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{{More citations needed|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox royalty
| title = [[Raja]] of [[Ballabgarh]]
| image = Raja Nahar Singh.jpg
| reign = 1839 – 1858
| birth_date = 
| birth_place = [[Ballabhgarh]], [[Faridabad]], [[Punjab region]]
| death_date = 9 January 1858
| death_place = [[Delhi]], India
| predecessor = Raja Ram Singh
| successor = Kushal Singh of [[Kuchesar]]
| royal house = Tewatia Jat Dynasty
| father = Raja Bahadur Singh
}}
'''Raja Nahar Singh ''' (died 1858) was a great [[Jat]] ruler of the [[princely state]] of [[Ballabhgarh]] in [[Faridabad District]] of [[Haryana]], India. They built a fort in Faridabad around 1739. He was involved in the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]. The small kingdom of Ballabhgarh is only 20 miles from Delhi. His palace is taken over by the government of Haryana under Haryana Tourism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Raja Nahar Singh Palace|url=http://www.haryanatourism.gov.in/destination/rajanaharsingh.asp|website=HaryanaTourism|access-date=4 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628070339/http://haryanatourism.gov.in/destination/rajanaharsingh.asp|archive-date=28 June 2015}}</ref> [[Nahar Singh Stadium]] in Faridabad is named after him.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nahar Singh Stadium|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/ground/58081.html|website=espncricinfo|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref>
The [[Raja Nahar Singh metro station]] in Violet line is also named after the martyr.<ref>{{cite web|title=Raja Nahar Singh Metro Station|url=http://www.uniindia.com/cm-urged-to-name-ballabhgarh-metro-station-after-martyr-raja-nahar-singh/states/news/1281492.html|website=uniindia|access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref>

== Early life ==
[[Ballabhgarh#History|Ballabhgarh State]] was an important [[princely state]] founded by [[Jat people|Jat]]s of Tewatia clan. Balram Singh Tewatia, who was the brother-in-law of [[Suraj Mal|Maharaja Suraj Mal Sinsinwar]] of [[Bharatpur State]] was the first ruler of Ballabhgarh State, and Nahar Singh was his descendant. His teachers included Pandit Kulkarni and Maulvi Rahman Khan. His father died in 1830, when he was about 9 years old. He was brought up by his uncle Nawal Singh, who took over the responsibility of running the state affairs. Nahar Singh was crowned in 1839.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}

==Liberal ruler==
He was an able and secular ruler who promoted communal harmony, his letter (31 July 1857) to Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar says:{{quote|Although I, in my heart, profess the Hindu religion, still I follow the dictates of the Muhammedan leaders and am obedient to the followers of that creed. I have gone so far as to erect a lofty marble mosque within the fort (of Ballabhgarh). I have also made a spacious Idgah.<ref name=balidan19>1971, [https://books.google.com/books?id=AlYZAAAAIAAJ Cohesion], Volume 2, Page 91.</ref>}}

He even made a gift of 4 villages to his Muslim court musician Umra Khan of [[Delhi gharana]], a gift that included "the village of melody" Samaypur which is currently a locality of Ballabhgarh town (not to be confused with [[Samaypur]] in north Delhi).<ref name=balidan17>Bonnie C. Wade, 1984, [https://books.google.com/books?id=MiE9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA260&dq=nahar+singh+ballabhgarh&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEm5DrhInYAhUMto8KHaQ0Dsw4ChDoAQg2MAQ#v=onepage&q=nahar%20singh%20ballabhgarh&f=false Khyal: Creativity Within North India's Classical Music Tradition]</ref> Raja Nahar Singh's other court-musicians were famous vocalists Mir Allahbux (known as Ela) and Mir Umrabux (known as Omra), who were the descendants of [[Mirasi|kalawant]] Mir Bala.<ref name=balidan18>Amala Dāśaśarmā, 1993, [https://books.google.com/books?id=FKWfAAAAMAAJ Musicians of India: Past and Present : Gharanas of Hindustani Music and Genealogies]</ref>

