View source for Nabha State

{{Short description|Phulkian princely state of Punjab during the British Raj in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox Former Subdivision
| conventional_long_name = Nabha State
| common_name            = Nabha
| nation                 = British India
| status_text            = Princely State
| era                    = New Imperialism
| year_start             = 1763
| date_start             = 
| event_start            = 
| year_end               = 1947
| date_end               = 
| event_end              = Accession to the Dominion of India
| event1                 = 
| date_event1            = 
| p1                     = Mughal Empire
| s1                     = Dominion of India
| flag_p1                = 
| flag_s1                = Flag of India.svg
| image_flag             = Nabha flag.svg
| image_coat             = 
| image_map              = Ludhiana District 1911.png
| image_map_caption      = Nabha State in a 1911 map of [[Ludhiana district]]
| stat_area1             = 2502
| stat_year1             = 1901
| stat_pop1              = 297,949
| today                  = [[Haryana]], [[Punjab,_India|Punjab, India]]
| footnotes              = 
| p2                     = Phulkian Misl
}}

[[File:Imperial India; an artist's journals (1879) (14597378638).jpg|thumb|''[[Hira Singh Nabha|Sir Hira Singh]]'', Raja of Nabha]] '''Nabha State''',<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V18_277.gif Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 18, p. 271.]</ref> with its capital at [[Nabha]], was one of the [[Phulkian]] [[princely state]]s of [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]] during the [[British Raj]] in India.<ref name="EB1911">{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Nabha |volume=19 |page=147}}</ref> This state was ruled by [[Jats]] [[Sidhu]] clan belonging to [[Sikhs|Sikh]] religion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bates |first=Crispin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-xZBDwAAQBAJ&q=Jat |title=Mutiny at the Margins: New Perspectives on the Indian Uprising of 1857: Volume I: Anticipations and Experiences in the Locality |date=2013-03-26 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-81-321-1589-2 |language=en}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=February 2023}}

=== Origin ===
[[File:Detail of the main, continuous tract of territory of Nabha State from a map created by the British East India Company of the Malwa region of Punjab showing the various polities, borders, and settlements of the area, ca.1829–1835.jpg|thumb|Detail of the main, continuous tract of territory of Nabha State from a map created by the British East India Company, ca.1829–1835 (the state also held many exclave territories that can be seen in the full-map).]]
The ruling house of Nabha belonged to the [[Phulkian sardars|Phulkian dynasty]], sharing a common ancestor named Tiloka with the [[Jind State|Jind]] rulers. Tiloka (r. 1652–1687) was the eldest son of Phul Sidhu of the [[Phulkian dynasty]].{{Efn|Tiloka's personal name is alt. latinized as 'Tilokha'.}}<ref name=":14">{{Cite book |last=Truhart |first=Peter |title=Regents of Nations: Asia, Australia-Oceania, Part 2 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |year=2017 |isbn=9783111616254 |edition=Reprint |pages=1398}}</ref> The Nabha rulers descend from Gurditta (Gurdit Singh; r. 1687–1754), the elder son of Tiloka.<ref name=":14" /> Gurditta was the founder of the localities of [[Dhanaula]] and [[Sangrur]]. Sangrur was the headquarters of the state till it was captured by [[Jind State]]. Gurditta died in 1754.<ref name=":14" /> His only son Surat (or Suratya) Singh had died two years earlier in 1752, leaving his grandson, Hamir Singh, as the next in line.<ref name=":14" /> Hamir Singh was the founder of the locality of [[Nabha]] and the first ruler of Nabha State.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Bhagat |title=A History of the Sikh Misals |publisher=Publication Bureau, Punjabi University |year=1993 |chapter=Chapter 14 - The Phulkian Misl}}</ref>

=== Foundation of the locality and state ===
The locality of Nabha was founded by Hamir Singh of the Phulkian dynasty in 1755, whilst the state itself was founded slightly after in 1763 by Hamir Singh.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Nabha {{!}} Princely State, Maharaja, Punjab {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Nabha |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> The state at that period of time was composed of twelve scattered territories.<ref name=":1" /> Hamir Singh died in 1783 and was succeeded by Jaswant Singh.<ref name=":14" /> However, a regency was in-place between 1783–1790.<ref name=":14" /> Jaswant Singh assumed full control on 1790 and ruled until 1840.<ref name=":14" />

