Pahar Singh

Pahar Singh succeeded to the gaddi (throne) of Faridkot after the passing of Attar Singh.^[3] His reign lasted 22 years and was marked by peace and prosperity.^{[citation needed]} He found many villages and dug wells in Faridkot.^{[citation needed]} Pahar Singh had four wives, including Chand Kaur.^[3]

Pahar Singh is noted for paying particular attention to the common-folk of his dominion, ensuring their welfare.^[4] Pahar Singh kept advisors around him to look-after the needs of the civilians in the state and to provide him valuable advice.^[4] Some of the useful advisors that Pahar Singh employed were sardars Meenha Singh, Ghamand Singh, and Koma Singh.^[4] Furthermore, Pahar Singh awarded his brothers, Sahib Singh and Mehtab Singh, a jagir grant consisting of villages for them to rule-over.^[4] Under Pahar Singh, the jungles that surrounded Faridkot were deforested to clear the land for development.^[4] A canal branch linking to the Sutlej was constructed, which provided valuable irrigation to the state.^[4] However, this initially built canal eventually dried-up and there was an inadequate amount of funds in the state's treasury for the construction of a new one.^[4] Therefore, Pahar Singh assisted the local zamindars (landlords) with the construction of a well instead.^[4]

The relations between Faridkot State and Lahore State were cold.^[4] Diwan Mohkam Chand of the Lahore Darbar and the diwan of Lahore, coveted the state and wished to absorb it.^[4] Pahar Singh developed friendly ties with the British in-light of this.^[4] Pahar Singh helped the military forces of the British East India Company in the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845–46 against the Sikh Empire.^[2] During the Battle of Ferozeshah, intel provided by Pahar Singh helped the British forces against the Lahore State.^[2] During the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845 the chief, Raja Pahar Singh, was allied with the British, and was rewarded with an increase of territory.^[4][5] Pahar Singh had provided the British valuable assistance during the Battle of Mudki.^[4] During the Battle of Ferozeshah, the British were accepting their defeat and stepped-back, but the Sikh forces under Lal Singh and Tej Singh had also done the same, leaving valuable weaponry behind such as cannons and other resources at the battleground.^[4] After witnessing this, Pahar Singh reported to the British general Bradford about the situation.^[4] Due to the request of Pahar Singh, they were able to take possession of the cannons and other items left behind at the abandoned battlefield.^[4] Pahar Singh was bestowed with the raja title by the British in 1846 as a reward for the helped he provided them.^[6][5][4] Due to this, he was awarded the title of Raja and granted half of the land which was seized from the Raja of Nabha by the British Government.^{[citation needed]}

Pahar Singh married Chand Kaur, who was the daughter of Samand Singh of Deena Wale.^[4] Chand Kaur gave birth to a son, Wazir Son.^[4] Pahar Singh would marry another woman who was from a Muddki royal lineage.^[4] His second-wife would give birth to princes Deep Singh and Anokh Singh.^[4] Pahar Singh died at the age of 50.^[4] Both Deep Singh and Anokh Singh had died in childhood, leaving Wazir Singh behind as the rightful heir to the Faridkot throne.^[4]

He died in April 1849 and was succeeded by his only surviving son, Wazir Singh.^{[7][8][9][10]}