Raja Bhag Singh

Lepel H. Griffin gives history of Raja Bhag Singh as under:^[2]

The possessions of Gajpat Singh were divided between his sons, Bhag Singh and Bhup Singh, the latter taking the estate of Badrukhan, and the elder, Jhind and Sufidon, with the title of Raja.

His expeditions and wars

Bhag Singh was twenty-one years old when he became Chief. Much of his history has been given in the history of Pattiala, with which he was generally allied.

In 1786, the districts of Gohana and Khar Khodah, were conferred upon him in jagir by the Emperor Shah Alam, and, in 1794, he joined the Pattiala army under Rani Sahib Kour in the attack on the Mahratta Generals, Anta Rao or Amba Bao, and Lachman Rao, at Rajgarh near Ambala, when a night

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Attack was made on the enemy's camp with great success. In the next year the Raja lost Karnal, which was captured by the Mahrattas and made over to George Thomas, who had been of good service in beating back the Sikhs who had crossed the Jamna in force and threatened Saharanpur.

The wars and conquests of Thomas have been related in the history of Pattiala, and the expeditions which he undertook against Jhind and Sufidon in 1798 and 1799.^* Supported by kinsmen and neighbours, Raja Bhag Singh was fortunate enough to repulse his enemy, and in 1801, he went to Dehli in company with other Chiefs to ask General Perron, Commanding the Northern Divisions of the Mahratta army, for assistance to crush the the adventurer whose resistance at Hansi, on the southern border of the Jhind State, was perpetual menace to all the Sikh Chiefs in the neighbourhood.

Thomas expelled from the Punjab:

The expedition against Thomas in which Raja Bhag Singh personally joined was successful, and he was driven from Hansi and compelled to seek an asylum in British territory.

Raja Bhag Singh makes friends with the British and joins General Lake, AD 1803:

Raja Bhag Singh was the first of all the great Cis-Satlej Chiefs to seek an alliance with the British Government. Immediately after the battle of Dehli, on the 11th September 1803, he made advances to the British General, which were favorably received; he then joined the English camp and his title to the estate of Gohana and Khar Khodah, in the neighbourhood of Dehli, was upheld by General Lake, who writes of Bhag Singh as

* Ante pp. 81—88.

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a friend and ally.^* Bhai Lal Singh of Kythal, who had great influence with the Jhind Raja, induced him to declare thus early for the English. He was a remarkably acute man, and saw clearly which would eventually prove the winning side ; on this side be determined to be himself, and induced his friend to be equally wise. After having made their submission, they returned to their respective territories, but in January 1805, after the defeat of the hostile Sikhs by Colonel Burn, they thought that active service would prove more advantageous to their interests, and joined the British army with a large detachment. For several months the Raja remained with the General. His services were not important, but his influence had a good effect, and on one occasion, he, with Bhai Lal Singh, held Saharanpur while Colonel Ochterlony was in pursuit of the Mahratta.^†

At length the Sikh Chiefs were tired of a fruitless struggle, and accepting a general amnesty, peace was restored on the North West Frontier.

Raja Bhag Singh joined Lord Lake in his Pursuit of Jaswant Rai Holkar in 1805, accompanying him as far as the Bias, whence he was deputed to Lahore as an envoy to his nephew, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, to warn him of the approach of the English General and against espousing the hopeless cause of Holkar, who was then in the last

* A Sanad from Lord Lake, dated the 26tb September 1808, informing the officers of the Shahajahanabad Suba or Division that paragana Kharkhauda Sonipat has been confirmed to Raja Bhag Singh.

A Sanad from Lord Lake, dated 7th March 1804, informing the officers of the Shahjahanabad Suba, that Parganahs Gohana, Faridpur, and Barsat, have been allowed to Bhai Lal Singh and Raja Bhag Singh.

† Colonel Burn to Colonel Ochterlony, dated 7th, 13th, and 24th, February, and 8th, 18th, and 27th March 1805.

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extremities. An agent of Bhai Lal Singh accompanied him, and the mission was conducted entirely to the General's satisfaction. It is probable that Bhag Singh was able to exert considerable influence with his nephew in favor of the English, and at any rate the negotiations, which had been commenced, were broken off, and Holkar was compelled to leave the Punjab.

The grants made to him in reward for service

Raja Bhag Singh returned with Lord Lake to Dehli, and received the grant of the pargannah of Bawanah immediately to the south-west of Panipat, as a reward for his services : it was a life grant in the name of Kour Partab Singh. Hansi had first been given him, but at his own request this district was exchanged for Bawanah. The villages of Mamrezpur and Nihana Kalan were also granted him in Jagir.^*

The disputes between Pattiala, Nabha and Jhind, and the struggle for supremacy at the Pattiala Court between the parties of the Raja and his wife, ending in the mediation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh have been described in the history of Pattiala. ^† Raja Bhag Singh gained in territory by his nephew's visit; and during the expedition of 1806 he received from the Maharaja the following estates: — Ludhiana, consisting of 24 villages, worth Rs.

* A Sanad from Lord Lake, dated 15th March 1806, allowing Parganah Bawanah to Kour Partab Singh, son of Raja Bhag Sngh, on a life tenure.

A sanad from Lord Lake, dated 19th March 1806, allowing the village of Mamrezpar to Raja Bhag Singh, in jagir on a life tenure.

A sanad from Lord Lake at 20th March 1806, informing the officers of Parganah Khar Khodah that the village of Nihana Kalan formerly enjoyed by Raja Bhag Singh, on payment of Rs. 1200 is granted to him in Jagir for life.

† ante pp 92—104.

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15,380 a year ; 24 villages of Jhandiala, from the same family, worth Rs. 4370 ; two villages of Kot, and two of Jagraon, worth Rs. 2,000 a year ; all taken from the Rani of Rai Alyas of the Mahammadan Rajput family of Raikot ; while from the widow of Miah Ghos he acquired two villages of the Basia District. During the expedition of the following year, the Maharaja gave him three villages of Ghumgrana, conquered from Gujar Singh of Raipur, and 27 villages of Morinda in Sirhind, conquered from the son of Dharam Singh, and all together worth Rs. 19,255, a year. ^*

Survey of the Jhind territory

in April 1807, Raja Bhag Singh readily consented to the survey of his country by Lieutenant F. White, and did all he could to make the expedition successful,^† A Survey in Sikh territory was not then so common-place a proceeding as at present, for the people were both ignorant and suspicious and generally imagined that a survey of their country was only a preliminary to its annexation, and two years later, in Pattiala, Lieutenant White's party was attacked and nearly destroy. ^†† But Raja Bhag Singh was not altogether superior to the prejudices of his country-men. He was well disposed to the English and a faithful ally, but he had not entire confidence in his new friends, and it was through his advice that Maharaja Ranjit Singh did not trust himself

* statement of the conquest of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1806, 1807 and 1808, prepared by Sir D. Ochterlony, vide Appendix A. Archibald Seaton, Resident Dehli, Circular of 1st November 1806. Gosha-i-Punjab, p. 571. Archibald Seton to Genral Dickens, 20th August 1807.

† Resident at Dehli to Lieutenant White, 26th, 28th, of April, 25th of May 1807.

†† Captain White to Resident Dehli, 24th and 25th December 1809. Vide ante p. 133.

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in British territory. This Chief, in the spring of 1808, much wished to visit the sacred fair of Hurdwar, on the Ganges. He sent Sirdar Mohr Singh Lamba and Sirdar Bishan Singh to Dehli to obtain the permission of the Resident, and, at Hurdwar, all arrangements for his reception, including an escort of three thousand follower, were made. But, at the last moment, Raja Bhag Singh dissuaded him from the idea. He declared that the Envoys, Mohr Singh and Bishan Singh, were playing him false ; that they were converting all their wealth into notes and Government paper at Dehli, intending to leave the Punjab for Benares ; that their declarations of the security with which the Maharaja would make the journey were untrustworthy, and that he could not travel with any safety unless accompanied by his whole army. The design of visiting Hurdwar was consequently abandoned. There is no knowing on what grounds Bhag Singh considered the Maharaja's servants untrustworthy, but there was probably some season for his belief, since Sirdar Mohr Singh left the Punjab for Benares a year or two later, contrary to the wish and orders of his master.^*

The Hardwar fair

Raja Bhag Singh himself visited Hurdwar, and, after the fair^† went to Lahore, where he remained in attendance

* Letter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to Resident Dehli of 6th August 1808. Resident Dehli to Magistrate Saharanpur, 18th and 32nd March. Circular of Resident 20th March 1808. To C. Metcalfe Esquire, 32nd March, and 2nd April 1808. Gosha-i-Punjab, p. 580. Punjab Chiefs, p. 544.

