Nowadays, when the Sikh community is celebrating Shaheedi Saptah in memory of the younger and older Sahibzades and Mata Gujri, our attention naturally goes to Rai Kalla, the then head of the Raikot state, who served the tenth ruler, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in Raikot, ignoring the oppression and repression of the Mughal government at that time.
Guru Ji had gifted him Ganga Sagar (a jug-like vessel), kirpan and rehal etc. For many generations, this family has been taking care of Ganga Sagar and also allows the devotees to visit it from time to time. We are trying to discuss the background and present of the family in this article.
Rai Tulsi Das, who came from Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), became the king of Hathur during the reign of Raja Vikrama Ditya. In 1251, he defeated the Tanwar Rajput king and annexed some areas of Moga and Ludhiana region and made Raikot his capital. Influenced by the ideology of Sufi fakir Pir Syed Kabir Bukhari Ji and his successor Panj Pir Makhdoom Jahaniya Gasht, he converted to Islam and came to be known by the Muslim name of Siraj-ud-din Kalim-ud-din. He was also known as Sheikh Chachu in the area. Apart from Hathur, his successors settled 12 villages in the Manji area of present-day Jalandhar district including Raikot, Chakar, Jagraon, Halwara, Talwandi Rai, Dhaner, Shahbazpur, Kasba, Qutba, Talwan, Nakodar, etc. This is also mentioned in Francis Massey’s book Chiefs of Punjab. Rai Kamal-ud-Din became the successor of Rai Siraj-ud-Din (Sheikh Chachu). He was the only son of Rai Shahbaz Khan. Rai Kamal-ud-Din’s only son before him was Rai Kalha Ji. Although the Raikot state had accepted Islamic influence, its head Rai Kalha Ji was a believer in respect for all religions. When Sahib Sri Gobind Singh Ji left Anandpur Sahib, the Mughal government and the hill kings were thirsty for his blood. In that dangerous time, despite being a Muslim, he supported Dasmesh Pita Ji without caring for his life and property. He provided Guru Sahib Ji with his mansion and protective umbrella for his residence. He was present at all times in the service of Guru Sahib. Due to the blessings given by Guru Ji, Gurdwara Tahliyana Sahib bears witness to this unbreakable bond. Rai Kalha’s only son Rai Muhammad became the head of the state. Rai Muhammad’s son Rai Alias was the next heir who lost his life while hunting near Jagraon in 1802. Rai Alias’ mother Nur-un-Nisa and Begum Rani Bhagbhari took over the reins of the state at this time.
During the reign of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Raikot state was included in the Khalsa Raj in 1806. Rani Bhagbhari was given some area of the state as a fief.
Rai Imam Bakhsh: Rani Bhagbhari’s adopted son was Rai Imam Bakhsh, who was the great-grandson of Rai Fateh Khan, one of the founders of Raikot. Rani Bhagbhari declared Imam Bakhsh as her successor in 1854. This reference is found on page 60 of historian Lapel Henry Griffen’s book Rajas of Punjab (1870). After the death of Rai Imam Bakhsh in 1886, his son Rai Faiz Talib Khan, born in 1846, became the head of the state.
Under the British rule, he also worked as the President of the Municipal Committee, a Magistrate and a Civil Judge. According to Lapel Griffin, he died in 1900, after which the reins of the state were taken over by his son Rai Inayat Khan Sahib, born in 1877. He also served as the President of the Municipal Committee Jagraon. Apart from being a Magistrate, he was appointed the Civil Judge of Jagraon Tehsil in 1935. In 1947, he went to Pakistan due to the partition of the country. He became dear to Allah in 1953. Even before going to Pakistan, he had made the Sikh congregation see the holy Ganges Sagar, which had been touched by Dasmesh Pita Ji.
Rai Faqir Ullah Khan: Rai Inayat Khan’s only son, Rai Faqir Ullah Khan, born in 1930, studied at Aitchison College, Lahore before the partition of the country and went to Pakistan with his father after the partition. He passed away at the age of only 28. His only son Rai Aziz-Ullah-Khan Sahib was only six years old at that time.
Rai Aziz Ullah Khan was four years old when his mother passed away. Raised under the care of his grandmother, Rai Aziz Ullah Khan received his higher education from Aitchison College, Lahore and Government College, Lahore. Begum Tabassum, daughter of Rai Muhammad Iqbal, who became MLA from Ludhiana in 1945, is his life partner. Rai Aziz Ullah Khan Sahib has also been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from Chichawatni, and a parliamentary secretary. Dadi Mata Ji entrusted him with Ganga Sagar and other sacred heritage after he became an adult. Being the custodian of this valuable heritage, he made the Sikh Sangat see it on the occasion of the martyrdom tricentenary celebrations of the sons of Dasmesh Pita Ji after the partition of the country. Sikh Sangat visited Ganga Sagar in all over Punjab including Raikot. Sikh Sangats in the country and abroad pay great respect to Rai Aziz Ullah Khan Sahib for being the beloved of Dasmesh Pita Ji.
