RAM SINGH

RAM SINGH (1639-1714), Ram Chand before receiving the Sikh rites, was an ancestor of the ruling house of Patiala. The second son of Chaudhari Phul, he was married to Sahbi, daughter of one Nanu Bhullar, who gave birth to six sons Dunna, Sahba, Ala Singh, Bakhta, Buddha and Laddha. Ram Singh was a daring and ambitious man and made some territorial acquisitions. The town of Rampura he founded near Bathinda celebrates his name to this day.

Ram Singh was a devoted disciple of Guru Gobind Singh`s and had the honour of receiving from him a hukamnama in 1696, still preserved in the family, directing him and his brother, Tilok Singh, to repair to his presence with their contingent of horsemen. He took at the Guru`s hands amrit at Damdama Sahib (Talvandi Sabo) in 1706, thus entering the fold of the Khalsa. He, along with his brother, assisted Banda Singh Bahadur with a force of men as the latter came to the Punjab in 1709 to chastise the Mughal faujdar of Sirhind. Ram Singh was, in consequence of a family feud, killed in 1714 at Kotla. by his nephews Baru and Ugar Singh.

References:

1. Sukha Singh, Gurbilas Dasvin Patshahi. Lahore, 1912
2. Gian Singh, Giani, Panth Prakash. Delhi, 1880
3. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35
4. Kirpal Singh, Life of Maharaja Ala Singh and His Times. Amritsar, 1954 B.S.