Jassa Singh Ramgarhia

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Not to be confused with Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.


Jassa Singh Ramgarhia
Jassa Singh Ramgharia 1760.jpg
Jassa Singh Ramgharia, c.1780 painting
Born5 May 1723
Ichogill, Lahore[1][2]
Died1803 (aged 79–80)
Known for
SuccessorJodh Singh Ramgarhia who ceded his territories to Maharaja Ranjit Singh; Baghel Singh
Parent(s)
  • Bhagwan Singh (father)
RelativesHardas Singh (grandfather)
One of the very rare photographs taken of Qila Ram Rauni of Ramgarh.
Jassa Singh Ramgharia seated upon his throne, 20th century painting

Jassa Singh Ramgarhia (1723–1803) was a prominent Sikh leader during the period of the Sikh Confederacy. He was the founder of the Ramgarhia Misl,

Early life[edit]

Jassa Singh Ramgarhia was born into a Sikh family[3] with surname Bhambra in 1723. According to W. H. McLeod,[4] his birthplace was the village of Ichogil, near Lahore, whilst H. S. Singha[5] refers only to Lahore and Purnima Dhavan[6] mentions origins in either Guga or Sur Singh, both near Amritsar. His father was named Bhagwan Singh, who himself was the son of Hardas Singh.[7] There is agreement among the sources that he was of Tarkhan[8] origin and was originally named Jassa Singh Thokar (Jassa Singh the Carpenter).[4][5][6] He had four brothers - Jai Singh, Khushal Singh, Mali Singh Ramgarhia and Tara Singh - and became head of the family when his father, Giani Bhagwan Singh, died.[9][page needed]

Jassa Singh rose to command the Sikh misl that became later known as Ramgarhia and built a fort called Ram Rauni and Ramgarhia Bunga (watchtower) at Amritsar. He joined forces with Adina Beg, who appointed him a risaldar (commander), but switche Beg's siege and, in 1752, rebuilt the damaged fort. The edifice was renamed Ramgarh, from which he took his new name.[4][10][lower-alpha 1]

Jassa Singh's policies were in contrast to those of other misl leaders. The large size of Jassa Singh’s territory aroused the jealousy of the other Sikh Misls. They did not want him to become too powerful and the ruler of a big region. At the height of his power, Jassa Singh's territory in the Bari Doab included Batala, Kaldnaur, Dinanagar, Sri Hargobindpur, Shahpur Kandi, Gurdaspur, Qadian, Ghuman, Matteval, and in the Jalandhar Doab, Urmur Tanda, Sarih, Miani, Garhdivala and Zahura. In the hills Kangra, Nurpur, Mandi and Chamba paid him a tribute of two lakh of rupees.

Military career[edit]

In 1758, After the death of Adina Beg he collaborate with Jai Singh Kanhaiya, He capture Sri Hargobindpur, and Miani and established his headquarters at Sri Hargobindpur

In 1763, he sacked Kasur along with Jai Singh Kanhaiya and Hari Singh Dhillon, the Ramgarhias and kanhaiyas share all their booty equally, on this occasion he tried to keep all the booty for himself, As a result his relationship with Jai singh Kanhaiya deteriorated.[11]

In 1765, Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded India for seventh time in the winter of 1764-1765, During this campaign he constantly harassed by Sikhs, Qazi Nur Muhammad who was present in the Afghan army discribes the numbers of engagements between Sikhs and Afghans, a battle was fought on the western bank of the Satluj opposite Rupar, it was morning and the Afghan army was hardly gone 3km from the western bank of the Satluj, when they attacked by the Sikhs, The Afghans immediately stopped marching and got into regular formation of battle, Ahmad Shah Durrani was in the center with 6,000 choice soldiers, Shah Vali Khan, Jahan Khan, Shah Pasand Khan, Anzala Khan and others at the head of 12,000 troops were on the right Nasir Khan with 12,000 Baluchis was on the left, The Dal Khalsa also organised themselves in regular battle army Jassa Singh Ahluwalia fearlessly stood like a mountain in the center close by him was Jassa Singh Thokah, looking like a lion in stature, the Qazi says that Ramgarhia has his own flag and war drum[12]

In 1767, Ahmad Shah Durrani Invaded India for the eight time, while ahamed shah was crossing river Beas, his passage was obstructed by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia a fierce contest took place in which Ahluwalia was severely wounded he retired Cis-Satluj areas Ramgarhia who had succed Hari Singh Dhillon as a leader of Taruna Dal took command of Dal Khalsa[13]

In 1770, he led Plundering expedition into the hills, he defeated Raja Ghamand Chand, the most powerful hill Raja in battle of Talwara on the banks of river Beas, Raja Ghamand Chand and other Raja's of hills become tributary to him, He realised tribute of about two lakhs of rupees from Kangra hill states.[13]

In 1778, Jai Singh Kanhaiya and Haqiqat Singh Kanhaiya supported by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia attacked him and exiled him to the desert of Hansi and Hisar[14]

Death and legacy[edit]

Statue of Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgharia mounted on a horse and holding a sword

Jassa Singh Ramgarhia died in 1803 at the age of 80 An equestrian statue[15] of Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgharia has been installed in Amritsar, Punjab.

See also[edit]

Notwes[edit]

  1. ↑ The suffix -garh is translated as fort.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Sikh Courier International". Sikh Cultural Society of Great Britain. 18 December 1999. Retrieved 18 December 2022 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ "Sikh Courier International". Sikh Cultural Society of Great Britain. 18 December 1999. Retrieved 18 December 2022 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ History of the Sikhs Vol. 4: The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Misis Pg 276 hari ram gupta ISBN 978-8121501651
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 McLeod, W. H. (2005) [1995]. Historical Dictionary of Sikhism (2nd ed.). Scarecrow Press. p. 102. ISBN 0-8108-5088-5.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Singha, H. S. (2005) [2000]. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism (2nd ed.). Hemkunt. p. 111. ISBN 81-7010-301-0.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dhavan, Purnima (2011). When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799. USA: OUP USA. p. 60. ISBN 978-0199756551.
  7. ↑ "ANNALS OF THE RAMGARHIA SARDARS". www.sikh-heritage.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  8. ↑ Sikhs and Sikhism, WH Mcleod, pg102[full citation needed]
  9. ↑ Warrior-diplomat: Jassa Singh Ramgarhia - Harbans Singh Virdi
  10. ↑ Dhavan, Purnima (2011). When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799. USA: OUP USA. p. 81. ISBN 978-0199756551.
  11. ↑ Hari Ram Gupta. The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
  12. ↑ Gupta, Hari Ram. History Of The Sikhs Vol II Evolution of Sikh Confederacies. Munshilal Manohorlal, Pvt Ltd.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Singha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India:Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
  14. ↑ Singha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India:Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
  15. ↑ "Equestrian statue of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia in Amritsar, Punjab India". 6 April 2016.

Further reading[edit]

  • "The heritage of the Sikhs" by Harbans Singh
  • Singh, Khushwant (1991). A History of the Sikhs, Volume 1: 1469-1839. Oxford University Press. pp. 134, 140, 160, 178–181.
  • The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of Sikh Misls. (Date:2001, revised edition. ISBN 81-215-0165-2)

External link[edit]

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