Pashaura Singh

Kunwar Pashaura Singh (1821 – 11 September 1845), also spelt Pishore Singh or Peshawara Singh, sometimes styled as Shahzada, was the younger son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Rani Daya Kaur.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh named Pashaura as he had recently conquered Peshawar.

Pashaura's son, Jagjoth Singh was born in 1844 and was granted a half-share of a large jagir in Baraich, Oudh, after the annexation. He was a great philanthropist and public benefactor, who performed valuable services to the government during the Second Afghan War. He had a son Amar Singh. (b. 1876).

After the assassination of Maharaja Sher Singh, Pashaura made a bid for the throne of the Sikh Empire.

To hide from his political rivals and avoid assassination, he took refuge in British territory, from 1844 to 1845. He then returned to the Punjab, revolted, and was pardoned several times.

He was eventually strangled to death by Sardar Chattar Singh Attariwalla, at Attock, while in safe custody, 11 September 1845.

Jagjoth Singh was his only one son.

Emergence as a contender for the throne Little is recorded about the early life of Pashaura Singh during the reigns of Ranjit Singh and his first four successors. After the assassination, on 15 September 1843, of Maharaja Sher Singh and his vizier Raja Dhian Singh Dogra, the Khalsa proclaimed Duleep Singh as Maharaja and Dhian Singh's son, Hira Singh Dogra, as vizier.

Later that year, Pashaura Singh and his elder brother, Kashmira Singh, were recorded as having joined the camp of the holy men, Baba Bir Singh at Nauraṅgābād, near Tarn Tāran. The camp had become the centre of Sikh revolt against the dominance of the Dogras and was a base for several Sikh sardars and commanders and a volunteer army of 1,200 musketeers and 3,000 cavalry. In May 1844, Hira Singh despatched a force of 20,000 men and 50 cannons under the command of Mian Labh Singh to destroy Baba Bir Singh's camp. Baba Bir Singh told his men not to fight "How can we attack our brethren?” he said. He was killed by a shell while meditating over the Holy Book. Kashmira Singh was also killed in the cannonade, but Pashaura Singh escaped.

Renewed bid for the throne During the second half of 1844, Pashaura Singh travelled around the Punjab seeking support against the Dogras. He crossed the Sutlej River and visited the British cantonment at Ferozepur. However, the British were unresponsive, being already in negotiation with Gulab Singh Dogra, brother of Dhian Singh.

Family

Wives According to Priya Atwal, the wives of Pashaura Singh were:

Jeevun Kaur, given a pension of Rs. 1,800, had a son named Juggut Singh Sada Kaur, given a pension of Rs. 720 Utur Kaur, given a pension of Rs. 720

Issues

The male issues of Pashaura Singh were:

Juggut Singh, son of Jeevun Kaur, given a jagir outside Punjab by the British worth Rs. 5,000