Historical Account of Faridkot State

By

Amarjit Singh Dhillon (Dr.)

Col. Raja HarIndar Singh (1918/1934-1948/1989)

The Last (recognized) Ruler& Lives forever in traditional minds

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Faridkot State

Princely State

←

←

1763–1947 →

FlagHistorical era New Imperialism

- Established 1763

- Partition of India 1947

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Faridkot State Stamp

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Historical Account of Faridkot State

By

Amarjit Singh Dhillon (Dr.)

Publisher

INDO-CANADIAN FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY

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Historical Account of Faridkot State

By

Amarjit Singh Dhillon(Dr.)

E-mail amarjitdhillon15@msn.com

1st Edition

……………2012

Dedicated to :

The years 1942-55 spent at MehmuanaHouse,Faridkot

Price: Your love & affection for Faridkot

Printer: Western Printers

Toba Baba Dhiana, Near Anardana Chowk

Patiala-147001(Pb.) (0175-2224261)

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Preface

I am indebted to Faridkot where I have spent (along with my mother Sardarni Basant Kaur & my sister Daljit Kaur) fourteen “formative years” of my life, at Mehmuana House, with Bhua Ji Sardarni Jas Kaur & Sardarni Pritam Kaur and Bai Ji Sardar Bhupinder Singh Brar, and graduated from Brijindra College in 1955. Therefore, I have decided to write a brief historical account of Faridkot State which may be useful to the present as well as coming generations having historical interest.

The material used for this brief account has been provided by the Computer through Internet for which I am obliged to all those writers and scholars who made their writings available to the public. I have worked on this Project either from my daughter Deepinderjit Kaur Dhaliwal’s house in Malton, (ON), Canada or my son Dr. Harmohinder Singh Dhillon’s house in Avon (OH), U.S.A..

I have divided this account in 8 Chapters starting from “Origin & Etymology “to “Modernization of Faridkot State” and lastly “Historic Buildings “. In addition, Six Appendixes have also been given which might be useful to the articulate people.

Bibliography has been added for those inquisitive minds who would like to go through details.

I am thankful to my respected Bhabi Ji Sardarni Jatinder Kaur Brar of Mehmuana House who has helped me in clarifying certain points.

Amarjit Singh Dhillon (Dr.)

Malton (ON), Canada

20.5.2012

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Chapters

Introduction

1. Origin & Etymology

2. Descendency of Faridkot Ruling Family

3. Seed Time of Faridkot State

4. Separate Entity of Faridkot

5. Murky Phase of Faridkot Ruling Family

6. Stability Phase

7. Modernization of Faridkot State

8. Historic Buildings

Appendixes

I. Genealogy

II. Time Line of Rulers

III. From Imperial Gazetteer of India

IV. Salute, Succession Rules, Titles, Decorations etc

V. Faridkot Wala Teeka

VI. Maha Rawal Khewaji Trust

Bibliography

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Introduction

Faridkot State, with its capital at Faridkot, was a Princely State of Punjab. The State was established in 1763, ruled by a Jatt Sikh Brar Dynasty and was an offspring of Kotkapura. Faridkot was occupied by Ranjit Singh of Sikh Empire in 1803 but had to be returned to the former rulers in 1809 on the behest of the British . Faridkot came under British Suzerainty when ancestral lands confiscated by the Ruler of Nabha were returned in 1846 after the First Sikh War of 1845/1846 as well as for services rendered to the British Raj in administering Punjab. For the support in overcoming the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the Ruler of Faridkot was accorded a 11-gun Salute as per the rules of precedence in the Imperial Durbar

Chapter 1

Origin & Etymology

Faridkot was established as a town in the thirteenth century by Raja Mokalsi, the grandson of a Bhatti leader of Rajasthan called Rai Munj, a Bhatti Chief of Bhatner now renamed as Hanumangarh. The town was named Mokalhar after the founder and was graced by the holy presence of the Sufi Saint Hazrat Baba Sheikh Farid, whose verses are mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib the holy book of Sikh religion, around the same time. There is an interesting story behind Baba Sheikh Farid. The men of Raja Mokalsi had arrested the saint and asked him to work for the construction of the fort that was being built. It is believed that a basket-full of earth, that the saint was carrying, was perceived to be floating above his head. This unearthly wonder compelled the Raja to touch the feet of the saint and apologize. Baba Farid forgave the Raja. He chose to meditate near the fort. He performed penance for forty days and from then onwards the town of Mokalhar came to be known as Faridkot. The spot where he meditated became famous as “Tilla Baba Farid” and the city commemorates the saint’s arrival even today when they celebrate the “Baba Sheikh Farid Aagman Purb Mela” every September.

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Chapter 2

Descendency of Faridkot Ruling Family

The linear descendancy of the Bhatti Clan was traced from the Yadv Clan of Lord Krishan following the treatment of James Tod’swritings.The descendancy of the Sidhu-Brar Clan was from the Bhatti Clan through Jesul Bhatti ( Appendix I ), who founded Jessulmer in Rajasthan as per information we get from “The Rajas of the Punjab by Lepel H. Griffin, printed by the Punjab Printing Company, Limited, in 1870 for the Punjab Government.”

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 left the place with all his people and migrate the direction of Punjab. The Bhattis were in such strength that the Punjwars could not prevent 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 and 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 fort here which was named Mokal Har. But this name, as we have seen, was soon changed to Faridkot.

