Rattan Singh Bhangu

Rattan Singh Bhangu was a Sikh nobleman who wrote the history of Sikh struggles and rise to power in Punjab.

Introduction

In the beginning of the 19^th century the British East India Company approached the Punjab frontier. The British wanted to know about the Sikhs and their rise to power in Punjab. Sardar Rattan Singh Bhangu’s belonged to the family of martyrs and had first-hand knowledge of the struggle and success of the Khalsa. S. Rattan Singh Bhangu being a member of the ruling Sikh aristocracy took upon himself to prove to the British the glory of the Sikh rise to the power in Punjab and the complete legitimacy of Sikh domination. S. Rattan Singh Bhangu was requested by Captain Murray, Agent to the Governor-General, to write the history of Sikhs. S. Rattan Singh Bhangu compiled an extensive history of the Sikhs and gave it the name the “Prachin Panth Parkash”.

Family

S. Rattan Singh Bhangu’s family is originally from village Mirankot in Amritsar district. The grandfather of S. Rattan Singh Bhangu was Bhai Mehtab Singh s/o S. Hara Singh. In 1740 Bhai Mehtab Singh beheaded Massa Rangarh, who had desecrated the sanctity of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The governor of Lahore sent his troops to finish off Bhai Mehtab Singh’s Family. His only son seven year Rai Singh was wounded badly and left presumed to be dead. Sardar Rai Singh survived to live and joined the Karora Singhia Misl. His family took possession of many villages in Malwa region. S. Rattan Singh Bhangu's descendent were Jagirdars at the time of the British are now settled in village Bheri, near Samrala Ludhiana.