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{{short description|Great Warrior}}
{{morefootnotes|date=December 2018}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kapur Singh
| office1 = [[Jathedar of Akal Takht|4th Jathedar of Akal Takht]]
| office2 = [[Dal Khalsa (Sikh Army)|3rd Jathedar of Buddha Dal]]
| honorific-prefix = [[Jathedar|Panth Patshah]] [[Nawab]]
| native_name = ਪੰਥ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ {{Lang|pa|ਨਵਾਬ ਕਪੂਰ ਸਿੰਘ}}
| image = Portret van Kapur Singh, RP-T-1993-409.jpg
| imagesize =
| alongside =
| predecessor1 = [[Baba Darbara Singh|Darbara Singh]]
| successor1 = [[Jassa Singh Ahluwalia]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fa6B20l9AeQC&q=kasur+arabic+punjab&pg=PA34|title=Sikh Studies|last=Singha|first=Dr H. S.|date=2005|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=9788170102588|language=en}}</ref>
| predecessor2 = [[Baba Darbara Singh|Darbara Singh]]
| successor2 = [[Jassa Singh Ahluwalia]]
| birth_name = Kapur Singh
| birth_date = {{birth year|1697}}
| birth_place = Kaloke, [[Subah of Lahore|Lahore Subah]], [[Mughal Empire]] {{small|(present-day [[Sheikhupura district]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]])}}
| death_date = {{death year and age|1753|1697}}
| death_place = [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab]], [[Durrani Empire]] {{small|(present-day [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])}}
| nationality =
| spouse =
| relations =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater =
| image_size =
| term_start1 = 1737
| term_end1 = 1753
| term_start2 = 1737
| term_end2 = 1753
| mother =
| father = Dalip Singh
| known_for =
| title1 = [[Jathedar|Honorable Jathedar]]
| caption = Posthumous portrait of Nawab Kapur Singh from 1850's
}}

'''[[Nawab]] Kapur Singh Virk ''' (1697–1753) is considered one of the major figures in [[Sikh]] history, under whose leadership the Sikh community traversed one of the darkest periods of its history. He was the organizer of the [[Sikh Confederacy]] and the [[Dal Khalsa (Sikh Empire)|Dal Khalsa]]. [[Nawab Kapur Singh Virk|Nawab Kapur Singh]] is regarded by Sikhs as a leader and general par excellence.<ref>{{Cite book|last=W. H. McLeod|first=Louis E. Fenech|title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism|publisher=Rowman and Littlefield lpublishers|year=2014|isbn=9781442236011|pages=172}}</ref>

==Early life==
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
[[File:Nawab Kapur Singh.png|thumb|Nawab Kapur Singh Virk, 20th century painting]]
Nawab Kapur Singh was born into a [[Virk]] [[Jat people|Jat]] family in 1697.<ref name="Dhavan">{{cite book |last1=Dhavan |first1=Purnima |title=When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799 |date=2011 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0199756551 |page=63 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7HJ5idB8_QC&pg=PA63 |access-date=5 November 2018}}</ref> His native village was ''Kaloke'', now in [[Sheikhupura]] district, in [[Punjab (Pakistan)]]. Kapur Singh was eleven years old at the time of [[Guru Gobind Singh]]'s passing on and nineteen at the time of the massacre of [[Baba Banda Singh Bahadur]] and his followers in Delhi. Later, when he seized the village of ''Faizullapur'', near [[Amritsar]], he renamed it ''Singhpura'' and made it his headquarters. He is thus, also known as Kapur Singh Faizullapuria, and the small principality he founded, as Faizullapuria or Singhpuria.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Harbans|title=The Heritage of the Sikh|publisher=Asia Publishing House|year=1965|pages=52}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Singha|first=Dr H. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fa6B20l9AeQC&q=%22Singhpuria+Misl%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA25|title=Sikh Studies|date=2005|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=978-81-7010-258-8|pages=25|language=en}}</ref>

==Initiation into the Khalsa fold==
Kapur Singh underwent amrit-initiation at a large gathering held at Amritsar on [[Baisakhi]] Day, 1721 from Panj Piarey led by [[Bhai Mani Singh]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Surjit Singh|title=Sikhs in the Eighteenth Century|year=1999|isbn=9788172052171|location=the university of Michigan|pages=86}}</ref> His father, Dalip Singh, and brother, Dan Singh, were also among those who were initiated into the [[Khalsa]] fold on that day.

==Campaign against Zakarya Khan==
Kapur Singh soon gained a position of eminence among the Sikhs, who were then engaged in a desperate struggle against the Imperial [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] government. [[Zakariya Khan Bahadur]] who had become the Mughal governor of [[Lahore]] in 1726, launched a policy of persecution against the Sikhs.