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

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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 Khewa, one after another. Khewa 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 reputation 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 Naga 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 Chief ship. Dhir was succeeded by his son Fateh. Fateh had four sons of whom the eldest was Sangar.

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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 Suris in Punjab for the recovery of his throne.

Chapter 3

Seed Time of Faridkot State

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 head, 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: “Bhallan Chira fariya Akbar de Darbar”, which means, Bhallan tore off turban at Akbar’s Court.

The reign of Chaudhuri Bhallan is also noted for Guru Har Gobind’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 meet the Mughal challenge. A battle was fought at Lehra (near Marhaj) on Tuesday the 17 poh 1691 BK (1635) in which victory tested with the Sikhs and the enemy was severely beaten.

Bhallan died in 1643. He had no son and was succeeded by him nephew Kapura, son of his brother Lala. Chaudhuri Kapura ( Appendix II ) was just nine years old at the time of his accession. He turned out to be a brave and able ruler. In 1661 he founded Kot Kapura and developed it into a place of considerable importance. He is said to have founded this town on

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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, Har Gobind, 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 Tenth Guru too.

Towards the end of 1704, 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. Piercing 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/ Amrit from the Guru’s sacred hands. On this occasion Guru Sahib also bestowed on him a Khanda (broad two edged sword) preserved and dearly cherished by the family. After a few more days’ hectic traveling in the countryside, Guru Gobind Singh made a second visit to 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 defense against the approaching enemy force. Kapur Singh, for that was his name after he had been baptised, shuddered 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 Gobind 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 meet the enemy. The battle which took place here soon after, proved to be a decisive one. The Mughals were given such a thorough smashing that thereafter they abandoned the idea of further pursuit of the Guru.

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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, 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 through a fakir named Isa Shah at 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 (Sajja) 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.

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.

Chapter 4

Separate Entity of Faridkot : 1763 ( Appendix III )

Sukhia Singh 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. Kot Kapura Fort was held by Jodh Singh and 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 and according to whose decision Faridkot with the adjoining country was retained by Hamir Singh, Mari Mustafa was assigned to Bir Singh, while Kot Kapura fell to the lot of Jodh Singh. Jodh Singh was not happy with the settlement and

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viewed it as an encroachment on his authority. Therefore, he renewed his hostilities against his brothers, particularly Hamir Singh. But the latter was able to maintain his position as an independent Chief of Faridkot. Jodh Singh erected a new fort at Kot Kapura and the rebuilt was so bad that many felt compelled to migrate to other places. The artisans renowned for their skill and industry also 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 Tegh 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 Tegh 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 Tegh Singh would never move out of the town of Kot Kapura. This had a very bad effect on the administration of Tegh Singh’s territory. Zamindars refused to pay revenue. Robbery and violence became rampant 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, Baja Khana and Bharoki Batti. After ten years these places were recaptured by Sardar Tegh Singh. Chuhr Singh was burnt alive in a house after being treacherously seized by one Sajjan Singh Brar of Ghania.

Chapter 5

Murky Phase of Faridkot Ruling Family

Sardar Tegh 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.

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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 Darbar 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 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 Tegh Singh’s son, Jagat Singh, however, murdered the lambardars without even hearing their case. This infuriated 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 Maur Dhalwan. 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.

On the other side the picture became gloomy after Hamir Singh. Hamir Singh 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, Dal Singh and Mohr Singh; the former 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 leg of the bed on which he was reclining , 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. Hamir Singh died in 1782when 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 Bhupa than to his legitimate son who therefore began to

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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 Dhodike. 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 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 of 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 on 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 from 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

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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 / 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

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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 mysterious circumstances in August 1827. 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.

Chapter 6

Stability Phase

Raja Pahar Singh Brar (1827-1849)

The new Chief Pahar Singh 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 Pahar Singh’s Chief Ship 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,

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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 Lahore 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 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 restored 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.

Chapter 7

Modernization of Faridkot State

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 Brar (1849-1874)

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 Weir Singh was breaking a new ground when he ordered a new land revenue settlement on scientific lines. It

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was conducted from 1860 to 1865 and was called after the name of Motif Ram who was in charge of the whole affair. As a result, the mode of revenue collection by beta (crop division) was abandoned in favor of its realization cash. For this purpose cash rates were fixed as for instance two annals purpose cash rates were fixed as for instance two annals per ghuman 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.

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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 ( Appendix IV ). He was also exempted form the service of ten sawars 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 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 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 Da 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.

Raja Bikram Singh Brar(1874-1898)

Raja Wazir Singh was succeeded by his 32 year old son, Bikram Singh. His period is noted for an all round progress in the city as well as in the State of Faridkot. He simplified the territorial division of the State by merging the paragana of Dip Singh Wala with that of Faridkot and the paragana of Bhagta with that of Kot Kapura. The thanas in Bhagta and Dip Singh Wala were downgraded to chaukis as a measure of economy. He

employed retired British officials with a view to modernizing his administration. In 1875, he set up offices and courts on British model and adopted the British law. The problem of indebtedness was becoming acute its proper proportions. First, twelve years were fixed as the period of limitation of debts, but later in 1881 it was further reduced to six years. In the same way revenue stamps were ordered to be affixed on ordinary receipts, under the Indian Stamp Act. In 1879 the Raja placed restrictions on the consumption of intoxicating liquors. Unofficial

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distillation was forbidden and under the Excise act an abkari department and a distillery were established at Faridkot.

