CHAPTER II

HISTORY

 

 

CONTENTS

F            

Ancient Period

F            

Medieval Period

F            

The struggle for Freedom

F            

Independence and its Aftermath

 

History

 

The district derives its name from the headquarters town of Faridkot founded by Mokalsi, grandson of Raja Manj, who ruled this territory during 13th century and built a fort here. Among the men forced to work as labourers on the construction of this fort was one Baba farid. He was observed to possess miraculous powers which were demonstrated amongst other ways by the fact that the basket full of kud which he was given to carry floated above his head without visible support. He was, therefore, allowed to depart: the name of the place was changed to Faridkot after Baba Farid. It remained the capital during the reign of Mokalsi’s son jairsi and Wairsi.

 

The Faridkot district as of today comprises part of a few erstwhile distinct administrative units, Moga and Muktsar tahsils from district Firozpur, which was under the British and Faridkot Tahsil which prior to 1947 was princely State. Later on, PEPSU in 1948 and of Punjab State after the PEPSU was merged in Punjab in 1956. History of the district is, therefore, complex and is traceable through its various components. In brief the history of the district is given as under:

 

(a) Ancient Period

 

The history of the Faridkot district pertaining to the ancient period has been traced to the Indus Valley Civilization. A few sites explored in the Moga Tahsil link it with Indus Valley Civilization sites explored in the Rupnagar district. A vast area, including the present area of Faridkot District was under the influence of Indus Valley civilization. This civilization is also known as the harappan culture as the sites of ancient culture excavated at Harappa (now in Pakistan) have proved that the Indus Valley civilization was much advances.

 

The sites explored in Moga subdivision has been classified into pri-harapan and late-harappan period. The various types of pottery found here from the mounds explored lead to these conclusion.

 

Pre-Harappan period

1. Inewala Theh (Himmatpura)

2. Raja Sirkap

 

Harappan

 1. Inewala Theh (Himmatpura)

2. Raja Sirkap

 

Late-Harappan

 1. Inewala Theh (Himmatpura)

2. Raja Sirkap

3. Sosan

 

The main characteristics of pre-Harappan culture was that bricks used by the people were unbaked and smaller than those of the Harappan period. They used copper to manufacture their implements and ornaments.

 

The main characteristics of Harappan culture are good town planning, careful layout of streets elaborate drainage system, organized municipal government and on the whole a developed urban life.

 

The late-Harappan culture shows unmistakable signs of all round decadence. New houses were built and drains laid out in utter violation of the municipal rules. Kilns were sometimes built in the heart of the town.

 

This urban type of Harppan Civilization was destroyed by Aryans, who were basically a rural tribe. The appearance of the Aryans on the soil of the Punjab in about 1500 BC seems to have coincided with the destruction of the great Indus cities. Hordes of these invaders seem to have descended into the Punjab plains from the north-west in several successive waves between BC 1500 and 800. The Punjab in turmoil witnessed, perhaps for the first time a state of fierce and constant warfare for several centuries. The wars between the invading Aryans and the placid pre-Aryans of the land ended in the victory of the Aryans over the non-Aryans.

 

During the Rigvedic Aryan period, Faridkot seems to have been the part of Saptasindhu (seven waters) which came to be known as Panchanada (five rivers) in Mahabharta time. During the Maurya and gupta period, the area of the modern Faridkot district was undoubtedly a part of the empire of Mauryas and Guptas. Hence the ancient people of Faridkot district enjoyed the blessings of an efficient administration of the Maurya and gupta Kings.

 

The District is almost entirely destitute of ancient buildings and contains no places mentioned in early records. Legends connected with Raja Salvahan attach to one or two other ruined sites such as that at Sarai Nanga a few kilometers to the east of Muktsar. But none of the present villages or towns date from a period earlier to the reign of Akbar. This is mainly due to the fact that the entire western side of the district has within the last four centuries and a half been over run by the river Satluj, by which all relics of antiquity that might have existed have of course been affected.

 

The series of thehs found in the south of Muktsar indicate an old stream running doen towards Abohar. The largest of these is at Their where enormous bricks in many cases bearing the impress of hand are found. There is also a large theh at Jhumba. Other well-known thehs are at Raoli and Danda Manda near Rajiana, both in the Moga Tahsil. A list of the coins found from some of these thehs is given in the Appendix-I at page 82. 

 

The Kot Kapura plateau must in former days have formed the northern margin of the great Rajputana desert. Its situation and proximity of the river which then ran near the present towns of Muktsar and Faridkot, rendering it more habitable than the regions further off the south, the Bikaner tract, it was gradually invaded by immigrants from the Jaisalmer and Bikaner region. The earliest known rulers in this district appear to have been the Punjwar Rajputs, one of whose capitals may have been janer, the antiquities of which are described by General Cunningham in his Archaeological surveys Reports (XIV 67-69)

 

(b) Medieval Period

This period of history begins with the Moghammadan invasions of India. The Hindustani kingdom has shrunk to small principality yet Anandapala, its brave ruler, did not lose spirit. After his death his son Trilochanapala had no peace, for Mahmud went on gradually advancing and in AD 1014 defeated him. He took shelter in Kashmir. Trilochanapala wanted to rule over Punjab, his ancestral Kingdom, and therefore, returned to eastern part of Punjab and established himself in Shivalik Hills. He entered into an alliance with the Chandela powerful princes of Northern India. Mahmud wanted to break this alliance and defeated Trilochanapala in AD 1019 Trilochanapala had now only a small territory to rule over. The decline in his fortunes gave ruse to dissensions among his followers and he was assassinated by some of them in AD  1021-22. His son, Bhimapala, succeeded him. Bhimpala died in AD 1026. With his death came the end of the once glorious and mighty Hindushahi dynasty of North Western Hindustan which included the present area of Faridkot district.

