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'''Baba Ala Singh''' (1691-1765), a Sikh misl leader who became the first ruling chief of Patiala, was born in 1691 at Phul, in presentday Bathinda district of the Punjab, the third son of Bhai Ram Singh. His grandfather Baba Phul had been, as a small boy, blessed by Guru Hargobind, the 6th Nanak. Ala Singh's father and his uncle, Tilok Singh, had both received the rites of initiation at the hands of Guru Gobind Singh who conferred on their family the panegyric, "Your house is mine own." Ala Singh was married at an early age to Fateh Kaur, popularly known as Mai Fatto, daughter of Chaudhari Kala of Khana, a zamindar of the village Kaleke, now in Sangrur district of the Punjab, and had three sons, Bhumia Singh, Sardul Singh and Lal Singh, all of whom died in his lifetime, and a daughter, Bibi Pardhan.
'''Maharaja Ala Singh Sidhu''' was born on 5 October 1691 AD  in the village of Phool (Which is now in [[Bathinda]] district). He was the son of Sardar Ram Singh. Ala Singh was a prince of the [[Phulkian Misl]]. He built a huge empire because of his bravery. It had an area of ​​332,000 sq km. His empire was even larger than that of [[Ranjit Singh]].
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[[File:Baba_Ala_Singh.jpg|300px]]
 
== Biography ==
==Ala Singh's early Conquests Aided by the Dal Khalsa==
Ala Singh was born on 5 October 1691 in the village of Phool (district of [[Bathinda]]) to Sardar Ram Singh. His grandfather Chaudhary Phool Singh was the founder of the [[Phulkian Misl]]. Ala Singh's mother's name was Sulakhan Kaur. Sulakhan Kaur was the daughter of Wazir Alam Chand of [[Lahore]].
 
Ala Singh's family belonged to the Sidhu [[Jatt]] caste. His grandfather Phool Singh was blessed by [[Guru Har Rai]], the seventh Guru of the Sikhs. As a result, Phool Singh had become a major feudal lord of the Malwa. He served in the court of Mughal Emperor [[Aurangzeb]] till 1691 AD. Fed up with [[Aurangzeb]]'s tyranny, Phool Singh quit his job. Due to which Phool Singh was martyred in 1691 AD. After Phool Singh, his only son Ram Singh became [[Sardar]]. He received Amrit from [[Guru Gobind Singh]].
Ala Singh's career of conquest began soon after the execution of Banda Singh Bahadur in 1716 when central Punjab lay in utter confusion. Ala Singh was living at Phul about 40 km from Bathinda. He gathered around him a band of dashing and daring young men. In 1722, he set up his head quarters at Barnala, 32 km farther east, and his territory comprised 30 odd villages. At Barnala, Ala Singh defeated in 1731 Rai Kalha of Raikot, an influential chief with a large force at his command. Aided by roving bands of the Dal Khalsa, he ransacked and annexed several villages belonging to the Bhattis. He also founded several new villages such as Chhajali, Dirba, Laungoval and Sheron.
Ala Singh was the only son of his parents. As a result, he was raised with great care. When Ala Singh was five years old, his grandfather Alam Chand took him to [[Lahore]]. There he received a higher education. Through the efforts of Alam Chand, Ala Singh acquired knowledge of many languages ​​of the Mughal Empire. When he was ten years old, he was trained in martial arts. It is said that Ala Singh had become such a good warrior in his childhood that he once killed a lion. He was only twelve at the time.
 
In 1707 AD, [[Guru Gobind Singh]] went south. He was accompanied by Ala Singh's father, Ram Singh. He handed over his throne to Ala Singh before leaving. Ram Singh predicted that one day my son Ala Singh would become the Maharaja of a very large kingdom. Ala Singh's reign of Tilak took place on 17 October 1707 AD. When he became the chief of the [[Phulkian Misl]], his rule was only over the village. Due to his bravery and ability he established the Patiala Empire.
==A Prisoner of Ali Muhammad Khan Ruhila==
==Personal Life==
 