† Mr. Metcalfe to Resident Dehli 10th April 1808. An extract from this letter may not be without interest, as this was the first large festival at Hurdwar under the management of the British, and the description is not unlike that given of the Great Fair held sixty years later in March 1867.

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on Ranjit Singh, and accompanied him in the Cis-Satlej campaign of 1808, undertaken while Mr. Metcalfe, the British Envoy, was with the Sikh camp.^*

The Siege of Ghumgrana

At the beginning of 1808, Raja Bhag Singh with Bhai Lal Singh, the Nabha Raja and a Pattiala contingent, attacked the strong fort of Ghumgrana, owned by Gujar Singh, son of the famous Tara Singh Gheba, who had lately died. The siege proceeded for some time, till Ranjit Singh raised it by a message ordering the besiegers to desist. The Maharaja did not take this course in the interests of the owner, but sent a force of his own against the fort, took it without resistance, and gave it to one of his favorites,

Raja Rajgan Sahib Singh of Patila, Raja Bhag Singh, Sandar Bhai Lal Singh, and Sirdar Gardit Singh, were the principal Sikh Chieftains that came to the Mela; and though not charged with any prescribed duty with respect to these, I thought that the nature of my situation called on me to pay them every suitable attention, with particular reference to the distinguished rank of Raja Rajgan Sahib Singh. All the Sikhs who attended the mela in great numbers, behaved with perfect propriety, and the Chiefs did not express any objection to the application to their own followers of the general prohibition against carrying arms into the place when the mela was held.

“Amongst the innumerable crowds that were assembled at Hardwar there did not take place the slightest disturbance, and the perfect good order that was preserved had a surprising effect upon the multitude. It is not within the line of my duty to dwell on this subject, but I cannot refrain from remarking that the conduct of the vast numbers that came from all quarters was most gratifying to the feelings of an Englishman. Their prayers for the prosperity of the British Government were most fervent ; the respect shown to an Englishman whenever he appeared struck us all as far exceeding anything that we had met with before; their expressions of admiration at the whole arrangement of the mela were unbounded, and they repaid the care bestowed for their comfort with an evidently heartfelt gratitude. I am afraid to attempt to describe what at the place manifest to all, lest yon should suspect that the gratification excited by the universal joy might be carrying me into fields of romance, but I am satisfied that the loud praises and thanks giving of the honest multitude proceeded from the sincere effusions of their hearts; and I am confident that the reports, which they will carry to their distant homes, will considerable extent the fame and reputation of the British Government.”

* C. Metcalfe Esq., to Resident at Dehli, October 1st 1808.

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Karam Singh of Nagla. Raja Bhag Singh still retained some of the villages which he had seized in its neighbourhood, and though Karam Singh represented to the Maharaja that they were necessary to the completeness of his jagir, yet the latter did not like to compel his uncle to restore villages, to which, when all were robbers, he had as good a right as any one else. A bitter feud between Raja Bhag Singh and Sirdar Karam Singh was the consequence, and perpetual fighting and bloodshed between the rivals took place around Ghumgrana. The British Envoy had himself an opportunity of observing the state of affairs, for, on one occasion, when he was taking his evening ride in the vicinity of the fort, he was fired upon from one of Bhag Singh's villages, whose defenders believed his escort to be their enemies.^*

The ransom of Maler Kotla

Raja Bhag Singh was one of the Chiefs who were securities for the ransom of Maler Kotla, from which, in October 1808, Ranjit Singh demanded the tribute of a lakh of rupees. Only Rs. 27,000 were at once forthcoming, and for the balance, Pattiala, Nabha, Jhind and Kythal, became security, receiving from Maler Kotla, Jamalpura and other territory in pledge. By the treaty of Lahore the conquests of Ranjit Singh during his last campaign to the south of the Satlej had to be restored, and Jhind, with the other Chiefs, was compelled to resign the lands given by Maler Kotla, and the Maharaja, after some negotiation, absolved them from the necessity of paying the sum for which they had become sureties. ^†

* Envoy to Labore to Secretary to Government 20th November 1808.

† Mr. C. Metcalfe to Government of India 26th October 1808, and Resident Dehli to Government, lOth Angust and 16th August 1809.

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The feelings of Raja Bhag Singh towards the chief of Lahore and his intrigues:

Raja Bhag Singh's confidence in the moderation of his nephew was very much shaken by the unprovoked attack on Maler Kotla, and he perceived that his own possessions would be safe only so long as they were not coveted by his dangerous relation. He accordingly turned to his friends the English with whom he had maintained the most amicable relations, prompted by his adviser Bhai Lal Singh. The Resident at Dehli had addressed, on the 21st November, a letter to the Raja, informing him that although the British Government was not prepared actively to interfere, yet that the Governor General had written to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and expressed a hope that the Cis-Satlej Chiefs, the friends and allies of the English, would be left unmolested by him. In reply, the Raja declared his unalterable feelings of friendship for the British Government, and his confidence that, under its protection, his power and honor would be secure. The Resident again wrote in general terms, for the idea of a protectorate of the Cis-Satlej States was not yet matured, that the Government had no wish save the perpetuity of the rule of the Sikh Chiefs, and had full confidence in their assurances of good- will.^*

The Raja continued to address the Resident and solicit his good offices in his favor, and a translation of a portion of one of his letters will show the mistrust which the Chiefs had began to entertain of Ranjit Singh.

His letter to the Resident to Delhi

"I have lately received two letters from you, containing assurances of kindness and calculated to

* Letter of Raja Bhag Singh to Resident of 3rd December, and reply of Resident, 4th December 1808.

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"tranquillize my mind The perusal of these letters has inspired me with confidence, and filled me with gratitude : may the Almighty reward you.

“The state of matters in this quarter is as follows : — Previously to the receipt of your letters, Raja Sahib Singh had, with a view to his own safety, made an arrangement for meeting Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and he accordingly proceeded, by successive marches, to the camp of the Maharaja, and a meeting took place. In conformity to the custom of interchanging turbans, which is established among Sikh Chiefs, the Maharaja and Raja Sahib Singh, exchauged theirs, and seemingly settled everything. But in truth, we four Sardars^* are inwardly the same as ever, and adhere to the same sentiments to-wards the British Government which we left and expressed on the first day of our being dependant upon it, and which all repeated to you when we visited you, and explained the particulars of our situation. This will doubtless he present to your recollection. Under every circumstance, we trust that it is the intention of the British Government to secure and protect us four Sardars. As Sardar Ranjit Singh is now preparing to cross the Satlej, it is probable that he will soon cross that river. Raja Sahib Singh will take leave at Laknow and return to Pattiala, and Bhai Lal Singh and myself, after accompanying Ranjit Singh to the other side of the Satlej, will return to Pattiala, and after consulting together with respect to everything, we will communicate the whole of the result to your, in detail "

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Bhag Singh visits Mr. Seton, the resident

The next month, Maharaja Ranjit Singh having returned to Lahore, Raja Bhag Singh set out for Dehli to have an interview with Mr. Seton, the Resident. He reached Karnal, and from thence he wrote announcing his arrival and requesting permission to proceed. But, at this time, General Ochterlony was advancing with a strong force to the Satlej, to strengthen, by his propinquity, the arguments of Mr. Metcalfe, the Envoy at Lahore, whose tedious negotiations seemed still far from any satisfactory conclusion, and the Resident, thinking Bhag Singh's presence with the English force would have a good effect, advised him to join it, which he at once did with his troops, overtaking the General at Buria.^*

The reason which induced this action on the Bhag Singh, was that he had heard that an agent of the Lahore Maharaja was on his way to Pattiala, to summon him, Jaswant Singh of Nabha, and Cheyn Singh, the confidential agent of the Pattiaja Chief, to Lahore. To a journey to Lahore Bhag Singh had at this time a strong and natural objection. He was an independent Chief and at liberty to make such friends as pleased him ; but his conscience told him that his conduct to Ranjit Singh, who had always treated him with the greatest consideration and had much enlarged his territories, was somewhat questionable, and he had no wish, at present, to meet him. The Lahore agent, accordingly, on his arrival to Pattiala, found Bhag Singh absent, and this was an excuse for

* Letters from Raja Bhag Singh to Resident Dehli, 13th and 25th January 1809.

Resident to Raja Bhag Singh, 15th Jannary, and to Government of India, 15th January 1809.