 

The decline and decay of the Hindushahi Kingdom which was the first to bear the brunt of the Turkish onslaught, enabled Mahmud to penetrate into the heart of Hindustan. First of all he besieged, in AD 1004, the fort of Bathinda which lay on the route from the northwest into the rich Ganga Valley. It was bravely defended by the local ruler, named Bijai Rai, but mahmud ‘s superior military strength succeeded in capturing it. All the inhabitants of the place, except those who became converts to Ialam, were put to the swords. A huge booty was captured. 

 

Mahmud, after the annexation of the Punjab, enstrusted its administration to the care of a governor. Mahmud may be said to have been first turk who ruled over a province of our country and became the founder of a dynasty.

 

Since its conquest and annexation by Mahmud in the first quarter of the eleventh century, the Punjab had remained an intergral part of the Ghaznavide empire until its extinction in AD 1186. Khusrav Shah, driven from the ancestral home by ghuzz turks, sought refuge in the Punjab. From that time onwards his successors abandoned Ghazni althogether and made the Punjab their home and Lahore their capital. After Sindh the Punjab may be considered to have become the next Muslim Kingdom in India. This Kingdom included Peshawar and Sialkot in the north and the Hindu state of Jammu lay to the northeast, while its boundary on the south and the southwest was constantly fluctuating. The Chauhan ruler, Prithvi Raj I, fought with the Muslims. His successor Ajayaraj lost Nagor to Behlim, a Ghaznavide Officer, in AD 1112. Vigraharaj III recovered Hansi from the Ghaznavide sultan of the Punjab in AD 1167 and his successor Prithvi Raj II fortified as an outpost against the Turks.

 

A few years later, Prithvi Raj II wrested Bathinda, and this shifted the Chauhan frontier in the north to very near modern Firozpur. The Turkish Kindom of the Punjab suffered from decline and decay during the reigns of Mahmid’s successors. Corruption and inefficiency were the rule. Khusrav Malik, the last ruler of the Ghaznavide dynasty, was a pleasure-loving, worthless prince, who allowed his servants to exercise practically independent power. In spite of this natural decay, sometimes an enterprising commander of the Sultan’s army would undertake a distant raid into the territory of a neighbouring Hindu Chief, devastate it and bring valuable spoils. In fact, the Ghaznavide Sultan of Lahore lived in daily fear of the Rajput attack on his Kingdom.

 

The first Rajput ruler who felt the pressure from the invading fordes from Ghur was the Chauhan prince of Ajmer who ruled the territory from Ajmer to Delhi and was, therefore, responsible for the defence of northeastern frontier. The Chauhan had fortified important towns on this frontier right up to Bathinda in order to be able to guard the entrance into Hindustan against any possible invasion from the northwest. Muhammad of ghur made his first attack on the fortress of Bathinda and besieged it in AD 1189. Prithivi Raj did not seem to have been ready, and the attack probably was surprise attack. The garrison was defeated and had to surrender; Mahammad stationed his own men in the fortress under a commander, named Zia-ud-din, and when the Sultan was abut to return, Prithvi Raj appeared in the vicinity of the fortress to recover it, Muhammad had to turn round to face the valiant Chauhan and a battle was fought near the village of Tarain of Taraori, situated near Bathinda in AD 1191. prithvi Raj’s troops attacked the Sultan with vigour and inflicted upon him a terrible defeat. Muhamad himself was wounded seriously. Prithvi Raj besieged the fortress of Bathinda but it took him thirteen months to recover it from Zia-un-din, its commandant.

 

Prithvi Raj Chauhan was defeated in the second battle of Tarain, which is landmark in the history of India. It proved to be a very decisive contest and ensured the ultimate success of Muhammad Ghur against Hindustan. The Chauhan military power stood completely broken.

 

After the defeat of prithvi Raj Chauhan in the battle of Tarain in 1192, the area of Bathinda (including the area of present Faridkot District) came under the rule of the Muhammadans. Accordingly, Muhammad ghur was the first Muhammadan ruler of this area who was subsequently succeeded by his most prominent slave, named Quatab-ud-din Aibek, who laid the foundations of new dynasty, which is popularly known as the Slave Dynasty. The period between 1206-1526 is known as ‘The period of the Sultanate of Delhi’ and the areas of Faridkot District undoubtedly remained under the rule of the sultans of Delhi. It is also believed that area of present Faridkot district was part and parcel of present Faridkot district was part and parcel of the main Delhi province. However, it seems probable that the territory of Faridkot by and large escaped the impact of the treat vicissitudes that were shaking Punjab during the period. The tract being out of the way and largely an arid waste had little attraction for aspirants for power and wealth, with the result that its masters, the Punjwar Rajputs, remained practically undisturbed in their control of it. No evidence is available as to when the Punjawars first occupied the area or who were the people whom they replaced. Nothing can be said confidently about their exact political position, whether they were completely independent or owed allegiance to any superior power. All the same, the fact that the Delhi government rendered some assistance to them in their struggle against the Bhatti Rajputs over the question of Hisar, suggests the existence of some kind of political bond between the punjwars and the rulers of Delhi.

 

Bhatties were no strangers to the Malwa region. They had been residing here for centuries when their ruler Vijay Rao of Bathinda was defeated by Mahmud of Ghazni in AD 1005 and his Bhatti people were compelled to seek a new home in Rajasthan. Hence, there migration beck to Malwa in 12th century was of the character of a come back.

 

The invasion of Bhatti rajputs from Jaisalmer proved too formidable for the punjawar Rajputs resist. Jaisalmer had been founded by Jaisal, against him or some other serious cause, he had leave the place with all his people and migrate the direction of Punjab. The Bhattis were in such strength that the Punjwars could not prevent the from occupying their territories. This happened towards the end of the twelfth century when Punjab was in a state of great turmoil.

