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{{Short description|Former Sikh kingdom}}
{{Infobox former country
| image_map = Detail of the main, continuous tract of territory of Mani Majra State from a map created by the British East India Company of the Malwa region of Punjab showing the various polities, borders, and settlements of the area, ca.1829–1835.jpg
| map_caption = Detail of the main, continuous tract of territory of Manimajra State from a map created by the British East India Company, ca.1829–1835 (not including its exclaves viewable on the full-map)
| capital = [[Manimajra]]
| regional_languages = [[Puadhi dialect|Puadhi]]
| leader_title1 = First ruler
| leader_name1 = Gharib Das
| leader_title2 = Last ruler
| leader_name2 = Bhagwan Das
| year_end = 1875
| year_start = January 1764
| today = [[Chandigarh Capital Region]], [[India]]
}}
{{coord|30.7140384|76.8371277|display=title}}
'''Manimajra State''' was a [[Sikhs|Sikh]] kingdom and later ''[[jagir]]'' (estate) based in the [[Mani Majra|Manimajra]] area from 1764 to 1875. The area is in the present-day [[Chandigarh Capital Region|region of Chandigarh]].{{Efn|Alternatively spelt as 'Mani Majra' with a space or hyphenated as 'Mani-Majra'.|group=note}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Hari Ram |title=History of the Sikhs: Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of Sikh Misls |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers |year=2007 |isbn=978-8121501651 |volume=4}}</ref>{{Rp|page=32}}<ref name=":5" /> The state had poor relations with Patiala and Nahan states, often warring with them.<ref name=":5" />

== Etymology ==
The word Manimajra may derive from Mani Ram ([[Floruit|fl.]] 16th century), the name of a local ''[[zamindar]]'' of the area and ancestor of the later Manimajra royal family.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=May 2022 |title=Manimajra |url=https://map.sahapedia.org/article/Manimajra/11817 |access-date=11 August 2024 |website=Sahapedia}}</ref> Another theory is that it is derived from the settlers from Manaa village, whom were called ''Mani'', that Bhagwan Singh had invited to settle around the royal fort.<ref name=":4" />

== History ==

=== Origin ===
Manimajra village was founded in the 16th century by Mani Ram, who was the forefather of the later state's rulers.<ref name=":4" /> Manimajra eventually grew to become a town.<ref name=":4" /> Manimajra was originally a ''[[pargana]]'' of Sirhind ''[[Sarkar (administrative division)|sarkar]]'' (province).<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} During the tenure of [[Zain Khan Sirhindi|Zain Khan]], the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] governor of Sirhind, Ganga Ram was employed as the revenue officer of Manimajra pargana.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} The Manimajra pargana at the time consisted of a ''chaurasi'' (group of 84 villages).<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}

=== Foundation by Gharib Das and his rule ===
Sirhind was conquered by Sikh forces in January 1764 and around then is when Ganga Ram's son, Gharib Das, took control over the Manimajra pargana.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} In the same year, Gharib Das paid a ''nazan'' totalling 25,000 rupees to [[Jassa Singh Ahluwalia]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=32}} Gharib Das extended the territory of the state to consist of 45 villages of Manimajra, 126 villages of Mullanpur, 6 villages of Chandigarh, and 7 villages of Pinjore, with the total summing up to 184 villages.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} In circa 1766, Gharib Das took possession of the valley of Pinjore.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=The Panjab Past and Present |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University |year=1985 |volume=19 |location=Patiala |pages=31, 219}}</ref> Pinjore was famed throughout the region for its gardens and fortresses.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}

