I forgot to finish my previous post regarding my ancestor’s sister and brother-in-law.  Earlier in my blog, I had shared that it was during my great-aunt’s (Sirdar Dewa Singh’s sister’s) wedding to Raja Ajit Singh, the Regent of Ladwa (also written Ladva), that my great grandfather came into distinction.  I now want to expand on what became of this great uncle (the Raja), his wife (my great aunt) and the Riyaset (Kingdom).  I promise it’s’ riveting stuff and one that makes history exceedingly real!

‘Ladwa state’ in essence was the territory around Thanesar in Haryana, which was acquired by Raja Gurdit Singh. a close confidant of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (being from the same clan, village & ’Karoringhia Misl’).  Later on around1764 the village of Baddoval (near Ludhiana) was also given as a ‘Jagir’ to him by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, as part of the conquest against Mughal Sirhind.  Eventually his son, Raja Ajit Singh, succeeded him to the throne, and he was recognized as the ‘Regent of Ladwa’ by George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, the then British governor-general of India.  And like his father, Raja Ajit Singh continued to remain a staunch ally of Maharaja Ranjit Singh & supported his various campaigns of conquests, and for which he continued to receive favors from him. 

Then in 1839, upon Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s demise, the East India Company set sights to annex his wealthy kingdom.  This let to the first ‘Anglo-Sikh’ war (which was fought between 1845 and 1846 in Pheru Sheher, Moodkee, Sobraon and Chillianwallah) where Ajit Singh fought on the side of the Sikhs and against the British.  He and Ranjodh Singh Majithia (a famous general), not only seized the forts of Fatehgarh, Dharamkot, Baddoval, but also entered Ludhiana cantonment where they set the barracks on fire!  However, on January 28th, 1846, during the ‘Battle of Aliwal’ the Sikhs suffered defeat and Raja Ajit Singh fled the battlefield.  His actions and support of the Sikh cause was considered to be treason against the British, so his Kingdom and estates were confiscated, and his wife (our great aunt) arrested and imprisoned at the Govindgarh fort.  He eventually was captured in Allahabad, and during his captivity, he orchestrated yet another escape and was never captured again by the British. He is considered the only Raja who helped the Sikh cause below the Sutlej, so I would safe to say that he perhaps was amongst the first freedom fighter in Punjab.

PS- You can read more about him in the following article- http://www.anglosikhwars.com/battle-of-buddowal-21st-jan-1846/.  Also, some interesting youtube post on ‘BBC Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip programme’ about some article from anglo-sikh wars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33L9N8-BGQI&feature=youtu.b