=== Alliance with the British ===
[[File:Photograph of Giani Gian Singh with Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha State and the child Pratap Singh of Nabha State, ca.1919–21.jpg|thumb|Photograph of [[Giani Gian Singh]] with Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha State and the child Pratap Singh of Nabha State, ca.1920–21]]
Between 1807 and 1808, the ruler of Nabha was afforded British protection from the threat posed by [[Ranjit Singh]] and his encroaching [[Sikh Empire|Lahore State]].<ref name=":1" />

During the [[First Anglo-Sikh War|First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46)]], due to Raja Davinder Singh’s sympathy with the [[Sikh Empire]], one-fourth of Nabha State's territory, including areas such as [[Rori Assembly constituency|Rori]] pargana<ref name=":2">[https://sirsa.gov.in/history/# History of Sirsa gov]</ref> & others, was taken by the British. Raja Davinder Singh was removed from power, and his seven-year-old son, Bharpur Singh, was placed on the throne under British supervision. Some of the annexed territory from the state was given to [[Patiala State]] and [[Faridkot State]], while the rest was placed under direct British administration in [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]].<ref name=":3">Source: Page no. - 342, [[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.35241|Punjab State Gazetteers  Vol. xvii A, Phulkian States, Patiala Jind And Nabha]]</ref><ref name=":4">Source: Page no.- 140, [[iarchive:HistoryOfTheSikhsVol.IvTheSikhCommonwealthOrRiseAndFallOfSikh|History Of The Sikhs Vol. IV The Sikh Commonwealth Or Rise And Fall Of Sikh Misls Hari ram gupta]]</ref><ref>Source: Page 328, [[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.105552/page/n23/mode/2up|1908 Gazzetrs of India Punjab V. II Internet archive]]</ref>

Nabha State was loyal to the British during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and earned the grant of [[Bawal]] territory as a reward.<ref name=":1" /> At the Ambala Darbar held in [[Ambala]] between 18–20 January 1860, a decision was made to exempt Nabha, Patiala, and Jind states from the [[Doctrine of lapse|doctrine-of-lapse]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Prashanto K. |title=The Making of India Policy, 1853-65: A Study on the Relations of the Court of Directors, the India Board, the India Office, and the Government of India |publisher=University of Burdwan |year=1975 |isbn=9780883868188 |pages=152–153 |quote=Eventually, at the Ambala Durbar (18-20 January 1860), Canning himself promised the three chiefs Sanads, guaranteeing their possessions to themselves and their heirs and the right to adopt from the Phoolkan family whenever ...}}</ref> In 1911, Hira Singh took-on the ''[[maharaja]]'' title.<ref name=":14" /> [[Ripudaman Singh]] abdicated the throne of Nabha on 8 July 1923.<ref name=":14" />which led to the Jaito Morcha.

=== Dissolution ===
In the happenings of Indian independence in 1947, Nabha was one of the three Phulkian states that merged to become [[Patiala and East Punjab States Union|P.E.P.S.U.]], which itself was gradually merged into [[Punjab, India|Punjab state]] in 1956.

== State forces ==
The Nabha State Force consisted of a 500-strong infantry unit, including the Nabha Akal Infantry.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Nabha Administration: A Review of Recent Years |publisher=Council of Regency of Nabha State |year=1939 |pages=29 |chapter=X. Nabha State Forces}}</ref>

