|
Sardar Dasaundha Singh
and Sangat Singh Nishaanwalia
Chaudhary Sahib Rai, a Jat of Gill sub-caste,
was the resident of Surdev which was
situated at a distance of 5 kos (15
kms) from Kot Isa Khan towards its south.
His two sons, Dasaundha (Saundha) Singh
and Sangat Singh, who lived on cultivation
of land, took baptism of the double-edged
sword and joined the Dal Khalsa. A little
later, they founded a village, named
Singhanwala, near Zira (in the present
district of Faridkot), and took up their
residence thereat.
IIn 1734, Dasaundha Singh was one of
the leaders of the Taruna Dal. Since
he was a strong and sturdy man, he was
generally entrusted with the duty of
carrying the flag in front of the Dal
Khalsa when moving from one place to
another. He was very much respected
by the Sikh jathas. Dasaundha Singh,
being the flag-bearer of the Dal Khalsa,
or the Khalsa army, was given the name
of Nishanwalia. Nishan means a standard
or a banner and Nishanwalia means standard
or flag bearer. The national flag of
the Sikhs was of saffron colour. Dasaundha
Singh was baptised by Diwan Darbara
Singh. He wielded his sword like Rustam.
He participated in the battle of Sirhind
in January 1764. He took possession
of the ilaqas of Singhanwala, Sanehwal,
Sarai Lashkari Khan, Doraha, Amloh,
Zira, Liddhar.
Shahabad and Ambala and made the last
named place his headquarters. Dasaundha
Singh died in 1767, of a gun-shot in
the battle of the Brars at Droli which
is situated at a distance of 5 kos(10
kms) from Singhanwala, in its west.
Sangat Singh
Dasaundha Singh was succeeded by his
brother, Sangat Singh. He was still
more chivalrous and brave as compared
to his brother. Accompanied by his men,
he attacked Sirhind for the second time.
He built a brick wall around the town
of Ambala, his capital, to provide it
protection against robbers. This town
did not have sufficient water of good
quality. Sangat Singh chose to leave
Ambala for want of drinkable water and
also the climate of this place did not
suit him. He, therefore, shifted to
Singhanwala. He handed over the possession
of Ambala to his brother-in-law (wife's
brother), Dhian Singh, who appointed
Gurbakhsh Singh and Lal Singh as the
thanedars of Ambala and the adjoining
possessions. Dhian Singh went to Singhanwala.
Sangat Singh died soon after and Dhian
Singh paid no attention to Ambala and
the other possessions there. When he
returned to Ambala he found Gurbakhsh
Singh and Lal Singh to have become independent
there. Jai Singh, resident of Kairon,
and Kaur Singh of Dhand Kasel of the
pargana of Tarn Taran, were Gurbakhsh
Singh's close associates. They had taken
pahul at the hands of Diwan Darbara
Singh. The number of troops under Sangat
Singh was 12,000.
Sangat Singh did not live a long life.
He died in 1774, due to a natural death,
while on a march in the hills, aftcr
ruling his territories for a few years.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Bhagat Singh "History
of Sikh Misals"
|
