Nabha

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Nabha (Punjabi:ਨਾਭਾ) is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district to the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. In 1998, the annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-.^[1]

Nabha
—  city  —
Nabha Location of Nabha in Punjab and India
Coordinates	30°22′N 76°09′E / 30.37°N 76.15°E / 30.37; 76.15Coordinates: 30°22′N 76°09′E / 30.37°N 76.15°E / 30.37; 76.15
Country	India
State	Punjab
District(s)	Patiala
Population	61,953 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 246 metres (807 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 147201

Princely State of Nabha

Princely flag of Nabha

Nabha (Gurmukhi: ਨਾਭਾ) was a state of the Sikh Royal House of Siddhu Jat origins founded by the grandson of Chaudhary Phul Singh. Chaudhary Phul Singh (under the patronage and protection of Sikh Guru's Guru Har Gobind and Guru Har Rai) ^[2] had six sons namely,^[3] 1.Tiloka 2.Ram Singh 3.Rudh 4.Chunu 5. Jhandu and 6.Takhtmal. Annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-.^[4]

Claiming descent from the Jaisal, founder of Jaisalmer State in 1156, the founder of this Sikh dynasty, Phul, was Chaudhri (Governor) of a country located at the south east of Delhi. Phul’s descendants founded 4 States: Patiala State, Jind State, Faridkot State and Nabha State. Nabha was founded by the great-grandson of Phul in 1755.

Sir Hira Singh, Raja of Nabha (c.1843-1911).

Tiloka had two sons namely, 1. Gurudutta 2. Sukh Chain. Sukh Chain's descendants ruled Jind state and Gurudatta's descendants ruled Nabha state. Gurudatta's only son was Surat Singh. Surat Singh died in 1742 prior to Gurudatta in 1744. Surat Singh had two sons 1. Hamir Singh (1755–1783 ) and 2. Kapur Singh. Hamir Singh's son Raja Jaswant Singh (1783–1840) became the ruler. He had two sons namely 1. Maharaja Devendra Singh and 2. Ranjit Singh. Maharaja Devendra Singh had two sons namely, Maharaja Bharpur Singh and Maharaja Bhagwan Singh. Maharaja Bharpur Singh died in 1863 prior to Maharaja Devendra Singh. Maharaja Bhagwan Singh ruled from 1864–1871, he also died without an heir. According to tradition, Hira Singh a distant relative in a neighbouring village was deicided upon as the next in line according to the Maharaja of Patiala and Jind. Maharaja Hira Singh (1871–1911), who ruled from 1871-1911. He was honoured with G.C.S.I. and G.C.I.I. titles by British. His only son was Maharaja Ripudman Singh (1911–1923), who became ruler in 1912 after Maharaja Hira Singh. His son was Maharaja-Tika Pratap Singh (1923–1995) born in 1919.

The town of Nabha was formerly the capital of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Its territories were scattered; one section, divided into twelve separate tracts, was interspersed among the territories of Patiala and Jind, in the east and south of the Punjab; the other section was in the extreme southeast of that province. The whole of the territories physically belonged to a plain; however, they varied in character from the great fertility of the Pawadh region to the aridity of the Rajputana desert.

The ruling dynasty of Nabha are Sikh the state was founded around 1763 by a member of the Phulkian family. The first relations of the state with the HEIC occurred in 1807-08, when the Raja obtained protection against the threatened encroachments of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After British India's independence, the Princely state of Nabha united with four other Phulkian states to form the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), which later merged into Punjab state following the merging of other Princely states after 1949.

Colour nabhi (Maroon) is named after state of Nabha. Nabhi colour used to be state's official colour for turban. The old part of the city, sometimes termed 'Purani nabhi', is a veritable maze of narrow winding alleys which astonish you by emerging at the most unexpected places.

This is the first city which still has the Rolls Royce in the shape of animals, specially crafted for the kings of this city. These were used by the kings and are preserved in the Nabha museum.This is the city which has given us HansRaj as a very noble and respectable inspector.

