hanging from ng the small holding@--vsH0aw Wc ila pled he pound fundaion ef the woge ‘The mon) spon which ha Rup Chand wor anid by Gir Hegtnd So. Then, at the time of Bhadan Pal, the son of Kajz Rattan Pal, Altmash, the Sultan of Delhi, invaded their country with overwhelming force and completely defeated them. After this, many Rajput tribes, rather than submit to Mughal rule, left their homes and hearths and migrated 1 other parts of india. Baghan Pal joined the coalition of Rajput tribes ‘who opposed Altmash and was involved in several bottles whence he was slain and his son Pun Pal observing that many of his allies were leaving the Country alse migrated with his family and a band of followers to south western Punjab, where Mughal rule ‘was not yet firmly established. His moves met with opposition from the Virk tribe near the river Ravi, 0 he kept moving further south and settled down in the neighbouthood of Bkatinda, at the present site ‘of Kalfarani. He fortified the place and with this as Sironghold, took advantage of weaknesses ofthe loca Governor of Bhatinda to appropriate the lands around Kaljharan. n the course ofa few years, he establishes an independent principality of his own. The family remained in peaceful possession ofthis principality for some generations On the death of Raja Pun Pal, his son Ganesh Pal became the Raja. Excep for a few hostile engagements with some neighbours, there was litle fighting as was the situation with his son Bia, content with consolidating their influence inthe territory adjacent to Kalan, devoting theic time 10 agriculture. Thence onwards, the line had an uneventful existence forfour or five generations. Raja Sultan, sixth in descent from Reja Bij Pal, had to contend with a confederation of his neighbours and his son, Raja Tula, had some trouble with the Govermor st Bhatinda. Vicissitudes of fortune beset ‘Fula and by the time his son Sada assumed charge such oftheir teritory was lost. Events with far-reaching consequences occurred during the lifetime of Sidhu, son of Sada. Sidhu married Bibi Sut, the dauthter of Bhai Aagal, 2 devoted ciscipie ‘ofthe fours Guru, Guru Ramdas Sahib, Teas not long before Bibi Sut, herself a devout follower ofthe Gura prevailed upon her husband to meet the sixth Gurs, Hargobind Sahib, After Sidhu had the Guru's audience at Darol, 50 overwhelmed was he by twachings of the Guru he abandoned his former mode of worship art embraced Sikhism, This change of religion was cause of much frtion and unpleasantness in the family who, like most Rajputs of those days, worshipped Sakhi Sarwar. Finding the situation in Kalharani ever more irksome, Sidhu finally resolved to separate himself from the clan, Accompanied by hs wife and some of his immediate followers, he migrated eastwands and settled atthe place called Tuklani In 1614, a son was born to Sidhw and Suti, The couple tock him to Guru Hargobind Sabib, the sith Guru, forthe num Garan, or naming ceremony. The Guru was muck pleased with the handsome child and named him Rup Chand,“Tae sae jot tree stands atthe site even td Se commemorate the besing ofthe Gunton both 5d son, Gurdwara Jand Suhib) has been “eere Considering the Cur's gts a 00 sacred Tee own use, with deep reverence Sidhu and ‘Cand placed the sword and fees upon heir nd le the horse with a rope to thelr ome “aru was greatly touched by heir devetion spect He Bene them with the prophesy that SES hcoult be more potent tan the ora ad ey ned never se he weapon, but Keep in Sor the Gus cescendan were hese Very m hat hal Rup Chand presented to Gurk “oh she Tenth Gur in 70931 Dw ‘now preserved a Gurdwara Mata Sundar Dathl Some four miles from the place the Ta the frundstion ofa village honouring his ‘ith, samned after the young Rep Chand, kh, 1687 Bikram, or 163) AD and Tia Sidhu Sad his 9m o move fo that place en il pd ito te ron by he Gra asthe fsundaton (aban of he vile, sat ihe site of what Bhat Rupa. Bhai Sidhu, Rup Chand continued in his ‘an service to the Guru ané to fh. fn sh of August 163, Guru Hargobind Sahib, wars again vied hal Rua and waved ree mnt, The Gs in cognition of his sonoured Tap Chand with the te of Bal rather = and pit hi In chargeaf spit the new Mafwa region end the county Serer Sati Rp Chand