|
 There
were many warriors who kept high the
symbol of unflinching will of Khalsa.
There were yet many who were went to
Khalsa for personal glory, to win estates,
etc. But, we are yet to find an example
whose only and only purpose was to serve
Khalsa and to keep the Nishan Sahib
flying high. He was Nihang Akali Phula
Singh. Nihang, the word is derived from
persian which means 'crocodile'. Nihangs,
were created by Dasam Pita Guru Gobind
Singh ji , to serve the Khalsa Community.
Nihangs do not marry, and their only
purpose is to live and die for Khalsa.
Many historians call Nihangs as "Suicide
squads", this is utterly wrong,
suicide is a sin in Sikhism. Nihangs
only purpose is to fight for the Khalsa's
defense. Akali Phula Singh was born
January 14th 1761 in a Village named
Shinh, in Amritsar. He joined an order
of Nihangs at Golden Temple at an early
age where he got all the martial training.
Later, when he was 18 years old he shifted
to the fort of Gobindgarh became a leader
of one of the band of fighters who formed
a squad of Sikh army. When Maharaja
Ranjit Singh consolidated Amritsar into
his empire by defeating number of families
who were ruling this city, Akali Phula
Singh, joined Maharaja Ranjit Singhin
this noble cause. Due to this very reason
he was made the Jathedar of Akal Takth
in 1807.
He was born leader, outspoken such
that he would even spoke to Ranjit Singh
of his problems. When Ranjit Singh married
to a Muslim woman, named Moran of Lahore,
Akali Phula Singh, as he was the Jathedar
of Akal Takth declared that Maharaja
Ranjit Singh is not a Sikh anymore and
is a Tankhaiya which means out of Sikhism.
He ordered the defendant to be at Golden
Temple before the community. Ranjit
Singh came and admitted that he had
made a mistake. Akali Phula Singh ordered
him 50 lashes for Maharaja Ranjit Singh
right there. Ranjit Singh took off his
shirt and bowed down to receive his
punishment, at such Akali Phula Singh
asked Community (Sadh Sangat) to forgive
the Maharaja who has bowed down in front
of the Sadh Sangat for this mistake.
And thus Maharaja was pardoned, but
not before he promised that he will
not marry again.
There is another intersting incident
of this times, reason which made Maharaja
to upgrade his forces to European style.
On the day of Muharram on February 25,
1809 A.D., Shia Muslims of Britsh army
under Metcaulf, a British general who
was visiting Amritsar along with his
forces, decided to take out a procession
in the streets of Amritsar, even though
in Amritsar among Muslims, majority
were Sunni muslims. It also happened
to be the day of Holi, when Nihangs
were celebrating Hola Mohalla along
with their celebrated leader and Jathedar
of Akal Takth, Akali Phula singh. The
Shia procession wended its way through
the streets of Amritsar, beating their
breasts to the chants of "Hasan,
Hussein, Ali" They came in front
of Golden Temple, where the Akalis were
in prayer. The Akalis remonstrated with
the processionists to go elsewhere.
Arguments led to scuffle and Shia Seopys
under General Metcaulfe came to a head
on collision with Akalis. It is not
known who were the aggressors. Even
Metcalfe was doubtful and conceded that
the first shot was probably fired by
one of his Shia escorts (Metcalfe No.
72, of 7.3.1809). There were about 50
casualties on both sides. In the end
this riot stopped when Ranjit Singh
who happened to be in the city personally
came forwarded and helped to quell the
riot. He also went to Metcalfe and apologized
for this riot. Ranjit Singh was immpressed
by the discipline shown by the Shia
Sepoys under Metcalfe and Ranjit Singh
promptly decided to Europeanise his
Army.
Akali Phula Singh was against to Europeanise
the Khalsa Forces, he believe more in
the fighting qualities of Khalsa blessed
by Guru Gobind Singh. Ranjit Singh was
a statesman who foresaw that he could
utilize a well disciplined army to subdue
the whole of Punjab and to face British.
Then in the same year of 1809, at Ropar
Maharaja Ranjit Singh signed a treaty
with British to make Satluj a permanent
border between the Sarkar Khalsa and
British. Akali Phula Singh wanted Maharaja
to tore this treaty, he even threat
to quit. Maharaja Ranjit Singh explained
him that first they will subdue whole
of Punjab, and then later they will
confront British. This treaty was to
make the permanent boundries between
Sarkar Khalsa and British territory.
