Bhag Singh Ahluwalia
Bhag Singh Ahluwalia (1747-1801) was a Sikh leader, military commander, and head of the Ahluwalia Misl.
Early life
[edit]Born in 1747, Bhag Singh was the son of Ladha Singh and the second cousin of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, who died in 1783, didn't have a surviving son to inherit his legacy. His son, born in 1747, unfortunately passed away at a young age. He did have two daughters, though - one married to Mohar Singh of Fatahabad and the other to Murar Singh of Sultanwind. However, during that time, daughters or their sons couldn't become legal heirs.[1]
Bhag Singh Ahluwalia was a prominent leader in Sikh history, known for his virtuous and liberal-minded nature. He succeeded Jassa Singh Ahluwalia as the head of the Ahluwalia Misl and played a crucial role in shaping the region's politics and society. Bhag Singh formed a friendly alliance with Jai Singh Kanhaiya, a foe of the Ramgarhias, with whom the Ahluwalias had a long-standing enmity.[2]
Military campaigns
[edit]Bhag Singh's leadership began with a significant victory, expelling Hari Singh Dallewalia from Chamkaur and restoring the Sodhis' possession. In 1785, he saved Mahan Singh from the Bhangis in Amritsar by providing passage through his territory and later sending troops to repel the pursuers. The same year, Bhag Singh allowed Jassa Singh Ramgarhia to pass through his territory and recover his lost lands.[1]
Bhag Singh formed strategic alliances, including helping the Kanhaiyas recover Batala from the Ramgarhias in 1789. He also intercepted and defeated Man Chand, brother of Raja Sansar Chand Katoch, who had come to aid Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. In 1792, Bhag Singh met Raja Sansar Chand Katoch at Jawalamukhi, and they exchanged turbans as a symbol of brotherhood, solidifying their families' friendship.[1]
Later conflicts and death
[edit]After Jai Singh Kanhaiya death in 1793, Bhag Singh joined forces with Sada Kaur and Ranjit Singh to besiege Jassa Singh Ramgarhia in the fort of Miani, but the siege failed due to a sudden flood. Bhag Singh later attacked Jassa Singh Ramgarhia's son, Jodh Singh Ramgarhia, at Phagwara in 1801, where he fell from his horse and died. Despite historian Lepel Griffin's criticism of Bhag Singh as "a man of very slight calibre," Khushwaqt Rae praised his character and leadership, highlighting his virtuous nature, charitable deeds, and daily readings of the Granth and Hindu scriptures.[1]