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Maharaja Sahib Singh to decline to send his own agent, an excuse of which he was ready enough to avail himself.^*

He joins General Ochterlony

Raja Bhag Singh was received by General Ochterlony with great kindness, and the information which he was able to give with regard to the disposition of the several Sikh Chiefs was of much value. All of them were, according to the Raja, disposed to welcome the English and joyfully accept their protection, though one or two, like Sirdar Jodh Singh of Kalsia, were under too heavy obligations to Ranjit Singh to come forward at once and declare against him. It was explained to the Raja that the restitution of conquests during the late campaign must in justice be enforced against the friends of the British as against the Maharaja; with which the Raja fully agreed, the more readily that he would by this act of justice lose no more than territory worth Rs. 4,000 a year, which had been taken from Rani Dya Kour and conferred upon him.^†

And marches with him to Ludhiana:

The Raja continued with General Ochterlony till his arrival at Ludhiana, at which place the detachment was ordered to halt, and acted as a mutual friend in the negotiations which were necessary between the General and the Lahore agent On the 10th of February, at Ghumgrana, he received a confidential message from the General, stating that the following

* Resident to Government of India, dated 18th and 19th January 1809. Vide ante p. 24

† Resident Dehli to Government dated 25th January. Raja Bhag Singh to Resident dated 25th January. Government of India to Resident dated 13th and 27th February 1809. Sir D. Ochterlony to Government of India, dated 20th January 1809.

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He assists in the negotiations:

Day he would have to march to Ludhiana, which the Lahore troops, in spite of the Maharaja's promises, had not yet evacuated, and asked him, as a friend of both parties, to take such measures as he judged best to prevent the occurrence of hostilities, which would be the result, should the Sikhs not cross the river without delay. The Raja urged the General to halt, but this he at first refused, as he had received direct orders to advance, and expressed his belief that Sirdar Gainda Singh, in command at Ludhiana, would evacuate the fort at his approach, in accordance with the promises of the Maharaja. The Lahore agents who were in camp, denied that their master had ever made any promise of the kind, and the assertion, though evidently made only to delay the advance, so staggered the General, that he consented to march to Sirnawal instead of Ludhiana, and there await further orders from General St. Leger, then Commanding the army in the field.* The conduct of General Ochterlony was severely censured by Government in attending to the Lahore agents rather than to their direct orders, but in the advice given by Raja Bhag Singh there was nothing of treachery, and only a weak desire to maintain such friendship as was possible with both sides.

The arrival at Ludhiana, AD 1806:

The detachment arrived at Ludhiana on the 19th of February. This town, well situated on the river Satlej and commanding the principal northern road, had been for only two years in possession of Raja Bhag Singh,

* Colonel Ochterlony to General St. Leger, dated 10th February 1809. Government to Colonel Ochterlony, dated 30th January and 30th March 1809. Colonel Ochterlony to Government dated 14th February 1809, and to Resident Dehli dated 27th January 1809.

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and was one of the advantages he had gained from his connection with Ranjit Singh. He was not, however, unwilling to give it up to the English who desired to form there a permanent cantonment, hoping to obtain in exchange the pargannah of Karnal, which had once been in his family. He addressed the Government to this effect, stating that he would not be able to collect the revenues of the forty-one villages round Ludhiana, having lost possession of the fort, and praying that these should be taken by Government, giving him in exchange the pargannah of Karnal, with the right to collect the duties, or, if this were impossible, the pargannah of Panipat. If the revenue of the latter should exceed that of Ludhiana, which was Rs. 17,800, he offered the pargannah of Jhandiala in lieu of the excess. ^*

General Ochterlony supports his application:

General Ochterlony, who had evidently a strong liking for the Raja, strongly supported his application, writing to the following effect : —

“It would be unjust in me were I to withhold on this occasion an expression of the earnest desire I feel to effect the wishes of the Raja, not merely from a conviction that the loss of the fort will occasion a considerable decrease, if not entire loss of the collections of the Taluqa Ludhiana, but because he has in this, and every other instance, acted with an openness and candour which reflects an honor on his character, showing himself grateful for the benefits derived from the British Government Without affecting to disguise a very warm interest in the fate of his nephew Raja Ranjit Singh, at the same

* Letter of Raja Bhag Singh to the Resident Dehli, 25th February 1809.

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" time manifesting a readiness to comply with every request which could be considered of importance, beyond even my most sanguine expectations, — as I certainly was prepared for a little hesitation if not a request for a short delay when I informed him that His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief had directed the interior of the fort to be immediately cleared and levelled ; — and it was most satisfactory to me to observe that without hinting at the request he had before personally urged, he gave an immediate and cheerful acquiescence, observing only that he had experienced too much of British liberality to fear any ultimate loss." *

* General Ochterlony to Resident, 25 February 1809.

His excesses and their result

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But his health was now fast breaking. Like most of the Sikhs Chiefs he was a man of dissipated habits and a hard drinker. Finding that his excesses endangered his

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life, he was induced to give up drinking for a short time, but the habit was too confirmed to be abandoned, and the result of resuming it was a paralytic stroke, in March 1813, which deprived him of speech and almost of the power of motion. There was no doubt that his illness would have a fatal termination, and it became necessary to think of his successor.^*

The draft will by which the elder son was dispossessed

About a year before, when the Political Agent was at Pattiala, the Raja had given Draft Will, containing the arrangements which he desired to take effect at his death. By this he left to his younger son, Partab Singh, the Fort and district of Jhind, and declared him his successor, leaving to the elder son, Fatah Singh, only the districts of Sangrur and Basia, with a request to the British Government that he might continue to hold the jagirs he enjoyed from them for life. When the Raja made this will he was in sound health, both of body and mind, and it was the expression of his deliberate intention and wishes. He had no particular cause of complaint against Prince Fatah Singh, but the younger son was his favourite, the child of a woman to whom he had been much attached and who had long been dead.

The Agent tried to induce the Raja to change his determination. He pointed out that certain ill-feeling and disputes must be the result between the brothers, and that the State would suffer thereby, while the British Government was strongly in favour of the rule of promogeniture ; but the

* Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 20th April 1813.

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Raja’s arguments in its favour:

Raja had set his heart on the arrangement. He urged that the father had the right of nominating his own successor and bequeathing his lands as he pleased. That he was, himself, a second son, and had been preferred by his father, and that the custom of the Jhind family was not in opposition to the disposition he had made. The contents of the will, which the Raja then made over to Sir David Ochterlony, he desired to be kept secret, and it was only after his paralytic attack that the Agent forwarded it to the Resident at Dehli for transmission to the Government of India.^* The secret had now become known, and Prince Fatah Singh with Jaishi Ram and Shadi Ram, the very men who had been privy to the will, were now intriguing to set it aside, for Partab Singh was universally disliked, and very few, save his immediate followers and favourites, regarded his succession without apprehension.

The refusal of the Government to sanction the proposed arrangement:

The Governor General was unwilling to sanction the Raja's will, considering that there was no proved custom in the Jhind family of an elder son being superseded by a younger.

The despatch of the Governor General:

" Whatever doubt the Governor General might entertain the despatched continued with respect to the justice or propriety of Opposing the will of Bhag Singh, if there were good reasons to suppose that it was warranted by the laws and usages of his tribe and family, His Lordship in Council can have no hesitation, under the contrary impression which exists

* General Ochterlony to Government 2lst April 1813.

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"in his mind, in refusing to afford the countenance of the British Government to an arrangement which is, in this Lordship's estimation, no less unjust in its principle than likely to be pernicious in its effects. You are authorized therefore to declare to the parties concerned, and to the surviving friends of the family, after the death of Bhag Singh, that the succession of Kour Partab Singh cannot be recognized by the British Government. You are authorized, moreover, to employ the influence of the name and authority of Government in support of the claims of the elder son to the Raj, and to the possessions generally of Bhag Singh, or rather to that superior portion of them, which, by the terms of the Will, has, together with the Raj, been bequeathed to the second son, signifying at the same time, that care will be taken to secure to Partab Singh a suitable provision, as well as to see the bequest to the younger son duly carried into effect. Your own judgment and local knowledge will suggest to you the most proper means of rendering the influence of Government most effectual in sustaining the rights of the eldest son, without invoking the necessity of its authoritative interposition, which the Governor General in Council will be desirous of avoiding, and which ought on no account to be resorted to without the express sanction of Government ; and it will no doubt occur to you that the aid and cooperation of Bhai Lal Singh and other friends of the family, will be profitably employed for the purpose. It may be expected that their discernment will perceive the many advantages attending a fixed and definite rule of accession, and, unless they are misled by

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" some personal interest of their own, that they will be disposed to support the retentions of the elder son of Bhag Singh, in preference to up holding the provisions of a will Which appears to have been dictated Only by the caprice or Injustice of the testator. It is superfluous to observe that in communicating on this subject with Bhai Lal Singh and others, it will be proper carefully to avoid anything that can be construed into an admission of their right to interfere in the regulation of the succession or management of the affairs of the family. A just and Simple arrangement would be, either to reverse the provisions of the will in favor of the eldest and second son, or to assign to the latter other lands equal in value to those designated in the will as the provision of the elders" ^*

The grants made by the British Government to the Raja:

Regarding the Jagirs granted by the British Government to the Raja, and which he desired to be confirmed to his elder son during his life, the Governor General reserved his opinion.