 

The Bhattis first settled in the neighbourhood of Hisar (now in Haryana). Jaisal had four sons. His third son Hem Hel, was great warrior. He occupied the town of Hisar and built a strong fort there for the protection of the town and other Bhatti possessions. Later, he extended his conquests an got hold of much of the surrounding country including the tract lying south of Muktsar from where he drove away the Punjwars.

 

Hem Hel died in AD 1214. He was succeeded by his son Jaidrath (Jundar). During his period Punjwars mounted a big attack on Hisar with help of a large Muslim army of Delhi under the command of Punja Beg. The attack, prove unsuccessful. An unsuccessful plot was hatched poison Jundar to death. Meanwhile the Bhatti Chief was able to annex a few more territories to his dominion. He had 21 sons many of whom have become founders of various clans. From the eldest son pate Rao (Bate Rao), is descended the clan of Brars. From another son, Achal, was descended Rai Manj who ruled over the territory towards the north of Faridkot. 

 

A grandson of Rai Manj was Mokalsi (also called Mokal) who is believed to be the actual founder of Faridkot. He built a iort here which was named Mokal Har. But this name was soon changed to Faridkot. It is said when the construction of the fort was in progress, the famous sufi saint, Shaikh Farid, happened to be passing by. Rai Mokalsi had put a huge mass of forced labour (begar) on the work. Saikh Farid also was got hold of and compeled to render physical labour for him. The legend goes that the basket full of mud that the saint was asked to carry, was seen floating in air, above his head without any visible physical support. The spectators were greatly amazed to see this. When the Mokalsi witnessed the miracle, he begged pardon of the holy man and immediately released him from beggar. Shortly, afterwards, the founder decided to rename his settlement as Faridkot after the Shaikh’s name.

 

Rai Mokalsi had four sons, Wairsi, Malsi, Jairsi administration Ransi. On the death of Jairsi and Wairsi, their sons embraced Islam. Wairse’s son Tulsi adopted the Muslim title of Shaikh Chachu, and his son Bharo abandoned Faridkot. Jairsi’s son Khalcha and his descendants, however, remained at Faridkot. Isa Khan who was a contemporary of Chaudhri Kaur Singh belonged to this family.

 

Pate Rao (Bate Rao) the eldest son of Rao Jaidrath (Jundar) succeeded to his father’s possession of Hisar and the country around. He was a competent ruler ands spent most of his time in fighting with his collaterals, the Bhattis of Bathinda and Sirsa. When he died, he was succeeded by Mangal Rao, Anand Rao and Khiwa, one after another. Khiwa spent the earlier part of his reign at Hisar but later shifted towards Bathinda and Faridkot. He married a Jat woman, their son sidhu Rao according to custom, was therefore of Jat status. Thus Sidhu Rao was the founder of Sidhu Jat clan.

 

Sidhu Rao during this career earned great ruputation for nobility of character and generosity. He had six sons Bhur, Dahad, Sura, Roop, Mahan and Bapa. The descendants of each one of these are found in various parts of Malwa. Among them are notable families of the erstwhile sikh ruler of patiala, Nabha, Jind, Faridkot and Kaithal. Sidhu Rao had religious learning from the beginning. When he grew old, he renounced everything and turned a sanyasi (recluse) nominating his son Bhur as his successor.

 

Bhur was busy, most of his time, fighting with Muslim Bhatti chiefs in the neighbourhood of the river Ghaggar. His son and successor Biha was a great warrior but he did not live long. He was survived by his two sons Tilak Rao and Satraj. Satraj left behind two sons, Jertha and Lakhbir. Jertha was succeeded by Mahi and Mahi by Kala. The latter’s son and successor Mehar remained engaged throughout his period in feuds with his neighbours, the Muhammadan Bhattis. Hamir who followed Mehar fared no better. Hamir had four sons: Brar, Sangra, Bansha and Kansra. Brar was 10th in descent from Sidhu Rao. He was a powerful tribal Chief. A large number of people living in the districts of Firozpur, Faridkot and Bathinda, claim to be Brar’s descendants. He was a great warrior who scored a number of victories over his adversaries. Bhatties and Chatarsal Rajputs greatly strengthened his powers. Brar Rao left behind six sons: Dul, Paur, Sawal Peplu, Dodhru and Sairu. Dul Rao succeeded to the Chiefship after his father’s death. His younger brother paur contested his claim but was defeated and he fled away towards Bathinda.

 

Dul Rao had four sons: Binai Pal, Shihan Pal, Lakhan Pal and Rattan Pal. Binai Pal the eldest, acquired the Chiefship after his father’s death. The descendants of Shihan pal are found in village sarai Nanga and in a few villages of Firozpur district.

 

Binai Pal was succeeded by Ajit but he died shortly afterwards. He left six sons of whom Manak and doda proved more prominent.

 

Teenda, who ruled after his father, Manak, left behind seven sons of whom Asi succeeded his father. His son, Dhir succeeded to the Chiefship. Dhir was succeeded by his son Fateh. Fateh had four sons of whom the eldest was Sangar.

 

The successor of Fateh was ninth in descent from Dul Rao. He was the founder of Chakran, a village near Kot Kapura. According to a tradition, he had once a chance meeting with emperor Babar. He was so much impressed by the personality of the Mughal Chief that ever after he was a friend and supporter of his house. When Hamayun was in trouble on account of Sher Shah Suri’s pressure, Sangar came to his help and it is said that his death occurred in course of his fighting with Surs-probable at the time when Hamayun on his return from Iran in 1555 was fighting the surs in Punjab for the recovery of his throne.