== List of rulers ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
!Name
{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
!Portrait
! class="unsortable" |Reign
!Enthronement
!Ref.
|-
! colspan="6" |'''Sardars'''
|-
|1
|Hamir Singh<br>{{Small|(died 1783)}}
|[[File:Painting of a nimbate Sardar Hamir Singh of Nabha holding a flower and leaning on a bolster.jpg|150x150px]]
|1763 – 1783
|?
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":14" />
|-
! colspan="6" |Rajas
|-
|2
|Jaswant Singh<br>{{Small|(1775 – 22 May 1840)}}
|[[File:Miniature painting of Raja Jaswant Singh of Nabha seated and leaning against a bolster, inscribed in Perso-Arabic script.jpg|218x218px]]
|1783 – 1840
|?
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":14" />
|-
|3
|Devinder Singh<br>{{Small|(5 September 1822 – 14/15 November 1865)}}
|[[File:Miniature painting of Raja Devinder Singh of Nabha seated on a chair.jpg|210x210px]]
|1840 – 1846
|15 October 1840
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":14" />
|-
|4
|Bharpur Singh<br>{{Small|(5 October 1840 – 9 November 1863)}}
|[[File:Equestrian painting of a nimbate Raja Bharpur Singh of Nabha, containing Persian inscriptions on border.jpg|150x150px]]
|1846 – November 1863
|?
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":14" />
|-
|5
|Bhagwan Singh<br>{{Small|(30 November 1842 – 31 May 1871)}}
|[[File:Maharaja Bhagwan Singh of Nabha (reg. 1863-71) standing in an interior.webp|195x195px]]
|1863 – 1871
|17 February 1864
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":14" />
|-
! colspan="6" |Maharajas
|-
|6
|[[Hira Singh Nabha|Hira Singh]]<br>{{Small|(19 December 1843 – 24 December 1911)}}
|[[File:A ruler of Punjab, probably Hira Singh, the maharajah of Nabha, India, Punjab state, former kingdom of Nabha, ca.1850–1900.jpg|208x208px]]
|1871 – 1911
|10 August 1871
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":14" />
|-
|7
|[[Ripudaman Singh]]<br>{{Small|(4 March 1883 – 14 December 1942)}}
|[[File:Photograph of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha State, Bourne & Shepherd, 1903.jpg|195x195px]]
|1911 – 1923
|24 January 1912
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":14" />
|-
|8
|[[Pratap Singh Nabha|Pratap Singh]]<br>{{Small|(21 September 1919 – 22 July 1995)}}
|[[File:Photograph captioned 'His Highness The Maharaja of Nabha' (Pratap Singh), Nabha State, ca.1939.jpg|242x242px]]
|1923 – 1948
|
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":14" />
|}

== Administraiton ==
In 1901, the state had an area of 966 square miles and included 4 towns and 492 villages. Administratively, the state was divided into the following three districts:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! colspan="8" |'''1901 State Administration'''
|-
!No
!District/Nizāmat
!Remark
![[Population|Pop.]]
![[area]]
![[Village|Vill.]]
![[Town|To]].
!Today
|-
|I
|[[Rampura Phul|Phul]] Nizāmat
|5 [[Enclave and exclave|enclaves]]
|37.4 %
|394
|228
|1
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|-
|II
|[[Amloh]] Nizāmat
|2+ [[Enclave and exclave|enclaves]]
|38.6 %
|291
|96
|2
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|-
|III
|[[Bawal]] Nizāmat
|Gained in 1858;  3 southern [[Enclave and exclave|enclaves]]
|24 %
|281
|164
|1
|[[Haryana]]
|}