== Role in the 1857 rebellion ==
During the [[1857 uprising]], under the "Delhi Agency" there were seven [[princely states]], [[Jhajjar#History|Jhajjar]], [[Farrukhnagar#Under British Raj|Farrukhnagar]], [[Ballabhgarh#History|Ballabhgarh]], [[Loharu State|Loharu]], [[Pataudi State|Pataudi]] and Dujana. The Chiefs of the last two estates remained loyal to the British and others rebelled.<ref name=balidan16>[Madan Gopal, 1977, [https://books.google.com/books?id=mrwBAAAAMAAJ Sir Chhotu Ram: a political biography], Page 9.</ref> The Rajput rulers of Rajasthan also kept out of the rebellion except few like [[Kushal Singh of Auwa|Thakur Kushal Singh]] of [[Pali, Rajasthan|Pali]].<ref name=balidan21/> British forces met with a tough resistance right on the doorstep of the Capital when Nahar Singh, the Jat ruler of Ballabhgarh state, finally halted the British Juggernaut.<ref name=balidan5>1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ilo_AQAAIAAJ Organiser], Volume 37.</ref> Nahar refused to extend any help to District Collector William Ford, who was collecting forces to curb the uprising. Nahar actively recruited sepoys of the native infantry or cavalry, who revolted against the British, in services of his Ballbhgarh forces with enhanced pay and promotional ranks. Munshi Jeevan Lal writes, ''"by 17 July 1857 the Raja had taken into his service 200 troopers who had lately been in the employ of the English."'' The number continued to swell in the subsequent period. Incidentally, one such sepoy who was granted rank of Naik, appeared as a witness to testify the fact before the British Military Commission, which was established to prosecute Raja Nahar Singh. To further fortify his armed strength, the Raja not only raised new levies but also collected as much as possible latest weaponry and other war material as was revealed from the recovery of large number of horses, bullocks, carts, English rifles and dresses from his fort after the British assaulted it.<ref name=balidan15>[Hari Singh Boparai, 2000, [https://books.google.com/books?id=pm4wAQAAIAAJ Revolt of 1857 in Punjab and role of the Sikhs], Page 48.</ref>

He revolted against the British rule, and joined the forces led by Emperor Bahadur Shah. In a letters to [[Bahadur Shah Zafar]] dated 22 May and 25 May 1857, Raja Nahar wrote that he had secured the road from [[Delhi Gate, Delhi|Delhi Gate]] (Delhi) to [[Badarpur, Delhi|Badarpur]], as well as drove the British away from the [[pargana]]s of [[Pali village|Pali]], [[Palwal]] and [[Fatehpur Billoch|Fatehpur]].<ref name=balidan9>1859, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Tq5bAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA2-PA32&dq=nahar+singh+ballabhgarh&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwja_oyF3ojYAhUJrY8KHe4qDnwQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=nahar%20singh%20ballabhgarh&f=false Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons], Great Britain Parliament House of Commons, Page 32.</ref><ref name=Fatehpur1>[https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Fatehpur,+Haryana,+India/@28.5005075,76.2488318,9z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x390d6ca451f2c86b:0x8505ca5f32dc4b35!8m2!3d28.5010595!4d76.8109613 Fatehpur in Haryana between Jhajjar and Gurugram on Haryana-Delhi]</ref> Raja Nahar Singh of Ballabhgarh supported the Revolutionary Government and faithfully obeyed the instructions issued to him in connection with the maintenance of peace and order, recruitment of forces and collection of funds for the War.<ref name=balidan20p238>Syed Moinul Haq, 1968, [https://books.google.com/books?id=bOE_AAAAMAAJ The Great Revolution of 1857], Page 238.</ref>

