45-630: Ala Singh (1691–1765) was the founder and first ruler of Patiala . Singh was born into the Sikh Phulkian dynasty , which had an ancient lineage, being direct descendants of Rawal Jaisal Singh , the founder and ruler of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer in the 12th century, and further back to Rao Bhatti , a Hindu king in the 3rd century. Rising to power through key battles in his early life, Singh expanded his territory in Punjab . As an adult, Singh
90-812: A battle at Dharsul. Singh had numerous conflicts with the Afghan Durrani Empire . In 1748, Singh plundered Ahmed Shah Durrani , the King of the Durrani Empire, and in 1757, he plundered Ahmed Shah Durrani's son, Taimur Shah Durrani . In 1760, he supplied grain to the Maratha Confederacy during their conflicts against the Durrani Empire. During the Vadda Ghalughara in April 1762, Singh did not assist other Sikhs during
135-550: A more limited, ethnological point of view, " Afḡhān " is the term by which the Persian -speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Pashtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Pashtūn. The equation Afghans = Pashtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Pashtūn tribal confederation has maintained its hegemony in the country, numerically and politically. The less common Afghanistani (افغانستانی)
180-579: A mound, known as the Qila Mubarak (meaning "blessed fort"). Ala Singh established the rules for the right of succession based on primogeniture. Ala Singh's successor, Amar Singh, took-on the Raja-i-Rajagan Bahadur title in 1767. Patiala State became a British protectorate in 1809. Patiala State continued to expand during the rule of Ala Singh's two successors, Raja-Rajgan Amar Singh and Maharaja Sahib Singh (the first ruler to hold
225-698: Is an alternative identity marker for citizens of Afghanistan. The term "Afghanistani" refers to someone who is a citizen of Afghanistan, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. In multiethnic Afghanistan, the term "Afghan" has always been associated with the Pashtun people. Some non-Pashtun citizens such as the Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks equate the term with Pashtun hegemony and the risk of having their own ethnic identities erased by it. The term Afghanistani has been used among some refugees and diasporas, particularly among non-Pashtuns. The term Afghani refers to
270-399: Is believed to have blessed the family, having issued a hukamnama edict on 2 August 1696 addressed to Rama Chand and Tiloka Chand of the family urging them to visit the guru's court and bring with them men and horses. The Sikh guru also gifted Rama and Tiloka a battle-standard and eleven weapons, which is seen as bestowing a special accord onto the family. In 1702, Rama and Tiloka underwent
315-603: Is the anglicized form of "Afghani" when translating from Dari Persian, but not from Pashto. Another variant is Afghanese , which has been seldom used in place of Afghan. Afghans come from various ethnic backgrounds. The largest ethnic groups are Pashtuns , Tajiks , Hazaras , and Uzbeks , who make up approximately 95% of the population of Afghanistan. They are of diverse origins including of Iranic , Turkic or Mongolic ethnolinguistic roots. The Afghan people of all ethnicities are predominantly and traditionally followers of Islam , of whom around 90% are of Sunni and 10%
360-458: The pahul ceremony at Damdama Sahib , with their Khalsa baptism being conducted by Guru Gobind Singh himself. Thus-after, the family started appending the Singh title to their name. Out of the six sons of Rama, two of them also appended their name with Singh (with one of these two being Ala Singh). Rama Chand was succeeded as head of the family by Ala Singh in 1714. The locality of Patiala
405-643: The raja title, gifting him with a robe-of-honour, nagadas (war drums), and an embrace. In 1763, after the Battle of Sirhind , the Sikh Confederation partitioned the Sirhind area and gave the territory to Ala Singh. The areas in Sirhind, along with Ala Singh's other conquered territories, formed the initial territories of the Patiala state. Also in 1763, Ala Singh constructed a mud-fortress around
450-521: The 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India . Patiala State's historical territory is in the Indian states of Punjab , Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. 31°07′N 77°38′E / 31.117°N 77.633°E / 31.117; 77.633 Afghans Afghans ( Dari : افغانها ; Pashto : افغانان ) are the citizens and nationals of Afghanistan , as well as their descendants in
495-513: The Afghan diaspora . The country is made up of various ethnic groups, of which Pashtuns , Tajiks , Hazaras , and Uzbeks are the largest. The three main languages spoken among the Afghan people are Dari , Pashto , and Uzbek . Historically, the term "Afghan" was a Pashtun ethnonym , but later came to refer to all people in the country, regardless of their ethnicity. The earliest mention of
SECTION 10