In 1885 the Sirhind Canal of Punjab was extended to the Faridkot state by means of a 6.5 km long water course. As a result, cultivation greatly increased and crops unknown before began to be produced. The North-Western Railway had been extended to the State in 1894 which provided faster communication between Faridkot and other important places along the route right up to Bombay on one side and Firozpur (later Lahore also) on the other. For improvement of postal service within the State postal conventions were signed between the British Government and the State on 30 November 1886 and 1 October 1896. Under these agreements, the British Government supplied surcharged British Indian stamps to the State at cost price, which were then sold at usual rates to the public for inland postage. A beginning was made with modern banking in 1875 when Shri Govind Shiv Shankar Bank was established.

Promotion of trade and commerce also received the attention of the raja. Markets were established and plots of land were given to shopkeepers and traders from outside the State at low prices. Octori duties were abolished. Large sums of money were spent to encourage the organization of cattle fairs. Metteled roads were constructed and lined with trees. A number of new buildings were constructed in the towns of Faridkot and Kot Kapura.

Besides, Raja Bikram Singh was one of the founders of the famous Singh Sabha movement in Punjab and took deep interest in its programmes of religious and social reforms ( Appendix V ). To promote modern education, he was always ready to help this noble cause with generous monetary grants. He made donations towards the foundation of Punjab University in 1882 and in recognition of his help he was appointed a fellow of the university. He was the first Faridkot ruler who realized the need of English education for his sons and made suitable arrangements of that purpose.

Another cause close to his heart was the service of Sikh religion to which he himself belonged. He enlisted the services of eminent scholars of his religion to prepare a standard exegesis of Guru Granth Sahib. Large sums of money were spent on the preparation and production of the work which is now commonly styled as Faridkot Teeka. Further, the Raja was responsible for the erection of a number of grand buildings for historical Sikh temples.

Raja Bikram Singh started a new settlement of land revenue in 1879 under the supervision of Lala Daulat Ram. In this settlement British rules were followed as guiding principles. Under the new system, the Raja’s claim to talugdari rights war system, the Raja’s claim to talugdari rights was established over almost all villages of the State. In other words, he became malik ala (Chief Proprietor) of all lands in the State with the exception of 14 villages which belonged to the direct descendants of Chaudhury Kapur Singh: (Mehmuana, Matta, Rort, Duariana, Sandhwan, Khacharan, Ran Singh Wala, Bargari etc.) The result was that the agriculturists working on such lands were reduced to the status of in 1892; new revenue rates were fixed whereby the State revenue was increased by Rs. 90,000. Revenue papers, however, took

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another eight years to be completed, so that the new system actually came into force only in 1900.

Raja Balbir Singh Brar (1898-1906)

Raja Bikram Singh died in August 1898 at the age of 56. His successor was his elder son, Balbir Singh.

Raja Balbir Singh succeeded his father in December 1898. He was 29 years old at the time of his accession. He ruled for seven years. Iike his father he took deep interest in education, art and architecture. The Middle School of Faridkot was raised to the status of an Anglo-Vernacular High School in 1901. Among the great buildings raised by him the Victoria Memorial Clock Tower and the Raj Mahal are excellent specimens of modern Indian architecture. The Raja also did a great deal to develop and promote the breeding of horses and cattle in the State. During his period some reforms were affected in the organization of armed forces as well. The Imperial Service Cavalry and Infantry were replaced by a corps of sappers and for it five new cantonments were built.

Raja Brijindar Singh Brar (1906-1918)

Raja Balbir Singh died suddenly in 1906. He had no issue. Since his successor, an adopted son, Brijinder Singh, a nephew, who was minor and the administration was run by a Council on his behalf. The Council consisted of a President and two members. Until the end of 1913 the State was under the political control of the Commissioner of Jalandhar Division. After that a separate political Agency was established for the States of Bahalwalpur, Faridkot and Malerkotla. This change was followed in April 1914 by abolition of the Regency Council and appointment of a

Superintendent. In 1916, Raja personally assumed full powers. He had a brilliant academic career at Aitchison Chief’s College, Lahore and held promise for the role of a successful ruler. He died on 22 December 1918.

Raja Harindar Singh Brar (1918-34-48/1989)

. The successor of Maharaja Brijinder Singh was his elder son Harinder Singh who was just a child of three years at the time of his accession in 1918. Therefore, for the conduct of administration a Regency Council was set up which functioned uptil 1934 when the Raja came of age and assumed full powers.

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Like his father, Raja Harinder Singh, too, had received his education at the Chief’s College, Lahore. He wanted to develop his State in all important respects, particularly in sports, administration, public health, agriculture and education. For promotion of sports he constructed a grand stadium, a rare thing in India then and enlisted the services of leading sportsmen to that end. In the sphere of education, he raised the Brijindra High School to the status of an intermediate College in 1942 and to that of a Degree College in 1944. He paid even more attention to elementary and secondary education. Harinder Singh transformed the State into an oasis in the deserts of the Malwa Region. A vast network of education was spread throughout the state by the personal efforts of the Raja which became the main centre of education next to Lahore in the undivided Punjab, had a Degree College, Agriculture College and a Commerce College.

The number of middle schools was raised from five to over a dozen, whereas practically all villages in the State were given primary schools. A few small-scale industries were established which was perhaps the first venture of this type in the State.