 

Sangar was succeeded by his eldest son Bhallan. Akbar the great who was on the Mughal throne at that time, had great regard for him because of his father Sangar’s meritorious services to the Mughals. Mansur Khan, the Chief of the Bhattis of Sirsa, was also close to the Emperor. He was jealous of the Brar Chief, Bhallan. He had lodged a complaint against Bhallan at the royal court saying that the Brars were encroaching upon his territory. Akabar summoned both of them into his audience. It is said that Emperor asked them to sink their differences and give up their mutual war fare. As was customary then, robes of honour (Khillats) were conferred on them. Mansur khan was the first to receive it. When he was wearing the turban on his hear, Bhallan grew impatient and forcibly tried to seize it. In the struggle the turban was torn into two.

 

Akbar was greatly amused at this noval sight. When the two parts of the turban were later measured, coincidentally they were found to be of equal length. The emperor took the cue from this and divided the disputed territory evenly between them and conferred Chaudhuriayat (office of Chaudhuri) on both of them. The incident at the court gave currency to a popular saying:

 

Which means, Bhallan tore off turban at Akbar’s Court.

 

The reign of Chaudhuri Bhallan is also noted for Guru Hargobind’s visit to Malwa. Open hostilities started between the Mughals and the guru in 1634. After the battle of Amritsar on Monday the 17 Baisakh 1691 BK (1634), the Guru came down to malwa. Several chiefs of the region. Particularly Rai Jodh of Kangar, and Bhallan, fell under the spell of the guru’s charismatic personality and joined him to m the Mughal challenge. A battle was fought at Lehra (neer Marhaj) on Tuesday the 17 poh 1691 BK (1635) in which victory tested with the Sikhs and the enemy was severly beaten.

 

Bhallan died in 1634. He had no son and was succeeded by him nephew Kapura, son of his brother Lala. Chaudhuri Kapura was just nine years old at the time of his accession. He turned out to be a brave and able ruler. In 1551 he founded Kot Kapura and developed it into a place of considerable importance. He is said to have founded this town on the advice of Bhai Bhagta, a reputed Sikh saint who was a grandson of Bhai Behlo, a prominent devotee of Guru Arjan Dev.

 

Chaudhuri Kapura came under Sikh influence when he was very young. It is said that he was born on the very day the Sixth guru, Hargobind, was staying at the residence of his uncle, Chaudhuri Bhallan. At this time, an interesting little incident happened in which the holy Guru blessed the new born child with royalty. Subsequently, When the Seventh and Ninth Gurus, Har Rai Sahib and Teg Bahadur Sahib, passed through this area in course of their travels, Chaudhuri Kapura had the honour of serving them. These early contacts of the Brar Chief with Sikhism were continued in the time of Tehth Guru too.

 

Towards the end of 1705, Guru Gobind Singh decided to abandon Anandpur Sahib which was then under a heavy attack of the combined forces of hill Chiefs and Mughals. The Guru and his people were given a hot pursuit and a bloody battle was forced upon him at Chamkaur (in district Rupnagar). The enemy, however, failed to win a decisive victory. Piecing his way through the enemy ranks, the guru succeeded in reaching the land of brars in Malwa and started moving freely as before. It was his faith in the loyalty of the Brars that had prompted the Guru to proceed there.

 

It was during these difficult days that Chaudhuri Kapura called upon the guru at a place called siryewala and expressed sentiments of devotion to him. The Guru was greatly pleased with him and later paid a visit to Kot Kapura where the Chaudhuri along with other members of his family received the Sikh baptism or amrit from the Guru’s sacred hands. On this occasion Guru Sahib also bestowed on his a Khanda (broad two edged sword) preserved and dearly cherished by the family. After a few more days’ hectic travelling in the countryside, guru Gobind Singh made a second visit of Kot Kapura. He had come to know that a large Mughal force of sirhind was on its way towards the area in pursuit of him. Thereafter, the guru started looking out for a suitable place from where he could defend himself effectively. In view of this, the Guru sounded the Brar Chief as to whether he would permit his fort to be used as a bastion of defence against the approaching enemy force. Kapur Singh, for that was his name after he had been baptised, shuddered at the very thought and politely refused be saying, “we are no match for the Government. That way Kot Kapura will be ruined and the Turks (Mughals) might kill me as well.” On hearing this, Guru Govind Singh smiled and said, “If you are fated to die at the hands of the Turks, then you must.” It is commonly believed that this prophetic remarks proved true when Kapur Singh suffered a tragic fate afterwards at the hands of Nawab Isa Khan, a local Muslim Chief. Nevertheless, the Brar Chief volunteered to help the Guru in finding out an equally suitable battle site and when the Master departed from there, the Chief detailed one of his experienced guides to accompany him. Assisted by this expert the guru marched ahead via jaito, Ramiana and Mallan and reached Khidrana Di Dhab where he finally decided to m the enemy. The battle which took place here soon after, proved to be a decisive one. The Mughals were given such a through smashing that thereafter they abandoned the idea of further pursuit of the Guru.

 

Isa Khan, the owner of the fort and village of the same name, was Kapur Singh’s great rival and enemy. He was the Chief of Manj Rajputs, also descendants of Jaisal, the Bhatti Rajput. Originally. The country around Faridkot was under their control. Later on, they were ousted from there by another branch of the same family to which the descendants of Pate Rao (Bate Rao) belonged. This led to a state of constant family feuds between them. Growing prosperity of Kot Kapura with the rising popularity of Kapur Singh proved intolerable for Nawab Isa Khan. Knowing that he would be unable to conquer Kapur Singh by force, determined to subdue him by an underhand device and deceitfully concluded with him an agreement of perpetual friendship. Realizing that the Brar sardar had much faith in religions ascetics, he invited him to a banquet though a fakir named Isa Shah of his place. Kapur Singh accepted the invitation innocently. While he was at the banquet, he was treacherously assassinated by his host, in 1708. He was 80 at the time of his death. 