was the second such respected ‘Baba Buddha ji who served the house of ‘om 1806 to 1631. A Gurdwara presently smacks the pice the Guru stayed during his ist. The amily has err siace hud the privilege of being called the Brake family, the hea ofthe family known as Bra Sahib. The Guru appointed Dhai Rup Chand as his apostate inthe region of Malwa. The ceremony for his ‘oinunent the respecte positon of propaga of the Sibh faith was performed at Bh Rupe. The cot ‘on which Rup Chad was made to sit BY the Guru for this anointment is preserved by his descendents af Bhai Rapa. The Guru mandated Bhai Rup Chind to maistain a free kitchen (nga) to feed the needy td symbolically gave him a long serving spoon (iarctba) to begin the lagar, He was also given the rexporsibilty of spreading Sikh’ inthe world, for chic he eas presented witha double: edged sword Uthonds) as token of authorty. This could very well ave been the fit enunciation of the concert of "Dea? and Teg, hay elements of practiced Sikh. Both these tia ae preserved wit reverence by his descendants 22 Bagean in Sangrur cst ofthe Punjab Bhai Rup Chand and his youngest son, Dharam CChand, accompanied Sri Gur Tegh Bahadur Sahib to Patna, From there, Dharam Chand accompanied the ninth Gru on his extend mission tothe Eas in ‘Assam while Rup Chand stayed in Pata inservice of the fanly, during whch ine x Gura Gobind Sahib was born Iwas in 1654that the seventh Guru, Guru Har al, ‘sited Bhai Rup Chand. Two young children named Rama and Triloka, sons of one Phul were presented to the Sikh Guru as needy children, they were blessed by the Guru and grew into prosperity, Their pre Bo Rup Chon athe ger at Bh! Rip, SG Hein Sani 1635,kage oot ety rs Harti Si Bo Rap progeny flourished and in the course of time, ey were to become the Maharajas of Patiala, 2 and Jind, the Phulkian States, Holding Bhai Rup Chand in high regard for his benign fact and grateful for their induction to the Sikh faith the Phuikian families maintained close and. reverential relationship towards the descendants of Bhai Rup Chand and pre red to have all thei religious ceremonies, such as coronations and weddings conducted by hie descendants, who were heads of the family t Bagrian. This tradition has continued. Bhai Rup Chand spent his entire life in propagating the mission of the Sikh Gurus and serving common people. Amongst the Sikhs, his stalus remained extremely venerable, His service and piety was given high regard by the Garus Bhai Rup Chand had the supreme privilege and honour fo conduct the auptal ceremosy (Anand Karaj) of the Tenth Master, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib with Mata Jito j at Guru Ke-Lahore near Anandpur Sahib in 1677. His descendants, ‘who continue living in the village of Bhai Rupa, possess a large serving spoon made of copper, which is said to have been wsed while preparing that days langar by Bhat Rup Chand The wood-burni first charity kitchen (len fireplace. where the of this family was tetabished fn times of the sith Curu, till exists in the village, this site being less chan a hundred yards from the Gurdwara here the sixth Gur Stayed for about three months while at Bhai Rupa Brought up as a member of the Guru's own, Bhat Rup Chand was given the honour of being one of the pall bearers who ear he Sixth Guru at Kiratpur in the After leaving Anandpur in 171 following the battle of Chamkaur and whe Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, reached Kangar ly Malwa in early 1706, he stayed ata place called Dina. Here, Bhai Rup Chand made him offerings of money and war materia and also presented the swond given by th ith Gar which was to be kept in trust for later Guru. Bhat Rup Chand and his seren sons were formally baptised (Amrit Sanskar) at the sacred hands of the tenth Guru. Bhai Rup Chand then offered two a He Ra Soeand Bhai Dharam Singh, t bre in personal service of the Guru. Bhat Dharam Singh the Sikh faith with a sword horty given to propagate the Skh way of life amongst the people of Malwa. Thi word is teverently kept at Bagrian by his descendent Bhai Rup Chand were called ‘pon ky Caryl accompa him on his journey to the royal epistle to this effect = kept at Bhai Rupa, Two pete Gar Ram Dave Sites, Bhat Dharae