Jagga Jatt

Jagga was a heroic rebel of Punjab. He is known of "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor" as Robin Hood, actually he is known as the Robin Hood of Punjab.

Early life

Jagga was born in 1901 or 1902 in village of Burj Ran Singh in the Chunian tehsil of Kasur district in British Punjab. Jagga's father S. Makhan Singh passed away when he was only a small child. His father had owned 10 Murabba (250 acres) of land the ownership of which then passed to the young Jagga. He grew up under the care of his Chacha (uncle) S. Roop Singh and mother Bhagan.

Makhan Singh and Bhagan had six children before Jagga but none of them survived. At last Makhan Singh went to a saint Inder Singh in the nearby village of Sodhi Wala. The saint told him to buy a Bakkra (male goat) before the birth and told that it should be touched by the newly born. The saint also told him not to name the child starting with the letter J.

However, the child was born and finally survived with the death of the make goat touched by him but an uncle of the child insisted on naming the child as Jagat Singh which was against the directions of the saint. Finally the young child survived by the great saint's blessings.

Jagga owned 10 Murabba (250 acres) of land so he was not asked to do anything by his uncle and mother. He had grown up as a pampered child. Once he cut a lot of sugar cane from his one uncle and distributed among his friends. For that, he was given a hard beating by his uncle. Jagga went to that uncle's well at night and broke all the Tinds and threw into the well. When this uncle told the villagers to report against Jagga, the relatives asked him, "Who told you to name him Jagga?" and so his uncle realized his mistake.

In village Burj Ran Singh, most families were Muslim Telis but only 17 or 18 families were of Sidhu Jatts. Both communities used to live in harmony. When Jagga was in his teen age, he started to go wrestle at akhara (Open Wrestling Ring) with his friend Sohan Teli. Sohan Teli maintained his friendship with Jagga till the last breath of his life. Because of Jagga's fondness of wrestling, this is said in a folk song.

“Jagge Jatt da Jahnghia Patt da, Kille uttay tangeya reha.”

He married to Inder Kaur of village Talwandi. They had only a girl child named Gulab Kaur aka Gaabbo who is living now at village Vanwala near Lambi in Sri Mukatsar Sahib district. She is believed to be 90+ now.

Personality and nature

Jagga was of a medium height, wheatish skin color, sharp features, strong body, trimmed beard and Kundhian Muchhan (ringed whiskers).

During the english rule, all the people of guts and independent nature were watched carefully by the British Governments. The first units of informers were Patwari, Nambardar, Thanedar and other Safedposh people. One day Jagga went to Patwari to get the numbers (Farad) of his land. Jagga paid no respect to the Patwari and paid no bribe. Patwari refused to give him the Farad. Jagga gave him the worst beating of his life and thus he had to give him farad and apologize as well.

In one of the folk songs we hear,

“Kachche Pulaan te Larhaiyan hoiyan, Chhaviyan de Ghund murh gaye.”

This Kachcha Pul (English: bridge) was located between Jagga's village and his in law's village. Beharhwala's Nakais used to live at their Bhua's village in Talwandi. These Nakais had some relation with Maharaja Ranjit Singh's in-laws and were very notorious for their evils. Nobody could cross the bridge without their permission. One day, when Jagga was going to cross the bridge, one of the Nakai hit his horse with a bamboo club thus the horse and Jagga both fell down. Though Jagga was alone, the Nakais were 5-6 brothers. They had a fierce fight and finally Jagga won the fight. Later those Nakais fled the area and settled in Lahore.

Jagga's fame in the area resulted in attracting the ire of the Jaildar of Kal Mokal. Jaildar considered Jagga's braveness to be a challenge for him. He stuck Jagga in a false case and convicted him for 4 years in jail.

Becoming an outlaw

Later Jagga got released and came back to his village. In those days a theft incident was happened in the village. An inspector of the area, Asgar Ali, was a friend of Jaildar. Both Jaildar and inspector found this theft incident to be another chance to harass Jagga. The inspector called Jagga to be present at the police station and leading and friendly people, named Kehar Singh and Mehal Singh of Kaawan village and Dulla Singh of Jajjal village, persuaded Jagga to be present at the Police station but Jagga declined.