THE COINAGE OF THE SIKH STATE OF KALSIA

STATE OF KALSIA

Gurbakhsh Singh, a Sandhu Jat from the village of Kalsia in the tehsil of Kasur (near Lahore), was one of  the important chiefs of the Karorasinghia misls. In 1763, he captured Banbeli in the Jalandhar Doab (Hoshirpur District) from Adina Beg, the Governor of Lahore. In 1764, he captured Chhachhrauli in the Ambala District and thus established this small State of Kalsia.

Gurbakhsh Singh’s son, Jodh Singh, added the territory north of Ambala District and thus enlarged the State of Kalsia. Jodh Singh joined several expeditions of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and was rewarded by being given Chirak in Tehsil Moga, Laharpur near Sadhaura, Budala, Kheri and Garhdiwala in Jalandar Doab. The State of Kalsia was about 176 square miles in size and comprised of 175 villages.

Sardar Jodh Singh issued copper falus or dams which were struck at Chhachhrauli, which was the capital of the State of Kalsia. The designs of these coins denote the Mughal style which was very similar to the coins of Saharanpur. Two different dates are known to have been issued AH 1214 (1799), AH 1215 (1800) and AH 1218 (1803). These coins bear the name of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II.

In 1902,  Ranjit Singh the ruler of the State of Kalsia, was granted the title of Raja by the British Government of India.

In August 1948, the State of Kalsia was merged with PEPSU. In November 1956, all the States of PEPSU merged with the State of Punjab.

 

Rulers of the State of Kalsia	Period of Rule
Gurbakhsh Singh	1764  -  1785
Jodh Singh	1785  -  1818
Sobba Singh	1818  -  1858
Lehna Singh	1858  -  1869
Bishan Singh	1869  -  1883
Jagjit Singh	1883  -  1886
Raja Ranjit Singh	1886  -  1908

 

 

 Falus or Dam, copper AH1215/42 (1800)

 Kalsia.  Chhachhrauli Mint

 (Coin drawing by Hans Herrli)

THE COINAGE OF THE SIKH STATE OF KAITHAL

                                          THE COINS OF THE SIKHS - PUNJAB

                                                                                                         

                                                            C by Saran Singh

THE COINAGE OF THE SIKH STATES OF PATIALA, NABHA, JIND  AND  KAITHAL

The Maharajas of Patiala, the Rajas of Nabha and Jind and the Sardars of Kaithal, all belonged to the Phulkian family of Sikh Jats. They were the decendents of Chaudhari Phul, the administrator of the local revenue authority, who died in 1652. These States were situated on the south of the Sutlej river and their territory reached up to the north of Delhi. They were thus known as the Cis- Sutlej States.

The Phulkian misl (confederacy) was aligned with the Dal Khalsa in 1734. In December 1763, the Phulkian misl, in collaboration with other misls, played an important part in the capture and destruction of Sirhind.

STATE OF KAITHAL

The founder of the Kaithal clan was Gurbakhsh Singh, one of the chiefs of the Phulkian families. His son, Desu Singh, captured the town of Kaithal from its ruling Afghan chief in 1767 and gradually enlarged its borders. In May 1809, the State of Kaithal became a British protectorate.

The last ruler of Kaithal, Bhai Udai Singh, died in 1843 without leaving any heir. The State of Kaithal was annexed by the British Government of India.

Silver rupees and gold mohurs were issued by the State of Kaithal. As these coins are undated, it is not possible to assign them to any particular ruler of the State of Kaithal.

In August 1948, the State of Kaithal was merged into PEPSU. In November 1956, all the States of PEPSU merged with the State of India.

Rulers of the State of Kaithal	Period of Rule
Bhai Desu Singh	1767   -   1781
Bhai Bahal Singh	1781
Bhai Lal Singh	1781   -   1819
Bhai Partap Singh	1819   -   1824
Bhai Udai Singh	1824   -   1843

1 Rupee, silver. AH

 Kaithal

D: 19mm, W: 11.10g.

1 Mohur, gold. No Date

Kaithal.

D: 14mm, W: 10.70g.