Phulkian Sardars - Phulkian States

Phulkian States

The Phulkian Sardars had always been on the right side of the Mughal government in Delhi. Patiala, Jind, and Nabha received royal titles from the declining Mughal power. They came under the loose domination of the new military machine of Mahadji Sindhia and later under the British who took Delhi in 1803. Phulkian sardars approached the British government for seeking protection against the rising power of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Although Ranjit Singh was very moderate towards the Phulkian rajas, in due course, with the rising power of Ranjit Singh, they became suspicious of his designs and hence sought British protection. Accordingly, the leaders of the Cis-Satluj Sikh states including the rulers of Patiala, Nabha and Jind decided in a conclave to send a deputation to the British resident in Delhi, Mr. Seton. They presented their memorandum to the British resident on 1 April 1809 and pledged their loyalty to every succeeding power in Delhi and formally sought protection of the British. The British were very glad to entertain their offer and accordingly they signed the Treaty of Amritsar on 25 April 1809 with Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Maharaja agreed not to carry out his military exploits in the Cis-Satluj territories. Under the British Empire, honours or rewards bestowed on the native princes of India, grants were made to the maharaja of Patiala and the rajas of Jind and Nabha consisting of, first, a sunnud from the Governor General confirming to him and his heirs forever his possessions and all the privileges attached to them and secondly, the recognition of his right, in failure of direct heirs, to adopt a successor from the Phulka family. This right of adoption was granted to the Chiefs of Patiala, Jind, and Nabha in 1860, together with the further concession that, in the event of the chief of any one state dying without male issue and without adopting a successor, the chiefs of the other two, in concert with the political agent, could choose a successor from among the Phulkian family. Succession in those cases was subject to the payment to the British government of a nazarana or fine equal to one-third of the gross revenue of the state. The political agent for the Phulkian states and Bahawalpur was at Patiala.

Eleven of the descendants of Phul of the Phulkian family in the Cis-Sutlej States who had rank, position and were entitled seats to attend the durbars of the Viceroy 1864-1885 were:

1. Maharaja Mahindar Singh, Patiala;
2. Raja Raghbir Singh, Jind;
3. Raja Bhagwan Singh, Nabha;
4. Sirdar Sir Attar Singh, Bhadour;
5. Sirdar Kehr Singh, Bhadour;
6. Sirdar Achhal Singh, Bhadour;
7. Sirdar Uttam Singh Rampuria, Malaud;
8. Sirdar Mit Singh, Malaudh;
9. Sirdar Hakikat Singh,Ber, Malaud;
10. Sirdar Diwan Singh and
11. Sirdar Hira Singh, Badrukhan.

The Bhadour chiefs sat in durbar as feudatories of Pattiala; the Badrukhan chiefs of Jhind, and the Malaudh sirdars as British Jagirdar chiefs.