Saturday, November 21, 2020

Nawab Malerkotla

Nawab of MalerKotla Muhammad Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur , c.1920.

 Muhammad Ahmad Ali was born at Malerkotla in 1881. He attempted to modernize his state and improve the living conditions of his subjects . He built a railroad , schools , hospitals , and a college . He also constructed a bazaar based on Jaipur's " pink city " . These projects resulted in major debts for the Nawab , and his state . Malerkotla's administration reportedly went bankrupt soon after Ahmad's accession to the throne , and remained in this state during most of his rule . Corruption among the state's public services were also a problem But Unlike the other parts of eastern Punjab , there was no mob violence in Malerkotla State during the Partition of India in 1947. Ahmad Ali Khan maintained an army until the independence of India . Malerkotla's forces tried to keep order , while thousands of refugees took refuge in the small state . In September 1947 , the Nawab signed the Instrument of Accession to join the newly created Dominion of India , and requested that the Indian central government send the Indian Army to prevent chaos in Malerkotla .

The roots of communal harmony in the area date back to 1705 , when Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh , 9 and 7 year - old sons of tenth Sikh Guru , Guru Gobind Singh , were ordered to be bricked alive by the governor of Sirhind , Wazir Khan . His close relative , Sher Mohammed Khan , the then Nawab of Malerkotla , who was present in the court , lodged a vehement protest against this inhuman act and said it was against Islam . Wazir Khan nevertheless had the Sahibzadas tortured and bricked into a section of wall while still alive . At this , the Nawab of Malerkotla walked out of the court in protest . Guru Gobind Singh on learning this kind and humanitarian approach profusely thanked the Nawab of Malerkotla and blessed him with his Hukamnama , Kirpan , etc. In recognition of this act , the State of Malerkotla did not witness a single incident of violence during partition.

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