Sultan-Ul-Quaum Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was one of the most prominent leaders of the Sikhs, he was head of the Ahluwalia Misl (Confederacy) and Supreme Head of the Dal Khalsa. He had a humble beginning, was born into a modest family, and lost his father at a tender age. He along with his mother went to Delhi and when he performed Kirtan in front of Mata Sundri (wife of Guru Gobind Singh), she was enchanted with the little boy’s melodious voice, innocence and devotion that she asked his mother to let him stay at her service. He was raised like a son of the Guru’s family and acquired knowledge and wisdom, while being in their company. Since Jassa Singh spent his childhood in Delhi, he spoke Punjabi with a Hindi accent and people used to tease him of his peculiar elocution. I can relate to this as I was born and spent my childhood in Delhi and when I speak Punjabi, it is with a Hindustani accent and people from Punjab find it a bit amusing.
When Jassa Singh came of age, he was placed under the tutelage of Nawab Kapur Singh, who was a devout, humble person and supreme leader of the Sikhs. He went back to Punjab, learnt leadership, diplomatic attributes by observing his guardian and received martial training from the best amongst his close circle. With the passing away of Nawab Kapoor Singh, the role of supreme leadership of the Khalsa passed on to Jassa Singh, who became a successful commander, resisted tyranny of the Afghan invaders, helped in spreading the boundaries of Sikh misls from Yamuna to Indus.
Jassa Singh participated in various campaigns against the Afghan ruler, Ahmed Shah Abdali. He along with other prominent Sikh leaders checked his movements in Punjab during his plundering expeditions. He would strike and create havoc amongst the Afghan marauders and would free enslaved Hindu women, children from his captivity. Jassa Singh was also present at the second holocaust of Sikhs, when thirty thousand innocent lives were slaughtered by the Afghans. His military organization skills and perseverance helped in defending the hapless and eventually led them to safe quarters.
Jassa Singh also possessed exceptional diplomatic skills. He on a few occasions saved the chief of Patiala from being persecuted and ignominy at the hands of Dal Khalsa as the Patiala chief usually aided Ahmed Shah during his forays into the sub-continent. He maintained amicable relationship with other Misl chiefs and united disparate members against common enemy or whenever a threat arose that would adversely affect the Sikh community. He however, had contentious relationship with another aspiring leader, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, which could not be resolved during their lifetime.
Jassa Singh along with other Sikh chiefs invaded and occupied Delhi. The ultimate prize for the Sikhs was the capture of Red Fort in Delhi and to be able to bring the Mughal Emperor to their mercy. He earned the title of Sultan-Ul-Quaum (King of Nation) and was one of the most influential leaders of the Sikh community before the ascendancy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He laid a solid foundation for the future Sikh Empire and fulfilled the auspicious prophecy: ‘Raj Karega Khalsa ‘(Sikhs will Rule)!