Steps were also taken to gear up the administration. A spacious new building was erected to accommodate the Central Secretariat. Departments were reorganized and competent well-educated heads were appointed to look after them. Higher scales of pay were introduced to attract better talent for State service. Executive was separated from judiciary so that a batter dispensation of justice could be ensured. A High Court was set up to hear appeals in cases of high value.

To ameliorate the sufferings of the common man, the Raja would deliver quick justice. Every morning he would listen to grievances of the public and provide justice.

During Harinder Singh’s rule there was a vast improvement in the road network too. From Golewala to Goniana, there was a 64 km-long metalled road of the finest quality lined by shady sheesham trees on both sides. Besides there were other small stretches of roads treated with lime kankar.

The towns of Faridkot, Kotkapura and Goniana were pictures of cleanliness quite unlike the present situation when there are heaps of garbage everywhere and the drains overflow with stinking water. It was customary every year to de-silt the Ganda Nullah before the advent of the rainy season.

The erstwhile Faridkot state even during the rule of Council of Regency was very well administered. The cooperative movement was effectively introduced immediately after the passing of the Cooperative Societies Act, 1912. In order to protect villagers from the clutches of money-lenders who charged a whopping rate of interest, even up to 100 per cent, this movement was introduced and every village had a cooperative credit society which was popularly known as Anjmen-i-Imdad Bahmi. All the three towns of the erstwhile Faridkot State had mohalla-wise cooperative credit societies. These societies proved effective in improving the condition of the farmers. The dividend received by the agriculturists was sufficient to pay the yearly land revenue.

The Council of Regency was quite alert to people’s needs. The period from 1910 to 1913 was a period of revolution in the history of Faridkot. The construction of the granary for

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storage of food grain to meet the challenging situation of famine was started in 1910 and it completed in 1911. Rani Suraj Kaur Zenene Hospital was inaugurated in 1912. A model agriculture farm was also set up during this period to make modern technology available to farmers. For providing drinking water, a huge steel storage tank was erected and a power house for generating electricity was founded. A Civil Hospital was set up in 1930-31 and the construction of the secretariat building was completed by 1935. The Council of Regency headed by Sardar Dayal Singh Maan and subsequently by Sardar Bahador Inder Singh played a historic role in the development of the erstwhile Faridkot State.

During Second World War the Raja rendered services to the British Government by way to men and money. In return the Government raised his military rank from Major to Lieutenant-Colonel.

The greatest problem, however, which the Raja had to face, was the rise of a powerful Praja Mandal Movement in State. The Akali Morchas for the reform and control of Gurdwaras during the twenties, the emergency of Praja Mandals in the neighbouring Punjab States and above all, the powerful national movement sweeping all over the country had changed the climate in Faridkot as well. As a result of it, an agitation was started in 1938 demanding redressal of grievances and democratic rights. The Raja made every possible effort to suppress it but in vain. To meet the legitimate political aspirations of his people the Raja came forth with a proposal to set up an elected legislature for the State. A network of village panchayats was established as a preliminary step. These panchayats were in turn required to elect the members of a Central Panchayat which was to function as Legislative Council.

Coming to the Praja Mandal Movement, its main thrust was to grant proprietary rights of the land to tenants. According to the British Settlement Rules, in 1889 Raja Bikram Singh retained the rights of ownership over 33 complete villages and over 175000 ghumaons of land in various other villages. To revert the long established order, a struggle was needed. The freedom struggle waged by the Indian National Congress had a mesmerizing effect on people even in the princely states. But at certain points of time when political movements are at their peak, the masses become over-enthusiastic and even hysteric. Thus the element of inflated enthusiasm, at times distorts realities. The charges of brutalities against the administration or the Raja were by and large exaggerated by the media and the political adversaries. The stories of certain leaders being dragged on roads by tying them behind jeeps and making children lie on ice slabs are baseless.

New developments had made a radical change in the situation. India became free on 15 August 1947 and with that lapsed, the British Paramountcy so that each State was at liberty to decide for itself its future course of action. Seeing the writing on the wall, the Ruler of Faridkot decided to accede to the Union of India.

Raja Sir Harinder Singh expired in 1989 and he bequeathed his entire property to the Maharawal Khewaji Trust ( Appendix VI ). A 150-bedded hospital has been constructed. Free medicines worth about a lakh of rupees are given to patients every month. The project provides prompt medical aid at a nominal price.

The MahaRawal Khewaji Trust, has taken up an ambitious plan, in 2002, to revive its grandeur to make it a focal point of life. Under the scheme, initially rejuvenation of Darbar Hall, Sheesh Mahal and its adjoining areas, including gardens, was taken up. Masons and

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raw material brought from Rajasthan to restore its pristine glory. The project report was prepared by renowned architect, Ratish Nanda, and the design cell in New Delhi.

Work on the first phase started in the first week of October 2002. According to Mrs Deepinder Kaur Mahtab, Chairperson of the Trust, on completion of the project, the Darbar Hall would be converted into a museum where all antiques related to the erstwhile state would be displayed. The Vice Chairman of the Trust, Rajkumar Jai Chand Mehtab, is taking personal interest in this respect. The work on the Project is in full swing I May 2012 and work on Sheesh Mahal is almost complete which will also be opened to the general public.

The remaining portion of complex would be taken up on completion of the first phase.

