistan Independence War
- 1947 Indo-Pakistan War
- Partition Resettlement Program
- Punjabi Suba Movement
- Disbandment of P.E.P.S.U.
- Green Revolution in Punjab, India
- Shiromani Akali Dal Split
- 1962 Sino-Indian War
- 1965 Indo-Pakistan War
- 1967 Punjab Legislative Assembly election
- Naxalite Movement in Punjab, India
- Batala Conference
- Anandpur Sahib Resolution
- The Emergency (India)
- Save Democracy Protests
- Sikh-Nirankari Clashes
- Dharam-Yudh Morcha
- Operation Blue Star
- Sikh Mutiny of 1984
- Assassination of Indira Gandhi
- 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
- Sikh Exodus of 1984
- Khalistan Liberation War
- 1992 Punjab Legislative Assembly election
- Police Rule in Punjab
- 1997 Punjab Legislative Assembly election
- Sikh Exodus of the 21st Century
- Diasporization of Khalistan
- Drug Trade in Punjab
- Punjabi Music Industry
- 2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration controversy
- 2015 Sarbat Khalsa
- 2020-2021 Indian farmers' protest
- Amritpal Singh Saga
Sujan Singh traced his ancestry through his father Inder Singh right up to Baba Sangat Singh who in the seige of Chamkaur , had worn Guru Gobind Singh's clothes and let himself be captured and executed so that his Guru could escape . The martyrdom of Sangat Singh has always been a matter of pride for members of the family . Sujan Singh and his kinsmen were traders .
On the termination of the Sutlej campaign, the British government confiscated:
Rupar
Ladwa
Allowala (Raja Sunderamir Singh ruled it, in Jalandhar, very close to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, gave tribute to both British and Ranjit Singh, helped inthe Afghan campaign of Ranjit singh
Mamdot
Malaudh (relative of Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Faridkot, sardars, turned into a jagir instead)
Thanesar (very large force during the misl times, Bhanga Singh of Thanesar conquered Karnal)
Mani Majra
Shahabad (Bhag Singh and Bhanga Singh wrote to the Sikh chiefs of Shahabad and Ambala calling them to the Prince’s camp. They replied : “ You have plundered the royal domains. Now that the Prince and Nawab Majd-ud-daulah have come into your territory, you seek assistance from us. We will not come.)
Shamgarh (related to the Badal family,
Buriya (Rai singh of buriya, related to the Bhangis)
Sodhis of Anandpur
Took a quarter of Nabha territory and distributed it among the collaborating chiefs
more than 75 percent of Kapurthala territory which was below the Sutlej was taken by the british
The Malwa jdgirddrs were deprived of judicial powers and left only with the right to collect revenue
Jawahar Singh Kapur
Son of Bhai Anna Singh Kapur of Gurjanwala. Ancestors were Granthis in the Darbar Sahib.
After finishing school, he entered service in the accounts department of the North Western Railway in 1876, and making steady progress rose to be the superintendent in the Manager’s office in 1903. In 1882, he attended law classes of the University of the Panjab, but did not continue to complete the course. In 1886, he applied for the position of a Granthi at the Harimandar at Amritsar, but his candidature was rejected owing to his earlier religious affiliations. He has 18 works in 43 publications in 2 languages and 89 library holdings to his credit. The main proponents of the Singh Sabha were educated, energetic men of the middle class including Gurmukh Singh Chandhur, Dit Singh, and Jawahar Singh Kapur. Gurmukh Singh Chandhur (1849-98) was employed as a cook in the palace kitchen of the raja of Kapurthala. He was given a stipend by the raja and after completing his studies became the first professor of Punjabi at the Oriental College (1885). He was the author of many books in Punjabi including a History of India. Dit Singh (18531901) was a Mazhabi of Patiala. He was amongst those most eager to welcome Dayanand and later his most vigorous critic. Jawahar Singh Kapur (1859-1901), a Khatri Sikh, was employed as a clerk in the north¬ western railway.
Jawahar Singh Kapur addressed meetings in Amritsar telling his Sikh audiences that the Arya Samaj had its institutions to teach Sanskrit and the Vedas, the Muslims had made provision for the teaching of the Koran at Aligarh, but the Sikhs had no institution for the study of Gurmukhi and the Grahth. Tribune, August 15, 1890. The two Singh Sabhas joined hands to create the Khalsa College. An Englishman, Dr. S. C. Oman, was appointed principal. The chief justice of the Punjab High Court, W. H. Rattigan, became president of the college establishment committee, which was controlled by the vicepresident, Sir Attar Singh of Bhadaur, and the secretary, Jawahar Singh Kapur.
The Establishment of the Singh Sabha Lahore, in 1879 A.D. The Singh Sabha of Amritsar was emulated by a new organisation, The Lahore Singh Sabha, which held its first meeting on November 2,1879. Its prominent members were Jawahar Singh Kapur, Thakur Singh Sandhanwalia, Prince Bikram Singh of Kapurthala, Professor Gurmukh Singh and Giani Ditt Singh. The Lahore Sabha was even more democratic than the Amritsar Sabha and accepted members of all castes including untouchables.