#1732772164658540-642: The British Empire . His descendants who had royal titles retained them until 1971, when they were abolished through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India . Patiala State Patiala State was a kingdom and princely state in British India , and one of the Phulkian States , that acceded to the Union of India upon Indian independence and partition in 1947. The state
585-657: The First Anglo-Sikh war , which took place between 1845 and 1846, the state expanded again when, in return for its support during the war, the British Empire confiscated land from Nabha State and rewarded it to Patiala State. After 1857 and during the rule of Narinder Singh , Patiala State's territory was expanded for the final time. Narinder Singh's services and the support to the British Empire resulted in Patiala State gaining sovereign rights in
630-459: The Narunal division of Jhajjar , in modern Haryana , and he purchased the taluka of Khamanu. Narinder Singh was also granted administrative jurisdiction over Bhadaur and the annual revenue from the area. In 1809, Patiala State entered into an alliance with the British Empire, whereby the state was given internal autonomy with certain restrictions, and the rulers of Patiala state recognised
675-616: The Shia branch. Other religious minorities include the Afghan Hindus , Afghan Sikhs , Afghan Zoroastrians , Afghan Jews and Afghan Christians . Afghan culture has existed for over three millennia, dating back to the time of the Achaemenid Empire in 500 BCE. Afghans have both common cultural features and those that differ between regions with each of the 34 provinces having its own unique distinctive cultures partly as
720-675: The British Empire as their suzerains . During the British Raj , the rulers of Patiala State were entitled to a 17- gun salute and held precedence over every other princely state in the Punjab Province . In 1947, Yadavindra Singh , the last Maharaja of Patiala, agreed to the accession of Patiala State into the independent Dominion of India . Members and descendants of the Patiala royal family maintained their princely titles until they were abolished in India in 1971 through
765-476: The Dal Khalsa, angered by Singh's relations with the Durrani Empire and his royal titles, attacked Patiala State. Patiala's army and the Dal Khalsa's army clashed in Patiala State's northern territories; however, peace was quickly brokered by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia , the leader of the Dal Khalsa. Singh's military policies involved building and maintaining fortresses in strategic locations. During Singh's ruler,
810-543: The Durrani Empire. By 1758, Singh's successful conquests of cities and villages had established him as a dominant figure in the Malwa region. According to historian Karam Singh , this period marked his transition from a Sardar chief to de facto kingship. By the beginning of the 1760s, Singh had conquered a considerable amount of territory in Punjab, including Sunam , Samana , Banur , Ghuram , and Sanaur , and his capital
855-596: The Maratha Confederacy during the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. On 7 August 1765, Singh died of a fever at the age of 74. He was succeeded by his grandson Amar Singh , who later gained the title Raja-e Rajgan, his three sons having predeceased him. Sardaul Singh the eldest died in 1753, Bhumian Singh died in 1742 and Lal Singh the youngest died in 1748. Singh's descendants were the rulers of Patiala until 1947, when India gained independence from
900-485: The Patiala army consisted primarily of horseback cavalry and artillery that was transported by camels. Singh's administration was secular, and he had Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims in high administrative positions. Having seen several famines in his lifetime, Singh focused extensively on agriculture , land management and cultivation. His extensive cultivation efforts led to the founding, rehabilitation, resettlement, and reclamation of many villages, ultimately resulting in
945-488: The Sirhind for 25,000 rupees from the Sikh Confederacy, which enlarged his territory and formed the early territories of Patiala State. He also shifted his capital from Barnala to the city of Patiala in 1764. In 1765, Durrani granted Ala Singh the title of Raja , robe of honour and the right to mint coinage . According to historian Rajmohan Gandhi , by accepting the title of Raja from Durrani, Ala Singh became
SECTION 20
#1732772164658990-422: The ancestral family of the later Patiala rulers was headed by chaudhary Bariam. In 1560, custodianship over the family was then led by Mehraj, who was followed by Pukko. Pukko was followed by Mohan, who led the family until 1618. From 1618 onwards, the family was led by Kala. Kala was succeeded by Phul Sidhu-Brar. Phul headed the family until 1652, being succeeded by Rama Chand. In 1696, Guru Gobind Singh