These grants were four in number : first was Gohana and Faridpur, situated to the south west of Barwanah, and granted, in 1804, to Raja Bhag Singh and Bhai Lal Singh jointly, in recognition of their services against the Mahrattas.

Barwanah was granted to Bhag Singh in 1806, in the name of his son Partab Singh ; Kharkhoda and Mumrezpur in the Hansi purgannah were granted him in Jagir in March 1806, having formerly been held by him on istimrari^† tenure.

* Government of India to Colonel Ochterlony, 15th May 1813.

† On fixed rates.

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These Jagirs, which were situated in the midst of British territory, had been placed under efficient police supervision in 1810, the inhabitants of the Karnal pargannah having at that time a bad reputation for violence and lawlessness.^*

It was decided by the Government that these grants were merely life grants, and should be resumed at the death of Bhag Singh; and, moreover, that the provision made for Partab Singh was so ample, that he was not entitled to any new grant either in land or money on account of those resumed.^†

The estate held in co-parcenary with Bhai Lal Singh:

With regard to the estate held, in co-parcenary with Bhai Lal Singh, it was clear that it was not intended to be granted for their joint lives, with benefit of survivorship, nor indeed, did this appear to be the view of the Chiefs themselves, and the Raja's share was consequently resumed on his death.^††

The helpless State of Raja Bhag Singh

Raja Bhag Singh lingered in a paralytic state for many months. His intellect did not appear to suffer very much, but he was practically incapable of business, and it became necessary to make arrangements for carrying on the administration of the State. At this time the family of the Raja consisted of three sons and two wives. Fatah Singh, the eldest son, was Separated from his father who had a dislike to him, and it was thus almost impossible for him to act as Regent during

* Resident Delhi to Mr. Fraser 30th January 1810.

† Resident Dehli to Government of India, 18th June 1813. Government of India to Resident, 9th July 1818.

†† Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 16th July 1817. Government to Sir D. Ochterlony 9th July 1818.

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the Raja's illness. The second son, Partab Singh, whom the Raja desired to succeed him, had been declared by the British Government incompetent for succession, and it was manifestly undesirable to entrust him with even temporary power. The third son, Mehtab Singh, was still very young. The objection to the Regency of the eldest son applied equally to that of his mother, who was also disliked by the Raja and lived separate from him on a portion of the territory assigned for her maintenance. The mother of Partab Singh had long been dead, and Rani Sobrahi, the mother of Mehtab Singh, seemed the person against whose appointment as Regent the fewest objections could be urged. The Raja was not opposed to this arrangement and the Ministers desired it.

Rani Sobrahi appointed Regent AD 1814

This lady was, accordingly, with the sanction of Government, appointed Regent. She engaged to respect and advance the wishes of the British Government with regard to the succession, and to abstain from any interference with the eldest son or his mother, who were to be permitted to resided on their estates, without molestation, during the remainder of the reign of Raja Bhag Singh.^* Sir David Ochterlony was directed to proceed to Jhind, and himself superintend the new arrangements.^† The Rani was installed in the presence of the Raja, Bhai Lal Singh, and all the confidential servants of the State, and the Raja, by most unmistakable signs, showed his full concurrence in the measure.^††

* Resident to Secretary to Government 28th November. Resident to Colonel Ochterlony, 29th November. Colonel Ochterlony to Resident 15th October, and Government to Resident 23rd December 1813.

† Resident to Sir D. Ochterlony, 2nd February 1814.

†† Sir D. Ochterlony to Resident 29th August 1814. Government to Resident 4th March 1814.

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The dissatisfaction of Prince Partab Singh

But Prince Partab Singh was thoroughly dissatisfied. He had for long believed that on the death of his father the power would become his, and the present arrangements convinced him that he was intended to be excluded. He intrigued against the Regent, raised troops secretly, and, in June 1814, the Rani wrote that there could be no doubt that he meditated rebellion and that her life was no longer safe. The Prince was warned that the consequence of rebellion would be only to lose him the provision which would otherwise be made for him, and that he could not hope successfully to oppose the measures which had been determined on by Government.

He rebels, captures Jhind, and murders the Regent

But, he would accept no warming, and, on the 23rd of August, took the fort of Jhind by surprise, and put to death the Rani, Munshi Jaishi Ram her principal adviser, the Commandant of the Fort, and many other persons.^*

The action of the British authorities:

The Agent of the Governor General at once wrote to the officer in command at Karnal to hold himself in readiness to march at once to Jhind, on receipt of orders from the Resident of of Dehli, and the force at Hansi was also directed to move to Jhind, if the Prince, as anticipated, should attempt resistance. Sir Charles Metcalfe, the Resident, took instant action, and issued the following memorandum of instructions for the re-establishment of a legitimate Government at Jhind.^†

* Sir D. Ochterlony to Government 3rd July 1814, and 24th August 1814.

† Sir D. Ochterlony to Lient Colonel Thompson, Commanding at Karnal, 26th August 1814, and to Sir C. Metcalfe of same date.

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The memorandum of instruction for the re-establishment of a legitimate Government at Jhind

" In consequence of the imbecility of Raja Bhag Singh, a provisional Government was lately established at Jhind under the authority of His Excellency the Governor General in Council. The Rani Sobrahi was placed in the management of affairs, though the Government was carried on in the name of the Raja as before.

“This arrangement was at the time judged most advisable for several reasons.

“The Raja's eldest son and lawful successor was not appointed to the management of affairs because he was known to be obnoxious to the Raja. A similar reason operated against the appointment of the Rani, the mother of the eldest son.

" The Raja's second son could not be appointed because it was known that the Raja wished to establish the succession in favor of the second son to the exclusion of the eldest. The same consideration would have prevailed against the Rani, the mother of the second son, had she been living.

" Rani Sobrahi, the mother of a third son, a youth since dead, from whose claims no apprehensions were entertained, was appointed to the Regency, under the idea that this arrangement united a sufficient degree of security for the succession of the eldest son, with a suitably degree of attention to the feelings of the Raja, more than any other that could be adopted.

" The second son, Kour Partab Singh, has now murdered the Rani, and her Chief Minister, and the Commandant of the Fort of Jhind and others.

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He has obtained possession of the fort, and has usurped the Government.

" The Raja has been an unresisting or a willing instrument in the hands of Kour Partab Singh in these atrocious transactions.

“It is now necessary to subvert the usurped authority of Kour Partab Singh, and to re-establish a legitimate Government under the protection of the British Power,

" The following arrangements are therefore to be effected : —

" 1st. Kour Fatah Singh, the eldest son of Raja Bhag Singh, to be appointed to the entire management of affairs ; but the Government to be carried on in the name of his father the Raja.

“2nd. Suitable arrangements to be made for the dignity and comfort of the Raja, who, in every respect but the exercise of power with which he is not to be trusted, is to be considered and treated as heretofore.

“ 3rd. Kour Partab Singh, and the most notorious of his accomplices in the late murders, to be seized and sent in confinement to Dehli to await the orders of His Excellency the Governor General.

“It is most desirable that these arrangements should be accomplished without opposition, but if opposition be attempted, it must be defeated by the most prompt, decisive and energetic measures.

“Raja Bhag Singh, the eldest son Kour Fatah Singh, and the second son Kour Partab Singh, will be severally desired to wait on Colonel Arnold and Mr. Fraser. All the officers of the Jhind Government, Civil and Military, will also be ordered to put

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" themselves under the orders of Colonel Arnold and " Mr. Fraser. I fall these requisitions be complied with, the arrangements prescribed will probably be carried into full effect without resistance.

“Kour Fatah Singh resides on his own estate at a distance from Jhind, and to that circumstance is probably indebted for his safety during the late murders. He will no doubt attend in conformity to the summons, and will also be directed to collect his adherents.

" The conduct of the Raja may probably depend on the will of Partab Singh, and may, therefore, as well as that of Partab Singh's be considered doubtful. Yet if there are about the Raja's person any Of those Councilors who have advised him hitherto during his connection with the British Government, it is to be expected that he will comply with the requisition, and submit without resistance to the arrangements prescribed.

