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Kaithal State
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Kaithal State
Kaithal State was a Sikh state based out of Kaithal. It was one of the Cis-Sutlej states. The Sikh chieftains of Kaithal ruled from 1767 until the state's fall in 1843. At the state's height, it was the second-largest cis-Sutlej state, after Patiala State. The rulers of the state were popularly known by the title of bhai (meaning "brother").
The polity was founded by Jat Sikhs of the Sidhu gotra (clan). It was founded by Desu Singh, who was a sardar from the Dallewalia Misl and an apparent descendant of a Sikh saint, Bhai Dayala (or Bhai Dayal Das).
Dayal Das was a Sikh saint who is noted for saving the life of Mai Fatto, when her family attempted to commit female-infanticide. Mai Fatto later became the wife of Baba Ala Singh of Patiala. Ala Singh and Fatto would visit the Bhais at Bhuchuke for advice. Dayal Das had a son named Gurbaksh Singh. Gurbaksh Singh assisted the Patiala rulers as a soldier and later established his own state, whilst other sources attribute the establishment of Kaithal to his son Desu. The eldest son of Gurbaksh Singh and brother of Desu Singh was Budh Singh.
Desu Singh was one of six sons of Gurbaksh Singh of Lalpur (died 1760; Gurbaksh was an ally of Ala Singh of Patiala) and was closely allied with the Phulkian family. Desu Singh is said to have had a saintly disposition, earning him the bhai (brother) appellation.
In January 1764, Desu Singh captured the parganas of Amlu Arnauli, Bangar, Derah, Kularkharyal, Mustafabad, Sindhuwal, Tandwal, and Thanesar, however these were taken from him by Bhanga Singh. In 1767, the city of Kaithal fell into the hands of the Phulkian chieftain, Desu Singh. He had captured the principality of Kaithal from two Afghan chiefs, Bhikbakhsh Khan and Neamat Khan. Furthermore, Desu Singh annexed Pundri and expelled the Sayyids from it.
In 1779, the Mughal minister of Delhi, Abdul Ahad, launched a military expedition against the cis-Sutlej Sikh chiefs. On 9 September 1779, the nawab dispatched Baghel Singh, Gajpat Singh, and Sada Singh, to bring Desu Singh to the camp at Thanesar. When Desu arrived at the camp, Baghel explained that Desu had been dispossed of his territory by Amar Singh of Patiala and that his lost territory should be restored to him. Desu Singh offered a nazar (tribute) to the nawab consisting of five gold coins, two bows, five cotton bed-sheets, and two steeds. In-return, Desu Singh was gifted a khilat of five pieces, a sarpech, and a sword, while two doshalas were bestowed to one of his associates with him. Abdul Ahad demanded that Desu pay a tribute of three lakh rupees, however Desu only offered to pay two lakh rupees. This upset Abdul, who then upped his demand to five lakh rupees as tribute. On the night of 13 September, Gajpat Singh of Jind told the nawab that it would be impossible to get money from Desu Singh, and suggested a plan to get the money from him. The plan involved Abdul Ahad arresting all of the sardars as a ploy to get Desu to pay-up. Diwan Nanun Mal, Maha Singh, Ram Dayal, Gajpat Singh, and Desu Singh were all then arrested but still Desu refused to pay-up, as reported by Taj Muhammad Khan. Desu Singh and eight of his associates were then placed in confinement. On 14 September, the Mughal official informed Desu Singh that he was to withdraw from the taluqa he had captured as the Mughal Emperor was to rule it directly. Abdul Ahad also inquired about the whereabouts of weapons and loot that was captured from his late brother, Abul Qasim Khan, whom was killed-in-action after his defeat on 11 March 1776, reprimanding Desu Singh for being a plunderer. Desu Singh responded that he had already used what was captured before on his army and he had no money.
An agreement was finally reached between Desu and the Mughal authorities: Desu Singh's diwan was to pay five lakhs as tribute and 1.25 lakhs as expenses. The condition for this was that the estates belonging to Desu Singh was to be confirmed by him through a royal rescript and were to be protected from Amar Singh of Patiala. It was eventually agreed that Desu Singh was to pay four lakhs as tribute, with three lakhs being immediately realized and as a payment for the remainder, Desu Singh's son, Lal Singh, was taken captive by the Mughals. Desu Singh left the Mughal camp on 26 September 1776. Desu Singh died around a year later in September 1780. Desu Singh was survived by at-least two sons, Bahal Singh and Lal Singh (both being half-brothers with different mothers).
In circa 1780–1781, Desu Singh died and was succeeded by his son, Lal Singh. After Desu Singh's death, his widow sent representatives to prime minister Najaf Khan to secure the release of Lal Singh from prison. However, Amar Singh of Patiala threatened the Kaithal widow for negotiating directly with the Mughal court of Delhi. Amar Singh of Patiala instigated the other widow of Desu Singh to capture all of the assets of the late ruler, whilst also advocating against the release of Lal Singh. She gave control over the assets and property she had seized to her own son, Bahal Singh. Najaf Khan ordered a 50,000 rupee payment to secure the release of Lal Singh. However, Lal Singh's mother did not have the necessary funds so she threatened her co-wife with a dagger to give her the necessary funds, threatening to kill her otherwise. The mother of Bahal Singh paid 1,000 ashrafis (equivalent to 20,000 rupees) immediately, promising to pay-out another 20,000 rupees in a few days and the remaining 10,000 was to be paid by subscription.
