TILOK SIṄGH, (d. 1710), Tilokā or Tilok Chand before receiving the Sikh initiatory rites, was an ancestor of the Phūlkīāṅ families of Nābhā and Jīnd, Baḍrukkhāṅ and Diālpurā. He was the eldest son of Chaudharī Phūl. His wife, Bakhto, bore him two sons, Gurdit Siṅgh and Sukhchain Siṅgh. From the elder son, Gurdit Siṅgh, were descended the rulers of the Princely state of Nābhā and from Sukhchain Siṅgh those of Jīnd. Tilok Siṅgh was Gurū Gobind Siṅgh's devoted disciple and took part in his battles with the hill rājās. Since he commanded considerable influence in his area, Gurū Gobind Siṅgh issued a hukamnāmā in 1696 in his name and in the name of his brother, Rām Siṅgh, in which he blessed them and sought their help by directing them to come prepared with their men and horses.

        According to Bhāī Santokh Siṅgh, Srī Gur Pratāp Sūraj Granth, Tilok Siṅgh and his brother, Rām Siṅgh made arrangements for the cremation in 1705 of Gurū Gobind Siṅgh's elder sons, martyred at Chamkaur. They also helped the Gurū with men in the battle of Khidrāṇā. Both Tilok Siṅgh and Rām Siṅgh spent some time in Gurū Gobind Siṅgh's presence at Talvaṇḍī Sābo. Here Tilok Siṅgh as well as Rām Siṅgh received the Khālsā rites in 1706. Together they sent men to help Bandā Siṅgh Bahādur when he came to the Punjab with Gurū Gobind Siṅgh's blessings to fight the Mughal satrap, Wazīr Khān.

        Tilok Siṅgh died in 1710.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. Giān Siṅgh, Giānī, Panth Prakāsh. Delhi, 1880
  2. Sukhā Siṅgh, Gurbilās Dāsviṅ Pātshāhī. Lahore, 1912
  3. Santokh Siṅgh, Bhāī, Srī Gur Pratāp Sūraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35

Bhagat Siṅgh