Nabha State

Origin

The state originated as one of the many chiefdoms the Sikhs had established in the former Mughal province of Delhi after the collapse of Mughal and Afghan authority in the region.^[4] The ruling house of Nabha belonged to the Phulkian dynasty, sharing a common ancestor named Tiloka with the Jind rulers. Tiloka (r. 1652–1687) was the eldest son of Phul Sidhu of the Phulkian dynasty.^[a] The Nabha rulers descend from Gurditta (Gurdit Singh; r. 1687–1754), the elder son of Tiloka. Gurditta was the founder of the localities of Dhanaula and Sangrur. Sangrur was the headquarters of the state till it was captured by Jind State. Gurditta died in 1754. His only son Surat (or Suratya) Singh had died two years earlier in 1752, leaving his grandson, Hamir Singh, as the next in line.^[5] Hamir Singh was the founder of the locality of Nabha and the first ruler of Nabha State.^[6]

Foundation of the locality and state

The locality of Nabha was founded by Hamir Singh of the Phulkian dynasty in 1755, whilst the state itself was founded slightly after in 1763 by Hamir Singh. The state at that period of time was composed of 12 scattered territories.^[7] Hamir Singh died in 1783 and was succeeded by Jaswant Singh. However, a regency was in-place between 1783–1790. Jaswant Singh assumed full control on 1790 and ruled until 1840.^[5]

Colonial period

The rulers of Nabha supported Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore during his expeditions in the cis-Sutlej region.^[8] Between 1807 and 1808, the ruler of Nabha was afforded British protection from the threat posed by Ranjit Singh and his encroaching Lahore State.^[7]

During the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46), due to Raja Davinder Singh’s sympathy with the Sikh Empire, one-fourth of Nabha State's territory, including areas such as Rori pargana^[9] and others (such as the estates of Dehraru and Amloh^[8]), were confiscated by the British from Nabha.^[10][11][12] Furthermore, Nabha was not invited to the Governor General's Durbar at Ludhiana.^[8]

Raja Davinder Singh was removed from power, and his 7-year-old son, Bharpur Singh, was placed on the throne under British supervision. Some of the annexed territory from the state was given to Patiala State and Faridkot State, while the rest was placed under direct British administration in Punjab Province.^[10][11][12]

Nabha State under Raja Bharpur Singh was loyal to the British during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and forwarded the British a loan of two and a half lakh rupees. After the way, they were given the grant of Bawal territory as a reward.^[7][8] At the Ambala Darbar held in Ambala between 18–20 January 1860, a decision was made to exempt Nabha, Patiala, and Jind states from the doctrine-of-lapse.^[13]

Hira Singh reigned from 1861 to 1911 and was an effective ruler.^[8] In 1911, Hira Singh took-on the maharaja title.^[5] Hira Singh was succeeded by his son Ripudaman Singh. Ripudaman had joined the Imperial Legislative Council while still the heir-apparent (tikka) and became influenced by nationalists such as Pherozeshah Mehta and Dadabhai Naoroji. Ripudaman carried out social and judicial reforms of the state, with him establishing a Legislative Council at Nabha.^[8] Ripudaman Singh was forced to abdicate the throne by the British in favour of his minor son due to his involvement in Indian nationalist and Sikh politics and movements,^[8] with him abdicating the throne of Nabha on 8 July 1923,^[5] which led to the Jaito Morcha of the Akali movement.

Dissolution

In the happenings of Indian independence in 1947, Nabha was one of the three Phulkian states that merged to become P.E.P.S.U., which itself was gradually merged into Punjab state in 1956.