Heritage Walk in Faridkot was organized on 21 Sept. 2004. A large number of school children participated in Heritage Walk were taken to a guided tour of the historical monuments in the city. The first destination of Heritage Walk was Raj Mahal At Quilla Mubarak, Biba (Maharani) Deepinder Kaur Mehtab, Chairperson of Maharawal Khewaji Trust, welcomed the students. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Alok Shekhar, was also present on the occasion. Rare photographs of the Royal family of Faridkot were also put on display.

The Trust is taking steps to preserve the Heritage and also building a magnificent Library.

Bibaji Deepinder Kaur Mehtab, Chairperson, Maharaval Khewaji Trust,

Inaugurating Library dedicated to Maharani Mohinder Kaur on Feb.6,2012

Chapter 8

Historic Buildings

1. Qila Mubark

According to the compiler of the Gazetteer of Faridkot State (Lahore, 1914), the old fort was built by Raja Mokulsi on square-shaped land, measuring more than 10 acres. Around

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1775, it was reconstructed by Raja Hamir Singh. The main building seen at present and other important structures were built around 1890 by Raja Bikram Singh (1842-1898) and by Raja Balbir Singh (1869-1906). The beauty of this fort lies in its magnificent architecture. Elegantly designed in European style and constructed by skilled masons, it is a masterpiece of workmanship. Its floors, ceilings, walls and arched openings have been executed with artistic precision.

Fashioned out of small Nanakshahi bricks and lime mortar, more than 20-foot-high ramparts and large bastions (burjis) constructed for the security guards and to mount the guns are still safe and sound, thanks to the repairs carried out by the Maharawal Khewa Ji Trust, Faridkot. But the main building and other structures of the complex (except Sheesh Mahal and Moti Mahal) need massive repairs and restoration work.

The entrance to the fort is provided through a beautiful multi-storeyed deori. It has a 14-foot-wide and 22-foot-high heavy wooden gate, which was used as a protective shield during war. The splendid artistic pattern on the ceiling of the deori is praiseworthy and attracts visitors. On the first floor of the deori is the beautifully designed Sheesh Mahal or hall of mirrors. The concave and convex glasswork is quite romantic. Some beautiful paintings decorate the walls. The desire of Raja Sir Harinder Singh to have a large museum in Sheesh Mahal is yet to be fulfilled. To make the fort impressive, two big guns placed in the baradari welcome visitors to the fort. The main building and other structures of the fort have been constructed on a ground which is 12 feet above the main road and entrance gate, for safety reasons.

The huge building of Moti Mahal built to the south of the entrance, now houses the offices of the Maharawal Khewa Ji Trust (which looks after the properties of Raja Harinder Singh). Gurdwara Sahib and Modi Khana (military barracks) have been constructed to the north of the entrance. For the protection of the royal family from air attacks, an air-raid shelter was also built in the fort complex.

The 34-foot-wide, 90-foot-long and 22-foot-high Darbar Hall of the main building has been built in such a way that it remains cool even during the hot season. The architectural beauty of the Darbar Hall dazzles one and all. Although the false ceiling stands damaged at many places, the artistic work done on the false ceiling in plaster of Paris and woodwork executed on big arches of the Darbar Hall is unmatched. Carved wood panelling on the Darbar Hall walls and its marble flooring still look graceful. But artistically designed wooden chhajjas built around the main building on the first floor are unsafe. The fort building, except Sheesh Mahal and Moti Mahal which is vacant these days, was earlier used by the District Administration. It did not pay any rent for a long period even after the dissolution of the state.

The Archaeological Survey of India maintains around 3600 ancient buildings all over the country and 30 important historical buildings in Punjab, but it has not given protected status to Qila Mubarak.

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2. Raj Mahal

'Raj Mahal' (royal Palace) was built during the reign of Maharaja Bikram Singh during 1885-1889 under supervision of the, then Crown Prince (Later Maharaja) Balbir Singh, who incidentally was the first to move in and start living in it. Spread over nearly 15 acres, it presented a magnificent look with French design, dominating grassy lawns a mid semi desert area of the State. Its entrance called "Raj Deori" - it is a heritage building of a vintage. This magnificent building was constructed as the residence of Royal family of Faridkot State. It is based on French design with tapered minerettes and pointed spires. It is housed in 14 acres of land with spacious lawns and orchard. The descendants of the Royal family are now using it as private residence.

The royal family of Faridkot lived in the palaces of Faridkot Fort until Balbir Singh erected a new palace complex for himself outside the fort. Called Raj Mahal, the complex comprises a group of buildings contained in a vast irregular walled enclosure. It consists of the main palace, another building called tasveer ghar (lit. picture house), a baradari (literally twelve-doored, an open pavilion), a gurdwara, three small pavilions called doll houses, two swimming pools, some service quarters, a well, and a beautiful gateway

3. Darbar Ganj

Now locally called Darbarganj Rest House, this structure is situated in a large garden to the northwest of the Clock Tower. This Rest House was ment for the residence of the rulers of neighbouring states and the [British] Agent of the Governor General [of India].

The building comprises 12 suites, each with an attached toilet and dressing room, and common kitchen, drawing room, and dining room. The rear suites are arranged around an open-to-sky courtyard surrounded by square piers. The longest part of the building measures 58.9 m and the broadest is 43.6 m. The east facade of the building is a very impressive composition. It has five round arches supported on double circular pillars, arranged in a semicircle and flanked by elliptical arched openings. The crowning of the building is in two levels. The lower-level parapet is marked with false battlements, with an open-topped pediment flanked by triangular members. The angles of the parapets are also planted with fluted pitcher-like elements. On the upper parapet marking the level of the roof of the drawing and dining halls, is an arcade of Gothic pointed arches, flanked by octagonal spires. In the centre rises a domical shape and not an actual dome, its body marked with flutings. An old chandelier and some pieces of furniture are still extant in the main halls of the building. The whole structure stands on a 0.65-metre-high platform echoing the contours of the building, and approached by six sets of stairs. Parts of cast-iron railings are extant along the front of the platform. The railing has cast replicas of the state emblem.