==Death==
{{see also | History_of_Haryana#Colonial_period | Ballabhgarh#History | Farrukhnagar#Under_British_Raj | Rao Tula Ram | label 1 = Haryana in 1857| label 2 = Ballabhgarh history | label 3 = Farrukhnagar history | label 4 = Rao Tula Ram }}

Nahar Singh, the Raja of Ballabgarh was 32 years old when he threw his small army into the fray against the British during the 1857 uprising. Refusing an offer to save himself by acknowledging British supremacy, he was hung in Chandni Chowk on 9 January 1858 and his estate was forfeited.<ref name=balidan8>L. C. Gupta and M. C. Gupta, 2000, [https://books.google.com/books?id=nAexAAAAIAAJ Haryana on Road to Modernisation]</ref> He was charged by the colonial rulers for assisting rebellion with money, provisions and arms and by sending troops to [[Palwal]], for taking it from the British Government in India.<ref name=balidan3/> British sentenced him to ''"be hanged by neck until he be dead and further to forfeit all his property and effects of every description."''<ref name=balidan6>Kripal Chandra Yadav,1977, [https://books.google.com/books?id=eMEJAQAAIAAJ The Revolt of 1857 in Haryana], Page 98.</ref> His state was taken over by the British and thus sun set on the Jat state of Ballabhgarh.<ref name=balidan3>Vīrasiṃha, [https://books.google.com/books?id=FGgMAQAAMAAJ their role & contribution to the socio-economic life and polity of north & north-west India, Volume 3], Suraj Mal Memorial Education Society. Centre for Research and Publication.</ref> [[Gulab Singh Saini]], [[Bhura Singh Valmiki]] the commander of Raja Nahar's forces led the Ballabhgarh army against British. Gulab was hanged in Chandni Chowk on 9 January 1858 along with Raja Nahar Singh.<ref name=balidan4>Ranjit Singh Saini, 1999, [https://books.google.com/books?id=qHFjAAAAMAAJ Post-Pāṇinian systems of Sanskrit grammar], Parimal Publications.</ref>

==Aftermath==
After Nahar's property was ceased by British and his estate was abolished. A political pension of Rs. 6,000 a year was settled upon Nahar's heir-apparent and adopted son who was his nephew, Kushal Singh. Kushal left Ballabhgarh for good and sought shelter with his wife's people at [[Kuchesar]].<ref name=balidan13>Kailash Nath Katju, Valmiki Katju, Markanday Katju, 2006, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ml6cAAAAMAAJ Life and Times of Doctor Kailas Nath Katju], Page 222.</ref> Kushal Singh and his descendants continued to rule the [[Kuchesar#Kuchesar State|Kuchesar State]] till 1948 when they were abolished.<ref name=balidan12>Sir Roper Lethbridge, 1893, [https://books.google.com/books?id=7iOsNUZ2MXgC&pg=PA559&dq=nahar+singh+ballabhgarh&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwja_oyF3ojYAhUJrY8KHe4qDnwQ6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q=nahar%20singh%20ballabhgarh&f=false The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary], p559.</ref> Kushal's son Giriraj Singh, and his [[Kuchesar#Chronology of estate-holders|descendant]]s, continued to rule the Kuchesar State with the title of "Rao".<ref name=balidan13/>

Former Indian Prime Minister [[Chaudhary Charan Singh]]'s ancestors were the kinsmen Raja Nahar Singh. In order to escape the oppression which the British Government let loose on the Raja's followers, Charan Singh's grandfather "Chaudhry Badam Singh" moved eastward along with his family to a village called Bhatona far beyond the [[Yamuna]] in [[Bulandshahr]].<ref name=balidan20p1>Charan Singh, 1986, [https://books.google.com/books?id=cwftAAAAMAAJ Land Reforms in the U.P. and the Kulaks], Page 1.</ref>