When Ala Singh was 17 years old, relationships began to form for his marriage. At the request of Nanu Singh Saini, a [[Brahmin]] of Sunam, Ala Singh was married to Fateh Kaur, daughter of Chaudhary Charan Singh of [[Barnala]] village. A few months later, Sardul Singh was born. He was the only son of Ala Singh. He later contributed greatly to the expansion of the [[Patiala]] Empire.
For a period Ala Singh remained in the custody of Ali Muhammad Khan Ruhila, Mughal governor of Sirhind from 1745-48, and was released only when the latter fled his capital at the approach in February 1748 of the Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Durrani. In the battle fought on 11 March 1748, near Manupur, 15 km northwest of Sirhind, between the Mughals and Ahmad Shah Durrani, Ala Singh sided with the Mughals. He cut off Durrani's supplies and captured his camels and horses. In 1749, Ala Singh defeated and repulsed Farid Khan, a Rajput chieftain, who had sought the help of the imperial governor of Sirhind and stopped the construction by him of a fort at Bhavanigarh.
==Rise of Power==
 
'''[[Bathinda]] Victory'''<br>
==One of the chaurasi, a village gets a Fort and Chief Ala Singh's name—Patiala==
After the martyrdom of [[Banda Singh Bahadur]], Ala Singh began to conquer the [[Mughal]] territories. He first won the state of [[Bathinda]]. This state was very important. Apart from this, the fort built here was built by Ala Singh's ancestor. In 1716 AD, Ala Singh invaded [[Bathinda]]. From here Chaudhary reached Mohat Khan [[Lahore]]. Thus, without any action, Ala Singh captured the fort.
 
Three years later, Ala Singh, captured the district of Sanaur, called chaurasi, (eighty-four), from the number of the villages it comprised. One of these where he built a fort in 1763 and which was thence forth his permanent seat, became famous as Patiala. At the end of 1760, Ala Singh possessed 726 villages including many towns. On the eve of the battle of Panipat (1761) when the Marathas camp was blockaded by Ahmad Shah Durrani, Ala Singh helped them with food grain and other provisions. In the Vadda Ghallughara or Great Carnage of February 1762, Ala Singh remained neutral. Ahmad Shah punished him with the devastation of the town of Barnala. Ala Singh, who presented himself in the Shah's camp, was ordered to shave off his hair and beard. This he declined to do and offered instead to pay a sum of one and a quarter lakh of rupees. The Shah accepted the money but had him taken to Lahore where he secured his freedom by paying another five lakh of rupees.  
'''[[Barnala]] Victory'''<br>
 
Chaudhary Mohat Khan of [[Bathinda]] sought the help of Abd al-Samad Khan, Governor of Punjab. The governor sent an army of 10,000 to help Mohat Khan. That is, they defeated Ala Singh's father-in-law Charan Singh and captured Barnala. When Ala Singh was not found out, 7,000 horsemen were sent to [[Barnala]] under the leadership of Nanu Singh Saini. Nanu Singh Saini defeated the Mughal army and drove them to Lahore. Pleased with his action, Ala Singh made him his prime minister. [[Barnala]] was made the capital of the [[Phulkian Misl]].
At the age of 41 Ala Singh took  pahul in 1732 at the hands of Nawab Kapur Singh, leader of the Dal Khalsa. He was an ally of Jassa Singh Ahluvalia in the attack on Sirhind in 1764. Later he purchased this town from Bhai Buddha Singh to whom it had been assigned by the Khalsa. On 29 March 1761, Ahmad Shah Durrani had already recognized by a written decree the sovereignty of Ala Singh over the territories held by him. At the time of his seventh invasion of India, he confirmed him in the government of Sirhind (1765) and granted him the title of Raja, with the robes of honour as well as with a drum and a banner as insignia of royalty. Ala Singh died on 7 August 1765 at Patiala and was cremated in the Fort, now inside the city.  
 
