SSC
The Phulkian ruling dynasty of the princely state of Patiala was founded in the 18th century by:
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Answer: Option A — Baba Ala Singh
Detailed Solution
The ruling dynasty of the princely state of Patiala was founded by Baba Ala Singh (1691-1765), a Sikh chief of the Phulkian family.
About Ala Singh:
- He was a descendant of Chaudhary Phul, from whom the Phulkian states (Patiala, Nabha and Jind) take their name.
- He built up his power in the Malwa region of Punjab (south of the Sutlej) in the 18th century.
- He laid the foundation of the Qila Mubarak (fort) at Patiala in 1763, around which the city of Patiala grew.
- He made alliances with both the Mughals and the Afghans when it suited him.
- Ahmad Shah Abdali recognised him as a ruler, giving him the title of Raja, in return for tribute; this angered some other Sikh chiefs.
- He died in 1765.
Patiala state:
- It became one of the largest and richest princely states of Punjab.
- The Phulkian states sought British protection against Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early 19th century, and became British protected states (1809).
- Patiala helped the British during the Revolt of 1857.
- Its rulers included Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, who was famous for his lavish lifestyle, and Maharaja Yadavindra Singh.
- After Independence, Patiala joined India, and became part of PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union) in 1948, which later merged with Punjab (1956).
The Sikh misls:
- In the 18th century, the Sikhs were organised into twelve confederacies called "misls", each led by a chief (sardar).
- The misls united for common action through the "Sarbat Khalsa" (assembly of all Sikhs) and the "Dal Khalsa" (combined army).
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh united most of the misls into a kingdom in the early 19th century.
Other Sikh chiefs:
- Jassa Singh Ahluwalia: leader of the Dal Khalsa, founder of the Kapurthala state.
- Banda Singh Bahadur: led the Sikh struggle against the Mughals after Guru Gobind Singh.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Ranjit Singh founded the Sikh kingdom of Lahore.
- ✗Banda Singh Bahadur was an earlier leader.
- ✗Jassa Singh Ahluwalia founded the Kapurthala state.
Quick tip
Remember: Patiala dynasty = Baba Ala Singh (Phulkian; Qila Mubarak, Patiala, 1763); Phulkian states = Patiala, Nabha, Jind; Kapurthala = Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
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Sikh Gurus & Maratha Empire — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Sikh Gurus & Maratha Empire, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the ten Sikh Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, and their contributions, the rise of the Sikh state under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the Maratha Empire from Shivaji to the Peshwas, including Maratha administration and the Anglo-Maratha wars. Questions often ask which Guru compiled the Adi Granth (Guru Arjan Dev), founded the Khalsa (Guru Gobind Singh, 1699) or introduced the Gurmukhi script (Guru Angad Dev). On the Marathas, expect questions on Shivaji's Ashtapradhan council, his coronation at Raigad in 1674, the Peshwas, and the Third Battle of Panipat (1761). Practise the Sikh Gurus and Maratha Empire questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.