Sikh leader who organised the Buddha Dal and Taruna Dal; 1697-1753
Nawab Kapur Singh
A Virk farmer's son from Kaloke, Kapur Singh accepted the title of Nawab from the Mughals in 1733, divided the Sikh forces into two bodies, and in 1748 urged the union of the bands into the Dal Khalsa under Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
Rise
He was born in 1697 at Kaloke, now in Sheikhupura district. He seized Faizullapur near Amritsar and renamed it Singhpura, which gave his following its name. He took the vows from Bhai Mani Singh at Amritsar in 1721 and led raids on treasuries and caravans under Zakariya Khan.[EoS]
The title of Nawab
At Vaisakhi in 1733 the government's envoy Subeg Singh offered the Sikhs the title and a jagir. The assembly chose Kapur Singh, who was fanning the gathering. He accepted reluctantly and laid the robe before five Sikhs first. He then formed the Buddha Dal and the Taruna Dal, and Zakariya Khan took back the jagir before the 1735 harvest.[EoS]
Later years
He led the Buddha Dal to the outskirts of Delhi and attacked Nadir Shah's rearguard near Akhnur in 1739. Baba Ala Singh of Patiala took the vows from him. At Vaisakhi on 29 March 1748 he pressed for unity, and the Dal Khalsa was formed. He passed away on 7 October 1753 and was cremated at Gurdwara Baba Atal in Amritsar.[EoS][EoS][EoS]