'''Treaty With Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah'''<br>
==References==
After the death of [[Aurangzeb]], incompetent rulers like Bahadur Shah I, Jahandar Shah, [[Farrukhsiyar]], Rafi ud-Darajat and Shah Jahan II ruled. In 1719 AD, Muhammad Shah became the Mughal Emperor. He made several attempts to prevent the downfall of the [[Mughal Empire]]. In 1721, he made a treaty with Ala Singh. This is called the Treaty of Flowers. According to which Ala Singh promised to protect the [[Mughals]] from foreign attacks in return for an annual compensation of Rs 50 lakh. Despite the treaty, Ala Singh did not waver from Sikhism. He established his headquarters at [[Barnala]] in 1722 AD. In which the workers robbed the Mughals.
*1. Kirpal Singh, Life of Maharaja Ala Singh and His Times. Amritsar, 1954
*2. Griffin, Lepel, The Rajas of the Punjab [Reprint]. Delhi, 1977
'''The effects of the treaty'''<br>
*3. Latif, Syad Muhammad, History of the Panjab. Delhi, 1964
In 1739, Nader Shah, the ruler of Iran, invaded [[India]]. He defeated the [[Mughals]] at the Battle of Karnal. While Nader Shah was crossing the [[Sutlej]], Ala Singh attacked him. Nader Shah's caravan was 240 miles long. As a result, he did not have a chance to recover. Ala Singh continued to plunder Nader Shah for many days. Ala Singh gave Rs 50 lakh of the looted money to the [[Mughals]].
 
==Ala Singh as a prisoner==
 
In 1745, Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan of Rohilkhand became the governor of [[Sirhind]]. He attacked [[Barnala]] and imprisoned Ala Singh. In 1748, the first invasion of [[India]] was made by [[Ahmed Shah Abdali]], the ruler of [[Afghanistan]]. At that time Ali Mohammed Khan fled to [[Delhi]]. [[Mir Mannu]], son of the Wazir of [[Delhi]], was made Governor of [[Punjab]]. At the same time, Ala Singh was released. In the Battle of Manupur, with the help of Ala Singh, [[Mir Mannu]] defeated [[Ahmed Shah Abdali]]. But Abdali took Ala Singh to [[Lahore]]. There he released Ala Singh for Rs. 5 lakhs and gave him the title of [[Maharaja]].
{{misl}}
==Member of Dal Khalsa==
[[Category:Baba]][[Category:Misl Sardars]]
In 1748, [[Nawab Kapur Singh]] founded the [[Dal Khalsa]]. After the death of Zakariya Khan Bahadur]], the [[Dal Khalsa began to rise. Due to his influence, in 1749, Ala Singh was baptized by [[Nawab Kapur Singh]]. He agreed to remain under the [[Dal Khalsa]] forever. Thus Ala Singh became a member of the [[Dal Khalsa]].

Revision as of 04:29, 3 October 2021

Maharaja Ala Singh Sidhu was born on 5 October 1691 AD in the village of Phool (Which is now in Bathinda district). He was the son of Sardar Ram Singh. Ala Singh was a prince of the Phulkian Misl. He built a huge empire because of his bravery. It had an area of ​​332,000 sq km. His empire was even larger than that of Ranjit Singh. Baba Ala Singh.jpg

Biography

Ala Singh was born on 5 October 1691 in the village of Phool (district of Bathinda) to Sardar Ram Singh. His grandfather Chaudhary Phool Singh was the founder of the Phulkian Misl. Ala Singh's mother's name was Sulakhan Kaur. Sulakhan Kaur was the daughter of Wazir Alam Chand of Lahore. Ala Singh's family belonged to the Sidhu Jatt caste. His grandfather Phool Singh was blessed by Guru Har Rai, the seventh Guru of the Sikhs. As a result, Phool Singh had become a major feudal lord of the Malwa. He served in the court of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb till 1691 AD. Fed up with Aurangzeb's tyranny, Phool Singh quit his job. Due to which Phool Singh was martyred in 1691 AD. After Phool Singh, his only son Ram Singh became Sardar. He received Amrit from Guru Gobind Singh. Ala Singh was the only son of his parents. As a result, he was raised with great care. When Ala Singh was five years old, his grandfather Alam Chand took him to Lahore. There he received a higher education. Through the efforts of Alam Chand, Ala Singh acquired knowledge of many languages ​​of the Mughal Empire. When he was ten years old, he was trained in martial arts. It is said that Ala Singh had become such a good warrior in his childhood that he once killed a lion. He was only twelve at the time. In 1707 AD, Guru Gobind Singh went south. He was accompanied by Ala Singh's father, Ram Singh. He handed over his throne to Ala Singh before leaving. Ram Singh predicted that one day my son Ala Singh would become the Maharaja of a very large kingdom. Ala Singh's reign of Tilak took place on 17 October 1707 AD. When he became the chief of the Phulkian Misl, his rule was only over the village. Due to his bravery and ability he established the Patiala Empire.

