Nabha State

नाभा Nabha State Princely State ← 1763–1947 → Flag Historical era New Imperialism  - Established 1763  - Accession to India 1947

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

Nabha State^[1], with its capital at Nabha, was one of the Phulkian princely states of the Punjab. The state was established in 1763 after the capture of Sirhind by the Sikh Confederacy. With the capture of Sirhind, most of the old imperial province was divided amongst the Phulkian chiefs. The area around Amloh was taken by the chief of the Nabha — Hamir Singh.

In 1809, with the power of Ranjit Singh expanding, Nabha State fell under the protection of the East India Company. During the Indian rebellion of 1857 the state was loyal to its subsidiary alliance with the British and was granted territory as a reward.^[2]

The state entered a period of prosperity under the rule of Hira Singh.

Demography

According to the 1901 census the state had a population of 297,949 and contained four towns and 488 villages. Its population at the previous two enumerations were: 282,756 (1891) and 261,824(1881).

Nabha was divided into three nizamats: Amloh and Bawal, with their headquarters at the town from which each is named; and Phul, with its head-quarters at Dhanaula.^[2]

More than 54 per cent of the population were Hindus, only 26 per cent being Sikhs — although Nabha was one of the principle Sikh states of the Punjab, the remainder of the population were Muslim.^[3]

Dissolution

In 1947, with the British departure from India, the subsidiary alliance was dissolved and Nabha was briefly fully independent. Its ruler soon decided to sign an instrument of accession, acceding to the new Dominion of India, when the state was combined with other princely states into the Patiala and East Punjab States Union. It later became part of the Indian state of Punjab.

References

See also

• British Raj

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