The Singh Sabha leadership included GianI Dit Singh, Prof. Gurmukh Singh, Kanwar Bikram Singh, and BhaT Jawahar Singh Kapur etc. During this period the Sikh nation had to fight on another front. It was British sponsored Arya Samaj movement, which was imported to the Sikh Homeland in order to push the Sikhs to another front. The Christians and the Arya Samajists carried on plans to convert the Sikhs into Christianity and Hinduism respectively. The awakened Sikh leadership, under the banner of Singh Sabha, thwarted the designs of the Christian missionaries and the British-sponsored Arya Samaj movement and succeed in saving the Sikh religion from disappearing.
Bhai Jawahar Singh Kapoor was the Vice-President of Lahore Singh Sabha.He was Head clerk in Northern Railway.He talked with Professor Gurmukh Singh, and Giani Dit Singh, and they thought in the long run.(ref. P 233 of"Bhai Dit Singh Giani, Jivan,Rachna Te Shakhsiat", by Dr. Karnail Singh Somal).On this page the author has written about the Newspaper"Khalsa Akhbar, dated May 25,1900.This Newspaper confirms that---"Jis Kaum Wich Door Andesh Ate Diragh Vichar Wale Purakh Na Hon, oh Kaum Kade Bhi Apani Unati Nahi Kar Sakdi---
There was an agreement between the British Government and Singh Sabha organizers to constrct Gurdwaras in East-Africa.Owing to this agreement,Prof.Gurmukh Singh visited Kilindini, a place visited by Satguru Hargobind Sahib in 1632.The first Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Sahib was opened in Kilindini literally within a few weeks of the arrival of the first shipload of indentured labourers in 1898.
The committee founded the Khalsa College and academic programme started in 1894. Jawahar Singh Kapoor and Sunder Singh Majithia were pioneers in the establishment of the Khalsa College. The Sikhs maharajas made their contribution financially. Jawahar Singh Kapoor who was an aryasmajist served as secretary of the Khalsa College Amritsar managing committee for 20 years. Meanwhile, Mohindera College was set up at Patiala by Maharaja Patiala and Randhir College at Kapurthala by the Raja of Kapurthala.
Sir Robert Egerton contributed.
His daughter, Durga Devi and Dr. Sunder Singh Puri's, marriage was the first time a traditional Sikh did an Anand Karaj, before it was only Nirankaris who performed so.
In 1886 he applied to be a Granthi in the Darbar Sahib but was not allowed due to his previous religious affiliations with the Arya Samaj.
When he was younger he was affiliated with a man named Sant Bahadur Singh of the Gulabdasi sect, and later joined the Arya Samaj, and became the President of Arya Samaj Lahore. He was the head of Arya Paropkarini Sabha from 1878-1883. He broke all ties with the Arya Samaj on 25th November 1885, when an Arya Samaji preacher named Pandit Guru Dutt spoke deregetorily about Guru Nanak Dev on the eleventh annual meeting of the Arya Samaj. The base of the Arya Samaj broke up as all Sikhs who supported it left the Arya Samaj and created the Lahore Singh Sabha to fight against the Hindu and Christian crusade against Sikhism. These included Bhai Ditt Singh, Prof. Gurumukh Singh, Kanwar Bikram Singh of Kapurthala and Sir Attar Singh of Bhadaur. Sardar Dharam Singh Garjakhvalia.
He became the Vice-President of the Lahore Singh Sabha, and pressed claims of the Punjabi language in 1882 in front of the Hunter Commission.
The foundation stone for #Khalsa College, a premier education institution for Sikhs, was laid in Amritsar by Sir James Broadwood Lyall. Prof. Gurmukh Singh was instrumental in its establishment. The Khalsa College Establishment Committee was set up in 1890 to build the institution, including Sir Attar Singh, Gurdial Singh Maan of Nabha, Diwan Gurmukh Singh of Patiala, Bhai Kahn Singh, Professor Gurmukh Singh, and Sardar Jawahir Singh. Many individuals and princely states donated to establish the institution. Maharaja Rajendra Singh of Patiala, Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala and Sir Sunder Singh Majithia.
He inaugarated Lansdowne Bridge at Sakkhar in 1889.
He wrote multiple books, two of them very famous- named Ifalds-I-Hind or the Poverty of India and Dharam Vichar which were reviewed well by British newspapers like the Homeland Mail.
The Amritsar Singh Sabha attacked Bhai Jawahar Singh Kapur and Bhai Ditt Singh for being Gulabdasis in the past.
He was also an editor on the Khalsa Akhbar.
Among them were Dit Singh, Jawahir. Singh and Maya Singh. What the Samaj managed to achieve in barely fifteen-months on several fronts including a new ideology, organization and membership, the Amritsar Sabha had failed to attain in six years. Its leadership was mostly made up of men who had no background in anglo-vernacular education and the intricacies of'print culture'.