1035-566: The ancient inhabitants of the Hindu Kush region. Some have theorized that the name of the Aśvakan or Assakan has been preserved in that of the modern Pashtun , with the name Afghan being derived from Asvakan . As an adjective, the word Afghan also means "of or relating to Afghanistan or its people, language or culture". According to the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan , all Afghans citizens are equal in rights and obligations before
1080-478: The conquest of other villages and significantly increasing agricultural output. This not only boosted his finances and provided surplus grains for future emergencies but also secured the loyalty of the inhabitants of his territories. Singh's agricultural success enabled him to support political allies with provisions during critical times, which included the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II in 1758 and
1125-464: The first Sikh monarch in history and, by 1765, the most powerful Sikh in Punjab. During his time as the ruler of Patiala, Singh's territory also extended to Karnal and Thanesar . Singh and other Sikh leaders were noted for forming beneficial alliances and gaining concessions from more powerful empires that were competing for dominance in Punjab. However, Singh, during his time the as the Raja of Patiala,
1170-469: The help of Najib-ud-Daula , the Mughal Empire's Administrator of Delhi, and was forced to pay a humiliating fee of five lakh rupees as a tribute and an additional twenty-five thousand rupees for permission to appear before Ahmed Shah Durrani with his long hair intact. Singh was later detained for a short period of time but was released on the promise that his territory would pay an annual tribute to
1215-504: The law. The fourth article of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan , which was valid until 2021, states that citizens of Afghanistan consist of Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashayi, Nuristani, Aimaq, Arab, Kyrgyz , Qizilbash , Gurjar , Brahui , and members of other ethnicities. There are political disputes regarding this: there are members of the non-Pashtun ethnicities of Afghanistan that reject
1260-528: The massacre by the Durrani Empire. He stayed neutral during the events and did not initiate hostilities against the Durrani Empire. However, Singh's neutrality did not benefit him as Ahmed Shah Durrani, who was told that Singh was secretly an ally of the Majha Sikhs by Zain Khan and Bikhan Khan, would later burn the city of Barnala and advances upon Bhawanigarh , where Singh had fortified himself. Singh sought
1305-594: The name Afghan ( Abgân ) is by Shapur I of the Sassanid Empire during the 3rd century CE, In the 4th century, the word "Afghans/Afghana" (αβγανανο) as reference to the Pashtun people is mentioned in the Bactrian documents found in Northern Afghanistan. The word 'Afghan' is of Persian origin and refers to the Pashtun people. Some scholars suggest that the word "Afghan" is derived from
1350-616: The name of its principal city and capital, Patiala , which itself comes from the roots patti and ala . The word patti means "strip of land" in Punjabi , and 'ala ' comes from the name of the founder of the city and Patiala state, Ala Singh , thus meaning ‘the land of Ala Singh’. The Patiala ruling family ultimately claimed origins from Bhatti Rajputs of Jaisalmer in the 12th century. At some point, their ancestors moved from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to Phul in Punjab. Between 1526–1560,
1395-661: The prominent chiefs in the Cis-Sutlej region. Between the last 1730s and the early 1740s, Singh was in conflict with the Muslim Bhattis . In 1749, he built a fortress in Bhawanigarh and led an expedition to Bhatinda where he conquered territory for himself and his then expanding domain. In 1759, Singh, along with his son Lal Singh, managed to break the stalemate with the Muslim Bhattis and defeated them in
Ala Singh - Misplaced Pages Continue
1440-491: The term Afghan being applied to them, and there are Pashtuns in Pakistan that wish to have the term Afghan applied to them. The pre-nation state, historical ethnonym Afghan was used to refer to a member of the Pashtun ethnic group. Due to the changing political nature of the state, the meaning has changed, and the term has shifted to refer to the national identity of people from Afghanistan of all ethnicities. From
1485-558: The title of Raja and other royal powers. After being granted the title of Raja, Singh became the first Sikh monarch in history. Singh was praised and criticised, both by his contemporaries and historians, for his shrewd and cunning policies and strategies. Many in the Dal Khalsa recognized his strength and pragmatism; however, they found him to be an unworthy Sikh, and clashes with the Dal Khalsa persisted throughout Singh's adult life. Singh's reign ended with his death in 1765, and he
1530-491: The title of Maharaja); however, the next major expansion of Patiala State's territory occurred during and after 1814, under Karam Singh . For Karam Singh's support during the Anglo-Nepalese War , which took place between 1814 and 1816, the British Empire awarded him territory in the hill states, extending Patiala State's territory to areas in what is now Himachal Pradesh , including Shimla and Chail . After