In those days, pursued by the bounty-hunters, as the governor of Lahore had put a price on a Sikh's head, the Sikhs roamed the jungles of Central Punjab in small groups. Kapur Singh headed one such band. To assert their high spirits despite being hounded by government forces and bounty-hunters, and with a view to paralysing the administration and obtaining food for their companions these groups would launch attacks on government treasuries and caravans moving from one place to another. Such was their success in this endeavour that the governor was soon obliged to make terms with them.

==The title of Nawab==
In 1733, the Mughal government decided, at the insistence of Zakarya Khan, to revoke all repressive measures issued against the Sikhs and made an offer of a grant to them. The title of [[Nawab]] was conferred upon their leader, with a [[jagir]] consisting of the three [[pargana]]s of Dipalpur, Kanganval and Jhabal.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Surjit Singh|title=Struggle of the Sikhs for Sovereignty|publisher=Guru Das Kapur|year=1980|pages=335}}</ref>

After a [[Sarbat Khalsa]], the Kapur Singh accepted the offer. Kapur Singh was unanimously elected as the leader and chosen for the title. As a mark of respect, he placed the robe of honour ("Siropa") sent by the Mughals at the feet of the [[Panj Piare]] - amongst whom were [[Baba Deep Singh]], Bhai Karam Singh and Bhai Buddh Singh (great-great-grandfather of [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]) - before putting it on. The dress included a shawl, a turban, a jewelled plume, a pair of gold bangles, a necklace, a row of pearls and a brocade garment.

==Formation of the Dal Khalsa==
Word was sent around to Sikhs passing their days in distant jungles and deserts that peace had been made with the government and that they could return to their homes. Nawab Kapur Singh undertook the task of consolidating the disintegrated fabric of the Sikh ''Jathas''. They were merged into a single central fighting force (The Dal) divided into two sections - The ''Budha Dal'', the army of the veterans, and the ''Taruna Dal'', the army of the young, Sardar [[Hari Singh Dhillon]] was elected its leader. The former was entrusted with the task of looking after the holy places, preaching the word of the Gurus and inducting converts into the Khalsa Panth by holding baptismal ceremonies. The Taruna Dal was the more active division and its function was to fight in times of emergencies.

Nawab Kapur Singh's personality was the common link between these two wings. He was universally respected for his high character. His word was obeyed willingly and to receive baptism at his hands was counted an act of rare merit.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Sikh Review - Volume 27|year=1979|location=the university of Michigan|pages=56}}</ref>

==Rise of the Misls==
Under Hari Singh's leadership, the Taruna Dal rapidly grew in strength and soon numbered more than 12,000. To ensure efficient control, Nawab Kapur Singh split it into five parts, each with a separate centre. The first batch was led by Baba Deep Singh Shaheed, the second by Karam Singh and Dharam Singh, the third by Kahan singh and Binod Singh of Goindwal, the fourth by Dasaundha Singh of Kot Budha and the fifth by Vir Singh Ranghreta and Jivan Singh Ranghreta. Each batch had its own banner and drum, and formed the nucleus of a separate political state. The territories conquered by these groups were entered in their respective papers at the [[Akal Takht]] by '''Sultan ul Quam Baba''' [[Jassa Singh Ahluwalia]]. From these documents or misls, the principalities carved out by them came to known as [[Misls]]. Seven more groups were formed subsequently and, towards the close of century, there were altogether twelve Sikh Misls ruling the Punjab.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Surjit Singh|title=Sikhs in the Eighteenth Century|year=1999|isbn=9788172052171|pages=413}}</ref>

==Singhpuria Misl==
The founder of the rule-by-Misl system was Nawab Kapur Singh. Nawab Kapur Singh was a great warrior. He fought many battles. The [[Battle of Sirhind (1764)]] was a turning point of [[Singhpuria Misl]]. After the fall of Sirhind a considerable portion of present-day [[Rupnagar District]] came under the [[Singhpuria Misl]]. These areas included ''Manauli'', ''Ghanuli'', ''Bharatgarh'', ''[[Kandhola]]'', ''Chooni'','' Machli'', ''Bhareli'', ''Bunga'' and ''Bela''.