 

Chaudhuri Kapur Singh left three sons, namely Sukhia Singh, Sema Singh and Mukhia Singh. The brutal assassination of their father was a severe shock for them. They postponed the installation ceremony of the new Chief. For the next few years both sides were engaged incessant warfare. Ultimately, Isa Khan was killed and the Brars had the upper hand. Sema Singh, one of the three brothers, also perished in course of fighting. After this the challenge of Manj Rajputs to the Brar power disappeared and many of the Manj territories including Faridkot came under the control of the Brar Chieftainship. After some time the capital was shifted from Kot Kapura to Faridkot.

 

In 1720 Sukhia Singh, eldest son of Kapur Singh, ascended the gaddi. A formal installation ceremony was performed. The younger brother, Mukhia Singh was given the villages of Rori and Matta by way of jagir.

 

Chaudhuri Sukhia Singh spent most of his time in consolidating his control over the territories of Behkbodla, Dharmkot, Kurma and Mamdot. He also took keen interest in the peaceful development of his State and founded, kot Sukhia. He died in 1731 at the age of fifty leaving behind three sons, namely Jodh Singh, Hamir Singh and Bir Singh, who for sometimes lived together in peace, but at length they quarreled and the two younger wished to divide the estate. Jodh Singh being on ill terms with his brothers quarrelled with them. Faridkot fort was held by Jodh Singh, Hamir Singh took possession of the fort of Faridkot by turning out the thanadar of Jodh Singh. Jodh Singh attacked him several times but failed.  Eventually the rival brothers asked the Confederate Chiefs from beyond the Satluj to intervene, according to whose decision, Faridkot with the adjoining country was retained by Hamir, Mari Mustafa was assigned to Bir, while Kot Kapura fell to the lot of Jodh Singh. Jodh Singh was not happy with the settlement and viewed it as an encroachment on his authority. Therefore, he renewed his hostilities against his brothers, particularly Hamair Singh. But the latter was able to maintain his position as an independent Chief of Faridkot. He position as an independent Chief of Faridkot. He erected a new fort at Kot Kapura and almost rebuilt was so bad that many of them felt compelled to migrate to other places. The artisans renowned for their skill and industry shifted to other places. Moreover, Jodh Singh was constantly engaged in hostilities with Raja Amar Singh of Patiala. In 1767 Raja Amar Singh marched upon Kot Kapura with a strong force and prepared to invest the fort when Jodh Singh and his son, advancing in a chariot too beyond the walls, fell into an ambuscade laid by the patiala troops.

 

Jodh Singh was succeeded by his son Tek Singh. He continued the family feud with Patiala and avenged his father’s death by massacring all the inhabitants of the four jalalkian villages who were in the pay of patiala and by whom Jodh Singh was slain. Sardar hamir Singh of Faridkot helped his nephew in this expedition with the secret motive of asserting his supremacy over him. Finding that Tek Singh was not willing to accept a position of sub-ordination, Hamir Singh took him prisoner and confined him in the fort of Faridkot. Then Phulkain Chiefs exerted pressure on Hamir Singh to set him free. Hamir Singh agreed to this on the condition that Tek Singh would never move out of the town of Kot Kapura. This had a very bad effect on the administration of Tek Singh’s territory. Zamindars refused to pay revenue. Robbery and violence became rempant everywhere. During this period Man Singh Sarai, brother-in-law of the patiala Raja, seized Mudki and eighteen neighbouring villages. Jaito Pargana was captured by Nabha Chief. In 1783 Chuhr Singh of Bhadaur took possession of Bhagta, Siryewala, (now in Bathinda District) Baja Khana and Bharoki Batti. After ten years these places were recaptured by Sardar Tek Singh. Chuhr Singh was burnt alive in a house after being treacherously seized by one sajjan Singh Brar of Ghania.

 

Sardar Tek Singh’s death occurred in very tragic circumstances. He had very bad relations with his son Jagat Singh, who, in 1806, set fire to the house in which his was residing and a large quantity of powder having been stored in the vaults beneath the house. When that powder caught fire, the whole house was destroyed along with the Chief.

 

Jagat Singh who acquired control of his father’s territories by force did not enjoy it for long. In 1807, his elder brother Karam Singh, calling diwan Mohakam Chand from Lahore to his assistance, defeated him and took possession of all his lands. The diwan, and his master, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, kept Kot Kapura for himself, as also the village of Mudki. The jalakain villages were handed over to the Raja of Nabha. The only benefit that karam Singh reaped from the expedition of diwan Mohkam Chand was the acquisition of a share in two villages, patli and Hakumatwala.

 

In 1824, Jagat Singh made an attempt to recover his estate and drove the Lahore garrison out of Kot Kapura but he was unable to hold it and the place had to be surrendered after 20 days. He then tried to make peace with the Lahore durbar and married away his elder daughter Partap Kaur to Kanwar Sher Singh, second son of Ranjit Singh. He died in 1825 without leaving behind any male issue.

 

The brief spell of power the Jagat Singh enjoyed after burnig alive his father, was also marked by the loss of jaito Pargana.

 

The sweepers of Mauza jaito had killed an ox and were imprisoned in Kot Kapura for this offence. The lambardars of Jaito came to Kot Kapura to intercede on their behalf. Sardar Tek Singh’s son, Jagat Singh, however, murdered the lambardars without even hearing their case. This exasperated the residents of Jaito and the neighbouring villages, who were connected with each other by blood. They therefore, threw off the yoke of the Sardar of Kot kapura and sought the protection of the Raja of Nabha, Raja Jaswant Singh who had married the niece of Ramu Singh of Jaito from Mor Dhalwan. Thus the Ahlkars of Nabha came of a Thana belonging to the Nabha State was established in the Ilaka. Thus they separated themselves from the rule of the Sardar of Kot Kapura. Hamir Singh of Faridkot in the year 1763, having taken possession of Faridkot by dint of bravery and policy had established a separate State.