" It is even possible that Partab Singh may do the same, though it is perhaps more probable that he will either determine to resist or endeavour to effect his escape.

" In the former case his opposition must be overcome by the most decisive measures, as before mentioned, whether it be supported or disavowed by the Raja. In the latter case the escape of Partab Singh will facilitate the unresisted accomplishment of the arrangements in view, but every exertion must be made to apprehend him and his accomplices.

“It has already been stated that Kour Fatah Singh is obnoxious to the Raja. It is therefore to be apprehended that the Raja will never be reconciled to the Regency of Fatah Singh. The most

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“desirable arrangement is that the Raja should be reconciled to the eldest son, and should continue to reside at Jhind, and that Fatah Singh should treat the Raja with the utmost respect and attention. If this arrangement be impracticable owing to the Raja's strong aversion for his eldest son, the Raja may in that case be allowed to choose another place of residence, and such arrangement, as may be requisite can afterwards be adopted to make the remainder of his life easy and comfortable.

" It will be advisable to recommend Fatah Singh to employ in the transaction of the affairs of his Government the the old and faithful servants of his family, accustomed to business against whom there may not be any objection founded on participation in the recent atrocities.

" The utmost promptitude in the execution of the arrangements proposed is desirable. A detachment should advance at soon as possible to Jhind. No time should be lost in negotiation. But the first appearance of an inclination to resist should be followed on our part by the most decisive measures, consistent with the maxims of military prudence, on which point Colonel Arnold will be the sole judge.

" All the arrangements prescribed are of course to be understood to be subject to the revision of His Excellency the Governor General."

The Prince tries to implicate Raja in the murder

An attempt was made by Partab Singh to persuade the world that the murder of Munshi Jaishi Ram and the Rani had been directed by the Raja himself, and was the punishment for, an intrigue which dishonored the family, but of this

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there was no shadow of proof, and the fact of so many other persons interested in the continuance of the Regency being murdered at the same time sufficiently explained the reasons for the crime.

Pratab Singh flies from Jhind to Balawali

Prince Fatah Singh now took charge of the administration, and Partab Singh, knowing that British troops were marching from all sides against him, left Jhind and retired to Balawali, a fort in the wild country about Batinda. The zemindars of Balawali were a turbulent race, and Partab Singh had no difficulty in persuading them to adopt his cause. But he was at once followed by several troops of English cavalry who were directed to surround Balawali and prevent Partab Singh's escape, until a force, composed of five companies of infantry and three guns, which marched from Ludhiana on the 30th September, should arrive.

Then he crossed the Satlej and Joins Phula Singh Akali

The Prince saw that it was dangerous to remain at Balawali, where his capture Was Certain, and, the day after he had entered the fort, he abandoned it, carrying off fifteen or twenty thousand rupees with other valuables that had been lodged there ; and after a long and circuitous march, crossed the Satlej at Makhowal, with forty followers, and joined Phula Singh Akali who was in force on the opposite bank.^*

This famous outlaw ^† had taken up his residence at Nandpur Makhowal and defied the whole power of the Sikhs to expel him. He had with

* Sir D. Ochterlony to Resident Dehli 30th September 1814. Sir G. Clerk to Agent Governor General 20th March 1836.

† Phula Singh was the leader of the Akalis of the Amritsar temple, who attacked Mr. Metcalfe’s party in 1809, and also Lieutenant

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him about seven hundred horse and two guns. With this man Partab Singh remained for two months, then persuading him to cross the Satlej and actively assist him at Balawali, which remained in open rebellion against the Raja of Jhind. When it became known that Phula Singh had crossed the Satlej, the Agent at Ludhiana wrote without delay to Raja Jaswant Singh of Nabha and the Khans of Maler Kotla, directing them to combine their forces and attack him, though such was the veneration in which Phula Singh was held by the Sikhs that there appeared little chance of the Nabha troops loyally acting against him, and Maler Kotla was not sufficiently strong to act alone.^*

Partab Singh reaches Balawali, but Phula Singh compelled to retire:

Balawali, at this time, was invested by Pattiala troops, and was almost pared to Surrender, when its defenders heard of the approach of Phula Singh. They at once broke off negotiations, while Partab Singh went in advance and with a few men threw himself into the fort. Seven hundred of the Pattiala troops marched to intercept Phula Singh, who was unable to relieve the fort, and retired

While on survey duty, and, who, for his numerous crimes, had been outlawed by Ranjit Singh on demand of the British Government.

Vide ante p. 128, 132—84.

* Phula Singh had, as an Akali, (a Sikh ascetic class), great influence with his countrymen. The Maharaja tried for years, with half sincerity to capture him, and the English drove him from place to place, but could never seize him. At this very time, when Partab Singh joined him at Makhowal, the Maharaja had sent the most positive orders for the Philor troops to drive him out of his territories. The garrison was accordingly marched against him, but when they approached, Phula Singh sent to ask them if they would kill their Guru, (spiritual teacher). The Sikhs would not molest him ; and the whole force was kept out some two months to prevent his plundering, marching where be marched, more like a guard of honor than anything else. Numberless stories of the same kind can be told of Phula Singh, who was a very remarkable man. He was a robber and an outlaw, but he was nevertheless a splendid soldier, and a brave, enthusiastic man. He made friends with Ranjit Singh later, and won for him the great battle of Teri, in which he was killed, in 1823.

[Page-351]

toward the Satlej, taking refuge in a village belonging to two Sirdars, Dip Singh and Bir Singh, who reproached the troops for attempting to offer violence to a poor fakir and their Guru. The Pattiala General did not know what to do in this emergency, and wrote to the Political Agent, who warned the Sirdars against protecting an outlaw whom all the Cis-Satlej Chiefs had been ordered to expel from their territories. The Chiefs of Nabha and Kythal were directed to send their forces to Balawali to co-operate with those of Pattiala, as the latter were afraid of the odium that would ever afterwards attach itself to them should they be the only assailants of Prince Partab Singh.

The fort of Balawali at last surrendered and Pratap Singh taken prisoner:

The Pattiala authorities wished a British force to be sent to Balawali, but this was unnecessary, for the garrison was reduced to great straits and the fort surrendered on the 28th of January. Prince Partab Singh was taken prisoner, but was placed under merely nominal restraint, and declared his intention of proceeding to Dehli to throw himself on the protection of the British Government. His ally, Phula Singh, was more fortunate. He marched to Mokatsar, in the Firozpur district, and there levied contributions, and being joined by Sirdar Nihal Singh Attariwala, gave battle to the Philor garrison, which he defeated with a loss of three hundred killed and wounded, the Akali not losing more than fifty men. The Maharaja was much annoyed at this affair, and thinking Phula Singh might be made useful if he took him into his service, invited him to Lahore, where he declined to go, demanding that Mokatsar, which was a sacred place of pilgrimage

[Page-352]

among the Sikhs, should be given him for his residence.^*

Pratap Singh seeks an asylum at Lahore in vain

Pratab Singh fled to Lahore, but Maharaja Ranjit Singh refused to shelter a murderer, and gave him up to the English authorities who placed him in confinement at Dehli.

His death at Delhi AD 1816

He died at Delhi in June 1816, and the estate of Barwana, which was granted in his name, lapsed to Government.^† Partab Singh married two wives, Bhagbari, the daughter of Kirpal Singh of Shamghar, and the daughter of Sadha Singh, Kakar of Philor, but neither bore him any children.

Death of Prince Mehtab Singh

His younger brother, Mehtab Singh, died a few mouths before him, when only sixteen years of age.

Prince Fatah Singh as Regent

The administration of Jhind was now carried with tolerable tranquility. Prince Fatah Singh acting as Regent, and Raja Bhag Singh haying no other son, did not oppose an arrangement which was nevertheless distasteful to him.

The disputes regarding the villages Dabri and Danauli:

In 1817, a case, which gave rise to voluminous correspondence, but which requires only the briefest mention, occurred, regarding the villages of Dabri and Danouli. Twelve years after the British Government had been established at Dehli, and some time after it had taken Hissar from Abdul Samad Khan, Mr. Fraser, the Revenue Officer, discovered that two villages called Dabri and Danouli, were in the ancient register of the pargannah of Muhim. He

* Captain Birch to Secretary to Government, 7th, 11th, 16th, 17th, December 1814, and 28th January 1815,

† Sir P. Ochterlony to Resident Dehli, 31st August 1816.

