JASSA SINGH AHLUWALIA
General Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (3.5.1718 – 10.10.1783), son of Bhai Badar Singh and grandson of Bhai Gopal Singh, was born at village Ahlu, near Lahore. When he was just five years old, his father died. Mata Sunder Kaur, the wife of Guru Gobind Singh, brought him up. He spent his childhood at Delhi. He was well versed in Punjabi, Persian and Hindi languages. He was also trained soldier. At the age of 11 years, he knew three languages as well as the art of sword wielding. In 1729, Kapur Singh (later Nawab) took Bhai Jassa Singh with him. When he left Delhi, Mata Sunder Kaur gave him a sword, a shield, a bow and a quiver full of arrows, a robe etc. as her token of love. Sirdar Jassa Singh remained side by side of Nawab Kapur Singh. He participated in almost every activity in which Nawab Kapur Singh was involved. In January 1748, when Ahmed Shah Durrani attacked the Punjab, his Jatha joined the other Sikh Jathas and harassed Ahmed Shah twice. On March 29, 1748, all the Jathas of the Sikhs were divided into 11 Misls, his Jatha was proclaimed as Ahluwalia Misl. Besides, he was given the command of the Dal Khalsa’s (the Sikh army) youth section, the Taruna Dal. Nawab Kapur Singh died on October 7, 1753.
On April 10, 1754, he was selected as the Jathedar (chief) of the Dal Khalsa. From 1748-1783, Jassa Singh gave a marvellous lead to the Sikh nation. He captured Amritsar (1748), Jullundur (1753), Lahore (1761), Amritsar (for the second time in 1764) Kapurthala (1774) and Delhi (along with Baba Baghel Singh and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia etc.) in 1783. He hoisted the Sikh flag on the Red Fort at Delhi on March 11, 1783. He fought bravely against the army of Ahmed Shah Durrani several times. In March 1761, he rescued thousands of the young Hindu girls, who were being taken as captives by Ahmed Shah. He was called Bandi Chhorh (the freedom-giver) by the Hindus. In September 1761, the Sikh army occupied Lahore. Sirdar Jassa Singh was proclaimed Sultan-ul-Qaum (the emperor of the nation). He fought bravely against Durrani’s army during the second holocaust (February 5, 1762). He suffered 22 wounds in this holocaust. Sirdar Jassa Singh was a great leader, a great general, a brave fighter and a great leader. Since Banda Singh Bahadur and Nawab Kapur Singh, he was the greatest general of the Sikhs. After the death of Bhai Jassa Singh (till Master Tara Singh) no Sikh leader could become the leader of the Sikh nation as a whole. Kapurthala was the capital of his Misl.
Also see: Ahluwalia Misl.
(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)