1575-491: The unit of Afghan currency . The term is also often used in the English language (and appears in some dictionaries) for a person or thing related to Afghanistan, although some have expressed the opinion that this usage is incorrect. The reason for this usage might be because the term "Afghani" (افغانی) is in fact a valid demonym for Afghans in the overall Persian language , whereas "Afghan" is derived from Pashto. Thus, "Afghan"
1620-806: The words awajan/apajan in Avestan and ava-Han/apa-Han in Sanskrit , which means "killing, striking, throwing and resisting, or defending." Under the Sasanians , and possibly the Parthian Empire , the word was used to refer to men of a certain Persian sect. In the past, several scholars sought a connection with "horse", Skt.aśva-, Av.aspa-, i.e. the Aśvaka or Aśvakayana, the name of the Aśvakan or Assakan ,
1665-444: Was also a direct descendant of Rao Bhatti , a 3rd-century Hindu king. Descendants of Rao Bhatti , including the former and historical Patiala royal family, also claim to be direct descendants of Yadu , a mythological Hindu monarch from whom Bhatti claimed descent. According to Hindu mythology , Yadu was the founder of the mythological Yadu dynasty , a branch of the legendary Lunar dynasty ( IAST : Candravaṃśa). Ala Singh
1710-630: Was born in 1691 in Phul , in the present-day Bathinda district of Punjab . He was born into the Jat Sikh Phulkian dynasty to Chaudhary Ram Singh of the Phulkian Misl . Singh's mother was Sabi Kaur. His father had six children, from eldest to youngest: Dunna, Sabha, Ala, Bakhta, Buddha, Laddha. At the age of 16, Singh married Fateh Kaur. Kaur's cousin, Gurbaksh Singh Kaleke, later helped Singh found Patiala State . Singh's father Ram,
1755-399: Was constantly engaged in battles and war. Through warfare and diplomacy, Singh began to acquire territory that would form the foundations of Patiala State . In 1763, he established the city of Patiala and founded Patiala State. Singh, at various times, had both adversarial and allied relations the Afghan Durrani Empire . Ahmed Shah Durrani , the King of the Durrani Empire, granted Singh
1800-539: Was founded by sardar Ala Singh in 1752. In 1761, the Afghans defeated the forces of Ala Singh at Barnala. Ala Singh was captured by the Afghans and taken to Ahmad Shah Abdali. The Afghans demanded a four lakh rupee ransom to secure Ala Singh's release. Ala Singh was a vassal of the Afghans. Patiala State was founded by Ala Singh as a chiefship slightly later in March 1762 after Ahmad Shah Abdali bestowed Ala Singh with
1845-570: Was founded by Ala Singh in 1762. Patiala State was the largest and most important princely state in the Punjab Province . The state's ruler, the Maharaja of Patiala , was entitled to a 17- gun salute and held precedence over all other princes in the Punjab Province during the British Raj . The state was ruled by Jat Sikhs of the Sidhu gotra (clan). The state's name came from
Ala Singh - Misplaced Pages Continue
1890-593: Was killed by the sons of Chain Singh. He and his brother Subha later avenged their father by killing two of Chain Singh's sons. During his life, Singh engaged in many battles and conflicts in the Punjab region . The Battle of Barnala in 1731 was a significant turning point in Singh's life. In the battle, Singh, along with the Majha Sikhs led by Kapur Singh, faced off against a confederacy of neighboring Muslim chiefs. His victory in this conflict established him as one of
1935-606: Was located in Barnala. In 1763, Ala Singh at the age of 57, founded of the city of Patiala and laid the foundations of Patiala State . In Patiala, he also built Qila Mubarak in 1763, which was initially constructed as a mud fortress and later reconstructed with bricks. In 1764, while leading the Sikh Confederacy against the Durrani Empire, he conquered Sirhind and the surrounding territories along with his close friend Nanu Singh Saini . Singh later purchased part of
1980-413: Was particularly noted for particularly being shrewd and cunning in his foreign policy and military policy. He managed to simultaneously maintain cordial relations with the Mughal Empire, Maratha Confederacy, Durrani Empire and the Dal Khalsa , all whom were competing for power and dominance in Punjab. However, Singh's foreign and military policies were criticised by and angered the Dal Khalsa. In early 1765,
2025-498: Was succeeded by his grandson, Amar Singh . Ala Singh was born into the Phulkian dynasty , named after Chaudhary Phul Sidhu-Brar, Singh's paternal grandfather, who was also the common ancestor of the rulers of Nabha , Jind and Faridkot . Singh was a direct descendant of Rawal Jaisal Singh , the founder and first ruler of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer from 1156 to 1168. Singh's ancestry extends further back from Jaisal Singh, and he
#657342