MAṄGAL SIṄGH RĀMGAṚHĪĀ (1800-1879), manager of the Golden Temple at Amritsar for 17 years from 1862 till his death in 1879, was the son of Dīvān Siṅgh Rāmgaṛhīā, a nephew of the famous Sardār Jassā Siṅgh Rāmgaṛhīā. During his younger days, Maṅgal Siṅgh remained in attendance on Mahārājā Raṇjīt Siṅgh who gave him jāgīrs in several villages. After his father's death, Maṅgal Siṅgh was sent to Peshāwar in command of four hundred foot and one hundred and ten sowārs of the old Rāmgaṛhīā clan. There he served under Tej Siṅgh and Harī Siṅgh Nalvā and fought in the battle of Jamrūd in April 1837. In 1839, he was recalled and sent to the hill country between the Beās and the Sutlej, and during the absence of Lahiṇā Siṅgh Majīṭhīā in Peshāwar, he was placed in-charge of the hill forts. During the reign of Mahārājā Sher Siṅgh, he was chiefly employed under Lahiṇā Siṅgh in Suket, Maṇḍī and Kulū. He was one of the commanders sent to chastise Fateh Khān of Miṭṭhā Ṭivāṇā in 1844. On the retirement of Jodh Siṅgh Mān in 1862, Maṅgal Siṅgh was appointed manager of the Golden Temple. In the same year, he was appointed an honorary magistrate of the city of Amritsar. In 1876, the Prince of Wales conferred upon him the Companionship of the Star of India.

         Maṅgal Siṅgh died at Amritsar in February 1879.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. Griffin, Lepel and C. F. Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1909
  2. Hotī, Prem Siṅgh, Khālsā Rāj de Usraiyye. Lahore, n.d.

Jatī Rām Gupta