For their participation in 1857 rebellion, three main chiefs of Haryana were tried and hanged at [[Old Delhi#Old Delhi in 1876|Kotwali]] in [[Chandani Chowk]] of [[Old Delhi]]. Nahar Singh, the Raja of Ballabhgarh, was hanged on 9 January 1858. Abdur Rehman, Nawab of [[Jhajjar]], was hanged on 23 January 1858. Ahmad Ali, Nawab of [[Farrukhnagar]], was hanged on 23 January 1858. The [[Chaudhary]]s and [[Lambardar]]s of villages who participated in rebellion were also deprived of their land and property, including 368 people of [[Hisar district|Hisar]] and [[Gurugram district|Gurugram]] were hanged or transported for life, and fine was imposed on the people of [[Thanesar]] (Rs 2,35,000), [[Ambala]] (Rs. 2,53,541) and [[Rohtak]] (Rs. 63,000 mostly on [[Ranghar]]s, [[Punjabi Shaikh|Shaikh]]s and [[Qassab|Muslim Kasai]]).<ref name=balidan1>[[Satish Chandra Mittal]], 1986, [https://books.google.com/books?id=2RKTigrrP1cC Haryana, a Historical Perspective], p58.</ref>

When the mutiny was suppressed, the Mughal Emperor and other Nawabs were all awarded different types of punishments and ousted from their kingdoms. Before the mutiny, the Indian Army mostly consisted of men from East and South India. After the Mutiny the British began to recruit soldiers from North India.<ref name=balidan21>M.K. Singh, 2009, [https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8126137452 Encyclopaedia Of Indian War Of Independence (1857–1947) (Set Of 19 Vols.)]</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:Nahar_Singh_Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|[[Nahar Singh Stadium]] in [[Faridabad]] named after Nahar Singh has hosted several [[One Day International|International Cricket Matches]]]]
Raja Nahar Singh was a hero of [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|India's First War of Independence]] (1857. 9 January, the day in 1858 that he was hanged by the British, is celebrated in [[Haryana]] as Balidan Diwas (The Day of Sacrifice).<ref name=balidan2>Vinod Mehta, 2006, [https://books.google.com/books?id=uSBuAAAAMAAJ Delhi and NCR city guide], Outlook Publishing, p443.</ref> ‘Shaheed Maharaja Nahar Singh Marg’ near Wazirpur Depot in Delhi is a road named after him.<ref name=balidan22>1989, [https://books.google.com/books?id=v4BDAAAAYAAJ Data India], Page 674.</ref> [[India Post]] issued a postal stamp in his honor.<ref name=nahargk>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqCiwyOOA2U Nahar Singh legacy], Haryana HSSC GK.</ref>

'''[[Raja Nahar Singh Kartik cultural festival]]''' is held annually at his 18th century [[Nahar Singh Mahal]] palace, since 1996 by the [[Haryana Tourism]], around November during the bright and auspicious autumn month of [[Kartik (month)|Kartik]] as per [[Vikram Samvat]] calendar.<ref name=balidan8/><ref name=balidan7>1998, [https://books.google.com/books?id=7QJuAAAAMAAJ Rashtriya Sahara], Volume 6, Issues 7–12, Page 126.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bharatpur State]]
* [[Deeg]]
* [[Loharu State]]
* [[Nahargarh Fort]] in Jaipur, unrelated to Nahar Singh

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Nahar Singh}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=Tq5bAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA2-PA32&dq=nahar+singh+ballabhgarh&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwja_oyF3ojYAhUJrY8KHe4qDnwQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=nahar%20singh%20ballabhgarh&f=false Raja Nahar Singh's letters to Bahadur Shah Zaffar]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Nahar}}
[[Category:1858 deaths]]
[[Category:Faridabad district]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Haryana]]
[[Category:People executed by British India by hanging]]
[[Category:Revolutionaries of the Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]

Nahar Singh - Revision history

>RegentsPark: Reverted edits by 2409:4050:ECE:C20D:DD42:A7B1:4CE3:D341 (talk) to last version by RegentsPark