Mahārāja Siṅgha

Bhai Maharaj Singh (disputed – 5 July 1856) was a prominent Sikh saint-soldier (sant-sipahi) turned revolutionary anti-colonial resistance fighter of the early British colonial establishment in Punjab. He is also remembered as the first Sikh in Singapore on record, having been exiled there as punishment in the latter part of his life. He was part of the bhai tradition of Sikhism. At his height, he had tens of thousands of followers and was a charismatic leader who was seen in a prophetic manner, being viewed as a figure to the Sikhs akin to Jesus Christ to the Christians. He was influential in Majha, Doaba, and Malwa. He is connected to the Hoti Mardan Vali Sant Khalsa Sampardai, established by Bhai Daya Singh.

Names His birth name was Nihal Singh. His father's name has been identified as either being Kesar Singh or Gurmukh Singh. His father would send him to a Sikh seminary so that he would be instructed on Gurbani and Gurmukhi. He also volunteered his labour preparing and cooking meals for the langar of the Dera, which would feel thousands of visitors daily.

Bhai Maharaj Singh was succeeded by Baba Ram Singh 'Virakt', who was Maharaj Singh's one of the closest and most trusted followers.

Participation in the Second Anglo-Sikh Wars In November 1848, he partook in the Battle of Ramnagar alongside Sher Singh Attariwala. The Sikh Empire was annexed by the British East India Company on 29 March 1849. Maharaj Singh is remembered in Singapore and Punjab as a martyr (shaheed).

Popular culture In 2019, a documentary titled 'Uncovering the Story of Singapore's First Sikh – The Saint Soldier ' was produced by Singaporean Sikh, Upneet Kaur-Nagpal, on his life. The documentary premiered on 8 September 2019 at Fort Canning.

Quotes Author Nahar Singh said the following about Maharaj Singh:

An article in The Times of London states:

Justice Choor Singh of Singapore in Bhai Maharaj Singh: Saint-Soldier of the Sikh Faith documentary says the following:

Relics Photograph of Nanak Singh, son of Bhai Maharaj Singh. He can be seen posing in this photo holding the salotar (a type of sword) of Guru Gobind Singh and wearing the belt of Bhai Maharaj Singh. Relics related to Maharaj Singh, such as personal belongings, manuscripts, paintings, photographs, weaponry, clothing, and others can be found held by the private collection of his direct descendants in Amritsar. They are safeguarded by a direct descendant in the fifth generation, Gursimranpal Singh, and another descendant, Gurrajpal Singh. They claim to have inherited values such as sant-sipahi, sewa, and simran from their ancestor.

The British Library's Indian collection holds items found on Maharaj Singh after he was captured, such as a seal stamp, conch which produces a battle-cry, and personal manuscripts.