A monthly journal, Sudhiirak, was also launched by Gurrnukh Singh in 1886. Behind the continuous expansion of the Lahore Sabha in the 1880s stood three men: Jawahir Singh, Giani Dit Singh and Attar Singh of Bhadaur.
But already by 1886 Jawahir Singh was a Secretary of the Lahore Sabha and Dit Singh a speaker on its public platforms. It is possible that the two at the same time maintained contact with the Arya Samaj as well. But it seems more likely that they had left the Samaj by 1886, much before the virulent attack by Pandit Lekh Ram and Lala Guru Datta on Sikhism at the anniversary celebrations of the Lahore Arya Samaj in 1888.
He was apart of the new Punjabi elites
new elites. His biographical details distinctly represent many of the features that I have associated with an evolue class: the high ritual standing of an upper caste; a bureaucratic job, anglo-vernacular education, familarity and use of 'print culture' and an active promotion of new voluntary associations. Bhagat Lak:shman Singh called him 'the most learned Sikh of his time' .55 Born in 1859 at Amritsar to a family of granthis at the Golden Temple, hardly anything is known about his early upbringing, except that as a disciple of a Gulabdasi preacher Jawahir Singh travelled extensively when still very young with his religious preceptor. 56 At the age of seventeen, he joined the accounts department of the Sind-Punjab and Delhi Railway Company at Lahore. Administering railroad offices was to become a life-long vocation and in his later years Jawahir Singh rose to be a superintendant of the North-West Railways. 57
There was nothing in the ten principles of the Samaj, based on monotheism, omnipresence of God and a universal morality preaching love, justice and truth, that in any way conflicted with Sikhism, least of all with its Sanatan strand. While the Samaj was still in its infancy and needing to overcome several obstacles, particularly a growing opposition from the Hindu orthodoxy, Jawahir Singh took up in 1878 the position of Samaj secretary. It is remarkable that he came to occupy this high post when he was only nineteen years of age and continued to serve in it for the next five years.
In answer to a question by Mr. Stokes, a commission member; 'Would [he] exclude men of low caste ?', J awahir Singh answered 'yes'. When further pressed and asked if he would exclude them altogether, the Sabha's nominee, fmding himself cornered, somewhat revised his position and responded: Not altogether. They [the Sabha] would leave it to the Government to decide. By men of low caste I mean men of the lower middle class, and below that I mean the people whose manners and habits might not be suitable. A man of low social status might be able to pass a purely intellectual test, but might not be desirable otherwise; while in a system of patronage you can secure men of almost equal ability and education and also men of influence. 59 Two points merit attention from this brief statement. First, Jawahir Singh and the Sabha were not keen on competition from the lower castes or lower order, for posts in the highest echelons of the colonial administration. In fact they feared the masses.
On hearing this, Jawahir Singh stood up and resolutely informed his audience: 'In case you are interested in knowing the true state of Sikh religion, undertake a visit to the countryside. There you will fmd how Sikh traditions are going amiss. Our first responsibilty ought to be the reform and correction of folk Sikhism.'73
Singh Sabha Movement
The Amritsar Singh Sabha (Punjabi: ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਭਾ), popularly known as Sanatan Singh Sabha (Punjabi: ਸਨਾਤਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਭਾ), was founded in 1873, "It was essentially original and Sanatan ('eternal'). The Sanatan Sikh (a term and formulation coined by Harjot Oberoi[1]) were the traditional Sikhs who were eventually marginalised.[2][failed verification]
History
Formation and Support
The Amritsar Singh Sabha was supported by Sujan Singh Bedi, the head of the Una Bedis, Sir Khem Singh Bedi, head of the Kallar Bedis, Sodhi Ram Narain Singh, the head of the Anandpur Sodhis, two Takhts- Anandpur Sahib and Patna Sahib, Baba Ujagar Singh Bhalla, head of the Rawalpindi Bhallas, Satguru Hari Singh, head of the Kukas, Akali Giana Singh and Akali Javand Singh, heads of the Nihang order, Mahant Narain Singh, Giani Hazara Singh, Giani Gian Singh, Giani Sardul Singh of the Nirmalas, Raja Thakur Singh Sandhawalia of Raja Sansi, Kanwar Bikram Singh of Faridkot, Kanwar Bikrama Singh of Kapurthala and Avtar Singh Vahiria of Thoha Khalsa.
Despite being named as the Amritsar Singh Sabha, the followers were mainly of West Punjab. They had their first meeting on the 1st of October 1873, although none of them provided structure despite their money and status. The Christian Missionaries had started gaining a footing in Punjab, when four Sikh students converted to the religion in Kapurthala, they had called in their first meeting wherein Udasis, Nirmalas, Granthis and Gianis attended at the Majithia Bunga, near the Akal Takht.