Personal Life

When Ala Singh was 17 years old, relationships began to form for his marriage. At the request of Nanu Singh Saini, a Brahmin of Sunam, Ala Singh was married to Fateh Kaur, daughter of Chaudhary Charan Singh of Barnala village. A few months later, Sardul Singh was born. He was the only son of Ala Singh. He later contributed greatly to the expansion of the Patiala Empire.

Rise of Power

Bathinda Victory
After the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur, Ala Singh began to conquer the Mughal territories. He first won the state of Bathinda. This state was very important. Apart from this, the fort built here was built by Ala Singh's ancestor. In 1716 AD, Ala Singh invaded Bathinda. From here Chaudhary reached Mohat Khan Lahore. Thus, without any action, Ala Singh captured the fort.

Barnala Victory
Chaudhary Mohat Khan of Bathinda sought the help of Abd al-Samad Khan, Governor of Punjab. The governor sent an army of 10,000 to help Mohat Khan. That is, they defeated Ala Singh's father-in-law Charan Singh and captured Barnala. When Ala Singh was not found out, 7,000 horsemen were sent to Barnala under the leadership of Nanu Singh Saini. Nanu Singh Saini defeated the Mughal army and drove them to Lahore. Pleased with his action, Ala Singh made him his prime minister. Barnala was made the capital of the Phulkian Misl.

Treaty With Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah
After the death of Aurangzeb, incompetent rulers like Bahadur Shah I, Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Rafi ud-Darajat and Shah Jahan II ruled. In 1719 AD, Muhammad Shah became the Mughal Emperor. He made several attempts to prevent the downfall of the Mughal Empire. In 1721, he made a treaty with Ala Singh. This is called the Treaty of Flowers. According to which Ala Singh promised to protect the Mughals from foreign attacks in return for an annual compensation of Rs 50 lakh. Despite the treaty, Ala Singh did not waver from Sikhism. He established his headquarters at Barnala in 1722 AD. In which the workers robbed the Mughals.

The effects of the treaty
In 1739, Nader Shah, the ruler of Iran, invaded India. He defeated the Mughals at the Battle of Karnal. While Nader Shah was crossing the Sutlej, Ala Singh attacked him. Nader Shah's caravan was 240 miles long. As a result, he did not have a chance to recover. Ala Singh continued to plunder Nader Shah for many days. Ala Singh gave Rs 50 lakh of the looted money to the Mughals.

Ala Singh as a prisoner

In 1745, Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan of Rohilkhand became the governor of Sirhind. He attacked Barnala and imprisoned Ala Singh. In 1748, the first invasion of India was made by Ahmed Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan. At that time Ali Mohammed Khan fled to Delhi. Mir Mannu, son of the Wazir of Delhi, was made Governor of Punjab. At the same time, Ala Singh was released. In the Battle of Manupur, with the help of Ala Singh, Mir Mannu defeated Ahmed Shah Abdali. But Abdali took Ala Singh to Lahore. There he released Ala Singh for Rs. 5 lakhs and gave him the title of Maharaja.

Member of Dal Khalsa

In 1748, Nawab Kapur Singh founded the Dal Khalsa. After the death of Zakariya Khan Bahadur]], the [[Dal Khalsa began to rise. Due to his influence, in 1749, Ala Singh was baptized by Nawab Kapur Singh. He agreed to remain under the Dal Khalsa forever. Thus Ala Singh became a member of the Dal Khalsa.

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