FATEH SINGH KALIANVALA

FATEH SINGH KALIANVALA (d. 1807), military commander and jagirdar under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was the son of Jassa Singh and grandson of Jaimal Singh. Jaimal Singh was a Sandhu Jatt and the first in the line to embrace the Sikh faith. He was a resident of Kala village in Amritsar district. In the troops of the Sukkarchakkia chiefs, Charhat Singh and Mahan Singh, he had fought against the Chatthas inhabiting the northern part of Gujranwala district. In one of the skirmishes with the Chatthas he lost both of his sons, Jai Singh and Jassa Singh. Fateh Singh entered the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1797, and rapidly rose in the favour of his master.

He was a brave and skilful soldier and took part in almost every campaign undertaken by the Maharaja during his early career. He fought against Ghulam Muhammad Khan Chattha and against Jodh Singh of Wazirabad. He was with the Maharaja at the time of the capture of the city of Lahore in 1799. He participated in the Kasur (1801) and Jhang (1806) campaigns. Fateh Singh conquered Chiniot from Jassa Singh Bhangi and, when Jhang was taken in 1806 from Ahmad Khan Sial, the district was leased to him.

When towards the close of 1806, Qutb ud-Din Khan of Kasur raised the banner of revolt, Fateh Singh Kalianvala was sent against him. In 1807, Ranjit Singh, after a visit to Patiala, besieged the fort of Naraingarh held by Sardar Kishan Singh. Fateh Singh, who was in immediate command, assaulted the fort, but was repulsed and mortally wounded. He died on 25 October 1807.

References :

1. Suri, Sohan Lal, `Umddt-ut-Twarikh. Lahore, 1885-1889.
2. Griffin, Lepel, and C.F. Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1909
3. Khushwant Singh, A History of the Sikhs, vol. I. Princeton, 1963
4. Sinha, N.K., Ranjit Singh. Calcutta, 1933
5. Bhagal Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and His Times. Delhi, 1990