[Page-353]

found them ten miles distant from any other villages of that pargannah, surrounded by Jhind lands, and, on his own authority, placed them under attachment. The Raja pleaded that these villages were his ; that they formed part of the conquests of his father Gajpat Singh, which had been maintained and confirmed to him both by the British and the Mahrattas.

The villages are surrendered to Raja of Jhind:

His zamindars had tilled the lands of these villages; and had always made use of the waste attached to them for the pasturage of their cattle. There was little doubt that the claim of the Raja was good, and that set up for the British Government by a too enthusiastic officer was abandoned.^*

The death of Raja Bhag Singh, 1819

Raja Bhag Singh died in 1819, and was succeeded by his son Fatah Singh.

His family

He had married three wives :

first, Dya Kour, daughter of Bakhsu Singh of Bari Mansa, the mother of Fatah Singh ;
secondly, Sada Kour, the daughter of Pakhar Singh of Jodhpur Subake, who bore him Partab Singh ; and,
lastly, Subrahi, from a zamindar family of Kaleki, the mother of Mehtab Singh, and who was murdered by Prince Partab Singh.

राजा भागसिंह

जींद राज्य का वंश-वृक्ष

राजा भागसिंह (b.-d.1819) पटियाला-स्टेट एवं जींद-स्टेट दोनों राजवंश के पुरखा चौधरी फूल की पांचवीं पीढ़ी में सिद्धू गोत्र का जाट था। जाट इतिहास:ठाकुर देशराज (पृ.479-485) से इनका इतिहास नीचे दिया जा रहा है।

चौधरी फूल के बड़े लड़के तिलोका के दो पुत्र हुए- गुरुदत्तसिंह और सुखचैन। बड़े भाई गुरुदत्तसिंह के वंशज नाभा-स्टेट और छोटे भाई सुखचैन के रियासत जींद, सरदार बड़रूखां व बाजेदपुर थे।

तिलोका का दूसरा बेटा सुखचैन जिसके वंशज जींद स्टेट के राजगान थे, एक जमींदार की हैसियत से था। इसकी शादी मंडी गांव के एक जाट के यहां हुई थी। इसने अपने नाम पर एक गांव भी बसाया था, जो अपने छोटे बेटे बुलाकीसिंह को दिया था। इस तरह के बटवारे के पश्चात् वह अपने बेटे गजपतसिंह के साथ गांव फूल में रहा करता था और सन् 1751 में 75 वर्ष की उम्र में देहान्त हो गया।

सुखचैन का विशेष इतिहास नहीं मिलता। इसके तीन लड़के थे - आलमसिंह, गजपतसिंह और बुलाकीसिंह। आलमसिंह से इस स्टेट का इतिहास पूरा मिलता है।

राजा गजपतसिंह के बाद जींद रियासत भागसिंह और भूपसिंह दोनों भाइयों में बंट गई। भूपसिंह को बड़रूखां का इलाका मिला और भागसिंह को इलाका

1. “पंजाब राजगान”, “दी राजाज ऑफ दी पंजाब” के तर्जुमे में इसकी मृत्यु शजका-खानदान में 1881 में लिखा है - ले०।

जाट इतिहास:ठाकुर देशराज, पृष्ठान्त-479

जींद और सफेदों का। चूंकि भागसिंह बड़ा लड़का था, इसलिए अधिक प्रदेश और राजा के खिताब का वही अधिकारी हुआ। इसकी उम्र इस समय 21 वर्ष की थी।

राजा भागसिंह का इतिहास पटियाले से बहुत ताल्लुक रखता है, क्योंकि वह लड़ाइयों में शामिल हुआ था जो वहीं से सम्बन्ध रखती हैं और हुईं। बादशाह शाह आलम ने सन् 1786 में गोहाना और खरखौदा बतौर जागीर उसको दिए थे और 1794 में पटियाला से जो फौज रानी साहबकुंवरि के आधिपत्य में, अम्बाराव व लछमनराव मरहठों से राजगढ़ पर हमला करने के लिए बनाई गई थी, उसमें भी भागसिंह शामिल था। इसमें कामयाबी भी अच्छी तरह मिली थी। दूसरी साल में करनाल राजा के हाथ से निकल गया, जिसको मरहठों ने विजय करके टामसन को सौंप दिया। इसने सिखों को पीछे हटाने में बड़ा उम्दा काम किया था। जार्ज टामसन से सन् 1797 और सन् 1799 ई० में जींद और सफेदों के मुकाबले में भी भागसिंह ने अपने साथियों की सहायता से सफलता प्राप्त की। पंजाब से टामसन साहब पर हुई चढ़ाई जिसमें भागसिंह का पूरा हाथ था और वह स्वयं शामिल था, उसमें बड़ी कामयाबी मिली और टामसन ने हार खाकर हांसी से अंग्रेजी इलाके में आकर विश्राम किया।

सतलज के पास के बड़े सरदारों में भागसिंह पहला सरदार था जिसने अंग्रेजी गवर्नमेंट से सबसे प्रथम सम्बन्ध स्थापित किया था। सन् 1803 की विजय के पश्चात् ही भागसिंह ने अंग्रेजी जनरल से लिखा-पढ़ी आरम्भ कर दी थी और उन्हें विश्वास हो जाने पर अंग्रेजी कैम्प में जाकर उपस्थित हो गया। इस समय जनरल लेक ने भागसिंह को मित्र और सहायक के नाम से लिखा है और उस वक्त ही उसने इलाका गोहाना और खरखोदा राजा साहब के अधिकार में ही रहने का इजहार किया। लालसिंह कैथल वाले ने भी जो राजा साहब जींद का पक्का मित्र था, देखा कि भागसिंह ने अंग्रेजों से दोस्ताना सम्बन्ध स्थापित कर लिया है और जान गया कि वह बड़ा बुद्धिमान था, उसने पहचान लिया था कि किस दल की कामयाबी होगी। इसलिए जब सन् 1805 ई० में कर्नल ब्रन से सिख-लड़ाई में असफल रहे तो भागसिंह और लालसिंह अंग्रेजी सरकार का प्रीति-भाजन बनने के लिए प्यौन के दोस्तों के साथ अंग्रेजी-सेना में आ मिले। कुछ महीने तक ये वहां रहे और कोई विशेष मदद नहीं की। अथवा यों कहना चाहिए कि इनका इम्तिहान होता रहा। पर इसका यह अर्थ नहीं कि इनके वहां रहने से सरकार को कुछ फायदा न हुआ हो। जब आक्टरलोनी मरहठों से निपटने में लगे थे, इन्होंने ही सहारनपुर को थामे रखा था।

लार्ड लेक जब सन् 1805 में जसवन्तराव होल्कर को सब तरह से पंगु

जाट इतिहास:ठाकुर देशराज, पृष्ठान्त-480

बनाकर विवश कर देने के लिए पीछे लगा था, भागसिंह भी उनसे आ मिला था और दरिया-व्यास तक साथ गया था और यहीं से वह महाराज रणजीतसिंह के पास लाहौर को इसलिए भेजा गया था कि रणजीतसिंह को वह यह समझाए कि अंग्रेजी जनरल आ गये हैं, इसलिए जसवन्तराव की सहायता न करे। बाघसिंह को इस काम के लिए भेजा जाना यों भी उचित समझा गया था कि रणजीतसिंह उस नाते से भानजा लगता था। इसका फल भी आशानुरूप हुआ और जसवन्तराव से किसी तरह की सहायता मिलने की गुंजायश थी वह भी न रही। भागसिंह के समझाने का ही फल था कि जसवन्तराव पंजाब से चले जाने पर बाध्य हुआ। क्योंकि पंजाब में अगर कोई ऐसी शक्ति थी जो कि अंग्रेजों के दुश्मन को ठहराकर उसकी सहायता कर सके, तो वह महाराज रणजीतसिंह की ही थी और वह शक्ति ही भागसिंह के जरिये से जसवन्तराव के अनुकूल न रही। लाचार होकर होल्कर को पंजाब से खाली हाथ लौटना पड़ा। भागसिंह लार्ड लेक के साथ देहली आया और इस सहायता के बदले उन्हें परगना बुवाना जो पानीपत की तरफ है, मिला।

पटियाला, जींद, नाभा के आपसी झगड़े तथा राजा-रानी के मामले का फैसला करने को जब महाराज रणजीतसिंह पधारे थे, उस समय भागसिंह भी शामिल हुआ था और इस अवसर पर अपने भानजे रणजीतसिंह से उसे इलाका भी मिला था और पुनः सन् 1806 में उसे इलाका लुधियाना जिसमें 15370 रुपया की आमदनी के चौबीस गांव और परगना जंडियाला के चौबीस गांव और दो जगरानू के जिनकी आमदनी करीब 20000 रुपये थी और 2370 रुपये के और दो गांव कोट के मिले। दूसरे वर्ष महाराज ने तीन देहात जो गूजरसिंह रायपुर वाले से लिए गये थे और 27 देहात जो धरमसिंह के बेटे से लिए गए थे और इनकी कुल आमदनी 19255 रुपये थी, दिए।

