Sham Singh Attariwala
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 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2010) |
Sham Singh Attariwala | |
|---|---|
 Painting of Sham Singh Attariwala seated, likely circa 1820s–1840s | |
| Born | 1790 Attari, Bhangi Misl, Sikh Confederacy (present-day Amritsar district, Punjab, India) |
| Died | 1846 (aged 55–56) Sobraon, Sikh Empire (present-day Tarn Taran district, Punjab, India) |
| Allegiance |  Sikh Empire |
| Service/ | Sikh Khalsa Army |
| Years of service | 1817–1846 |
| Rank | General of the Sikh Khalsa Army |
| Spouse(s) | Mai Dasa Kanwar |
| Children | Nanaki Kaur Atariwala |
Sham Singh Attariwala (1790 – 10 February 1846) was a general of the Sikh Empire.
Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
He was born in the 1790s in the town of Attari (a few kilometres from the border of Indian and Pakistan Punjab in India), Amritsar, in the Majha region of Panjab, India. As a child he was educated in Gurmukhi and Persian.
Military career[edit]
When Ranjit Singh became the Maharaja of Punjab, he got Attariwala's services at his disposal. Maharaja Ranjit Singh knowing his qualities and fighting abilities made him a 'Jathedar' of 5000 horsemen. He participated actively in many campaigns, notably like the campaign of Multan, campaign of Kashmir, campaign of the Frontier Province etc.
Sham Singh Attariwala is famous for his last stand at the Battle of Sobraon. He joined the Sikh military in 1817 and during the Afghan–Sikh Wars participated in the Battle of Attock, Battle of Multan, Battle of Peshawar, and the 1819 Kashmir expedition.[1]
Administrative career[edit]
Sham Singh Attariwala was a prominent courtier at the Lahore Darbar during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and till the ascendency of Dalip Singh. He was part of the delegation led by the crown prince, Kharak Singh, sent by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to felicitate Lord William Bentinck on 25 October 1831 at the Ropar Meet.[2] He was the jagirdar of Pasrur, Sialkot, now in Pakistan.[3]
When the boy Duleep Singh became the Maharaja, Sham Singh served on the council of regency.[4][5][6][7]
Family[edit]
Sham Singh's daughter Nanaki Kaur Attariwala, later Kunwarani Nanaki Kaur, was married to Prince Nau Nihal Singh and upon his accession to the throne became the Maharani of the Sikh Empire.
Death[edit]
During the Battle of Sobraon, unlike the traitors, Lal Singh and Tej Singh, Sham Singh refused to abandon the battlefield and died a patriot's death.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ "The Sikh Encyclopedia(ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਕੋਸ਼) – Sham Singh Attarivala". 19 December 2000. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ Suri, Sohan Lal (2002). Umdat ut-tawarikh. Amritsar: Guru Nanak University. pp. 106, vol. III part 1.
- ^ Nalwa, Vanit (2022). Ranjit Singh "Monarch Mystique". New Delhi: HSNFT. p. 135.
- ^ Jan Bremmer; Lourens Van Den Bosch, eds. (1995). Between Poverty and the Pyre: Moments in the History of Widowhood. Routledge. p. 179. ISBN 0-415-08370-2.
- ^ Sidhu, Kuldip Singh (1994). Ranjit Singh's Khalsa Raj and Attariwala Sardars. National Book Shop. ISBN 9788171161652.
- ^ Vishwanath Datta (1988). Sati: a historical, social and philosophical enquiry into the Hindu rite of widow burning. Riverdale Company. p. 279. ISBN 9780913215319.
- ^ Lepel Henry Griffin (1905). Ranjit Singh and the Sikh Barrier Between Our Growing Empire and Central Asia. Asian Educational Services. p. 67. ISBN 9788120619180.
- ^ Singh, Harbans (2004). Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol. 4: S-Z (2nd ed.). Punjabi University, Patiala. pp. 343–344.
Further reading[edit]
- Ahluwalia, M.L.; Singh, Kirpal (1963). Punjab Pioneer Freedom Fighters. New Delhi: Orient Longmans.
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