Much of the territory taken by the nascent state originally belonged to the state of [[Nahan State|Nahan]] (also known as Sirmur).<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Archer |first=William George |title=Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills: A Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting |publisher=Sotheby Parke Bernet |year=1973 |isbn=9780856670022 |pages=417}}</ref> Gharib Das also seized the Pinjore Gardens, much to the dismay of Kirat Prakash of Sirmur State.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=318}} The Nahan ruler teamed-up with Patiala State, with a meeting between the two states' rulers occurring at Banur, where an alliance was established through the [[Turban exchange|ceremonial exchanging of each-other's turban]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=158–160, 318}} Amar Singh of Patiala sent his general, Bakhshi Lakhna Dogar, alongside 1,000 troops, to assist the Nahan ruler in conquering Pinjore from Manimajra.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} The two states, being joined also by the forces of [[Nalagarh|Hindur]] (Nalagarh) and [[Bilaspur State (princely state)|Kahlur]] (Bilaspur), launched a joint-attack on Manimajra State, with Gharib Das being defeated.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=158–160, 318}} Pinjore Fort was then held by Ganga Ram as Gharib Das was away for likely a pilgrimage.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} The Manimajra forces at Pinjore Fort withstood the enemy siege for a month and a half but finally fell after Ganga Ram was killed from a gunshot.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} After the siege in 1768, the valley of Pinjore was annexed by Nahan as a result.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=158–160, 318}} However, Patiala's forces suffered in the campaign, losing around 300 troops.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}Gharib Das returned but was not able to wrest control back over the Pinjore Fort.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}
[[File:Mani Majra Fort,east side view Chandigarh, India 02.JPG|thumb|Manimajra Fort's east side view, Sector 13, Chandigarh, India, December 2015]]
Gharib Das formed an alliance with Hari Singh of Sialba and Ropar (Ropar State).<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} The joint forces of Manimajra and Ropar launched an attack on the Nahan forces at Pinjore and its surrounding areas, winning control over the area Chandangarh (now called [[Chandimandir Cantonment|Chandi Mandar]]).<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} Disturbances also occurred in the Banur parganah of Patiala State.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} In-response to this, in 1778 [[Amar Singh of Patiala|Amar Singh of Patiala State]] launched an attack on Manimajra and Ropar states.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} Due to this threat, Gharib Das took shelter at the [[Manimajra Fort]], resisting the Patiala forces for a period of three months.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} Gharib Das finally afterwards appealed for peace by paying a hefty monetary sum to the Patiala ruler.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} Thus, the Patiala forces turned their attention toward Ropar State under Hari Singh of Sialba and marched there.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} However, Hari Singh of Ropar State was backed-up by the joint-forces of his allies, namely Karam Singh Shahid of [[Shahzadpur, Haryana|Shahzadpur]], Gurdit Singh of [[Ladwa State|Ladwa]], Gurbakhsh Singh of Ambala, Karam Singh Nirmala of Shahabad Markanda, Diwan Singh of Sikandra, and Rae Singh and Bhag Singh of [[Buria]], leading to the routing of the Patiala forces.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} Hundreds of Patiala's troops were killed, including the general Bakhshi Lakhna Dogar whilst Diwan Nanun Mai was wounded.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} Two Patiala State generals, Chandu Singh and Mahan Singh, were taken as prisoners-of-war.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}} Amar Singh of Patiala himself managed to escape death or capture.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}

Gharib Das of Manimajra died in 1783, being succeeded by two sons: Gopal Das and Prakash Chand, with Gopal Das being the elder son.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}<ref name=":5" />

=== Under Gopal Das ===
In 1785, Gopal Das possessed a military force consisting of 200 horses, 300 foot soldiers, and 4 guns.<ref name=":5" /> In 1804, Jodh Singh conquered the fortress at Chandimandar from Nahan and bestowed it upon the rulers of Manimajra State.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Arora |first=Amit |date=8 September 2017 |title=Amalgamation of History |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/amalgamation-of-history/articleshow/60426156.cms |access-date=11 August 2024 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> In 1807, Ranjit Singh of Lahore State intervened in a dispute within the Patiala royal family, whereby an estate was granted to Rani Aus Kour for the maintenance of herself and her son, Karam Singh.<ref name=":5" /> The estate had an annual revenue of 50,000 rupees and consisted of the areas of Banur, Manimajra, Sunour, Surali Bissoli, and Minarthal.<ref name=":5" /> Due to this, Karam Singh of Patiala fought with Manimajra State over the waters of the [[Ghaggar-Hakra River|Ghaggar River]].<ref name=":5" /> Gopal Das provided assistance to the British in 1809 and during the [[Anglo-Nepalese War]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}<ref name=":5" /> Due to this, the British official [[David Ochterlony]] offered [[Pinjore]] to Gopal Das as a ''[[jagir]]'' (estate) but he preferred to obtain the ''[[raja]]'' title, which was then bestowed upon him.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}<ref name=":5" />[[File:Fresco of Raja Gopal Singh of Mani Majra State paying obeisance to the goddess Mahamaya from the Mansa Devi temple of Mani Majra.jpg|thumb|Fresco of Raja Gopal Das of Mani Majra State paying obeisance to the goddess Mahamaya from the [[Mata Mansa Devi Mandir|Mansa Devi temple]] of Mani Majra. Painted by Angad of Sirmur, 1813.]]The Mansa Devi temple was constructed in circa 1811 by Gopal Das.<ref name=":4" /> An interesting feature of the temple is that an underground tunnel was built to ensure that Gopal Das and his wife could visit the temple everyday, with the temple only opening for the general public after the royal couple had witnessed their daily ''[[Darshan (Indian religions)|darshan]]''.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> A story related to this is that once [[Karam Singh of Patiala]] had to wait outside the doors of the temple until the Manimajra royals completed their daily darshan before he could be let-in, an event which apparently motivated him to construct his own Mansa Devi temple at Patiala in 1840.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> An artist named Angad, originally from Sirmur State, painted a mural of the [[Chandi]] form of [[Durga]] slaying the demon [[Mahishasura]] at Manimajra in the year 1813.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thakur |first=Laxman S. |title=Where Mortals and Mountain Gods Meet: Society and Culture in Himachal Pradesh |publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study |year=2002 |pages=295}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> According to traditional lore, Gopal Singh of Manimajra [[Mata Mansa Devi Mandir|constructed a temple]] dedicated to the goddess [[Manasa|Mansa]] in 1815 after the ''[[devi]]'' had apparently instructed him to-do so in a dream of his.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barari |first=H. A. |title=A Governor's Tryst with Haryana |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |year=2007 |isbn=9788121209199 |pages=82}}</ref> Gopal Das died in 1816 and was succeeded by Hamir Singh, his son.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}<ref name=":5" />