Geography

Nabha is located at 30°22′N 76°09′E / 30.37°N 76.15°E / 30.37; 76.15.^[5] It has an average elevation of 246 metres (807 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[6] Nabha had a population of 61,953. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Nabha has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 69%. In Nabha, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Landmarks of the City

1. Hira Mahal: Residence of the royal family. The gardens and orchards surrounding it have developed into the Hira Mahal Colony
2. Qila Mubarak: Situated at the heart of the city, it has housed various government offices, including the courts
3. Hira Singh Park: Now known as municipal park, near Duladdi Gate. The park is home to the statue of Maharaja Hira Singh
4. Royal Samadhis: on circular road, built in memory of deceased rulers of Nabha, now in a state of disrepair
5. The Courthouse of Nabha, the original residence of Wazir Ishwari Singh Katoch, Prime Minister of Kangra, father of Maharani Lilavati and cousin of Maharaja Sansar Chand of Kangra (father-in-law of Maharaja Ranjit Singh).
6. Gurdwara Dera Baba Ajaypal Singh famously known as Gurdwara Ghodhiyan Walla
7. Old Temple of Attharan Bhuji (goddess with eighteen arms statue)
8. Vedas Mandir in Sadar Bazar

Please note that there are two locations of Royal Samadhis, one is for the family of Hira Singh, the other, the original rulers of Nabha is located on the grounds of Punjab Public School, near the water tank, on what was originally known as Shyam Bagh (near Jamunawali Sark (Road)), there rests Maharaja Devinder Singh, his two sons, his wives, Maharani Lilavati, Maharani Mann Kaur and "Cheteanwali" Rani. Dr. Sumerendra Vir Singh Chauhan, from the family of Maharani Lilavati, and uncle of the present Rajkumari of Nabha wife of Maharaja Pratap Singh's second son, is negotiating with the present authorities to allow for repairs to take place of the Royal samadhis of the original rulers. Also the Samadhi of Maharani Lilavati's mother is located in the Ram Temple near Hira Mahal.

People

The descendants of famous General of Ranjit Singh, Hari Singh Nalwa, reside in Nabha.

The descendants of Wazir Ishwari Singh Katoch, former Prime Minister of Kangra during Maharaja Sansar Chand (Father-in-Law of Maharaja Ranjit Singh), once lived in Nabha and have now emigrated to Canada. Wazir Ishwari Singh's daughter was Maharani Lilavati of Nabha w/o Maharaja Devinder Singh.

The Nagar Brahmin family protected Maharaja Hira Singh and allowed him to come to the throne of Nabha. For saving his life he gave the Nagar family "Nagara Chownk" or the Chowk of Nagar Family, located in old Nabha. There is still the family of Dr. Inderjit Nagar and his brother's descendents staying there.

Social Worker Late. Mr. Prem Kumar Shahi lived and contributed his life for the welfare of Nabha.

Freedom fighter S. Bhan Singh lived and had spent time with the first prime minister of India (pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru), when the later had come to spend time in park bagh. The room still exists there in park bagh nabha. This room is in poor condition.

Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha (Punjabi ਭਾਈ ਕਾਨ੍ਹ ਸਿਂਘ ਨਾਭਾ ): Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha (30 August 1861- 24 November 1938), a celebrated Sikh scholar and encyclopaedia writer famously known for Mahan Kosh, who was born on 30 August 1861 (Bhadori vadi 10, 1918 Bk), in a Dhillon Jatt family at the village of Sabaz Banera which is about 5 miles from Nabha, in what was then territory of the princely ruler of Patiala.

