|
BIBI RAJINDAR KAUR, (1739-1791)
or Rajindan, Patiala princess known
for her valorous qualities, was the
granddaughter of Baba Ala Singh. The
only child of her father, Bhumla Singh,
who had died when she was barely tour,
she was brought up by her grandfather,
and, in 1751, married to Chaudhari Tilok
Chand, of Phagwara. Har husband died
at a young age and the charge of the
family estate, consistsing of over two
hundred villages, fell to her. When
Baba Ala Singh was arrested in 1765
by Ahmad Shah Durrani for having fallen
into arrears with the tribute and was
being taken to lahore, Rajindar Kaur
went to her grandfather and offered
to pay the money to secure his release.
But the latter declined the offer saying
that it was not proper to accept money
from a daughter of the family. In 1778,
Raja Amar Singh of Patiala, who was
Rajindar Kaur's first cousin, was defeated
by Hari Singh of Sialba. Rajindar Kaur
came to his rescue smith three thousand
soldiers marching through the territories
of the chiefs who had fought on the
side of Harl Singh. During the reign
of the minor Raja Sahib Singh, Rajindar
Kaur was again in Patiala to defend
the town against Maratha onslaughts.
At the head of a strong force she marched
as far as Mathura where peace parleys
were opened with the Marathas.
Bibi Rajindar Kaur died in 1791 at
Patiala after a short illness. She was
cremated in the royal cemetery known
as Shahi Samadhan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Harbans Singh "The
encyclopedia of Sikhism. "
|