Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was the founder of the Ahluwalia Missal (confederacy). He was born on 3 May 1718inavillageoalled Ahlu (near Lahore). His father Bahadur Singh and his mother died and he became an orphan at the tender is of five. He had to earn his living by working as a stable body, looking after horses. After a while he went to Delhi where he won the confidence and patronage of Mata Sundari, the religious head of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Gobind Singh. She brought him up and gave him few weapons of Guni Gobind Singh. He was adopted by Nawab Kapur Singh — the political leader of the Khalsa.
By dint of courage and organizational talent, Jassa Singh conquered a lot of territory in areas of Jullundur, Ludhiana, Ambala and Ferozepur. He captured Lahore in 1761 and was proclaimed a king: Sultan ul qaum. He issued Sikh coins. He rebuilt the Golden Temple in 1704 which had been destroyed by Ahmed Shaah Abdali. The conquered territories during the British regime yielded annual revenue of four lakh rupees. Qazi Nur Mohamed, a Muslim historian, had mentioned that Jassa Singh ruled over the city of Jullundur in 1765-65. He faced Ahmed Shah Abdali in battle. He captured the fort of Delhi in 1783. Here was aman of humble birth that rose to the position of a great general and conqueror.
By following the ideals of the Khalsa.
Jassa Singh did not suffer from religious fanaticism, for he employed Muslims in his administration. The Free kitchen was open to one and all. He opened free langar during the period of famine in Punjab and conducted the business of state in an open Darbar (court) in the aft moon. Jassa Singh passed away in 1783 at Amritsar.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 16, 1996