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The rear part of the building comprising six suites is entirely different in character from the front. In an interview Raja Harindar Singh told Sardar Gurdarshan Singh Sodhi (Surveyor, Languages Department, Punjab), that he had made extensions to the Darbarganj Rest House. Colonel Balbir Singh, the Manager of the Maharawal Khewaji Trust which now looks after the property of Faridkot state told that this part was added about 1945-46.

The Aina-i Brar Bans refers to the building as Paradewale Bagh ki Rafi-al Shan Kothi mosuma Darbarganj, i.e. the high-ranking mansion of the Parade Garden known as Darbarganj. Parade Garden was situated on the site now occupied by the Secretariat Building and Harindra Hospital.

4. The Victoria Clock Tower,

Old picture of Victoria Clock Tower, 1915. The Clock Tower in recent years

Structurally, the Clock Tower is a free-standing tower built in the true Gothic Style, with four easily seen clock-faces on the cardinal sides. Originally, the tower stood on a platform which has vanished due to the raising of the surrounding road level. The tower proper, measuring 6.6 m square outside, rises in four storey, each marked by a cornice, the whole capped with a conical spire further surmounted by a high metallic finial. The first and second storey form chamfered squares whereas the upper two storey are octagonal in shape. Each side of the first two storeys and the cardinal sides of the fourth storey are pierced by a narrow Gothic pointed arch. The arches of the uppermost storey are further subdivided into smaller arches. On the parapets of the first and second storeys are placed decorative towers and pinnacles. The various facades of the tower are decorated with a variety of motifs. The spandrels of the archways of the first storey have arabesque designs in plaster relief. The remaining surfaces are adorned with panels textured by simple geometrical designs. Most of the corners are softened with fluted rectangular pilasters decorated with petal designs at base and top. Only the first storey of the tower, forming an octagon of 1.6 m. side within, has a ceiling, domical in shape. Upper storeys have no ceilings at all, and the walls are bound by iron girders on which are placed wooden planks, forming various landings. The southwest pier of the building accommodates a stairway giving access to the first storey from where a ladder is built in the southeast pier to reach the third storey where there is the machinery of the turret clock. The present clock was manufactured by the company Joyce, Whitchurch, Salop (Shropshire), United Kingdom, in 1929, and supplied by the Anglo-Swiss Watch Co., Calcutta. Most probably this clock was installed during the period of the minority of Raja Harindar Singh (1918-34) at a cost of 5,000 rupees, as reported by a near contemporary writer Makhan Singh. The clock machine, wound once a week, takes its driving power from falling weights. This power is controlled by an oscillating mechanism. The controlled release of power moves the arms of all the four faces. Each opal glass dial which displays the time is 111 cm in diameter and can be illuminated at night by fixing a source of light behind it. The bell of the clock tower that rings every hour is on the fourth storey. It bears the name of Taylor

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Loughboro, which most probably refers to the company In its original form, the tower was not an isolated structure, but was accompanied by four ixan-like buildings crowned with conical spires of corrugated iron sheets, each placed at one corner of the chowk at the centre of which stands the tower. These structures, visible in an old photograph, I have seen for myself during early 1950s.

5. State Civil Secretariat

The reign of Raja Harinder Singh is known for several new building projects. In 1934, a splendid building of the State Secretariat was constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.50 Lakh. This building now houses

the offices of the judiciary.

6. Fairy Cottage

This cottage is situated 7 K.M. from Faridkot on Chahal Road.This beautiful cottage is constructed by Maharaja Brijinder Singh in 1910-11.

7. Check Tower

This tower is made at the entrance of the Fairy cottage which is also constructed by Maharaja Brijinder Singh.

8. Balbir Hospital

Under construction.................

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9. Now Police Lines

This building complex was originally constructed in 1932-34 by Raja Sir Harinder Singh to house poor and orphans. Later on it was used as B.Ed. College. Now this building houses Police Lines and Residential Complex of the Police personnel.

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Bibliography

1. Wali Allah Siddiqui, Aina-i Brar Bans (Urdu), Faridkot, 1902

Punjab State Gazetteers

2.Makhan Singh, Investiture Ceremony [A Souvenir], Lahore

Faridkot: Ik Sabhyacharak ate Sahitak Sarvekhan [Faridkot: A cultural and literary survey], Faridkot

3. Faridkot State Gazetteer, Raja Balbir Singh evinced interest in writing. His book Ek Raja aur us ka Daura (A king and his tour) ran into two editions, and he also edited two other works – Maharaja Kapurthala da Safarnama (Travelogue of Maharaja of Kapurthala) and Maharani Kapurthala di Diary (The diary of Maharani Kapurthala).