 

He enlarged the town, inducing traders and artisans to people it, and built a brick fort around it for its protection. He had two sons, Kal Singh and Mohr Singh, the former of whom was of an intractable disposition, and rebelled against his father, who suspected that Mohr Singh was also concerned in the plot. He accordingly called them both before him, and, to test their temper, directed each to fire at the log of the bed on which he was reclining with their muskets, or, according to other accounts, to shoot an arrow at it. Dal Singh fired without hesitation, and split the leg of the bed, but Mohr Singh refused, saying that guns were fired at enemies and not at friends. This conduct so pleased the Chief that he declared Mohr Singh his heir, and banished Dal Singh altogether from Faridkot, assigning for his support the villages of Dhodeki, Mahla and Bhalur. This selection of Mohr Singh as his successor created a deadly feud between the brothers. Mohr Singh besieged his rival in Dhodeki, but the latter managed to hold his own, and calling to his assistance the Nishanwala Chief, defeated his brother and compelled him to return to Faridkot.

 

Hamir Singh died in 1782 when Mohr Singh succeeded him. His elder brother Dal Singh began to raise trouble against him. So he attacked Dhodeki where Dal Singh was residing. Dal Singh now called to his assistance he head of the Nishanwala Misl, defeated his brother and compelled him to return to Faridkot. In administration of the State as well, Mohr Singh showed weakness. He made a good start but soon fell into bad company and began to waste his time and money in luxuries. The result was that several of his possessions such as Abohar, Karmi and behkbodla, were swized by his neighbours.

 

Mohr Singh had two sons, Charat Singh and Bhupa. The former was by his legally wedded wife, daughter of Sardar Sobha Singh of Jind. The latter was born of a Muhammadan concubine, punji (also called Tejo). Since Mohr Singh was passionately fond of Panji, he gave a far larger share of his love and attention to Bhuypa than to his legitimate son who therefore began to regard his rival brother with great jealousy and dislike. The situation took a serious turn when at one time Charat Singh was compelled by the father to part with his horse for Bhupa. Charat Singh obeyed the command of his father but took it as a personal insult. He could not tolerate that he, the legitimate son should be slighted for the sake of a child of a slave girl. He resolved to wreak vengeance with immediate effect and hatched a conspiracy to stage a coup while his father was away from home. For this purpose the Fort of Faridkot was surprised and panji, Bhopal’s mother, was assassinated. When Mohr Singh heard of the coup, he hastened back and with a small levy of villagers launched a counter attack to recover Faridkot but he was repulsed with great loss and had to retire to village Pakka. His rebel son pursued him and laid siege to the village. Mohr Singh’s resistance failed and he was taken prisoner and confined in Sher Singh Wala, a village belonging to Charat Singh’s father-in-law. After some years, Tara Singh Gheba, a powerful Sikh Chief, intervened on behalf of Mohr Singh and induced Charat Singh to release him. After his release Mohr Singh made quite a few attempts to regain his control of Faridkot but in vain. He died in exile in 1798.

 

Diwan Nanumal of patiala taking advantage of the situation created by the internal dissensions of the ruling family, made an attack on Faridkot territory. Charat Singh put up a powerful defence with the result that the invaders had to stage a retreat. This greatly enhanced the reputation of Charat Singh as a warrior. Now Charat Singh felt that there was no danger left and that the situation was completely under his control. He cut down his armed forces. This gave an opportunity of his disinherited uncle Dal Singh who had been sulking all these years in Dhodeki. In 1804, he collected a small body of followers and attacked the Faridkot fort by night and occupied it. Charat Singh was killed. His wife with her sons, Gulab Singh, Pahar Singh, Sahib Singh and Mehatab Singh barely escaped death and sought shelter in her parent’s house in kamiana. Dal Singh could not enjoy power for more than a month. All the sons of Charat Singh were minor. For the same reason they had a large number of sympathizers and supporters. Their maternal uncle, Fauju Singh, organized them into a fighting force and made a sudden attack on Faridkot. Dal Singh was surprised and killed. Gulab Singh, was proclaimed the ruler of Faridkot. Since he was a minor, Sardar Fauju Singh assumed the office of the Minister of Diwan.

 

During the winter of 1806-07, Diwan Mohkam Chand of Lahore again crossed the river Satluj with a strong army and seized Zira, Bara, Muktsar. Kot Kapura and Mari. Having done that, he laid siege to Faridkot. The garrison under the leadership of Fauju Singh put up a stubborn resistance and refused to surrender. The besieging troops were soon in great trouble in account of the scarcity of drinking water. The water collected in the few pools situated around the fort had been filed with poisonous branches of wild shrub. The result was that he Lahore troops had to lift the siege and go away. Before departing, however, they managed to extract a tribute of Rs 7,000 form Fauju Singh.

 

In 1808 Maharaja Ranjit Singh personally led a powerful expedition into the Cis-Sutlej territories. He crossed the Satluj on 26 September 1808 and marched against Faridkot. This time the place offered no resistance for fear of the Maharaja’s great strength. A Lahore contingent immediately replaced the garrision of the Faridkot ruler and Sardar Fauju Singh with his five nephews returned to the villages which were left with him for the maintenance of the young princes.

 

The Phulkian Chiefs of Patiala, Nabha and Jind were of the view that Ranjit Singh would not retain possession of Faridkot for long, and each one of them tried to obtain its control and offered a high bid for that. Ranjit Singh, however, thought differently and conferred it in jagir upon his general, Diwan Mohkam Chand, who had set his heart on it ever since his repulse of 1807. Nevertheless, the Diwan had to pay for it is a large nazrana to the Maharaja.