सन् 1807 में लेफ्टीनेण्ट एफ० बायफ की मदद अपने देश की पैमायश कराने में भागसिंह ने की।

सन् 1808 में महाराज ने हरद्वार मेले और गंगा स्नान करने की इच्छा की और इसलिए उसने सरदार महासिंह लम्बा और सरदार विशनसिंह को देहली में रेजीडेंट से आज्ञा लेने के लिए भेजा। महाराज के लिए हरद्वार में निहायत उम्दा इन्तजाम किया गया था। 3000 आदमी उनकी खिदमत के लिए नियत किए गए थे। पर ठीक वक्त पर महाराज साहब को किसी से यह ज्ञात हुआ अथवा किसी ने कान भरे कि महासिंह उसको धोका दे रहे हैं और अपने समस्त रुपया को देहली में हण्डियों और अंग्रेजी नोटों में बदलवा रहे हैं और उनकी यह सूचना है कि महाराज का हरद्वार जाना किसी किस्म से हानिकर नहीं है, विश्वसनीय नहीं है। महाराज को यह राय भी दी गई कि तमाम फौज के साथ यात्रा न की

जाट इतिहास:ठाकुर देशराज, पृष्ठान्त-481

जाए, उनका यात्रा करना सन्देह से खाली नहीं है। इस बात में कोई सच्चाई न हो यह बात कहना भी मुश्किल है। दो वर्ष बाद सरदार महासिंह महाराज की बिना आज्ञा के पंजाब से बनारस चला गया।

राजा भागसिंह स्वयं मेला हरद्वार को गए और मेला के बाद लाहौर को रवाना हो गए, जहां वह महाराज रणजीतसिंह के पास ठहरे और सन् 1808 में महाराज रणजीतसिंह के सतलज पार आते वक्त साथ थे और मिस्टर मेटकाफ भी लश्कर-सिख के साथ थे। सन् 1808 के आरम्भ में राजा भागसिंह के भाई लालसिंह और राजा नाभा तथा एक दस्ता फौज पटियाला को लेकर घोंगराना किले पर हमला किया और कुछ दिन तक यह झगड़ा होते रहने के बाद रणजीतसिंह के बीच में पड़ने से इरादा छोड़ देना पड़ा। परन्तु यह काम किले के मालिक गूजरसिंह की भलाई के लिए न था। उस बेचारे के लिए तो जैसे सांपराज वैसे नागराज। महाराज रणजीतसिंह ने बिना किसी लड़ाई के फौज भेजकर किला ले लिया और करमसिंह को, जिस पर उनकी महरबानी थी, दे दिया।

कहावत सच है कि - लालच बुरी बला है। करमसिंह की इच्छा कुछ गांव जो भागसिंह के कब्जे में थे, अपने अधिकार में लेने की हुई। इस सम्बन्ध में उसने राजा साहब से भी कहा पर उन्होंने अपने मामा को दिए हुए गांव वापस कराना उचित न समझा क्योंकि वह तो लूट का माल था और रणजीतसिंह इतने संकुचित विचार का व्यक्ति न था। इसका फल यह हुआ कि भागसिंह और करमसिंह दोनों में मन-मुटाव व झगड़े की नींव पड़ी और इसके कारण बराबर तकरार होती रही। कई बार लड़ाई भी छिड़ी और कितने ही सैनिकों का खून करमसिंह के लालच के लिए बहा।

राजा भागसिंह उन सरदारों की तरह ही थे, जिन्होंने रियासत मालेर कोटला की जिससे कि महाराज रणजीतसिंह ने सन् 1808 ई० में एक लाख रुपया भेंट का तलब किया था, जमानत की थी। 27,000 रुपया केवल एकमुश्त दिया गया था और शेष के लिए पटियाला, नाभा, जींद और कैथल जामिन थे और इसके लिए मालेर कोटला से इन्होंने कई इलाके और जमालपुर ले लिया था। पीछे कई कारणों से किसी कदर महाराजा जींद व दूसरे राजगान महाराजा रणजीतसिंह से बातचीत व खतो-किवाबत से रकम देने से बरी हो गए।

रियासत मालेर कोटला के साथ रणजीतसिंह द्वारा व्यवहार से भागसिंह का हृदय कांप गया कि पता नहीं मुझसे भी कब रणजीतसिंह नाराज हो जाए तब अपना इलाका रहना कठिन ही नहीं, असम्भव है। ऐसी हालत में जबकि रणजीतसिंह से न पटे तो अंग्रेजों के सिवाय दूसरा कौन था जो उसकी मदद कर सके। इस तरह के विचारों से प्रेरित होकर भागसिंह ने अंग्रेजों से मित्रता का सम्बन्ध तो कर लिया था, पर उसे दृढ़ बनाने के लिए सचेत हुए। 21वीं नवम्बर को

जाट इतिहास:ठाकुर देशराज, पृष्ठान्त-482

रेजीडेण्ट देहली ने राजा को इस तरह लिखा कि अंग्रेजी सरकार स्पष्टतः हस्तक्षेप करने को तैयार नहीं है। परन्तु गवर्नर-जनरल ने एक पत्र द्वारा महाराजा रणजीतसिंह से यह आशा की है कि ये सतलज के पास के सरदारों के साथ किसी प्रकार की सख्ती न करेगा तथा उनका व्यवहार शिष्ट होगा। इसके उत्तर में राजा साहब ने अपने विश्वास-पात्र होने और मित्रता का व्यवहार हो जाने के साथ लिखा कि गवर्नमेण्ट की छत्र-छाया में ही उसका राज्य एवं अधिकार सुरक्षित रहेगा। इसके पश्चात् रेजीडेन्ट देहली ने आम तौर से साफ लिखा कि अंग्रेजी गवर्नमेण्ट को सिवाय इसके कि सिख-सरदारों की हुकूमत हमेशा कायम रहे और कोई ख्वाहिश नहीं है और सरदारों की नेक-नीयती और मित्रता पर पूरा विश्वास है।

भागसिंह बराबर पत्र-व्यवहार करता रहा और अपनी परिस्थिति का दिग्दर्शन हमेशा कराता रहा। राजा साहब ने रणजीतसिंह से भेंट करने के पश्चात् भी एक पत्र लिखा था जिसमें यह साफ लिखा था कि यद्यपि हम चारों सिख सरदारों की (राजा साहबसिंह, भाई लालसिंह, सरदार जसवंतसिंह और स्वयं भागसिंह) मुलाकात हुई है और नियमानुसार मित्रता प्रकट करने के अनुसार महाराजा साहब रणजीतसिंह और साहबसिंह ने पगड़ी भी बदली, परन्तु हम चारों रईस वैसे ही हैं जैसे कि पहले थे। अर्थात् अंग्रेज सरकार के हम पूर्ववत् खैरख्वाह हैं। इसके अलावा और भी कई बातें इस पत्र में सूचित की गई हैं। कुछ दिन बाद भागसिंह रेजीडेण्ट देहली से मुलाकात करने देहली की तरफ रवाना भी हुआ पर रास्ते में ही भागसिंह को जनरल अक्टरलोनी की फौज में शामिल होना आवश्यक समझा गया। अतः वे जनरल अक्टरलोनी की फौज में जा मिले।

ता० 19 फरवरी को फौज लुधियाने पहुंच गई। यह स्थान अंग्रेजों के लिए पंजाब को अधिकार में करने के लिए आवश्यक था। चूंकि यहां पर दो वर्ष से भागसिंह का अधिकार ही था, परन्तु भागसिंह अंग्रेजों से हुई अपनी मित्रता की खातिर यह स्थान देने के लिए तैयार था, बशर्ते कि उसे उसके बदले में परगना करनाल व परगना पानीपत दे दिया जाए। इस आशय का एक पत्र भी उसने लिखा और जनरल अक्टरलोनी ने इसका समर्थन भी किया। परन्तु गवर्नर जनरल ने इस प्रार्थना को अस्वीकार कर दिया। सरकार की ओर से इसके बदले में करनाल को न पाने के कारण भागसिंह को मानसिक कष्ट हुआ। सरकार का इरादा वहां कुछ समय के लिए ही छावनी रखने का था, पर वह आज स्थायी बन गया।