Their main ideology was to purify Sikh conduct in the villages, and they started it through making speeches and establishing Gurudwaras around Punjab. They did produce literature, but in an unorganized and limited manner, the main two being Baba Sumer Singh of Patna, Giani Gian Singh and Avatar Singh Vahiria who wrote the Khalsa Dharam Shastra. Giani Gian Singh was the first author who wrote the Sri Gurupurab Prakash in 1883. Then Raja Bikram Singh of Faridkot commissioned Giani Badan Singh Sekhavan to create an exegesis on the Guru Granth Sahib- known as the Faridkot Tika. The Rawalpindi Singh Sabha, a sister organization, was also created and was very successful.
Conflict with the Lahore Singh Sabha
The Amritsar Singh Sabha had started at the same time as the Arya Samaj Lahore had gained a footing in Punjab. They both had good relations, and many common Sikhs had supported and became the base of the Arya Samaj. Although in 1886, one Pandit Guru Dutt had made deregatory remarks against Guru Nanak, within a year men like Gurmukh Singh, Ditt Singh, Jawahar Singh Kapur and Maya Singh left the Arya Samaj at once and formed the Lahore Singh Sabha, to fight against the Arya Samaj's crusade against Sikhism. Within a year the Lahore Singh Sabha's organization was more impressive than what the former was able to do in six years. They used their Anglo-Vernacular education, print culture and media like newspapers to spread their modernized version of Sikhism. Originally the two sides were on good terms with each other, Sir Khem Singh Bedi was invited for the first session and Raja Thakur Singh Sandhawalia for the second. The Sri Guru Singh Sabha General had the two branches of the Amritsar and Lahore Singh Sabhas.
The schism first occurred when Baba Nihal Singh wrote the Khurshid Khalsa against the Lahore Singh Sabha, and was supported by all scholars of the Amritsar Singh Sabha. To start their 'cold war', the Lahore Singh Sabha created the Khalsa Diwan, Lahore and the Amritsar Singh Sabha created the Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar. The British were Machiavellian in their tactics and did not openly support either side, although tilted towards the Amritsar Singh Sabha during its begginging- with the Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, attending a meeting in April 1885. The Amritsar Singh Sabha and Lahore Singh Sabha continued their academic battles, fighting each other in their books and media. Bhai Harsha Singh of the Amritsar Singh Sabha started the newspaper Vidyarak to combat against the Khalsa Akhbar and Khalsa Gazette. The Lieutenant Governor of Punjab and Raja Bikram Singh of Faridkot were the two main patrons for the Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar.
The Amritsar Singh Sabha was also a movement for the Khatri elite of West Punjab, the religion that was followed by the elites of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Whereas the Lahore Singh Sabha was a movement for the middle class, the socially downtrodden Mazhabis and the hardy Jatt stock of Sikhs. The leaders of the Amritsar Singh Sabha was composed of the old elites, whereas the Lahore Singh Sabha were the new elites. The final straw of the Amritsar Singh Sabha was the division created in the Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar- they separated the Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar into two parts- Mahan Khand for the aristocracy and Saman Khand for the common people. Sir Khem Singh Bedi led the former and Bhai Man Singh, manager of the Darbar Sahib, led the former.
Decline
Through constant academic bombardment and lack of modernization, since they stuck to novels and traditional methods like poetry, Dhadi Vaars, Granths etc, whereas they could not create printing presses and newspapers fast enough despite their status. The Khalsa College started by the Lahore Singh Sabha had also influenced the youth more than any other dynamic, the Amritsar Singh Sabha could not create a Sikh institution as grand as the Lahore Singh Sabha was able to. The Amritsar Singh Sabha was also not able to provide monetary funds as they did not wish to spend too much resources, whereas Sir Attar Singh of Bhadaur had spent almost all his monetary funds to provide for the Lahore Singh Sabha.
Slowly the Amritsar Singh Sabha's academic presence declined to only three Singh Sabhas (Amritsar, Rawalpindi and Faridkot) and the Sikh elite was quick to adopt the ideology of the Lahore Singh Sabha, which had also branched into many Sabhas, around 117 of them in different villages, districts and cities in North India- although some were made all the way in Burma, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Beliefs
They believed that marriage ceremonies in Sikhism never had a direct form of conduct, and it could vary from family to family, culture to culture. They did not believe that Sikhism and Hinduism were the same religion, contrary to popular belief, but they differentiated between the two- so much that Sir Khem Singh Bedi in his Sanskar Bagh Rehatnama banned wearing the colour Saffron for Sikhs. They believed in spirits, witchcraft, casteism, the ability of dead saints to work miracles, good and bad omens, pilgrimage and many other theories which were criticized by Sikhs, saying that the Sabha was more of a magic show. They also believed that a Sikh may find solace in the Muslim Pir- Sakhi Sarwar or the Hindu Gugga Pir.
The Amritsar Singh Sabha was a more strict form of Sikhism, although they focused on traditional styles of preaching (speech, books, poetic meter, Dhadhis), traditional Indic terminology and traditional mindsets of the Khalsa. Neither side was political, although it was suspected that the Amritsar Singh Sabha was planning to resurrect Sikh rule in Punjab from the British, although possibly not as their leaders all accepted servitude, and Khem Singh Bedi even fought for the British against Ahmad Khan Kharral in the Revolt of 1857 and the rulers of Faridkot, Raja Sansi and Kapurthala had accepted the British.
