Founder of the Ramgarhia misl; 1723-1803
Jassa Singh Ramgarhia
A carpenter's son from Ichogill, Jassa Singh rebuilt the Ram Rauni fort at Amritsar as Ramgarh and took his name from it. He became a leading misl chief, fell out with his namesake Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, lived for years as a soldier of fortune, and came back to rule from Batala.
Rise
Born in 1723 at Ichogill, 20 km east of Lahore, he came from a family that had served Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Banda Singh Bahadur. His father was killed fighting Nadir Shah in 1739. He served for a while under Adina Beg, which angered Sikhs, then left to help the defenders of Ram Rauni in 1748. After 1753 he rebuilt the fort as Ramgarh.[EoS]
Feuds and return
He seized land in the Doabs and Riarki with Jai Singh Kanhaiya and took tribute from the Kangra hill states. A rift with Jassa Singh Ahluwalia drove him out of the Punjab. He raided from Hissar, entered Delhi with other chiefs in 1783, and challenged Jassa Singh Ahluwalia's seat on the throne. He returned as an ally of Mahan Singh Sukerchakia and beat Jai Singh Kanhaiya at Batala in 1787.[EoS]
Last years
He held Batala, Kalanaur, Dinanagar, Gurdaspur and other places, with tribute from Kangra, Nurpur, Mandi and Chamba. He passed away on 20 April 1803.[EoS]
Images
Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, a detail from a group painting of Sikh chiefs attributed to the workshop of Purkhu of Kangra. Commons gives 1760 or 1780 as possible dates.
Purkhu of Kangra, c. 1760 or 1780, uncertain. Public domain. Source
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