राजा भागसिंह को शराबखोरी की बुरी लत थी। इस दुर्व्यसन ने ऐसी जड़ जमा ली थी कि इसका छोड़ना दुर्लभ था। यद्यपि महाराज ने इसे छोड़ने की

जाट इतिहास:ठाकुर देशराज, पृष्ठान्त-483

कौशिश भी की परन्तु सब व्यर्थ हुई। इसका फल यही हुआ कि राजा साहब बीमार रहने लगे, उन्हें जिन्दगी दूभर मालूम पड़ने लगी और निराश होकर उन्होंने पोलिटिकल एजेण्ट को एक वसीयत भी तैयार करके दी कि छोटा कुं० प्रताप सिंह परगना और किला जींद की गद्दी का मालिक हो और बड़े लड़के फतेहसिंह को संगरूर और बसियान मिले तथा जो जागीरें सरकार से उसे समय-समय पर मिली हैं, उन पर भी फतेहसिंह का अधिकार रहे। छोटे लड़के को गद्दी का अधिकार देने का सबब यह था कि वह उससे प्रेम करते थे।

गवर्नर जनरल ने इस वसीयत को नामंजूर कर दिया और बताया कि यह कोई कायदा नहीं है कि बड़े बेटे को छोड़कर छोटे को गद्दी का अधिकारी माना जाये और न यह राजा साहब भागसिंह के खानदान के रस्म-रिवाज के मुताबिक ही है। गवर्नर की ओर से यह भी राय दी गई थी कि यह वसीयतनामा तबदील कर दिया जाये। पर राजा भागसिंह किसी तरह भी इसके लिए राजी न हुये। इस वक्त उनका होश-हवाश ठिकाने न था, इसलिए रियासत के प्रबन्ध में त्रुटियां आ जानी सम्भव ही थीं। पर सवाल यह था कि अब रियासत का इन्तजाम करे कौन? फतेहसिंह पर तो राजा साहब बेहद नाराज थे ही, वह अलग ही रहता था और प्रतापसिंह को, जिसे वह रियासत का मालिक बनाना चाहते थे, सरकार ने छोटा पुत्र होने के कारण अस्वीकार कर दिया था और इनके तीसरे पुत्र महताबसिंह नाबालिग थे।

इस वक्त महताबसिंह की माता ही एक ऐसी थी जिसके इन्तजाम से राजा साहब भी सहमत हो सकते थे और सरकार भी। इसलिए रानी शुभराय सन् 1814 ई० में सरकार की मंजूरी से रियासत की मालिक हुई। परन्तु कुं० प्रतापसिंह इस प्रबन्ध से प्रसन्न न हुए। उन्हें विश्वास हो गया कि अब तू रियासत का मालिक न रहेगा। इसलिए वह षड्यंत्र रचने लगा। यहां तक कि सन् 1814 जून में रानी ने लिखा कि “इसमें अब कोई सन्देह नहीं कि कुं प्रतापसिंह बगावत और लड़ाई के लिए तैयार है इसीलिए मेरी (रानी की) जान खतरे में है।” इसका फल यह हुआ कि प्रतापसिंह को सूचना दी गई कि “बगावत का फल यह होगा कि जो प्रबन्ध उसके लिए होने वाला है वह उससे भी वंचित रह जायेगा और इसमें सफल भी नहीं हो सकता जब कि गवर्नमेंट ने स्वयं ऐसा इरादा कर लिया है।”

प्रतापसिंह पर इसका कुछ भी प्रभाव न पड़ा और उसने 27वीं अगस्त को हमला करके रानी और उसके खास मुन्शी जैशिवराम तथा और अन्य कितने ही व्यक्तियों को मार कर जींद पर कब्जा कर लिया।

सरकार अंग्रेजी को जब यह समाचार मिला तो उससे शीघ्र ही इसके प्रबन्ध करने के लिए फौज का इन्तजाम किया। इस सम्बन्ध में सर चार्ल्स मेटकाफ

जाट इतिहास:ठाकुर देशराज, पृष्ठान्त-484

रेजीडेण्ट ने एक लम्बी घोषणा की जिसमें फतेहसिंह को रियासत का मालिक करार दिए जाने और प्रतापसिंह तथा उसके साथियों को गिरफ्तार कर देहली हाजिर करने को लिखा गया था।

कुं० प्रतापसिंह को जब यह समाचार मिला कि अंग्रेजी फौज उसकी तरफ बढ़ी आ रही है तो वह जींद को छोड़कर किला वालानवाली, जो भटिंडे की ओर जंगल में था, भाग गया। परन्तु अंग्रेजी फौज के कुछ दस्ते उधर भी जा निकले। प्रतापसिंह ने देखा कि यहां रहने में खैर नहीं है तो एक दिन के विश्राम के बाद ही वहां से कूच कर दिया और वहां पर जो मालमता था वह भी साथ ले गया और बड़ी दौड़-धूप के पश्चात् सिर्फ 40 साथियों के साथ फूलासिंह अकाली के जमात में जा मिला। फूलासिंह वह व्यक्ति था जिसने रणजीतसिंह से विरोध करके नन्दपुर माखवाल पर कब्जा कर लिया था और समय-समय पर लूटमार करके गुजर कर रहा था। इसके पास 700 सवार और तोपें थीं। प्रतापसिंह इसके पास 2 मास रहा और यहां तक कि सतलज पार करके फूलासिंह मदद करने को भी तत्पर हो गया। इधर जब फूलासिंह का सतलज पार उतरना मालूम हुआ तो रेजीडेण्ट लुधियाना ने जसवन्तसिंह राजा साहब नाभा और मालेर कोटला के सरदार को हिदायत दी कि उस पर हमला करें। पर इधर ये लोग पशोपेश में ही थे कि प्रतापसिंह कुछ सवारों के साथ किले में पहुंच गया। इधर फौज पटियाला और नाभा, मालेर कोटला आदि की फौज के सामने भला प्रतापसिंह कर ही क्या सकता था और जब कि उसका मददगार फूलासिंह भी उसके सामने न था? हारकर 27वीं जनवरी को किले वालों ने अपने आप से आत्मसमर्पण कर दिया। मगर यह आत्मसमर्पण एक चाल थी। उसने कहा कि वह अपने भले के लिए देहली स्वयं जायेगा। इधर उसके मददगार फूलासिंह पर सरदार निहालसिंह अटारी वाले ने लड़कर विजय पाई। प्रतापसिंह इस बीच लाहौर को भाग गया। परन्तु महाराज रणजीतसिंह ने भी उसे शरण न दी बल्कि उसे सरकार अंग्रेजी को सौंप दिया। सरकार ने उसे देहली में नजरबन्द कर दिया। वहीं उसका सन् 1816 में देहान्त हो गया। इलाका बवाना जो उसके लिए मुकर्रिर हुआ था, सरकार के कब्जे में हुआ। प्रतापसिंह के दो रानियां थीं पर संतान किसी से न हुई थी। प्रतापसिंह का छोटा भाई कुं० महताबसिंह भी उससे कुछ मास पहले ही 16 वर्ष की अवस्था में मर गया था।

राजा भागसिंह की सन् 1819 में मृत्यु हो गई।

External links

Ch.Phul Singh's family tree

References

Back to The Rulers

[1] ‎The Rajas of the Punjab by Lepel H. Griffin/The History of the Jhind State,pp.309-311

[2] The Rajas of the Punjab by Lepel H. Griffin/The History of the Jhind State, pp.319-

[1]

[2]

Raja Bhag Singh

Contents

The origin of the family of Jhind

Raja Bhag Singh

His expeditions and wars

The grants made to him in reward for service

Survey of the Jhind territory

The Hardwar fair

The Siege of Ghumgrana

The ransom of Maler Kotla

His letter to the Resident to Delhi

Bhag Singh visits Mr. Seton, the resident

He joins General Ochterlony

His excesses and their result

The draft will by which the elder son was dispossessed

The helpless State of Raja Bhag Singh

Rani Sobrahi appointed Regent AD 1814

The dissatisfaction of Prince Partab Singh

He rebels, captures Jhind, and murders the Regent

The memorandum of instruction for the re-establishment of a legitimate Government at Jhind

The Prince tries to implicate Raja in the murder

Pratab Singh flies from Jhind to Balawali

Then he crossed the Satlej and Joins Phula Singh Akali

Pratap Singh seeks an asylum at Lahore in vain

His death at Delhi AD 1816

Death of Prince Mehtab Singh

Prince Fatah Singh as Regent

The death of Raja Bhag Singh, 1819

His family

राजा भागसिंह

External links

References

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