They, although, were for the electrification of the Darbar Sahib and viewed it as a boon while the Lahore Singh Sabha argued that no mosque or church in the West, not even Westminster Abbey, had been electrified at that time and that it would have been a show of extravagance rather than the humility that the Gurus preached.
Jhanda Singh/sandbox | |
---|---|
9th Jathedar of Buddha Dal | |
Preceded by | Akali Prahlad Singh |
Succeeded by | Akali Teja Singh |
Personal details | |
Known for | 9th Jathedar of Buddha Dal |
Part of a series on |
Sikhism |
---|
Fathey Singh or to Nihang Sikhs as Jathedar Akali Baba Fathey Singh Ji Nihang 96 Crori was the 9th Jathedar of Budha Dal, succeeding Akali Prahlad Singh, and disputed with Akali Gian Singh and Akali Prem Singh Vahiria.[3]
Early Life
He was born in a Katoch Rajput family in Mahilpur, although lived in Tehri Garhwal, his family was close the the Maharajas of Garhwal.[3]
Military and Spiritual Career
Anglo-Sikh Wars
He was a part of the First Anglo-Sikh War and fought alongside Sham Singh Attariwala, the Akali-Nihangs from there mostly went to Patiala, although him and his contingent left for Anandpur Sahib, wherein he purchased the Shah Bagh from the Sodhis of Anandpur Sahib.[4] When he received news of the Akali-Nihangs being defeated by the Patiala State Forces, he was declared the next Jathedar by his contingent.[3] Whereas Akali Prehlad Singh was declared the Jathedar by the other one who left for Muktsar.[4][3] Akali Fathey Singh then fought in the Battle of Chillianwala in West Punjab, and then left for Peshawar which he believed was the last bastion of the Sikh Empire left- although the battle ended up occurring at Gujrat.[4] He fought alongside Bhai Maharaj Singh, although after the British ordered a 'Shoot-on-Sight' policy, he and his warband left for Bilaspur, where they were treated well by the Raja.[4]
Jathedari Disputes
While the Second Anglo-Sikh War was going on, Akali Prehlad Singh's Akali-Nihangs then left for Nanded, and fought with an irregular army employed by the Patiala State under Major Ala Singh, Akali Prehlad Singh was then killed and another split occurred with one faction of Akali-Nihang detainees in Hyderabad Fort declaring Akali Prem Singh Vahiria as the successor, and another faction declaring Akali Gian Singh as the successor. He had good relations with both and gave each one of them five expensive horses. He even gave Akali Gian Singh the Shah Bagh in Anandpur Sahib for free, and it is currently maintained by their fourth generation descendants.
Amritsar Singh Sabha
He supported the Amritsar Singh Sabha and was a part of their first meeting in 1873, where Raja Thakur Singh Sandhawalia, Raja Bikram Singh of Faridkot, Kanwar Bikrama Singh of Kapurthala, Sir Khem Singh Bedi and many others participated. Unlike the other Akali-Nihangs he never removed his guns or his Kirpan from himself and hence generally stayed inside of the Princely States rather than the mainland British Raj.
Second Anglo-Afghan War and Death
During the Second Anglo-Afghan War, Akali Fathey Singh decided that the Akali-Nihangs had not faced war in a very long time, and to revive the martial spirit without loosing their hope due to declining numbers they could help the British. All three Jathedars sent some Akali-Nihangs with Akali Fathey Singh as part of an irregular force that helped the British against the Afghans. He had been killed in the Battle of Ali Masjid, the place where the Sikhs had captured in 1839 under the Sikh Empire. The Akali-Nihangs then advanced under the leadership of a British General, named Sir Samuel J. Browne. When the war was over Akali Teja Singh took over his Akali-Nihangs.
References
Jhanda Singh/sandbox | |
---|---|
9th Jathedar of Buddha Dal | |
Preceded by | Akali Prahlad Singh |
Succeeded by | Akali Teja Singh |
Personal details | |
Known for | 9th Jathedar of Buddha Dal |
Part of a series on |
Sikhism |
---|
Gian Singh or to Akali-Nihang Sikhs as Jathedar Akali Baba Gian Singh Ji Nihang 96 Crori was the 9th Jathedar of Budha Dal, succeeding Akali Prahlad Singh.
Early life
Akali Gian Singh was born in a Deol Jatt Sikh family from Mulanpur.
Military and Spiritual Career
First Anglo-Sikh War
After the Battle of Sobroan, the Akali-Nihangs had decided to take refuge at the present day site of Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran (which used to be a garden allotted by Maharaja Karam Singh to the Akali-Nihangs). However, Maharaja Narinder Singh decided to attack the Akali-Nihangs with all of the Patiala State’s artillery. This resulted in the death of the Jathedar, but a small group of Akali-Nihangs had managed to survive the deadly attacks. They gathered at Mithasar, where they collectively agreed to give the leadership to Akali Prehlad Singh and decided to embark on a journey to Hazur Sahib.
