Jassa Singh Ahluwalia

Honorable Jathedar
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Sultan-Ul-Quam
5th Jathedar of Akal Takht
In office
1753–1783
Preceded by Kapur Singh
Succeeded by Phula Singh
4th Jathedar of Buddha Dal
In office
1753–1783
Preceded by Kapur Singh
Succeeded by Naina Singh
Personal details
Born Jassa Singh
3 May 1718
Ahlu, Lahore, Panjab
Died 1783 (age 64-65)
Amritsar, Panjab
Father Badar Singh
Known for

Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1 May 1718 – 1783)[1] was a prominent Sikh leader during the period of the Sikh Confederacy. He was also Misldar of the Ahluwalia Misl. This period was an interlude, lasting roughly from the time of the death of Banda Bahadur in 1716 to the founding of the Sikh Empire in 1801. He founded the Kapurthala State in 1772.

Early life

Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was born at a village called Ahlu in the Lahore District of Punjab (modern day Pakistan).[1]

Nadir Shah's invasion

In 1739, Nadir Shah, the Turkic ruler of Persia, invaded much of Northern India, including the Punjab, defeating the Mughals at the Battle of Karnal in 1739, he plundered the city of Delhi (Shahjahanabad) robbing it of treasures like the Peacock throne, the Kohinoor diamond and the Darya-i-noor diamond and either massacring or enslaving much of its population. Meanwhile, all the Khalsa bands got together and passed a resolution that Nadir shah had plundered the city of Delhi and now he is taking Indian women as slaves to his country. Sikhs made a plan to free all the slaves. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was 21 years old at that time, he planned raids to free all slaves. He along with other Sikh bands attacked Nadir Shah forces, freed all slaves and send those slaves back to their families safely.[2]

Ahluwalia participated in many battles as well where he proved himself to be a natural leader. In a 1748 meeting of the Sarbat Khalsa, Nawab Kapur Singh appointed him as his successor. His followers awarded him the title Sultan-ul-Qaum (King of the Nation).[1] In 1758, he circulated coins with inscription "coined by the grace of Khalsa in the country of Ahmed, conquered by Jassa, the Kalal"[3]

Recognition

Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Government College (NJSA Government College) in Kapurthala, established in 1856 by Randhir Singh of Kaputhala is named after him.[4] A commemorative postage stamp on Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was issued by Government of India on 4 April 1985.

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Singhia (2009), p. 111
  2. ↑ Rajmohan Gandhi, Revenge and Reconciliation, p. 118
  3. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.99051/2015.99051.Mughal-Rule-In-India_djvu.txt
  4. ↑ "College of excellence, 150 years ago". The Tribune. 1 October 2006.

Bibliography

  • Singhia, H.S. (2009), The encyclopedia of Sikhism, New Delhi: Hemkunt Press, ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1

Further reading

  • Singh, Harbans "The Heritage of the Sikhs."
  • Singh, Khushwant "History of the Sikhs."
Preceded by:
Nawab kapoor singh
 Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Followed by:
Baba Naina Singh
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