Do by hn eater went onthe ourney immensely pleased with ther lvotion nd service but ata place called Machosinghan in Rast ted them to return home fo caery an the mission of the Gur ter the brothers came back and presented themselves before Bhai Fup Siagh, be admonished them and qeould not allow them to stay ess they produce! some proof tat they had not deserted the Gur a his time of need. The brothers then went ack and reunited wilt the Guru in the Deecas, a tong way south. The Guru was surprised and touched by Bhai Rup Chand’s devotion and their own love and book, which he always carried in his waist sling. and small bind (sword) along with the Guru's karcha and the double-edged sword (Ohands). These aticles remain in Bagrian, Aer the Guew's pestng away a¢ Nander in Novernber 1708, Bhai Oharstm Singh returned to te unjab and informed his father about the sad urn of events ns Bhat Kup Singh (Chand) soon passed away, atthe ge of 95 In 10%, he vilage where he was cremated is now known a5 Bhsi ke Semadh movil tothe Ba k ity of carying om the traditin of Bhai Rup Chan passed on to Bhai Dharam Singh, who as religous ksder commanded 1 pectamonget the Sikhs. He was called upon by Basda Beha the legendary Sikh leader to ein his forest fight the oppressive rule Sirhind in 1714. Bhat Dharam Singh, along with hie brother Bh Karam Singh led the Sikhs of Malwa in the cecisive battle that took [pace a Chappar Cheri near the present day Chandigarh, The Mughs Governor was killed in battle, te establishment of the Nawab of Sirhind so Cin Cait Sigh Sab aig Wert Khan belng destroyed Bhai D tha Rip Chon tree men ond, 10 Bhai Rupa. Most Sikh lenders ofthis ime, wh sheen Canflct, soon carved out terntories as feldoms which laBevin (eft ih Sgn by CansTph Bohr ‘Scho Bro Rup Chand Chander by St Gar ‘Harbin Soh ta Bho up Cand Se Soi en by SG Gobind Sangh Sais ha Doro Singh, shape of Misis during the second balf of the 18 Century, becoming the nucleus of ‘various Sikh states in Eastern Punjab. Bhai Dharam Singh hawever took no testory ‘whatsoever, annexed no lané but went ‘back to propagating the Curu’s ways, true toh father’s tadition, In 1717 Dharam Singh's son Dayal Singh shifted his residence from Bhai ups village and founded a new village Known as Dayalpara Bhaika some 4 kilometres away (now in Bhatinda district), Rest of the family continues to live in Bhai Rupa, but over the years some moved out and settled in various villages of Malwa. However, wherever they moved, the Bhaikas maintained the tradition of langar. Bhai Dayal Singh took the sacred relics given by the Gurus to Bhai Rup Chand with him and started another langar at Dayalpura, continuing the family tradition as per wishes ofthe Sixth Guru, Ths langar continues to be run today by his descendants, (Of Bhai Dyal Singh's sons. Bhai Guddar Singh was the best known, particularly remembered for his piety and charitable disposition and who added considerbly to the power and prestige ofthe family, He was eamestly devoted to the spread of Sikhism His activities were not confined to the Malwa only, for he travelled far and wide to preach the gospel of Guru Nanak. There is even 8 Gurdwara in Peshawar (NWFP) named after him. As he was ‘mostly away on touss, the service of langar was looked alte by his ‘wife, and consequently this came tobe known after her name “Mai ‘Rajis”langae, both at Bagrian and Dayalpura. {In 1754 the Governor of Juilundur, Adina Begh Khan and the Punjab Commander‘in-Chief, Sadiq Begh Khan, came to Dayalpura and, impressed by Bhai Guddar Singh's piety and influence, transferred the lands around Bagrian (now in Sangrur district of Punjab) to Bhai Guddar Singh 2s donation to his langar. [Raja Gajpat Singh, ancestor of the rulers of Nabha and Jind, often sought the presence of Bhai Gudidar Singh at Dayalpurs ‘The Raja was an apostate from Sibhism, had no male issue but the Bhai Sahib sooa re-baptised him and brought to him back to the Sikh fold. The Raja was worried as he had ao son and the line of succession could well be at an end, However, the Bhai Sahib and his consort, Mai Raj, prayed that even if they were: to be deprived of their own children, the Raja should be blessed ‘with an off-spring. Bhal Guddar Sigh had no chides, but