Hazur Sahib Conflict
Upon reaching the shrine at Nanded, there was a conflict between Major Ala Singh the Patiala State. The Akali-Nihangs wanted to take over the Maharaja of Patiala's property in Haridwar, Kaithal and Nanded. Major Ala Singh, dressed as an irregular, with a group of Sikhs fought against the Akali-Nihangs. Akali Prehlad Singh and Major Ala Singh were both killed in the conflict. It caused a ruckus in Nanded and the Hyderabad Police (Nanded came under the Hyderabad State) confiscated the Nishan Sahibs (battle standards) and matchlocks of the Akali-Nihangs. The last remaining Akali-Nihangs had decided to go into hiding and lived in the jungles (located the outskirts of Nanded) and decided to make Akali Gian Singh the next leader. The Nizam of Hyderabad was asked by the Maharaja of Patiala to cut down to forest so that they could not hide and regroup in it. Upon a decade or so in hiding, it was decided that the Akali-Nihangs should go back to Punjab.
Jathedari Disputes
The Akali-Nihangs in Nanded believed that Akali Prem Singh Vahiria would be the new Jathedar and the Akali-Nihangs who left for the Shivalik Hills after the First Anglo-Sikh War nominated Akali Fathey Singh as the next Jathedar. This split did not affect the people as they had cordial relations, made decisions together and elected the same successor- Akali Teja Singh.
Criminal Tribes Act
The Akali-Nihangs had come under the Criminal Tribes Act of the British, and hence were put under a shoot on sight, 13,000,000 people from 127 tribes became born as criminals. Akali Gian Singh used to ask Akali-Nihangs to carry sticks, so that if police or soldiers find the Akali-Nihangs, they would show them only a stick and hide their weaponry.
Except for Akali Sawan Singh Vangru, Akali Prem Singh Vahiria, Akali Fathey Singh and Akali Gian Singh there were no other Nihang groups left. Every Sarpanch had to disarm the Sikhs and if any weapons were found then it was them who would be in jail and their families who would be evicted from their lands. The only weapon the Sikhs could keep was a small dagger; the modern Kirpan. A few 1,000 people were put in jail and anyone with weapons were declared bandits. Then the British put over 2,500 horsemen and 5,000 police to specifically hunt the Akali-Nihangs down.
Anyone dressed in the Akali-Nihang clothing was shot and ambushed. In Punjab the Nihangs would start making wooden swords and guns so that when the soldiers would come they would show the British wooden swords and guns but when they left they would take the real swords and guns out. In 1875 the Akali-Nihangs returned back to the Punjab and they had a deal cut with the British and Phulkian States that they would help in law enforcement in Punjab. Later they became a prestiged part of the Punjab, attending visits from the King and Queen and being part of Royal Durbars.
Life in Punjab and Death
After conducting Ardas at the Takht of Nanded, the Akali-Nihangs decided to had back to Punjab and based themselves at Anandpur Sahib, at Sahib Shahid Bagh which was owned by Akali Fathey Singh, who gave it to him for free. He sent a few Akali-Nihangs under Akali Fathey Singh to participate in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Akali Gian Singh died at the old age of 105, and Akali Teja Singh took over his group of Akali-Nihangs.
References
- ^ Grewal, J. S. (2010). "W.H. McLeod and Sikh Studies" (PDF). Journal of Punjab Studies. 17 (1–2): 125, 142. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Sanatan Singh Sabha". University of Cumbria. 1998. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d "https://www.budhadal.org.in/index.php/jathedars".
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|title=
- ^ a b c d "Budha Dal and Jathedars - Brief History | PDF | Sikh | Religious Comparison". Scribd. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
Jhanda Singh/sandbox | |
---|---|
9th Jathedar of Buddha Dal | |
Preceded by | Akali Prahlad Singh |
Succeeded by | Akali Teja Singh |
Personal details | |
Known for | 9th Jathedar of Buddha Dal |
Part of a series on |
Sikhism |
---|
Prem Singh or to Nihang Sikhs as Jathedar Akali Baba Prem Singh Ji Nihang 96 Crori was the 9th Jathedar of Budha Dal, succeeding Akali Prahlad Singh, and disputed with Akali Gian Singh.
Early Life
Akali Prem Singh was born in a Bhatra family and is believed to have joined Budha Dal at a young age (during the times of Akali Hanuman Singh). His warband of Akali-Nihangs was part of the Panchayati Revolution on the side of the Khalsa Panchayat.
Military and Spiritual Career
First Anglo-Sikh War
After the Battle of Sobroan, the Akali-Nihangs had decided to take refuge at the present day site of Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran (which used to be a garden allotted by Maharaja Karam Singh to the Nihangs). However, Maharaja Narinder Singh decided to attack the Akali-Nihangs with all of the Patiala State’s artillery. This resulted in the death of the Jathedar, but a small group of Nihangs had managed to survive the deadly attacks. They gathered at Mithasar, where they collectively agreed to give the leadership to Akali Prehlad Singh and decided to embark on a journey to Hazur Sahib.