4. Subhash Parihar, Architectural Heritage of a Sikh State: Faridkot (Delhi, 2009

5. Imperial Gazetteer of India

6. Griffin, Lapel, The Rajas of the Pun/ab[Reprint]. Delhi, 19777. Harbans Singh, Faridkot Itihas Bare. Faridkot, 1947 8. Ganda Singh, The Patiala and the East Panjab States Union: Historical Background. Patiala

9. Faridkot Tika in Sikh Encyclopedia, Punjabi University,The Entry By Major Gurmukh Singh (Rtd .)

10. Chapter II of: GAZETTEER OF INDIA, PUNJAB, FARIDKOT

12. PUNJAB DISTRICT GAZETTEERS

13. Bhagat Singh. A History of the Sikh Misals.Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1993.

14. Major W L Conran and H.D. Craik.Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Punjab Government, Lahore, Punjab, 1910.15. Fauja Singh and R.C. Rabra, The City of Faridkot, Past and Present. Punjabi University, Patiala, 1976.

16. Memoranda of Information regarding certain Native Chiefs.Volume II, Madras, Bengal, North-West Provinces, Punjab. IOR (L/PS/20/F76/2), Oriental & India Office Collection, British Library, St Pancras, London.17. Northern India Who's Who. Lahore, Punjab, 1942.18. Faridkot State - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

19.Faridkot State [Paperback] Ronald Cohn Jesse Russell (Author)

20.Faridkot State, Miller, Frederic P.

21. Faridkot State, Statistical Tables, Volume 16 of Punjab state gazetteers, Civil and Military Gazette Press, 1907,

59pages

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Appendix I

Genealogy

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Appendix II

Timeline : Faridkot

1705 Kapur converted to Sikhism, founded KotKapura State 1708 Kapur died, age 80 1763 Faridkot State established by partition of KotKapura State, Chief Sadar Hamir Singh 1782 Death of Sardar Hamir Singh 1807 Faridkot State conquered by Ranjit Singh 1808 Faridkot territory of KotKapura granted by Ranjit Singh to Nabha 1809 Treaty of Amritsar; Faridkot State re-established 1826 Raja Gulab Singh assassinated 1827 Death of Sardar Attar Singh, succeeded by Pahar Singh 1836 Practice of Female Infanticide abolished 1839-42 Faridkot aided E.I.C. in First Afghan War 1846 For loyal service to the E.I.C., Faridkot was granted territory 1849 Succession of Wazir Singh 1857-58 Sepoy Rebellion; Faridkot loyal to E.I.C. 1878-80 Faridkot aided British India in Second Afghan War 1879 Faridkot began issuing postage stamps 1899 Death of Raja Bikram Singh 1901 Population 124,912 1906 Death of Raja Balbir Singh 1914-18 World War I; Faridkot soldiers served in East Africa 1918 Death of Raja BrijIndar Singh 1939-45 World War II; 9,000 Faridkotians served in the army 1948 Patiala, Nabha, Nalagarh, Malerkotla, Jind, Faridkot, Kapurthala, Kalsia joined the Indian Union, established PEPSU; organized in eight districts 1.6.1982 Will of Raja Harindar Singh

13.10.1981 Tika Harmohindar Singh Died

16.10.1989 Raja Harindar Singh Died

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Appendix III

Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 12, p.51- 52.

Faridkot State.-Native State in the Punjab, under the political `control of the Commissioner of the Jullundur Division, lying between 30° 13′ and 30° 50′ N. and 74° 31′ and 75° 5′ E., in the south of Feroze- pore District, with an area of -642 square miles.- Population .(1901),

124,912. It: contains two towns,' FARIDKOT (population, 10,405), the capital, and KOT KAPURA (9,519) ; and 167 villages. The,country :is a dead level, sandy in the west, but more fertile to the east, where the Sirhind Canal irrigates a large area. The ruling family belongs to the Sidhu-Barar clan of the Jats, and are descended from the same stock as the Phulkian houses. Their occupa- tion of Faridkot and Kot Kapura dates from the time of Akbar, though quarrels with the surrounding Sikh States and internal dissensions have greatly reduced the patrimony. Throughout the Sikh Wars Raja Pahar Singh loyally assisted the British, and was rewarded by a grant of half the territory confiscated in 1846 from the Raja of Nabha, while his ancestral possession of Kot Kapura, which had been wrested from Faridkot in i 808, was restored to him. During the Mutiny, his son Wazir Singh, who succeeded in 1849, rendered active assistance to the British and was suitably. rewarded. The present Raja; Brij Indar Singh,' is a minor, and the administration is carried on by a council under the , presidency of an Extra-Assistant Commissioner, whose services have been lent to the State for the purpose. The council is, during the minority- of the Raja, the final court of appeal, but sentences of. death require confirmation by the Commissioner. The Raja is entitled to a salute of i i guns. The State receives, at a reduced duty of Rs:' z8o per chest, an allotment of 18 chests of Malwfi; opium ahnually, each chest containing 1.25 cwt. The duty so, paid is refunded, with the object of securing the co-operation of the State officials in the suppression of smuggling. The Imperial Service troops consist of one company of Sappers; and the local troops number 41 cavalry, 127; infantry, and 2o artillerymen, with 6 serviceable guns. The State maintains a high school at Faridkot town and a charitable dispensary. The total revenue amounted' in 1905-6, to. 3.6 lakhs. Faridkot Town. -Capital of the Faridkot State,. Punjab, lying in: 30° 40′ N. and 74° 49′ E., zo miles south of Ferozepore, on the Ferozepore-Bhatinda branch of the North-Western 'Railway. Popu- lation (igoi), 10,405. The fort was built about 700 years ago by R4ja Mokulsi, a Manj Rajput, in the time of Bawa Farfd, who gave it his name. The town contains .the residence of the Raja of Faridkot and the public offices of the State. It has a considerable trade in grain, acid possesses, a high school and a charitable dispensary.

