Phulkian Misl
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Phulkian Misl was a Sikh Misl founded by Choudhary Phul Sidhu-Brar, also known as Baba Phul, and named after him.[1][2] A descendant of the Bhati Rajputs, Singh was a direct descendant of Rawal Jaisal Singh, the founder and first ruler of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer.[3] Singh's descendants became the royal families of the Phulkian dynasty states, which included the states of Patiala, Nabha, and Jind.[4][5] Historians have disputed whether the Phulkian Misl was ever a true Sikh Misl, as its practices and policies were more centralized and akin to a petty kingdom than those of a true Sikh Misl.[6]
| Misls of the Sikh Confederacy |
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Misl status dispute
[edit]Some historians, such as Kirpal Singh, claim the Phulkians were never truly a "Misl" at all.[7] Historian Surjit Singh Gandhi also claimed that the Phulkian Misl was never a true Misl because they shared almost no common practices with the other Sikh Misls, and the administrative nature of the Phulkian Misl's political state varied considerably from that of the other Misls.[8]
Gandhi based his arguments on various facts and events. When the Sikh Misls divided themselves into the Buddha Dal and Taruna Dal of the Dal Khalsa in 1734, no Phulkian leader was represented, and there was no Phulkian presence in the Dal Khalsa in 1748.[8] Phulkian leaders did not attend Sarbat Khalsa meetings or distribute loot and territory among their followers, instead adopting Mughal practices of appropriating resources for themselves and rewarding their men with payments and Jagirs.[8] While other Misls fought relentlessly against the Mughal Empire and the Durrani Empire, the Phulkian chiefs maintained good relations with these imperial powers, obtained titles from them.[8] Unlike other Misls, they did not inscribe the names of the Sikh gurus on their coins but instead issued coins in the names of rulers of the Mughal Empire and Durrani Empire.[8] In the entire 18th century, none of the Phulkian leaders visited Sikhism's holy cities of Anandpur and Amritsar, but they frequently visited and were visited by the Mughal and Durrani rulers.[8]
Gallery
[edit]-
Guru Gobind Singh's hukamnama addressed to Rama and Tiloka, sons of Phul Singh. Dated August 2 1696, from the Maharaja of Patiala's collection. -
Painting depicting a meeting between Sahib Singh of Patiala State, Jodh Singh of Kalsia State, Lal Singh of Kaithal State, Mehak Singh, and Raja Jaswant Rao Holkar, ca.1850
See also
[edit]- Phulkian dynasty
- Patiala State
- Nabha State
- Jind State
- Faridkot State
- Malaudh
- Bhadaur
- Kaithal
- Cis-Sutlej states
References
[edit]- ^ Joshi, Vishal (27 June 2021). "Neglected for years, ₹7-cr facelift to revive historic Phul Fort's glory". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ Gordon, Sir John James Hood (1904). The Sikhs. Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. pp. 93–94.
- ^ Singha, H. S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (over 1000 Entries). New Delhi: Hemkunt Press. p. 165. ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Singh, Ganda, ed. (1986). The Punjab Past and Present. Part 2. Vol. 20. Patiala: Punjabi University, Patiala. pp. 396–398.
- ^ Bond, J. W.; Wright, Arnold (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 232–242. ISBN 978-81-206-1965-4. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Gandhi, Surjit Singh (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Amritsar: Singh Brothers. p. 491.
- ^ Walia, Varinder (4 July 2007). "SGPC book doesn't recognise Baba Ala Singh as Sikh misl". The Tribune.
- ^ a b c d e f Gandhi, Surjit Singh (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Amritsar: Singh Brothers. pp. 510–511.