Conflict at Nanded
Upon reaching the shrine at Nanded, there was a conflict between Major Ala Singh the Patiala State. The Akali-Nihangs wanted to take over the Maharaja of Patiala's property in Haridwar, Kaithal and Nanded. Major Ala Singh, dressed as an irregular, with a group of Sikhs fought against the Akali-Nihangs. Jathedar Baba Prehlad Singh and Major Ala Singh were both killed in the conflict. It caused a ruckus in Nanded and the Hyderabad Police (Nanded came under the Hyderabad State) confiscated the Nishan Sahibs (battle standards) and matchlocks of the Akali-Nihangs. The last remaining Akali-Nihangs had decided to go into hiding and lived in the jungles (located the outskirts of Nanded) and decided to make Akali Giana Singh the next leader. The Nizam of Hyderabad was asked by the Maharaja of Patiala to cut down to forest so that they could not hide and regroup in it. Upon a decade or so in hiding, it was decided that the Akali-Nihangs should go back to Punjab.
Jathedari Disputes
The Akali-Nihangs in Nanded believed that Akali Prem Singh Vahiria would be the new Jathedar and the Akali-Nihangs who left for the Shivalik Hills after the First Anglo-Sikh War nominated Akali Fathey Singh as the next Jathedar. This split did not affect the people as they had cordial relations, made decisions together and elected the same successor- Akali Teja Singh.
Retrieval of Nishan Sahibs
Akali Giana Singh and Akali Prem Singh Vahiria decided to get the Nishan Sahibs back from the Nizam of Hyderabad. Akali Prem Singh went to the palace of the Nizam of Hyderabad, but was not allowed to enter by the Palace’s guards. However, Akali Prem Singh remained resilient and had decided to wait in front of one the gates. After several days of standing, Akali Prem Singh’s body began to swell and eventually rumors about the Akali-Nihang had spread to the palace’s court. It had eventually reached the Nizam, who then decided to send the Prime Minister, a Sehajdhari Sikh named Chandu Lal Malhotra of the State to inquire. He met the Nihang with a lot of respect and decided to get his treatment done, upon which the Nishan Sahibs were given back to the Nihangs. Prior to leaving, the Prime Minister also got a resolution passed ending the conflict between the Nanded Sikhs and Budha Dal.
Return to Punjab
During his time as the Jathedar he had constructed a Hansali for the Baba Bakala Sarovar, did Seva of the Puratan Mata Sahib Deva Asthan building, built Diwan Asthan under Akali Naina Singh’s name (At Bibeksar) and established many Chaunis in the name of Budha Dal with Akali Gian Singh. Under the Jathedari of Akali Prem Singh, he ran the Vaheer of the Akali-Nihang Singhs for 11 years and did parchar of Akali-Nihangs all across India. He also played a key role in settling the feud between the Akali-Nihangs and the British and helped establish a good relationship with the Phulkian Maharajas.
Delhi Durbar of 1911 and Death
During the Delhi Darbar of 1911, Akali Prem Singh was honored by the British and was given 6 Teghas (swords). He passed away shortly after.
References
First Khalistan Liberation War
First Khalistan Liberation War | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Partition of India | ||||
| ||||
Belligerents | ||||
Supported By |
Supported By |
| ||
Commanders and leaders | ||||
|
| |||
Units involved | ||||
Supported By
|
Supported By
|
Supported By
| ||
Strength | ||||
Total (including supporting groups): 6,291,550 Total (not including supporting groups): 6,226,550 |
Total (including supporting groups): 290,000 Total (not including supporting groups): 66,800 |
Total (including supporting groups): 2,702,900 Total (not including supporting groups): 2,694,200 |
.