== Demographics ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religious groups in Nabha State ([[British Punjab province]] era)
! rowspan="2" |[[Religion in India|Religious]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |1881<ref name="Census1881A">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057656 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057656 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I. |year=1881 }}</ref><ref name="Census1881B">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057657 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057657 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II. |year=1881 |pages=14 }}</ref><ref name="Census1881C">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057658 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057658 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III. |year=1881 |pages=14 }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1891<ref name="Census1891">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25318669 |jstor=saoa.crl.25318669 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=The Punjab and its feudatories, part II--Imperial Tables and Supplementary Returns for the British Territory |year=1891 |pages=14 |last1=Edward Maclagan |first1=Sir |volume=2 }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1901<ref name="Census1901">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25363739 |jstor=saoa.crl.25363739 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province. |year=1901 |pages=34}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1911<ref name="Census1911">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25393788 |jstor=saoa.crl.25393788 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1911 |pages=27}}</ref><ref name="Census1911B">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62718 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II |year=1911 |pages=27 |author=Kaul, Harikishan}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1921<ref name="Census1921">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25430165 |jstor=saoa.crl.25430165 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1921 |pages=29}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1931<ref name="Census1931">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25793242 |jstor=saoa.crl.25793242 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1931 |pages=277}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="Census1941">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.28215541 |jstor=saoa.crl.28215541 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab |year=1941 |pages=42 |author1=India Census Commissioner |volume=6 }}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
! [[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi|1931-1941: Including [[Ad-Dharmi]]s}}
| 133,571
| {{Percentage | 133571 | 261824 | 2 }}
| 164,905
| {{Percentage | 164905 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 160,553
| {{Percentage | 160553 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 126,414
| {{Percentage | 126414 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 133,870
| {{Percentage | 133870 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 132,354
| {{Percentage | 132354 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 146,518
| {{Percentage | 146518 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
| 77,682
| {{Percentage | 77682 | 261824 | 2 }}
| 63,047
| {{Percentage | 63047 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 78,361
| {{Percentage | 78361 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 76,198
| {{Percentage | 76198 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 78,389
| {{Percentage | 78389 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 97,452
| {{Percentage | 97452 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 122,451
| {{Percentage | 122451 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
| 50,178
| {{Percentage | 50178 | 261824 | 2 }}
| 54,397
| {{Percentage | 54397 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 58,550
| {{Percentage | 58550 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 46,032
| {{Percentage | 46032 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 50,756
| {{Percentage | 50756 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 57,393
| {{Percentage | 57393 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 70,373
| {{Percentage | 70373 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
| 375
| {{Percentage | 375 | 261824 | 2 }}
| 397
| {{Percentage | 397 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 476
| {{Percentage | 476 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 238
| {{Percentage | 238 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 278
| {{Percentage | 278 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 309
| {{Percentage | 309 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 480
| {{Percentage | 480 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
| 18
| {{Percentage | 18 | 261824 | 2 }}
| 10
| {{Percentage | 10 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 7
| {{Percentage | 7 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 5
| {{Percentage | 5 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 41
| {{Percentage | 41 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 66
| {{Percentage | 66 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 221
| {{Percentage | 221 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Zoroastrianism]] [[File:Faravahar.svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 261824 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 2
| {{Percentage | 2 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Buddhism]] [[File:Dharma_Wheel_(2).svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 261824 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Judaism]] [[File:Star_of_David.svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! Others
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 261824 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 282756 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 297949 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 248887 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 263334 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 287574 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 340044 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 261,824
! {{Percentage | 261824 | 261824 | 2 }}
! 282,756
! {{Percentage | 282756 | 282756 | 2 }}
! 297,949
! {{Percentage | 297949 | 297949 | 2 }}
! 248,887
! {{Percentage | 248887 | 248887 | 2 }}
! 263,334
! {{Percentage | 263334 | 263334 | 2 }}
! 287,574
! {{Percentage | 287574 | 287574 | 2 }}
! 340,044
! {{Percentage | 340044 | 340044 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note: [[British Punjab province]] era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province region]] during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.}}
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Photograph of Gurdwara Siropao Sahib in Nabha state, where historical Sikh relics and artefacts were kept for safe-keeping, published in Mahan Kosh (1930), ca.1920's.jpg|Photograph of Gurdwara Siropa Sahib in Nabha state, where historical Sikh relics and artefacts were kept for safe-keeping, published in Mahan Kosh (1930), {{circa}}1920s.
File:Photograph of the Hira Mahal building in Nabha state, published in Mahan Kosh (1930), ca.1920's.jpg|Photograph of the Hira Mahal building in Nabha state, published in Mahan Kosh (1930), {{circa}}1920s.
</gallery>

==See also==

*[[Patiala and East Punjab States Union]]
*[[Political integration of India]]
* [[Phulkian sardars]]
* [[Patiala State]]
* [[Jind State]]
* [[Faridkot State]]
* [[Malaudh]]
* [[Bhadaur]]
* [[Kaithal State]]
* [[Cis-Sutlej states]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Princely states of India}}
{{Princely states of the Punjab and Simla Hills}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|30.37|N|76.15|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:1763 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1947 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Patiala district]]
[[Category:Nabha State| ]]
[[Category:Princely states of Punjab]]
[[Category:Gun salute princely states]]
[[Category:Phulkian dynasty]]