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Kaithal State
Kaithal State was a Sikh state based out of Kaithal. It was one of the Cis-Sutlej states. The Sikh chieftains of Kaithal ruled from 1767 until the state's fall in 1843. At the state's height, it was the second-largest cis-Sutlej state, after Patiala State. The rulers of the state were popularly known by the title of bhai (meaning "brother").
The polity was founded by Jat Sikhs of the Sidhu gotra (clan). It was founded by Desu Singh, who was a sardar from the Dallewalia Misl and an apparent descendant of a Sikh saint, Bhai Dayala (or Bhai Dayal Das).
Dayal Das was a Sikh saint who is noted for saving the life of Mai Fatto, when her family attempted to commit female-infanticide. Mai Fatto later became the wife of Baba Ala Singh of Patiala. Ala Singh and Fatto would visit the Bhais at Bhuchuke for advice. Dayal Das had a son named Gurbaksh Singh. Gurbaksh Singh assisted the Patiala rulers as a soldier and later established his own state, whilst other sources attribute the establishment of Kaithal to his son Desu. The eldest son of Gurbaksh Singh and brother of Desu Singh was Budh Singh.
Desu Singh was one of six sons of Gurbaksh Singh of Lalpur (died 1760; Gurbaksh was an ally of Ala Singh of Patiala) and was closely allied with the Phulkian family. Desu Singh is said to have had a saintly disposition, earning him the bhai (brother) appellation.
In January 1764, Desu Singh captured the parganas of Amlu Arnauli, Bangar, Derah, Kularkharyal, Mustafabad, Sindhuwal, Tandwal, and Thanesar, however these were taken from him by Bhanga Singh. In 1767, the city of Kaithal fell into the hands of the Phulkian chieftain, Desu Singh. He had captured the principality of Kaithal from two Afghan chiefs, Bhikbakhsh Khan and Neamat Khan. Furthermore, Desu Singh annexed Pundri and expelled the Sayyids from it.
In 1779, the Mughal minister of Delhi, Abdul Ahad, launched a military expedition against the cis-Sutlej Sikh chiefs. On 9 September 1779, the nawab dispatched Baghel Singh, Gajpat Singh, and Sada Singh, to bring Desu Singh to the camp at Thanesar. When Desu arrived at the camp, Baghel explained that Desu had been dispossed of his territory by Amar Singh of Patiala and that his lost territory should be restored to him. Desu Singh offered a nazar (tribute) to the nawab consisting of five gold coins, two bows, five cotton bed-sheets, and two steeds. In-return, Desu Singh was gifted a khilat of five pieces, a sarpech, and a sword, while two doshalas were bestowed to one of his associates with him. Abdul Ahad demanded that Desu pay a tribute of three lakh rupees, however Desu only offered to pay two lakh rupees. This upset Abdul, who then upped his demand to five lakh rupees as tribute. On the night of 13 September, Gajpat Singh of Jind told the nawab that it would be impossible to get money from Desu Singh, and suggested a plan to get the money from him. The plan involved Abdul Ahad arresting all of the sardars as a ploy to get Desu to pay-up. Diwan Nanun Mal, Maha Singh, Ram Dayal, Gajpat Singh, and Desu Singh were all then arrested but still Desu refused to pay-up, as reported by Taj Muhammad Khan. Desu Singh and eight of his associates were then placed in confinement. On 14 September, the Mughal official informed Desu Singh that he was to withdraw from the taluqa he had captured as the Mughal Emperor was to rule it directly. Abdul Ahad also inquired about the whereabouts of weapons and loot that was captured from his late brother, Abul Qasim Khan, whom was killed-in-action after his defeat on 11 March 1776, reprimanding Desu Singh for being a plunderer. Desu Singh responded that he had already used what was captured before on his army and he had no money.
An agreement was finally reached between Desu and the Mughal authorities: Desu Singh's diwan was to pay five lakhs as tribute and 1.25 lakhs as expenses. The condition for this was that the estates belonging to Desu Singh was to be confirmed by him through a royal rescript and were to be protected from Amar Singh of Patiala. It was eventually agreed that Desu Singh was to pay four lakhs as tribute, with three lakhs being immediately realized and as a payment for the remainder, Desu Singh's son, Lal Singh, was taken captive by the Mughals. Desu Singh left the Mughal camp on 26 September 1776. Desu Singh died around a year later in September 1780. Desu Singh was survived by at-least two sons, Bahal Singh and Lal Singh (both being half-brothers with different mothers).
In circa 1780–1781, Desu Singh died and was succeeded by his son, Lal Singh. After Desu Singh's death, his widow sent representatives to prime minister Najaf Khan to secure the release of Lal Singh from prison. However, Amar Singh of Patiala threatened the Kaithal widow for negotiating directly with the Mughal court of Delhi. Amar Singh of Patiala instigated the other widow of Desu Singh to capture all of the assets of the late ruler, whilst also advocating against the release of Lal Singh. She gave control over the assets and property she had seized to her own son, Bahal Singh. Najaf Khan ordered a 50,000 rupee payment to secure the release of Lal Singh. However, Lal Singh's mother did not have the necessary funds so she threatened her co-wife with a dagger to give her the necessary funds, threatening to kill her otherwise. The mother of Bahal Singh paid 1,000 ashrafis (equivalent to 20,000 rupees) immediately, promising to pay-out another 20,000 rupees in a few days and the remaining 10,000 was to be paid by subscription.
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