Appendix IV

Salute, Succession Rules, Titles, Decorations etc

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SALUTE:11-guns.

ARMS:Azure a chevron ermine between three annulets argent. Crest: A demi-lion proper. Supporters: Antelopes semé of crescents. Motto: Bhalan chira phari. Lambrequins: Azure and argent.

RULES OF SUCCESSION:Male primogeniture.

STYLES & TITLES:The ruling prince: H.H. Farzand-i-Saadat-i-Nishan-i-Hazrat-i-Kaiser-i-Hind Raja (personal name) Singh, Brar Bans Sahib Bahadur, Raja of Faridkot, with the style of His Highness.The consort of the ruling prince: Rani (personal name) Kaur Sahiba, with the style of Her Highness.The Heir Apparent: Tikka Shri (personal name) Singh Sahib BajadurThe younger sons of the ruling prince: Kunwar Shri (personal name) Singh Sahib Bahadur.The daughters of the ruling prince: Rajkumari Bibiji (personal name) Kaur Sahiba.The grandsons, and other male descendants of the ruling prince, in the male line: Kunwar (personal name) Singh.The granddaughters, and other female descendants of the ruling prince, in the male line: Bibi (personal name) Kaur.

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Appendix V

Faridkot Wala Teeka

Faridkot Wala Teeka is classical exegesis of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in ‘Braj Bhasha’ by a team of scholars of Nirmala Sect. It was the first attempt in this field prompted by Rulers of Faridkot State in 19 th century. For all future attempts in this field, it became an ideal prototype. As it was patronized by the Rulers of Faridkot State, it came to be known as ‘Faridkot Wala Teeka’

Teekas (commentaries) on Guru Granth Sahib have been written in one form or other ever since the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib. However, the first formal Teeka in line with the traditional interpretation of Sikh scriptures was written by Sant Giani Badan Singh Ji of Dera Sekhwan at the request and encouragement of Maharaja Bikram Singh of Faridkot. It took him six and a half years to complete it. It was completed in 1883. This Teeka was reviewed by a committee appointed by Mahant Sumer Singh of Patna as chairman. Other members of the committee were Giani Harbhajan Singh of Amritsar, Sant Singh of Kapurthala state, Jhanda Singh of Gurdwara Nanakiana Sahib, near Sarigrur, Rai Singh of Jarigi Rana, Dhian Singh of Sekhvari, Pandit Hamir Singh Sariskriti, Pandit Balak Ram Udasi Sariskriti and Baba Bakhtavar Singh Giani.

The revision was completed during the time of Raja Bikram Singh, but he did not live long enough to see publication of the work he had sponsored. The printing started during the reign of his successor, Raja Balbir Singh (1869-1906).Three volumes came out during his time and the fourth and final one during the reign of his successor, Maharaja Brijindar Singh (1896-1918). By this time the first edition had already run out.

A large number of the sets had been presented free of cost to gurdwaras and to scholars. The rest were sold at a nominal price. Meanwhile, suggestions for further revisions and for the use of standard Punjabi instead of Braj in the exegesis had been pouring in from various Singh Sabhas and Khalsa Diwans. The Maharaja ordered, in August 1918, the formation of a revision committee and, pending the revision, ordered the publication of a second edition to meet the immediate demand.

However, his untimely death a few months later (22 December 1918) upset the entire plan. The proposed revision never took place, though a second edition did appear in 1924. Maharaja Brijindar Singh`s successor Raja Harindar Singh was averse to the idea of a revision. He used to say that the tika had been commissioned by his ancestors and it must remain in the same form and style in which they had left it.

The original copy of the tika is still preserved in the toshakhana of the late Raja. There have, however, been reprints of the original brought out by the Languages Department (Bhasha Vibhag) Punjab, the first one in the series appearing in 1970.

After incorporating the comments of this committee, the first edition of this Teeka was published [funded] by the Maharaja Balbir Singh of Faridkot in 1906 which was printed by the Wazir Hind Press (started by Bhai Vir Singh) at Amritsar. The second edition of this Teeka was published by Maharaja Harinder Singh of Faridkot in 1928. This Teeka is known as the "Faridkoti Teeka."

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Pandit Tara Singh Narotam, the contemporary of the author of Faridkoti Teeka, also started the Teeka, but he died when he finished it up to Basant Rag. Then some people borrowed it from his heir just to review the draft, but never returned it.

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Appendix VI

Maha Rawal Khewaji Trust

Maha Rawal Khewaji Trust was constituted by virtue of Registered Will, dated 1.6.1982,

executed by late Col. SirHarinder Singh, Ex-ruler of Faridkot. State and became operative on the

death of Col. Sir Harinder Singh. Col. Sir Harinder Singh died on 16.10.1989, and by virtue of

the Will, all personal properties and estates owned by the deceased at the time of

death came to vest in the Trust.

Trust Members (as on 16.5.2012)

Biba Deepinder Kaur Mehtab Chairperson

Shri. Jai Chand Mehtab Vice-Chairman

Gurdip Singh Brar Member

Dr. P.S. Sandhu Member

Shri. Lalit Mohan Gupta Member

Vacancy

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Back Title

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