CHAUDHARI PHUL SINGH(1627-1689), ancestor of the Phulkian Dyansty, was born in 1629, the second son of Bhai Rup Chand and Mat Ambi. His father was killed fighting against the Bhatti Rajput converts to Islam, who were their old enemies and who had control over the Malwa region. On the death of Chaudhary Phul Singh’s father his uncle, Chaudhary Kala, became his guardian. The family shifted to the village of Mehraj, founded by Chaudhary Kala`s father, Chaudhary Mohan, in 1627 with the blessing of Guru Hargobind.
As Guru Hargobind was staying at Gurusar, the site of the battle of Mehraj (16 December 1634), Chaudhary Kala, accompanied by his young nephews, Sandi and Chaudhary Phul Singh, went to pay homage. In the Guru`s presence, young Chaudhary Phul Singh started scratching his belly to indicate that lie was hungry. As the legend goes. Guru Hargobind gave his blessing saying, “He will have means not only to overcome his own hunger, but also to satisfy the hunger of many others.
His horses shall drink water from the river Sullej and seven children. Three sons, Tilok Singh, Rani Singh and Raghu, and one daughter, Rami or Rani Kaur, were born to his first wife Chaudhurani Bali Kaur, the daughter of Chaudhary Jassa Singh Zamindar of Dilami, in Nabha territory. From Chaudhary Tilok Singh descended the ruling families of Nabha andJind and from Chaudhary Ram Singh, the house of Patiala.
To Chaudhary Phul Singh’s second wife, Rajji, were born three sons, Channu, Jhandu and Takht Mall. The descendants of Channu and Takht Mall held jagirs in the village of Gumati. Chaudhary Phul Singh received from Rai Bakhtiar or Karigar, lease of Kamarivala Theh and raised on the site a village which he called Phul. He gained considerable influence in the area, and defeated Hyat Khan Bhatti of Bhatner in a battle fought near what is now Muktsar.
Phul Singh began to be recognized as a daring and powerful local chief. He attacked (lie chief of Jagraon, and held him captive after a brief skirmish.He was summoned to Sirhind where he was imprisoned under the orders of the Mughal Faujdar. It is said that he secured his release feigning death an art lie had learnt from one Sumcrpuri fakir who once happened to visit his place.
Taking him as dead, his body was handed over to his relations. Phul Singh died at Bahadurpur in Nabha state on 28 January 1689, and was cremated at the village of Chaudhary Phul Singh . His Samadhi still exists there.
References and Sources :-
- Twarikh-i-Khanadan-i-Maharaja Karam Singh-va-Khandan-i-Phulkian. MS. Punjab Archives, Patiala
- Karam Singh, Baba Ala Singh. Patiala, 1918
- Kirpal Singh. Maharaja Ala Singh of Patiala. Amritsar, 1954
- The Sikh Encyclopedia