Sardar Mehtab Singh Grewal

One of the famous family of Nabha who have been serving the nation with pride for four generation were associated with rulers of Nabha. Sardar Mehtab Singh an graduate engineer was a young Minister and Advisor in Maharaja Hira Singh Court. who first time introduced Mandi System in Punjab under the leader ship of Maharaja Hira Singh .First Mandi popularly established was named after him known as "Methab Mandi" at Nabha, Sardar Mehtab Singh also build many bridges over the canals,Later on Sardar Mehtab Singh established a Solo village near Nabha now Popularly Known as Nanoki (Gerwals Da Pind) best Village Award winner of the year 1987 by (Punjab Government )is also known as "The Biggest Little Village of India" .A little village having solo family members of Sardar Mehtab Singh. Sardar Mehtab Singh's son Sardar Inder Singh was captain in Nabha Akal and fought First world war from British Side at Mesopotamia, Captain Inder Singh retired in 1922 and settled at Village Nanoki,His son Colonel Baldev Singh Grewal served Nabha Akal and fought World war II in operation at North West frontier in Italy and commanded victory parade their .Colonel Beldev Singh was one of the founder of 5/9 Gorkha Rifles Which was re-raised on 1st January 1963 at Birpur at Dehradun ,He was the first C.O OF THE 5/9 Gorkha Battalion.Under his command the Battalion fought gallantly against overwhelming adds and captured 'Phillora Cross Roads single Handed. In recognition of the valour displayed it was bestowed with the coveted Battle Honour ,He also took part many operation and his regiment earned long rang penetration,Colonel Beldev Singh served Indian Army and fought 1962 Chinese aggression and 1965 Indo - Pak war apart from other classified operations,Colonel Beldev Singh Grewal had retied from Indian Army,His elder son was a squadron leader and fighter poilet in Indian Air Force now residing in Norway after retirement.His middle Son Sarder Abinder Singh Grewal success farmer,Farmer leader who founded Young farmer club at Nanoki visited many country to have first hand information in field of agriculture,implementing the same for better yield. Sarder Abinder Singh was Chair man Block Samiti Nabha 1975 till 1980,He was member of many prestigious committee besides an self taught Artist,Industrialist,Sardar Abinder Singh Grewal established a factory at Mohali Punjab, famously Known as Gary Arts. Sardar Abinder Singh Grewal Public Art works are at display in famous tourist spots of City Beautiful Chandigarh Punjab and Haryana amongest them are Statue of son of Maharajah Hira Singh , Maharaja Ripudam Singh and statue of Sardar Kans Singh , Nehru ."Shera" Mascot of Common Wealth Games 2010 was fabricated under the watchful eyes of Sarder Abinder Singh Grewal .His work are appreciated and exported around the world .

Modern Nabha

In 1947, Nabha formed a part of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU). At a subsequent reorganization, Patiala was created as a district and Nabha formed a subdivision in Patiala District. The modern Nabha is a thriving, if somewhat dusty town (about 30 kilometres from Patiala). Nabha boasts of several institutions which are somewhat unusual for a town of this size:

1. D.A.V Cent Public School
2. Dayanand Public School
3. Malwa Public School is a well known English medium school known for its excellent academic results.
4. Punjab Public School (PPS), Nabha is one of the more well known "public schools" in India (other notable schools of this league being YPS Patiata and Mohali, Scindia School, Gwalior, MNSS, Rai and Sainik School, Kapurthala, Lawrence School Sanawer and Doon School in Dehradun.
5. Govt. Ripudaman College Nabha
6. Eye Infirmary, Nabha - A Eye Hospital which is an advanced Centre for Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) is situated, in the Hira Mahal on the Nabha Byepass (also known as Radha Soami Marg) and managed by the father & son team of Eye Surgeons Dr. Ranjit Singh Dhaliwal, MD, DOMS & Dr. Kunwar Vikram Singh Dhaliwal, MBBS, DOMS.
7. A factory of Glaxo Smith Kline (better known as Horlicks factory).
8. A high security jail which was used to house terrorists in the height of Khalistani movement in the late 1980s. (Jawahar Lal Nehru served a prison term in this jail during India's freedom movement against the British.)
9. Like many other cities of India, Nabha has landmarks called "gates" which roughly circumscribe the city. In Nabha, these are named Patiala Gate, Alhoran gate, Dulladi Gate, Mehs Gate and Bouran Gate.
10. Indian Oil Gas Plant is situated at the outskirts of city on the Nabha - Bhawani garh Road.
11. Punjab Scooters Ltd in Focal Point, now known as Swaraj Automotives Pvt Ltd Doing direct business with Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors,Eicher, Swaraj Tractors, Swaraj Mazda etc.
12. Nabha is also known for combine manufacturer city. Being largest market of combines of asia with leading manufacturers like HIRA , PREET,

References

External links

• Genealogy of the ruling chiefs of Nabha
• History Of Nabha

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

• Guru Har Rai Connection
• Nabha's Only Local newspaper
• Princely state
• Eye Infirmary, Nabha