Nawab Kapur Singh
Nawab Kapur Singh (1697- 9 October 1753) was a highly respected Sikh leader who played a crucial role in shaping the Sikh community during the early 18th century. he led the Sikhs during a time of great turmoil and transformation. Kapur Singh is best known for organizing the Sikh Confederacy and its powerful military force, the Dal Khalsa.[1]
Early life
changeHe was born in 1697 in the village of Faizullahpur, near Amritsar. Kapur Singh's father, Dalip Singh, and his two sons, Kapur Singh and Dan Singh, converted to Sikhism together in 1721 by taking the pahul ceremony from Bhai Mani Singh. They belonged to the Virk Jat community.
Kapur Singh became a Sikh during a time when the Sikh community was facing severe persecution. Despite this, he remained optimistic and had strong faith in the destiny of the Khalsa. Zakariya Khan, the viceroy of Punjab from 1726 to 1745, initially tried to suppress the Sikhs through harsh punishments. However, this approach failed, and he later decided to adopt a policy of pacification. As part of this new approach, Zakariya Khan offered the Sikhs a jagir, which included Chak Guru (Amritsar) and 12 villages. Subeg Singh, a Sikh and Persian-knowing clerk, was sent to lead a delegation to the Sikhs. He suggested that the offer should include presents and honors, which Zakariya Khan agreed to. Kapur Singh was given the title of Nawab, along with a khilat and a bag of gold coins..[1]
Kapur Singh Becomes Nawab
changeIn 1733, Zakariya Khan, the Mughal governor of Punjab, tried to make peace with the Sikhs. He sent Subeg Singh, a trusted officer, to offer them a jagir, a title, and gifts. The Sikhs, led by Darbara Singh, were initially hesitant to accept the offer. Darbara Singh rejected the proposal outright, but the Sangat, a gathering of Sikh leaders, persuaded Kapur Singh to accept the offer. Kapur Singh was given the title of Nawab, along with a khilat, a bag of gold, and a jagir. The jagir included the lands of Dipalpur, Kanganwal, and Jhabal, with a combined revenue of one lakh rupees. Kapur Singh was also exempted from attending the court or capital of the Mughals.[2]
After accepting the offer, the Sikhs were able to live in ease and comfort in their holy city, Amritsar. They were finally able to rest after a long and strenuous life of fighting against the Mughals.[3]
Division of the Khalsa and Confiscation of the Jagir
changeIn 1733, the Khalsa at Amritsar was at peace for a year. However, things took a turn after Darbara Singh's death in 1734. The responsibility of leading the Sikhs fell on Nawab Kapur Singh's shoulders. Unfortunately, the younger men in the group were dissatisfied and rebelled due to differences in opinion and outlook. To address this issue, Nawab Kapur Singh divided the Khalsa into two groups: the Taruna Dal, comprising younger men, and the Budha Dal, consisting of older individuals. Each group was further divided into five sub-groups, following the Sikh tradition of considering five as a sacred number. Kapur Singh also had his own group.
The Taruna Dal members soon grew tired of their inactive life and resented relying on government support. As a result, they returned to their homes. According to Ratan Singh Bhangu, some of these young men engaged in illegal activities, which offended the government.[1]
Zakariya Khan, the Mughal governor, proposed to Kapur Singh that the young Sikh men should join the Mughal army. However, Kapur Singh declined the offer. Zakariya Khan then suggested that the government would waive all revenues if the Sikhs settled as peaceful farmers. Kapur Singh did not provide any assurance, leading Zakariya Khan to confiscate the jagir by the end of 1735.[4]
Nadir Shah's Invasion of India
changeNadir Shah's invasion of India in 1739 had a devastating impact on the region. He was in Punjab and Delhi for five months, from January to May, during which time the administrative machinery collapsed. Cities like Wazirabad, Eminabad, and Gujrat were reduced to ashes, and big villages were also destroyed. The situation was chaotic, with every person taking advantage of the situation to plunder and pillage. Thousands of robbers roamed the public roads, making it difficult for people to travel safely. Shaikh Ali Hazin, who was traveling from Lahore to Sarhind at the time, described the province as being in "complete revolution".
