Khushal Singh Jamadar Explained

Honorific Prefix:Raja
Khushal Singh
Honorific Suffix:Jamadar
Birth Date:1790
Birth Place:Ikari, Sardhana Pargana
Death Date:17 June 1844
Death Place:Lahore, Sikh Empire
Birth Name:Khushal Ram
Allegiance:Sikh Empire
Nickname:Khushala
Serviceyears:1807 - 1844
Rank:
  • Wazir-e-Azam (till 1818)
  • Chamberlain
  • Military officer
Awards:Jamadarji
Known For:
Relations:Misr Hargobind (father)
Ram Singh (brother)
Misr Niddha (brother)
Tej Singh (nephew)
Children:Ram Singh
Kishan Singh
Bhagwan Singh

Raja Khushal Singh Jamadar (1790 – 17 June 1844) was a military officer and chamberlain of the Sikh Empire. He was conferred the title of Raja for his conquest of Dera Ghazi Khan, Kangra and other military expeditions. He was a notable figure of the state.

Early life

He was born in 1790, in a Dogra Rajputs family of Village Ikari (Meerut, Western Uttar Pradesh), to Misr Hargobind, a shopkeeper.[1] [2]

Administration and military career

He left his home as an adventurer at a young age to seek his fortune in Lahore, eventually joining the Sikh army as a soldier in Dhaunkal Singh wala's regiment in 1807.

Khushal Singh advanced more with time and was appointed personal attendant (Khidmat-gar) to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, rising through the ranks to become lord chamberlain (Darogha'i-Deorhi'i-Mu'alla; which became office of prime minister [Wazir] under Dhian Singh), an office he held for almost 15 years with a temporary break in 1818. This position commanded great influence and authority, as Khushal Singh was master of royal ceremonies and superintendent of both the royal palace and the Darbar. No one could have access to the sovereign or enter the palace without his prior permission.

In addition to his administrative duties, Khushal Singh excelled as a soldier, serving in various military expeditions throughout the region, including Kashmir (1814), Mukerian (1816), Multan (1818), Dera Ghazi Khan (1819), Derajat (1820), Dera Ismail Khan (1821), Leiah (1821), Mankera (1822), Peshawar (1823), and Kangra (1828) amid others.[3] [4]

Death

Khushal Singh distributed all his belongings by way of charity to deserving and needy ones, and died on 17 June 1844. His Samadhi was made in his haveli's garden in Lahore, where his nephew Teja Singh's Samadhi also lies.

Legacy

Descendants of his brother became rulers of Sheikhupura and Raja Dhayan Singh (son of Raja Fateh Singh), was the last ruler of Sheikhupura.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Singh, Harbans . The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism Vol. II . Punjabi University, Patiala . 81-7380-204-1 . en . 506-507.
  2. Book: Sinha, Narendra Krishna . Ranjit Singh . A. Mukherjee & Co. . 1945 . en . 172.
  3. Book: Grewal, J. S. . The Sikhs of the Punjab . 1998-10-08 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-63764-0 . en . 2023-10-05 . 2023-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005023139/https://books.google.com/books?id=2_nryFANsoYC&pg=PA107#v=onepage&q&f=false . live .
  4. Book: Williams, Donovan . Life And Times Of Ranjit Singh . V.V.R.I. Press . 1970 . 2017-01-17.
  5. Book: Personalities: A Comprehensive and Authentic Biographical Dictionary of Men who Matter in India [Northern India and Parliament]. ]. 1950 . Arunam & Sheel . en . 2023-10-05 . 2023-07-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230730023506/https://books.google.com/books?id=Y40MAAAAYAAJ&dq=gaur+brahmin+army&pg=RA3-PA11 . live .