Stay in Amritsar Akali Phula Singh

1 stay in amritsar

1.1 jathedar of amritsar
1.2 meeting maharaja ranjit singh
1.3 battle of kasur
1.4 encounter charles metcalfe

stay in amritsar
the jathedar of amritsar

the akal bunga (akal takht), amritsar became headquarters of akali jatha

upon hearing of news of lack of maintenance , other neglect sevadars of gurdwaras in amritsar akali phula singh came amritsar in 1800 @ time had under leadership band of 2,000 nihangs. stopped mismanagement , actively began reforming many gurdwaras within amritsar point became responsible , accepted being in charge of maintenance of gurdwaras in area. did kar seva @ holy sorawar @ harmindar sahib , overall cleaning of complex of 100,000 pilgrims lasted 2 months. later on in life did similar improvements sri muktsar sahib, anandpur sahib, , damdama sahib. seeing akali phula singh s high character , dedication sangat made him jathedar of akal takht initiated panj pyare.

meeting maharaja ranjit singh

akaki phula singh remained prominent member of court of maharajah ranjit singh

at beginning of nineteenth century amritsar war ruled bhangi misl under mai sukhan , other sikh sirdars. ranjit singh of sukerchakia misl had acquired capital of punjab, lahore. when approached amritsar wanting add empire created problem ruling families of city. in 1801 maharajah ranjeet singh brought army , bhangi misl fortified amritsar preparing battle. there brief shelling ranjit singh fired empty rounds sky in respect of holy city. akali phula singh saw , saddened event , right when battle imminent intervened between 2 sikh forces in middle of battlefield. said sin sikh kill sikh , sin fire cannons in amritsar , succeeded in persuading them stop fighting. 2 parties made peace under akali phula singh s advice. ranjit singh asked akali phula singh join forces , agreed, akali phula singh him added 2,000 3,000 nihangs join government army. many of ranjit singh s future victories due akali phula singh , army.

battle of kasur

kasur falls in close proximity lahore , there many pathan-sikh wars fought earlier between 2 neighbouring empires. emperor nizamuddin khan agreed after battle subdue sikh empire. nizamuddin broke vow , defeated again ranjit singh forgiving him once again allowing nizamuddin control kasur again. next nawab of kasur , nizamuddin son, qutbuddin khan, mistreating sikhs , hindus in state , charging tax on them called jihad on sikh kingdom. in february 1807 qutbuddin khan of multan nawab, musafar khan, gathered thousands of soldiers in kasur there big fort. akali phula singh , jatha called lahore maharaja ranjit singh fight in kasur, jodh singh ramgarhia , hari singh nalwa called in. akali phula singh , soldiers led attack on muslim ghazis on morning of febuaruy 10th 1807. 2 battles fought outside city , singhs won both. qutbuddin retreated fort had go.

for 1 full month sikh cannons fired @ walls of fort. sikh army broke hole through in section of wall putting gunpowder underneath fort doors. akali phula singh , nihangs first charge through breach , after hand-to-hand fighting sikhs gained victory. qutbuddin tried run away caught. after begging mercy maharaja ranjit singh forgave him , give nawab jagir of land @ mamdot, near sutlej river , lahore. kasur made part of ranjit singhs empire. after battle akali phula singh gained affection ranjit singh , akali phula singh became reliable military ally. nihang jatha large , got jagir langar. @ time akali phula singh , akalis used ask weapons , horses local leaders , if not given take them force themselves. stopped after ranjit singh gave them permission take whatever required sikh empire s army barracks.

encounter charles metcalfe

charles metcalfe, circa 1820

the british civil servant charles metcalfe met ranjit singh @ kasur , in february 1809 arrived in amritsar go ranjit singh s court signing of treaty of amritsar. metcalfe interested in creation of pastili boundary , establishing english treaty made suffledge boundaries respected between british , sikh empires. metcalfe came platoon composed of entirely shia muslims. shia muslims commemoration of muharram , took upon enact ritual in streets of amritsar. army of 100 muslim soldiers began beating breasts chants of hassan, hussein, ali , making lot of noise came near harmindar sahib complex akali phula singh , jatha staying.

akali phula singh participating in kirtan when heard noise sent 3 akali nihangs inquire going on. when nihangs approached shia group , explained disturbing sacred hymns , atmosphere of gurdwara insulted shia muslims , confrontation took place in 1 of turbans of nihangs fell ground. akali phula singh on hearing news came muslims. few nihangs confronted , attacked muslims , shots fired @ procession. maharajah ranjit singh heard of battle going on , arrived not stop rowdy nihangs , after time violence quelled. akali phula singh killed , wounded large amount of muslims , made them apologize , agree not make noise near gurdwara again. entire platoon have been killed if weren t mahajah ranjit singh conveying akalis stop fighting. maharajah sent muslims camp , went meet metcalfe staying. explained situation , how of metcalfe s army killed because of akali s perceived disrespect turban. entire complication settled day , treaty written next day.