Phulkian chief and first ruler of Patiala; 1691-1765
Baba Ala Singh
Baba Ala Singh built a territory in the Malwa from a band of young men at Phul, founded Patiala, and dealt with Mughals, Marathas and Afghans in turn. Ahmad Shah Durrani recognised him as Raja in 1765.
Building a state
He was born in 1691 at Phul, and his father and uncle had taken the vows from Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He set up at Barnala in 1722, took the vows from Nawab Kapur Singh in 1732, held 726 villages by the end of 1760 and built a fort at Patiala in 1763.[EoS]
Between the powers
He fought for the Mughals at Manupur in 1748 and fed the Marathas before Panipat. He stayed neutral at Kup in 1762, yet Durrani devastated Barnala and released him only after he paid heavily. He joined the attack on Sirhind in 1764, and Durrani confirmed him there in 1765 with the title of Raja. He passed away at Patiala on 7 August 1765.[EoS]
Images
One of six portraits of Patiala rulers, in opaque watercolour and gold, made at Patiala about 1880. It was painted more than a century after Baba Ala Singh passed away in 1765, so it is an artist's imagining.
Unknown, About 1880. Himachal Pradesh State Museum, Shimla. Public domain. Source
