Jodh Singh Ramgarhia

Jodh Singh Ramgarhia (1758 – 23 August 1815) was a prominent Sikh leader in the Punjab, the son of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia who inherited Jassa's position on his death in 1803. His Ramgarhia followers played an important role in the struggle when Maharaja Ranjit Singh was establishing the Sikh Empire.[1]

Jodh was instrumental in persuading Mai Sukhan, widow of Gulab Singh Bhangi and ruler of Amritsar to surrender to Ranjit Singh on 24 February 1805 and to hand over the massive Zamzama gun.[2] He fought with Ranjit Singh in the Battle of Kasur, and was awarded many estates by the Maharajah.[1] He was responsible for the construction of the "Ramgarhia Bunga" adjoining the Golden Temple of Amritsar, a residence for guards of the temple, using materials that had been collected by his father.[3]

His Samad is co-located with the Samad of Baba Deep Singh and other family members in Amritsar. The area was donated by "Sardar Sahib" Sardar Tarlochan Singh for the expansion of the Gurudwara Sahib. A slab is also walled to indicate the names of Ramgarhia Sardars who were cremated there. As per the agreement, Guru Granth sahib Ji is recited on the Samads of Ramgarhia Sardars. The area is also known as Gurudwara Shaheed Ganj / Shaheedan. For more details of the Samad, visit www.thesikhmisl.com

On his death in 1815 there was a dispute over succession to his estates between his widow, his brother Vir Singh and his cousins Diwan Singh and Mehtab Singh. The Maharajah eventually split the estates between them. Diwan Singh then served with Ranjit Singh and the Sikh army to extend the empire to Baramula in Kashmir in 1819 / 1820. The area was known as the cantonment of Diwan Singh Ramgarhia. He ruled the area until he died in 1834. His samad was located there in Baramula and the present status require ground confirmation. On the death of his father, Diwan Singh, his son Mangal Singh served the Sikh empire and fought the famous battle of Jamraud, Afghanistan with more than 400 troops along with Hari Singh Nalwa. Since after the death of Ranjit Singh, the family was unable to rule or provide any leadership on account of leadership crises, many of Ranjit Singh allies were weaned away. Mangal Singh too left and supported the British during the second Sikh wars.[1] For more details about Ramgarhia Misl, Jodh Singh, Diwan Singh and Mangal Singh including Legacy visit www.thesikhmisl.com . Much before SGPC came on the scene, Sardar Mangal Singh solely managed entire affairs of the Golden Temple, Amritsar during its formative years, as the Chief Manager, for 17 years (1862-1879) and lived at the Bunga Sardar Mangal Singh (now called Bunga Ramgarhia).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sardar Jodh Singh Ramgarhia(1758-1815". SikhHistory.com. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  2. ↑ Om Prakash, ed. (2002). Encyclopaedic History of Indian Freedom Movement. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 149. ISBN 81-261-0938-6.
  3. ↑ "Ramgarhia Bunga". The Sikh Misl. Retrieved 2010-08-16.

www.thesikhmisl.com

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