Sirdar Fateh Singh (? – October 1836) was the son of Raja Bhag Singh (? – 1801). Sirdar Fateh Singh had joined his father on several expeditions. He had got initiation at Akal Takht Sahib, in 1795. In 1796, he got married. In 1800, he occupied some area round the river Sutlej. In 1801, he succeeded his father as the ruler of the Kapurthala State. In 1802, (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh visited Fatehabad to pay condolence on the death of Raja Bhag Singh. On this occasion, Ranjit Singh and Fateh Singh presented turbans to each other and became ‘brothers’. In 1802, Fateh Singh joined Ranjit Singh in his attack on Naushehra and Kasur (1802-03). In 1804, he occupied Phagwara. In December 1805, he mediated a compromise between Jaswant Rao Holkar and Lord Lake. In 1806, he and Maharaja Ranjit Singh entered an agreement with the British that they (the British) shall not interfere his territory till Kapurthala and Lahore Darbar remained friends. In September 1805, when Metcalf visited Lahore on a diplomatic mission, Ranjit Singh kept Fateh Singh along his side. In 1809, when Ranjit Singh attacked Kangra, in 1818, when he attacked Multan and in 1819, when he attacked Kashmir, Sirdar Fateh Singh joined the battles. Ranjit Singh rewarded Fateh Singh with estates of Malwa area (Dakha, Jagraon, Talwandi, Naraingarh, Raipur etc). Their friendship continued till 1825. In 1825, Ranjit Singh sent his army to Kapurthala. At this, to avoid fighting against Ranjit Singh, Fateh Singh went to Jagraon (in the British territory). In 1827, Ranjit Singh sent a letter to Fateh Singh through Kanwar Naunihal Singh, Dhian Sinh Dogra and Bhai Desa Singh Sodhi (of Aanandpur Sahib), promising that he shall not annex his (Fateh Singh’s) State. At this Fateh Singh returned. He visited Lahore in 1827. He died at Kapurthala in 1836. He was succeeded by his son Nihal Singh.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)