Second Khalistan Liberation War
Indian Army
- BSF Border Security Force 175,000 (158 battalions. Half patrolling against kharkus)
- Punjab Police 70,000
- Police from other states sent to help 75,000
- Special Police Officers 40,000
- Intelligence Personnel 5,000
- Home Guards 25,000
- CRPF Central Reserve Police Force 150,000 (134 battalions)
- ITBP Indo Tibetan Border Police 30,000
- CISF Central Industrial Security Force 90,000
- NSG National Security Guard 6,500
- SSG Special Security Guard 10,000
- IRF Indian Reserve Force 16,500 (15 battalions)
- Assam Rifles 35,000 (31 battalions)
- Rashtriya Rifles 40,000 (36 battalions)
- Border Security Force Cats 5,000
- Fauj-E-Alam Mujahideen 3,000
- Shiv Sena (Jalota) 700
- Shiv Sena (Tangri) 550
- Hindu Suraksha Samiti 300
- Tarna Dal 1,200
- Virk Sena 200
- Vaidya Commando Force 900
- Indian Lions 90-150
- Indian National Army 100
- Zabar te Firkaprasti Virodhi Front 80
- Brigade of Red Guards 3,500
- Brigade of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha 2,000
Total 790,380
Royal Army of Khalistan
- Babbar Khalsa 1,200
- Bhindranwala Tiger Force of Khalistan 500
- Khalistan Commando Force 750
- Khalistan Liberation Army 300
- Khalistan Liberation Force 850
- Dashmesh Regiment 200
- Unorganized 1,000
Total 4,800
Economy
Revenue
Sr | Particulars | Revenue in Rupees | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Land Revenue | ||
1.a | Tributary States | 5,65,000 | |
1.b | Farms | 1,79,85,000 | |
1.c | Eleemosynary | 20,00,000 | |
1.d | Jaghirs | 95,25,000 | |
2 | Customs | 24,00,000 | |
Total | 3,24,75,000 |
Land revenue was the main source of income, accounting for about 70% of the state's income. Besides this, the other sources of income were customs, excises and monopolies.[2]
Agriculture
Despite most portrayals of Punjab being an agriculturally dominant area- it was not a very common profession during Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time. When the British came into Punjab after the Second Anglo-Sikh War, they discussed about keeping it independent even, due to the fact that their land was not irrigated at all and did not give much produce. Later during colonial rule West Punjab was irrigated through canals and diverting rivers. The Sikh Empire followed two systems simultaneously, the Jagirdhari system and the Bataidari system, the former for the ancestral properties and the latter for common land seized after conquest. The Bataidari system was particularly corrupt and generally only used in case of good harvest. In 1830 when it was implemented, Ranjit Singh farmed out the country to contractors (ijardars). When crops failed, an unaccountable amount of revenue was charged. There was no fixed plan for crop failure, floods or any other agriculture-related issues. They had to seek redress from contractors themselves who were working to exploit the local farmers.
The contractors employed Rohillas as their servants who had cruel methods to recover their dues, including cutting the Sikhs Kesh, putting heavy loads on their heads and making them stand with a cot between their legs for several hours. They seized their womenfolk and let in rats and mice into their trousers. It was generally the Jatts who were exploited under the system, as they were local farmers. The Majha area was the only agriculture-based region but they produced seasonal vegetables would make up a substantial part of the diet, with crops like karela (bitter gourd), sarson (mustard seeds), baingan (aubergine), matar (peas), gullar (cluster fig) and tar (Armenian cucumber), bhindi (okra), tori (Chinese okra), with seasonal fruits like amla (gooseberry) and amb (mango). These vegetables and fruits would be pickled to ensure for long-term preservation. Grains like jowar (sorghum) and bajra (millet) would comprise most of the wheat consumption before kanak (common wheat) was readily grown in Punjab. Alongside these grains, grams like lentils and chickpeas would be a staple of Punjabi diet.
Many contemporary authors noted how people longed at this point for the British rule, as the excess seems to have increased after death of Ranjit Singh.
God listened to the complaints of the people (parja) and granted them the British Raj. The comfort (sukh) enjoyed by the Jatts now, was never experienced under any king, raja or Maharaja.
— Giani Gian Singh
Trade
The Sikh Empire had various Sikh and Khatri inroads into India, Central Asia, China, Russia and Europe. The trade into Central Asia was mainly done by Sikhs and Khatris, who had settlements in cities and were a common sight there, especially in Samarkand, Kabul, Herat and around the Caspian Sea. Afghanistan and British India also had a running trade with the Sikh Empire which was mainly export-based whereas China and Europe were import-based.
The Sikh Empire had paid the Amirs of Sindh (who gave the Sikh Empire regular tribute) to give them a port in Karachi, the port is currently known as Lahori Port and ships used to go there to trade in Arabia and East Africa. Europeans had also started arriving in Punjab frequently trading gunpowder, they had given Punjab many inventions such as telescopes, carbines, steam-boats, thermometers, cameras et cetera although most of these were kept by the Europeans or sold at high prices to rich businessmen.
Inside of the Sikh Empire the Khatris, Baniyas, Sindhis and Tibetans kept the trade going. In Multan the trade was dependent on jewelry, animal husbandry (mainly falconry) and textiles. The trade from Ladakh was mainly shawls and luxury goods. The Himachal region traded stone, timber, handcrafts, artwork and opium. The Shahpur-Rawalpindi area traded dates, salt, spices and camels. The Malwa region of Punjab which was not under the Sikh Empire traded in agriculture, textiles (Phulkari), spices and horses. Kashmir had similar trade except they also had shawls, silver, gold and saffron. The North West Frontier Province traded rice, fruits, arms and metal. Local Gujjars provided cattle and dairy products British India was able to provide wheat, tomatoes and corn which slowly spread and became staples after colonial rule.
- ^ Cunningham, Joseph Davey (1849). A History of the Sikhs, from the Origin of the Nation to the Battles of the Sutlej. London: J. Murray. p. 424.
- ^ https://www.rajasthali.marudharacollege.ac.in/papers/Volume-1/Issue-4/04-07.pdf