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- dEsPeraTe cRaNky -
History of Nabha
A ceremony in front of the Nabha Quila. From the album, NABHA 8TH FEB. 1908; Image courtesy Maj. A.P. Singh, Nabha.
Nabha occupies a unique historical space in the cultural fabric of Punjab. Descended from the lineage of Phulkian, which also included the states of Jind and Patiala, Nabha was one of the few princely states to overtly defy the authority of the British Empire.
The ruling house of Nabha enjoys a joint descent together with those of Patiala and Jind, from Phul, through his son Tiloka. Hamir Singh, great-grandson of Tiloka, founded the city of Nabha in 1755. In 1763 he sided with the Sikh sardars in their fight with the Mughal Viceroy Zain Khan, and was confirmed in the possessions of all the territories he had freed from the Mughal power. He established almost complete independence, and succeeded in creating a state under the name of the city he founded.
Jaswant Singh, son of Hamir, succeeded in 1784 and assumed the title of Raja. He joined his Phulkian kinsmen and entered into treaty relations with the British, in opposition to the court at Lahore. He maintained cordial relations with the Emperor in Delhi and secured recognition of his father's conquests and high titles of honour. His younger son and successor, Raja Sri Devender Singh, attempted to hedge his bets by remaining aloof during the Anglo-Sikh War. On securing their victory, the British charged him with intrigue with the enemy and abrogating his treaty responsibilities. Large tracts of territory were confiscated and the raja deposed in favour of his eldest surviving son.
Raja Bharpur Singh, who succeeded as a minor, did not make the same mistake as his father. At the age of 17, he led his troops in support of the British during the Indian Mutiny, holding Ludhiana against the mutineers for a continuous period of six months. His courage and services were honoured with a guarantee of his possessions, high honours and titles, additional territory and a seat on the Viceroy's Council. Sadly, his early death in 1863 robbed the state of a promising reign. Raja Bhagwan Singh, his younger brother succeeded but also died young and without issue, eight years later.
The British appointed a commission of Phulkian rulers to look into choosing a successor to the vacant throne. Their unanimous choice fell upon Hira Singh, the son of Kunwar Sukha Singh, of Badrukhan, in Jind. Their choice proved a fortuitous one. His long and prosperous reign saw his little patchwork state transformed. Buildings and monuments sprang up everywhere, roads and railways were constructed, and agriculture expanded. Gaining from the Sirhind irrigation canal, the state became a garden, producing wheat, millet, pulses, cotton and sugar. Land revenue receipts grew rapidly, and were ploughed back into improving agriculture, the infrastructure, schools and hospitals. A small but efficient army was created along modern lines, sent a contingent to the Second Afghan War in 1878 and the Tirah expedition in 1897. The Raja lived long enough to attend all the Imperial Durbars, but increasingly left affairs of state in the hands of his promising son.
Maharaja Shri Ripudaman Singh succeeded his father in 1911 having already served under him as virtual administrator for some years. His abilities were noticed by the Imperial authorities, who appointed him to the Central Legislature. There he spoke on behalf of the Sikh interest, supported and pioneered reforming legislation to the benefit of his race and India. However, soon after his succession, relations with his larger and more powerful kinsman at Patiala deteriorated. Unfortunately for Ripudaman, his state was small and insignificant in comparison to Patiala, who was also a British favourite. Unlike Patiala, he had publicly opposed the British over the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919. When one of his escapades resulted in a suspected case of poisoning and another of kidnap, an enquiry was held and he was forced to relinquish administrative powers. A large allowance was awarded and he settled in Dehra Dun. However, he continued to support the cause of the Akali and Nationalist movements, and his popularity among the people grew in that context. Accused of breaching the terms of the agreement, he was deposed, stripped of his titles and exiled to Kodaikanal, in Madras. He died there during the Second World War.