=== Under Hamir Singh ===
Hamir Singh only survived his predecessor for a few years.<ref name=":5" /> In circa 1818, Hamir Singh of Manimajra allowed the settlement of twelve Jat families originally from Nagla village and one Brahmin family into the Sukhna Choe area, leading to the founding of Hamirgarh village.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Kavita |title=Chandigarh Lifescape: Brief Social History of a Planned City |publisher=Chandigarh Administration |year=1999 |pages=33}}</ref> Hamir Singh had two sons through Rani Chand Kaur, Govardhan Singh and Amar Singh.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |title=The Panjab Past and Present |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University |year=1972 |volume=6 |pages=158}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Hamir Singh was succeeded by his son Govardhan Singh.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=Ram Sukh |title=Ram Sukh Rao's Sri Fateh Singh Partap Prabhakar |publisher=Punjab State Archives |year=1980 |editor-last=Kaur |editor-first=Joginder |location=Patiala |pages=469}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

=== Under Govardhan Singh and Gurbaksh Singh ===
In 1828, the rulers of the [[Cis-Sutlej states]] had an interview with the governor-general in Manimajra.<ref name=":5" /> It is unknown if it was either Lord Amherst or William Butterworth Bayley who was appointed as governor-general that year.<ref name=":5" /> During the rule of Govardhan Singh, Manimajra State supported the British side during the [[First Anglo-Sikh war]], providing a detachment of troops that fought at the [[Battle of Mudki]] in 1845 and other battles of the war.<ref name=":5" /> The soldiers and retainers of Govardhan Singh were issued their uniform only on special occasions and they had to return them to the ''toshakhana'' (treasury) afterwards.<ref name=":7" /> Govardhan Singh died in 1847 and was succeeded by Gurbaksh Singh.<ref name=":5" /> Gurbaksh Singh died in 1866 and was succeeded as ruler by his younger brother, Bhagwan Singh.<ref name=":5" />

=== Under Bhagwan Singh ===
Bhagwan Das was the last ruler of Manimajra State.<ref name=":4" /> Bhagwan Singh was 22-years-old when he came to the throne and inherited a jagir (estate) consisting of 77 villages that brought in a revenue of 38,453 rupees per annum.<ref name=":5" /> Bhagwan Das encouraged pioneers from the nearby village of Manaa to establish settlements and farms around the royal fort of the state as it was an uninhabited tract of land.<ref name=":4" /> Thus, around 70 families from Manaa village took the ruler up on this offer and settled the tracts of land around the fort.<ref name=":4" /> The locality established by these settlers would grow into an important locality, becoming the largest village of the region with an important market, attracting people from Ambala, Kalka, and Ropar.<ref name=":4" />

Whilst Bhagwan Singh is officially credited as being the founder of the current structure of Manimajra Fort, the fort in-actuality likely existed in an earlier form, as it finds mention in travelogues written by William Moorcroft and George Trebeck during the decade of the 1820s.<ref name=":4" /> Between 21 April and 27 April 1872, 20 deaths were recorded in Manimajra locality.<ref name=":5" />