 

The British Government did not approve of these fresh conquests of the Lahore Chief. It was indeed a very clever move on the part of Ranjit Singh to have crossed into the Cis-Satlej region while the British Envoy, Metcalfe, was present in his camp for the purpose of negotiating an offensive and defensive treaty against France. Ranjit Singh had undertaken the expedition with the object of extracting maximum advantage from the critical situation created by the French danger. His hopes, however, did not materialize because of a shift soon after in the British attitude on the matter. As and when the fear of a French invasion receded the British made bold to call upon Ranjit Singh to withdraw immediately from all of his conquests made in course of his recent expedition. Not only that, they dispatched a contingent of troops under the command of Ochterlony to drive the Sikh Chief back across the Sutlej. The Maharaja was completely taken aback by these new developments. He had set his heart on creating a united sovereign Sikh State out of all the Sikh-held territories and that dream of his was now threatened with frustration. Therefore, his first reaction was in favour of offering resistance to the hostile moves of the British. But on second thoughts, he agreed to forego his claims to all such places as he had brought under his control during the 1808-09 expedition. Even so, he was unwilling to withdraw his military post from Faridkot the ground that it was not a fresh conquest. He advanced cogent arguments in support of his contention, but the British refused point-blank to accept his position and threatened use of force in case the Maharaja persisted in his defiant attitude. Ultimately, he yielded before British pressure and evacuated the Faridkot fort. The British who had already issued a proclamation (itlahnama) converting the entire Cis-Sutlej region into a protectorate now restored Faridkot to its erstwhile ruler, Gulab Singh, as their protégé. This was done on 3 April 1809. As for Maharaja Ranjit Singh, now that all obstacles had been removed, a treaty of perpetual friendship was signed between him and the British at Amritsar in 1809.

 

After the reinstatement of Gulab Singh as the ruler of Faridkot, Fauju Singh resumed his charge as Minister or Diwan. He administered the affairs of the State with competence until Gulab Singh attained the age of maturity Because of British protection, the State was now free from any external dangers so that more attention could be paid to developmental work. 

 

Sardar Gulab Singh was assassinated when walking alone outside the town of Faridkot. The persons who were last seen with him before his death were jaideo, a jat and Bahadur, a silversmith, and their flight seemed to connect them with the crime. But, if these men were the actual assassins, it was generally believed that the instigators of the crime were Fauju Singh, the manager and Sahib Singh the youngest brother of the Chief. No shadow of evidence could be procured against the former who had served the family faithfully for 25 years. But the discovery of Sahib Singh’s swords as one of those by which his brother met his death, the concealment of the scabbard and his contradictory replies when captain murray, the political agent, questioned him were suspicious in the extreme, but in the absence of all direct proof he was acquitted.

 

Gulab Singh had left four years old son, Attar Singh. As per the custom of primogeniture, in the Faridkot Family, this child was acknowledged as Chief by the British Government, the administration of affair is remaining, until he should reach his majority, in the hands of Fauju Singh and sardarni Dharm Kaur, the widow, pahar Singh and Sahib Singh had, during the life time of their brother, lived with him and enjoyed the estate in common, and it was decided that they were at liberty to remain thus, undivided family, or should they desire it, to receive separate jagirs.

 

The young Chief Attar Singh died suddenly in August 1827. It was generally believed that he had been murdered, for, in this unhappy family, it was the exception and not the rule for death to result from natural causes, but the crime, if such it were, could not be brought home to any individual. The child was of so tender an age that he lived in the woman’s apartments, and no satisfactory investigation was possible. Sardar Pahar Singh was now the legitimate heir, and was acknowledge as such by the British government, being required to make such provision for his younger brother and sister-in-law as the custom of the family might justify.

 

The new Chief was a liberal-minded and able man, and immensely improved his territory, more than doubling the revenue in twenty years. He founded many new villages. Lightness of the assessment and his reputation for justice and liberality induced large number of cultivators to emigrate form Lahore and Patiala to his territory. A large portion of the State was desert when he acquired it. But the soil, although sandy, only required water to produce magnificent crops of wheat. In old days a canal from the Satluj had been dug by one Firu Shah from near Dharmkot, half way between Firozpur and Ludhiana, and, passing by kot Ise Khan to Mudki, had irrigated the country to some distance south of Faridkot where it was lost in the sand. Sardar Pahar Singh was not rich enough to make canal, but he dug many wells and induced the peasants to dig others, and set an example of moderation and benevolence which might have been followed with great advantage by other and more powerful Chiefs. Pahar Singh married four wives including the widow of his brother Sahib Singh.

 

The first Years of Pehar Singh’s Chiefship were not by any means peaceful, and according to the custom of the family, his brother Sahib Singh took up arms against him and gave him so much trouble that the Chief begged for the assistance of English troops to restore order, and, failing to obtain these, was compelled to accept assistance from the Raja of jind. However, on the death of Sahib Singh, everything went on well, and the Sardar was able to carry out his reforms without any further interruption, excepting occasional quarrels with the officer of the Lahore Government commanding at Kot Kapura and which, as the ancestral possessing of his family, Pahar Singh would have been very glad to obtain.

 

An opportunity for attaining this, the great desire of his heart, at last arrived, and Pahar Singh, like a wise man, seized it without hesitation. When the war with Jahore broke out in 1845 and so many of the Cis-Sutlef Chiefs were indifferent or hostile, he attached himself to the English and used his utmost exertions to collect supplies and transport, and to furnish guides for the army. On the eve of the battle of Ferozeshah he he may have shown some little vacillation, but that was a critical time, when even the best friends of the English might be executed for a little over caution, and after it was fought though neither side could claim it as a victory and the position of the English was more critical than ever he remained loyal and did excellent service. He was rewarded by a grant of half the territory confiscated from the Raja of Nabha, his share as estimated in 1846, being worth Rs 35,612 per annum.

