ARJAN SINGH

ARJAN SINGH (d. 1859), a military commander in Sikh times, was born the son of Jamiat Singh of Rarighar Nangal, in Gurdaspur district. In 1845, on the eve of the first AngloSikh war, he was given the command of four infantry regiments, one regiment of cavalry, and a troop of horse artillery, with which force he served at the battle of Sabhraon. In 1846, he took part in the Kashmir expedition and in August 1847 received a Persian title of honour on the recommendation of Major Henry Lawrence, the British Resident at Lahore.

In 1848, he accompanied Raja Sher Singh Atarivala to Multan, and became an ally in his rebellion. His followers, hearing this, rebelled too and defended the fort of Ranghar Nangal successfully against two companies of the Lahore troops. After the annexation of the Punjab by the British, the estates of Arjan Singh were confiscated. Arjan Singh died in 1859.

References :

1. Griffin, Lepel, and C.F. Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1909
2. Cunningham, Joseph Davey, A History of the Sikhs. London,1849
3. Gupta, Hari Ram, Panjab on the Eve of First Sikh War. Chandigarh, 1956