Kalsia
Encyclopedia
Kalsia was a state
in east Punjab
(Haryana
since 1966), India
. It was founded by Gurbaksh Singh in 1760. After India's independence, it was included in Indian Punjab
. In 1940 the population of Kalsia was 67,393.
s, Chhachhrauli
and Basi, and a sub-tehsil named Chirak, in district Ferozepur. It had contained 181 villages in 1903. Chhachhrauli
was the capital of Kalsia state (also see: Chandigarh
).
. Maharaja Ranjit Singh
had granted the estate of Chhachhrauli to Gurbaksh Singh, a commander of his troops and a resident of Kalsia village. Goorbaksh Singh named the state "Kalsia". Chhachhrauli became its capital city.
Gurbaksh Singh was not famous, but his successor and son, Jodh Singh was an able person. At that time the area of Kalsia state comprised the territory between the Yamuna and the Markanda stream. Jodh Singh captured Dehra Bassi from Sardar Khajan Singh and also acquired territories of Lohal and Achrak. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh
attacked and occupied Naraingarh
in the Shivaliks in 1807, Jodh Singh was with him. In recognition of his services, Ranjit Singh presented him territories of Badala, Kameri and Chhabbal.
Jodh Singh died in Multan
in 1818. After his death, his son Sobha Singh assumed charge of Kalsia state and held it until his death in 1858. Lahna Singh, his successor sided with the British in crushing the revolt of 1857.
After 1858, a period of peace started. When Lahna Singh assumed power, the Kalsia territory was intact as a British protectorate. The state's annual income was nearly Rs 300,000 per annum, and the population was around 62,000. After Lahna Singh, came Ranjit Singh Kalsia, then his son Ravi Sher Singh, and finally Ravi Karan Singh.
The Kalsia raja
s held their estate until 1947, when it was merged with the Indian Union.
Both Raja Ranjit Singh Kalsia and Raja Ravi Sher Singh built several public utility buildings, including a charity hospital and schools.
Raja Ravi Sher Kalsia Hospital was inaugurated in 1910 by Lt Governor of the Punjab, Sir Luis William Daney. The old court building still exists at Chhachhrauli.
The dewan
of the state used to live in an impressive building known as ‘Janak Niwas’. The Kalsias were undoubtedly staunch Nanakpanthis.
In volume XIX (Part 1) of the Census of India 1891, E. D. Maclagan, the Provincial Superintendent of Census Operation, records: "Some eighty years ago (i.e., in 1811 AD) the grandfather of the present Lambardar of Jainpur village was carried off by the Sikh
chief of Kalsia, and had all his fingers burnt off, because he refused to acknowledge that Nanak was the true Guru."
The state was under the political control of the commissioner of the Delhi
division.
India°N date=December 2010°W
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
in east Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
(Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
since 1966), India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It was founded by Gurbaksh Singh in 1760. After India's independence, it was included in Indian Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
. In 1940 the population of Kalsia was 67,393.
Geography
The area of Kalsia was 497 km² (168 sq mi), consisting of 20 detached pieces of territory in the Ambala and Ferozepore districts, lying mainly between 30° 12 and 30° 25 N and 77° 21 and 77° 35 E. It was divided into 3 major parts: two tehsilTehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
s, Chhachhrauli
Chhachhrauli
Chhachhrauli is a city and a municipal committee in Yamuna Nagar district in the state of Haryana, India. Before Independence in 1947, it was the capital of the princely state of Kalsia.-Geography:...
and Basi, and a sub-tehsil named Chirak, in district Ferozepur. It had contained 181 villages in 1903. Chhachhrauli
Chhachhrauli
Chhachhrauli is a city and a municipal committee in Yamuna Nagar district in the state of Haryana, India. Before Independence in 1947, it was the capital of the princely state of Kalsia.-Geography:...
was the capital of Kalsia state (also see: Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
).
History
The state of Kalsia was founded by Gurbaksh Singh in 1760. He was Jat who joined Kroria mislMisl
Misl generally refers to the twelve sovereign states in the Sikh Confederacy. The states formed a commonwealth that was described by Antoine Polier as an "aristocratic republic"...
. Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
had granted the estate of Chhachhrauli to Gurbaksh Singh, a commander of his troops and a resident of Kalsia village. Goorbaksh Singh named the state "Kalsia". Chhachhrauli became its capital city.
Gurbaksh Singh was not famous, but his successor and son, Jodh Singh was an able person. At that time the area of Kalsia state comprised the territory between the Yamuna and the Markanda stream. Jodh Singh captured Dehra Bassi from Sardar Khajan Singh and also acquired territories of Lohal and Achrak. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
attacked and occupied Naraingarh
Naraingarh
Naraingarh is a city and a municipal committee in Ambala district in the Indian state of Haryana.-Demographics: India census, Naraingarh had a population of 18,209. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Naraingarh has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national...
in the Shivaliks in 1807, Jodh Singh was with him. In recognition of his services, Ranjit Singh presented him territories of Badala, Kameri and Chhabbal.
Jodh Singh died in Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
in 1818. After his death, his son Sobha Singh assumed charge of Kalsia state and held it until his death in 1858. Lahna Singh, his successor sided with the British in crushing the revolt of 1857.
After 1858, a period of peace started. When Lahna Singh assumed power, the Kalsia territory was intact as a British protectorate. The state's annual income was nearly Rs 300,000 per annum, and the population was around 62,000. After Lahna Singh, came Ranjit Singh Kalsia, then his son Ravi Sher Singh, and finally Ravi Karan Singh.
The Kalsia raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
s held their estate until 1947, when it was merged with the Indian Union.
Both Raja Ranjit Singh Kalsia and Raja Ravi Sher Singh built several public utility buildings, including a charity hospital and schools.
Raja Ravi Sher Kalsia Hospital was inaugurated in 1910 by Lt Governor of the Punjab, Sir Luis William Daney. The old court building still exists at Chhachhrauli.
The dewan
Dewan
The originally Persian title of dewan has, at various points in Islamic history, designated various differing though similar functions.-Etymology:...
of the state used to live in an impressive building known as ‘Janak Niwas’. The Kalsias were undoubtedly staunch Nanakpanthis.
In volume XIX (Part 1) of the Census of India 1891, E. D. Maclagan, the Provincial Superintendent of Census Operation, records: "Some eighty years ago (i.e., in 1811 AD) the grandfather of the present Lambardar of Jainpur village was carried off by the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
chief of Kalsia, and had all his fingers burnt off, because he refused to acknowledge that Nanak was the true Guru."
The state was under the political control of the commissioner of the Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
division.
India°N date=December 2010°W