 

The ancestral estate of Kot Kapura was stored to him, and he received the title of raja. In lieu of customs duties, which were abolished. He was allowed Rs 2,000 a year, and an arrangement was made by which the rent-free holdings lapsed.

 

Raja Pahar Singh died in April 1849, in his fiftieth year, and was succeeded by his only surviving son Wazir Singh, then twenty-one years of age.

 

Raja Wazir Singh took several measures to reorganize his administration. He divided his state into four parganas namely, Faridkot, Kot Kapura, Dip Singh Wala and Bhagta. The paraganas of Faridkot, and Kot Kapura were declared to be tahsils, and Tahsildars were appointed to look after them. A police station (thana) was established in each of the four divisions and thanadars were appointed to manage them. Every village was given a Chowkidar. The first settlement of land was made during the reign. As early as 1838 Raja Pahar Singh had got the first measurement of land, which was designated as Ghore Kachh from its being carried out from horse’s back. But this had been confined to the area immediately around Faridkot. This was followed by demarcation of village boundaries and a rough calculation of total area by Mr Daniel. So, Raja Wazir Singh was breaking a new ground when he ordered a new land revenue settlement on scientific lines. It was conducted from 1860 to 1865 and was called after the name of Moti Ram who was in charge of the whole affair. As a result, the mode of revenue collection by batai (crop division) was abandoned in favour of its realization cash. For this purpose cash rates were fixed as for instance two annas purpose cash rates were fixed as for instance two annas per ghumon for cultivated land. Later, in 1871 the rate for banjar land was increased. Rules were simplified for making and preserving records of land.

 

After the land revenue settlement, reorganization of treasury received the raja’s attention. Before his reign there was no properly organized State treasury. All money was deposited with trustworthy banias and bhabras living in the capital. The accounts were maintained by the Diwan of the State who held his office at his own residence. The corn realized in batai was stored in different villages and supplies were drawn from them according to requirements. Raja Wazir Singh overhauled this whole practice. A special treasury was set up which received all deposits of money. Accounts of income and expenditure were maintained and audited regularly by responsible officials.

 

The Raja also attended to the task of effecting improvements in the machinery of justice. He set up a number of courts with himself functioning as the final court of appeal. This was great improvement on the earlier system in which police officials used to act as judicial courts. He also introduced the system of written complaints as it was then current in British ruled areas. Court fee, to, was fixed on the British pattern. It was laid down as 71/2 per cent on this value of a suit. Later in 1870, the rate was raised to 10 per cent. The police and army as well were reorganized along the lines of their British counterparts. The constables were designated as barkandar and officers as thanadars and jamadars and all were granted uniforms befitting, their ranks. The army was divided into companies and was trained and equipped on the European model with the help of European Officers.

 

Raja Wazir Singh opened the first post office in the State. The postal system was as yet, new even to India, having been introduced by Lord Dalhousie during the fifties. Wazir Singh who was very anxious to modernize his state, did not want to lag behind.

 

The Raja also took some measures to develop further the town of Faridkot. Among them the most notable one was the laying out of bazaars outside the fort walls. Outside in the country lands, he developed several new villages and thereby improved the economic conditions of the State. Foundation of new villages was in those days an accepted and usual mode of economic development.

 

Like his father, Raja Wazir Singh was a loyal subordinate of the British. In the second Anglo-Sikh war he served on the side of the British. During the rising of 1857 he seized several insurgents and handed them over to the British authorities. He placed himself and his troops under the Deputy Commissioner of Firozpur and guarded the ferries of the Satluj against the passage of rebels. His troops also served under General von courtland in Sirsa and elsewhere. He personally led his troops against the rebel leader, Sham Das and destroyed his village.

 

For his services to the British, the Raja was awarded the honorary title of Brar Bans Raja Sahib Bahadur and the right to a Khilat of eleven pieces instead of seven as before besides a salute of eleven guns instead of seven. He was also exempted form the service of ten sowars which he had been previously under obligation to furnish to the British.

 

The rebellion of 1857 proved a failure but it did impart a big jolt to the British government compelling it to recast its polices. A new policy towards Indian States was announced by the Queen’s Proclamation in 1859, by which among other things, Indian Princes were assured of continued existence of their State and allowed the right of adoption in case of failure of the direct line of heirs. In pursuance of this policy, the Raja of Faridkot was issued a sanad on 21 April 1863.

 

Raja Wazir Singh was a zealous follower of Sikhism. He laid the foundation stone of Gurdwara Lohgarh of Dina Sahib and spent Rs. 10,000 on its building. Besides, he donated for that gurdwara utensils and other equipment worth Rs 3,000 and further granted an annual jagir of Rs Rs 100 towards the expenses of langar at the gurdwara. His devotion to dina Sahib was of a special character for two reasons; (i) his personal attachment to the place because his mother Rani Chand Kaur belonged to it, (ii) and secondly for its great historical importance. In 1705 Guru Gobind Singh had arrived here in the guise of Uch Ka Pir.

 

Towards the end of his life, Raja, Wazir Singh went on a long pilgrimage in course of which he visited Hardwar, Allahbad (Kashi) Naded and Kurukshetra. At naded, he built a new Gurdwara called Sangat Sahib and granted for it an annual jagir worth of Rs 500. When he was on the way back home, he breathed his last at Kurukshetra in April 1874 after a reign of 25 years. Later, at the place of his death a samadh was built where free food continued to be distributed at the expense of the Faridkot State till 1948.

 

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