Kapur Singh, the leader of the Sikhs, saw an opportunity to gather booty and punish their enemies. He organized small parties of Sikhs to block roads and pathways, and they plundered large parts of the country. They even built a small fort at Dallewal to store their booty. The Sikhs also targeted individuals who had informed the government about their whereabouts. Kapur Singh kept himself engaged in organizing these small parties of Sikhs, who were determined to take advantage of the chaotic situation.[1]
After Nadir Shah's retirement, Zakariya Khan took over the province, only to find it in ruins. He immediately took action against the Sikhs, destroying their fort at Dallewal and executing many Sikhs at Shahid Ganj. This led to the Sikhs fleeing Punjab and migrating to Malwa. According to Ratan Singh Bhangu, the Sikhs from the Majha region were driven away by the Brars. In the Sarhind region, the Sikhs seized control of many villages and placed them under the leadership of Daranat Shah.
Emperor Muhammad Shah intervened, sending AzimuJlah Khan to discipline the Sikhs. However, the Sikhs were forced to retreat into the Lakhi Jungle. Zakariya Khan's rule came to an end with his death on July 1, 1745. He was succeeded by weak leaders, including Abdullah, Yahiya Khan, and Shahnawaz. During this time, many young Jats from the Majha region were drawn to the Sikh faith, attracted by the promise of easier pursuits and a life free from the hardships of farming. Kapur Singh, a Sikh leader, organized these new recruits into 25 bands, each consisting of around 100 young men led by a commander. These bands were united by their shared faith and common interests, forming a system of general confederation for defense and offense..[1]
Foundation of the Dal Khalsa
changeKapur Singh realized that the time was critical. He believed that Ahmad Shah Durrani, despite being defeated, would launch another attack. The reason was that Durrani needed money to establish his power in Afghanistan, but the people there were extremely poor. As a result, he would have to come to India to get the money.
Kapur Singh also knew that the Mughal Empire was weak, having seen it firsthand when he attended Nadir Shah in Delhi. Additionally, Muin-ul-Mulk had a reputation for being strict and authoritarian. To protect the Sikhs from these threats, Kapur Singh decided to unite his men under a younger and powerful leader. On March 29, 1748, the Sikh leaders gathered at Amritsar, where they formed the Dal Khalsa. The Dal Khalsa was divided into eleven misls, or groups, which were placed under the command of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. The misls were further divided into two groups: the Budha Dal and the Taruna Dal.
The Budha Dal consisted of six misls: Ahluwalia, Dallewalia, Faizullahpuria, Karora Singhia, Nishanwala, and Shahid. The Taruna Dal consisted of five misls: Bhangi, Kanhiya, Nakai, Ramgarhia, and Sukarchakia.[1]
Founder of the Singhpuria Misl
changeKapur Singh was one of the eleven leaders of the Sikh misls. He was originally from the village of Faizullahpur, which earned him the nickname Faizullahpuriia. Later, he renamed his misl Singhpuria.
During Ahmad Shah Durrani's second invasion of India in 1749-1750, Kapur Singh saw an opportunity to attack Lahore. Muin-ul-Mulk had led his army to the river Chenab to hold off the invader, leaving the capital defenseless. Kapur Singh guided the Dal Khalsa, led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, to attack Lahore. The town was plundered, and its suburbs were burnt down. Kapur Singh took control of the city, sitting on the platform of the Kotwali to secure its revenues. However, when Muin-ul-Mulk's force approached, Kapur Singh retreated from the capital. Over time, he acquired several villages on both sides of the river Satluj, worth two lakhs of rupees a year. Kapur Singh's force consisted of 2,500 horsemen, known for their bravery, boldness, and daring. According to Latif, this force was the fiercest and most dreaded of all the Sikh soldiers.[1]
Death
changeBefore his death, Kapur Singh handed over the steel mace of Guru Gobind Singh to Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. This symbolic gesture acknowledged Jassa Singh's leadership of the Khalsa and fulfilled the wishes of Mata Sundari. Kapur Singh passed away in October 1753. His tomb is located near the temple of Baba Atal in Amritsar, serving as a reminder of his contributions to the Sikh community.[1]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001). The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
- ↑ Singha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India:Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
- ↑ Singh, Khushwant (11 October 2004). A History of the Sikhs: 1469–1838 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-567308-1. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ↑ Gupta, Hari Ram. History Of The Sikhs Vol II Evolution of Sikh Confederacies. Munshilal Manohorlal, Pvt Ltd.