Satluj was made a border.
Akali Phula Singh and his command helped
Maharaja in the campaigns of Kasur,
Multan, and all over Punjab. Nihangs
under his command at Multan surpass
all bravery when they bowed down one
by one to support one side of a Gun
to be used to break through the fort
and attained martyrdom. Then by 1822
all the regiments of Sarkar Khalsa were
Europeanised. Akali Phula Singh was
given new arms as well as trained of
new tactics by the French General Ventura.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh decided to turn
towards North West Frontier province.
In 1815 A.D., Maharaja attacked NWFP
and levied tribute on number of principalities.
Since 10 centuries Pathans and tribesman
had plundered Punjab and India, this
was the first time that any Punjabi
took the battle to their homes. Then
in 1823, the Governor of Peshawar did
not give tribute to Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. Sarkar Khalsa forces led by Akali
Phula Singh, General Hari Singh Nalua,
Fateh Singh Attariwala, and other General
of Sarkar Khalsa marched towards Peshawar.
Battle of Naushera in 1823 A.D., in
which thousands were killed was fought
with the tribes of Yusufzais, Khattaks
and Afridi tribes of Pathans. Prince
Sher Singh and Hari Singh Nalua led
the advance columns early in 1823. They
spanned the river Attock by the means
of a pontoon bridge and occupied the
fort of Jehangiria. Then Maharaja Ranjit
singh along with Akali Phula Singh led
the rest of forces upto the Eastern
bank of River Attock, but by this time.
Tribals had destroyed the pontoon bridge
and had besieged Prince Sher Singh and
Hari Singh Nalua in the fort. Hastingly,
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who had crossed
this river umpteen number of times,
decided to cross it and came to the
rescue of his son and Hari Singh Nalua
just in time. Khattaks and Yusufzais
were pushed back and they entrenched
themselves one an eminance called Pir
Sabak or Tibbi Tiri on the plains between
Jehangiria and Peshawar. The main Afghan
force under Azim Khan's brother was
separated from the tribal ghazis by
a small but swift-running stream, the
Landai. The Khalsa Artillery, led by
Mian Ghausa bypassed the tribesmem,
and reached the bank of Landai, and
trained its heavy guns on the opposite
bank. Azim Khan made a dash from Peshawar
and joined the forces of Afghans on
the opposite Bank of Landai. He could
not cross the stream due to the heavy
bombardment by Khalsa forces from this
side of Landai. On the other front of
war, Sarkar Khalsa launched an offensive
at Pir Sabak Hill. This war was not
evenly matched, but Khalsa was outnumbered
by the sheer number of Afghans, Khalsa
forces made up this by their disciplined
and well trained army. Tribal forces
fought desperately but were overcome
by Sarkar Khalsa's Gurkhas and Mussalman
Najibs. Then Akali Phula Singh and his
nihangs moved up to give them the coup
de grace . They drove the Khattaks and
Yusufzais before them, four thousand
Afghans were left dead on the field.
Sarkar Khalsa's fatilities were in hundreds,
but still this was too much, cause in
those 500 or so soldiers there was one
who equalled 125,000, Akali Phula Singh.
While pursuing Afghanis, Akali Phula
Singh's horse was shot under him. He
took an elephant and pressed on. The
error cost him his life. Afghanis saw
the man who has so often humbled them,
and trained their muskets on him.
 Picture
of Sikh nobles, from right Faqir Azizudeen,
Hari Singh nalwa, Akali Phoola Singh,
Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Prince Sher
Singh. Phula Singh was riddled with
bullets. He collapsed in his howdah,
exhorting nihangs with the last breath
of his body not to give way. Mohammad
Azim Khan retreated to Peshawar but
was too ashamed to face h is people
and thus he returned to Afghanistan
and died soon.
Eventhough Sarkar Khalsa paid a heavy
price in great warrior like Akali Phula
Singh, but it was a crushing defeat
for Afghans, and it convinced the Pathan
tribesmen of the superiority of Punjabi
soldiers. Three days later Maharaja
entered Peshawar at the head of his
victorious troops. The citizens welcomed
him and paid homage with nazaranas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Harbans Singh "Heritage
of the Sikhs"
|