The daughter of Raja Bhagwan Singh of Manimajra, Suraj Kaur, was married to Balbir Singh of [[Faridkot State]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last1=Singh |first1=Sukhpreet |last2=Bhullar |first2=Sukhjeet Kaur |date=2019 |title=Contributions of Different Kings in the Faridkot State |url=https://rjhssonline.com/HTML_Papers/Research%20Journal%20of%20Humanities%20and%20Social%20Sciences__PID__2019-10-1-45.html |journal=Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=248–252 |doi=10.5958/2321-5828.2019.00045.7|url-access=subscription |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />{{fails verification|date=June 2025}} The wedding took place in Ambala district.<ref name=":02" />{{Synthesis inline|date=June 2025}}

=== Dissolution ===
After the death of Bhagwan Singh, the lack of a male issue led to the annexation of the state by the British.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> The estate of Manimajra was absorbed in 1875 into the surrounding district.<ref name=":5" /> The ownership of Manimajra Fort passed onto the Faridkot royal family due to their marital relations.<ref name=":4" />

== Religion ==
[[File:Fresco of a religious procession from the Mansa Devi temple of Mani Majra.jpg|thumb|Fresco of a religious procession from the Mansa Devi temple of Mani Majra State]]
Manimajra State held territory that carries significance in the Sikh religion.<ref name=":4" /> Gurdwara Manji Sahib, also known as Mata Raj Kaur Gurdwara, is believed to have been the place of residence of Mata Raj Kaur, wife of [[Ram Rai]] (son of Guru Har Rai).<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> According to legend, when Mata Raj Kaur was forced to leave the premises of the gurdwara, she said a curse that any person who builds a structure higher than the gurdwara at Manimajra would suffer.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> In-accordance with the legend of the curse, it is claimed that the Manimajra dynasty went extinct since at some point they built the Manimajra Fort higher than the gurdwara.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> Recently, local residents successfully petitioned to have the height of the local gurdwara increased.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

== Legacy ==
[[File:Fresco depicting a parade of Red Coats with musicians leading the infantry from Manimajra Fort.jpg|thumb|Fresco depicting a parade of Red Coats with musicians leading the infantry from Manimajra Fort]]
Manimajra locality later became a town under the jurisdiction of Ambala province in pre-partition Punjab.<ref name=":4" /> The later planned city of Chandigarh was developed from wastelands, villages, and agricultural fields that had once belonged to Manimajra State.<ref name=":4" />

The Manimajra Fort (also known as Surajpur Fort) is currently in a dilapidated condition and the subject of a court dispute.<ref name=":4" /> The fort is currently private property that is off-grounds from the public and little is known of its architecture.<ref name=":4" /> However, what is visible from the outside reveals that the fort's walls was constructed using lines of [[Nanak Shahi bricks|Nanakshahi bricks]].<ref name=":4" /> Whilst the Manimajra Fort has been accorded official status as a heritage structure, no preservation, restoration, or documentation work can be conducted on the fort since it is still under legal dispute.<ref name=":4" />

Manimajra locality is now Chandigarh's IT Park.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> The area of Manimajra was officially renamed as Sector 13 in 2020, not all residents were happy with the name-change.<ref name=":4" /> Rapid urbanization is changing the landscape and culture of the former Manimajra area.<ref name=":4" />

== List of rulers ==

* Gharib Das (r. January 1764–1783)<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}<ref name=":5" />
* Gopal Das (r. 1783–1816){{Efn|Also known as 'Gopal Singh'.|group=note}}<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=158–160}}<ref name=":5" />
* Hamir Singh (r. 1816–?)<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" />
* Govardhan Singh (r. ? – 1847){{Efn|Govardhan Singh's forename is alternatively spelt as 'Goverdhan'.|group=note}}<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":5" />
* Gurbaksh Singh (r. 1847–1866)<ref name=":5" />
* Bhagwan Das (r. 1866 – 1875){{Efn|Also known as 'Bhagwan Singh'.|group=note}}<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== External links ==
*[https://jatchiefs.com/dynasties/dhillon-dynasty-states/mani-majra/Jat Jat Chiefs]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Sikhism in India]]
[[Category:Princely states of Punjab]]
[[Category:1875 disestablishments in the British Empire]]

Manimajra State - Revision history

Abid: added new info