| Sandhawalia | |
| Type: | Jat Clan |
| Location: | Amritsar, Pathankot[1] [2] |
| Religion: | Sikhism |
| Language: | Punjabi |
| Surnames: | Sandhawalia |
Sandhawalia is a Jat clan of present-day India and Pakistan.[3]
The members of one particular Sandhanwalia Jat Sikh family occupied important positions in the Sikh Confederacy. The progenitor of this family was Choudhary Chanda Singh, who settled at the Sandhu wala village in present-day Pakistan, and consequently, came to be known as Sandhanwalia. His sons migrated to Rajasansi.[4]
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler of Punjab, has been described as "Jats" in records. This has led to the view that he belonged to the Jat. According to W. H. McLeod, however, it is more likely that he belonged to the Jat Clan got as the Sandhanwalias.[5] Author Preminder Singh Sandhawalia believes that Ranjit Singh shared lineage with the Sandhawalias, although he did not share a direct line of descent with them.[6] [7]
After the assassination of Nau Nihal Singh, the Sandhawalia clan supported Chand Kaur to become the ruler.[8] But, when Sher Singh forced Chand Kaur to abdicate the throne, Sandhawalias felt cheated and refused to accept his rule.[9] Sandhawalias were banished from the Khalsa empire and fled to Calcutta in British India.[10]
Sikh chieftain Ajit Singh Sandhawalia, who had served as Prime Minister first for Ranjit Singh then for Sher Singh's brother Kharak Singh and Karak Singh's son Nau Nihal, assassinated on 15 September 1843 Sher Singh, Maharaja of Sikh Empire, his son and heir apparent Pratap Singh and Sher Singh's wazir (prime minister) Dhian Singh. Sher Singh was killed as he was asked to inspect a new shotgun brought by Sandhawalia. Sandhawalia then pulled the trigger and later beheaded the wounded Sher Singh with his sword.[11]