By 1769, the Singpuria Misl had the following territories in its possession:-
Some parts of the districts of Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur in [[Doaba]], Kharparkheri and Singhpura in Bari-Doab and Abhar, Adampur, Chhat, Banoor, Manauli Ghanauli, Bharatgarh, [[Kandhola]], Chooni, Machhli Bhareli, Banga, Bela, Attal Garh and some other places in the province of Sirhind.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Markovits|first=Claude|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3d9UDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Singhpuria+Misl%22&pg=PT3|title=A History of Modern India, 1480-1950|date=2002-01-01|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|isbn=978-93-5266-745-1|language=en}}</ref>

==Chota Ghalughara==
{{main|Chhotaa Ghallooghaaraa}}
Meanwhile, Khan and his minister, Lakhpat Rai, again launched an all-out campaign and set forth with a large army. The Sikhs were brought to bay in a dense bush near [[Kahnuwan]], in the [[Gurdaspur District]]. They put up determined fight, but were overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the enemy and scattered with heavy losses. They were chased into hills. More than seven thousand died. "To complete revenge" says Syed Mohammad Latif, another historian of the Punjab, "Lakhpat Rai brought one thousand Sikhs in irons to Lahore, having compelled them to ride on donkeys, bare-backed, paraded them in the bazars. They were, then taken to the horse-market outside Delhi Gate, and there beheaded one after another without mercy." So extensive was the indiscriminate killing that the campaign is known in Sikh history as the ''Chhota Ghalughara'' or ''Lesser Holocaust''. The ''Greater Holocaust'' ''Wadda Ghalughara'' was to come later.

==Death==
Nawab Kapur Singh requested the community to relieve him of his office, due to his old age, and at his suggestion, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was chosen as the supreme commander of the Dal Khalsa. Kapur Singh died on 9 October 1753 at Amritsar and was succeeded by his nephew (Dhan Singh's son), [[Khushal Singh]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Punjab District Gazetteers: Amritsar. Supplement|publisher=Punjab India|year=1976|location=the University of Michigan|pages=606}}</ref>

[[Khushal Singh]] who succeeded him as the leader of the misl. Sardar [[Khushal Singh]] played a significant role in expanding the territories of the Singhpuria Misl on both the banks of the [[Satluj]] river. The most important of the possessions of Khushal Singh were Patti, Bhartgarh, Nurpur, Bahrampur and Jalandhar. Khushal Singh also occupied Ludhiana. He had to divide the district of Banur with Patiala. He died in 1795 leaving his misl stronger than ever it was and with territorial possessions far larger than those he had inherited.

[[Khushal Singh]] was succeeded by his son Budh Singh. When Abdali returned home after his ninth invasion of India, the Sikhs had occupied more territories in the Punjab. Sheikh Nizamuddin was the ruler of [[Jalandhar]] at that time. Sardar Budh Singh defeated Nizamuddin on the battle-field and occupied [[Jalandhar]]. He also took possession of Bulandgarh, Behrampur, Nurpur and Haibatpur-Patti. This victory brought him yearly revenue of three lakhs of rupees.

However, Budh Singh could not equal Khushal Singh's talents. The Singhpuria Misl began to decline and ultimately all its possessions on the west of Satluj were annexed by [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjab)|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]. On his possessions on the east of the Satluj, however, the British extended their protection to him. 
Budh Singh died in 1816, leaving seven sons behind him. His eldest son, Amar Singh Virk, retained possession of Bhartgarh and divided the rest of the territories among his six brothers as under:-

*Bhopal Singh Virk was given the estate of Ghanauli.
*Gopal Singh Virk: Manauli.
*Lal Singh Virk: Bunga.
*Gurdyal Singh Virk: Attalgarh.
*Hardyal Singh Virk: Bela
*Dyal Singh Virk: [[Kandhola]].

==Legacy==
The village of Kapurgarh in [[Nabha]] is named after Nawab Kapur Singh.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Khushwant|title=A History of the Sikhs: 1469-1839|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=1963|pages=123}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]]
*[[Singhpuria Misl]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*''The heritage of the Sikhs'' by Harbans Singh
*''History of the Sikhs, Volume 1'' by Khushwant Singh

==External links==
*[http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhlist/warriors/kapur.html Sikh-history.com]

{{Sikhism}}
{{Budha Dal Jathedars|Baba Darbara Singh||Nawab Kapur Singh|Jassa Singh Ahluwalia|}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nawab Kapur Singh}}
[[Category:1697 births]]
[[Category:1753 deaths]]
[[Category:Sikh warriors]]
[[Category:History of Punjab]]
[[Category:People of the Sikh Empire]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Jat rulers]]
[[Category:Nihang]]
[[Category:Jathedars of Akal Takht]]
[[Category:Indian warriors]]
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Sheikhupura]]
[[Category:People from Amritsar]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Amritsar]]
[[Category:Politicians from Amritsar]]

Nawab Kapur Singh - Revision history

Bot at 12:25, 10 December 2022