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Pahar Singh

Pahar Singh (1799 – April 1849) was the Raja of the Princely state of Faridkot, ruling from 1827 to 1849.[note 1][1][2]

Painting of Pahar Singh (seated) with a fly-whisk (chaur sahib) attendant

Biography

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Pahar Singh succeeded to the gaddi (throne) of Faridkot after the passing of Attar Singh.[3] His reign lasted 22 years and was marked by peace and prosperity.[citation needed] He found many villages and dug wells in Faridkot.[citation needed] Pahar Singh had four wives, including Chand Kaur.[3]

Pahar Singh is noted for paying particular attention to the common-folk of his dominion, ensuring their welfare.[4] Pahar Singh kept advisors around him to look-after the needs of the civilians in the state and to provide him valuable advice.[4] Some of the useful advisors that Pahar Singh employed were sardars Meenha Singh, Ghamand Singh, and Koma Singh.[4] Furthermore, Pahar Singh awarded his brothers, Sahib Singh and Mehtab Singh, a jagir grant consisting of villages for them to rule-over.[4] Under Pahar Singh, the jungles that surrounded Faridkot were deforested to clear the land for development.[4] A canal branch linking to the Sutlej was constructed, which provided valuable irrigation to the state.[4] However, this initially built canal eventually dried-up and there was an inadequate amount of funds in the state's treasury for the construction of a new one.[4] Therefore, Pahar Singh assisted the local zamindars (landlords) with the construction of a well instead.[4]

 
Sanad document of investiture of Raja Pahar Singh of Faridkot State from the British East India Company, ca.1837–1849

The relations between Faridkot State and Lahore State were cold.[4] Diwan Mohkam Chand of the Lahore Darbar and the diwan of Lahore, coveted the state and wished to absorb it.[4] Pahar Singh developed friendly ties with the British in-light of this.[4] Pahar Singh helped the military forces of the British East India Company in the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845–46 against the Sikh Empire.[2] During the Battle of Ferozeshah, intel provided by Pahar Singh helped the British forces against the Lahore State.[2] During the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845 the chief, Raja Pahar Singh, was allied with the British, and was rewarded with an increase of territory.[4][5] Pahar Singh had provided the British valuable assistance during the Battle of Mudki.[4] During the Battle of Ferozeshah, the British were accepting their defeat and stepped-back, but the Sikh forces under Lal Singh and Tej Singh had also done the same, leaving valuable weaponry behind such as cannons and other resources at the battleground.[4] After witnessing this, Pahar Singh reported to the British general Bradford about the situation.[4] Due to the request of Pahar Singh, they were able to take possession of the cannons and other items left behind at the abandoned battlefield.[4] Pahar Singh was bestowed with the raja title by the British in 1846 as a reward for the helped he provided them.[6][5][4] Due to this, he was awarded the title of Raja and granted half of the land which was seized from the Raja of Nabha by the British Government.[citation needed]

Pahar Singh married Chand Kaur, who was the daughter of Samand Singh of Deena Wale.[4] Chand Kaur gave birth to a son, Wazir Son.[4] Pahar Singh would marry another woman who was from a Muddki royal lineage.[4] His second-wife would give birth to princes Deep Singh and Anokh Singh.[4] Pahar Singh died at the age of 50.[4] Both Deep Singh and Anokh Singh had died in childhood, leaving Wazir Singh behind as the rightful heir to the Faridkot throne.[4]

He died in April 1849 and was succeeded by his only surviving son, Wazir Singh.[7][8][9][10]

Notes

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  1. ^ His personal name is alternatively spelt as 'Padad' or 'Pahada'.

References

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  1. ^ Singh, Sukhpreet; Bhullar, Sukhjeet Kaur (2019). "Contributions of Different Kings in the Faridkot State". Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 10 (1): 248–252. doi:10.5958/2321-5828.2019.00045.7.
  2. ^ a b c Singh, Gursharan (1991). History of Pepsu: Patiala and East Punjab States Union, 1948-1956. Konark Publishers. p. 8. ISBN 9788122002447.
  3. ^ a b Singh, Fauja; Rabra, R. C. (1976). The City of Faridkot: Past and Present. Punjabi University. pp. 24–26.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Singh, Sukhpreet; Bhullar, Sukhjeet Kaur (2019). "Contributions of Different Kings in the Faridkot State". Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 10 (1): 248–252. doi:10.5958/2321-5828.2019.00045.7.
  5. ^ a b Parihar, Subhas (11 February 2012). "The Sikh Kingdom of Faridkot". sikhchic. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  6. ^ Truhart, Peter (2017). Regents of Nations: Asia, Australia-Oceania, Part 2 (Reprint ed.). Walter de Gruyter. p. 1395. ISBN 9783111616254.
  7. ^ History of the United Panjab - Volume 3. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors. 1996. p. 50. ISBN 9788171565368.
  8. ^ Lepel Henry Griffin (1870). The Rajas of the Punjab Being the History of the Principal States in the Punjab and Their Political Relations with the British Government. Punjab Printing Company. p. 620.
  9. ^ Rebel Sikhs in 1857. Vani Prakashan. 2008. p. 45. ISBN 9788181437952.
  10. ^ Charles Francis Massy (1890). Chiefs and Families of Note in the Dehli [sic], Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat Divisions of the Panjab. Printed at the Pioneer Press. p. 77.


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