te Raja, in due coarse, became the father of many a sen. Roja Gajpat Singh remained for a long time at Dayalpura in the company of Bhai Guddar Singh and also built a fort a Dayalpuea for the Bhai Sahib. However, when Bhai Guddar Singh came to know that 8 gitl was born to Raja Gajpst Singh's wife and that the child, cording to the evil custom of those days, was buried alive, he at once rushed to Badrukhan and severely reprimanded them for their cruel and an Sithclike act, He went to the place where the baby was buried and dug her out, miraculously sil alive ‘The Bhai Sahib blessed the buby and asked her parents to trea! all children male and female alike, and to take good care of the Little girl whom, he said was destined to be the mother of s grest sovereign That girl, Raj Kaur, later married Sardar Makan Singh Sukarchakia and became the mother of Maharaja Raniit Singh Ruler of the Punjab, ‘After Bhal Guddar Singh died in 1768, Bhai Moher Singh shits ‘his permanent residence from Dayalpura to Bagrian In 1808 shen ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh swooped over the Cis-Sutle territories, levying exactions on the chiefs and ruler, it was Bhai Mohar Singh who dissuaded him from harassing the Phulkian States. It was through the efforts f the Bhai Sahib that Maharaj of Patiala agrees to enter into a symbolic brotherhood with Maharajs Ranjit Singh. which finally made Bedi Sahib Singh successful in a compromise=. Similarly, Nawab Atallah Khan to pay only a tribute and was od by Maharaja Rarjt Singh, reminded by the Bha family was blesed tore unt. Maharaja Ranjit Singh paid n and presented the Bhai Sahib =, including Sadhowala and Suan. d five hundred maunds of sal for sar anal contribution. Raja Fateh # Kepurtala, who accompanied Mahiraja presented the village of Gangrals the family had grown 49 become and powerhd independent state ded as one of the two most uses in Malwa, One was Aleka, house of the descendants of Baba the other Dayaleka, the House of f Bhai Dayal Singh. Bhai Mobar Mai Gohar, too beca famous + in Bogrian just a8 Mai Raj had 2 before her dur Singh, being spiritual leader with Maharaja Ranjit Singh's 2 up to him with great honour and Partin the ensuing AngloSikh defeat of the army of Sarkar tod the occupation of Lahore by the Bhai Sahib lost his status as an vetain; most of his property was by the British and Bhai Bahadur ed to virtual penury, He was fy the fall of Sarkar Khalsa that he seit to his fort and did not leave until peng «vay. Trumpets and drums, the dence, and cart-loads of arm, ‘way, Bhai Bahodur Singh had own for his piety and missionary the so-called depressed classes, housands of them into the Sikh ong on them equal status with his Throughout Sikh history the Bhai Wve been symbols of devction, service 10 the Panth and its er during the time of Bhai meen Singh, his som, that a small portion his ancestors was restored, ‘Aaya of Gur Gabe Singh San on he ke pen {aia Dhan Singh Nendo Hukarane of onde Bobi obdeted ha Dorm Singh summeing Fn the ae ces bth are Nema of SatinDuring the first four decades of the twentieth century, Bhai Arjan Singh's infuence as o Sikh leader twas highly respected. He enjoyed prominence as the defacto Sith religious head. During the Delhi Durbar, held in December 1911 to commemorate the cororation of King George V and Quoen Mary as the Emperor and Empress of India, he vas asked to be in attendance of Sri Gure Granth Sahib to be takon out procession on an elephant from the Red Fort at Delhi And intended to go to site of the Durbar. However, on reaching Gurdwara Sisgarj Sahib, which was enroute, ‘Bhai Sahib stopped the elephant saying that theGuru’s destination was the Gurdwara and would not go to ‘Bho Azo Sh porn ado ung the Sh Edam Confennce ania 1938 ha aan Soh prfring thao fr Gx Nos of ‘Maho Rar Sg of 1948 the Durbar of » mate human being, be it the Emperor of India or the King of Englane. He contributed immensely to the Sikh reforo: movements, especially the Singh Sabhy Movement Gurdwara reforms and later bacame supportive ofthe national feedom movement. He was the frst presiir cof the Chief Khalsa Diwan, a positon held for fifteen years, Ghai Arjan Singh passed away in 15%, Thereafter his son Bhai Ardaman Singh (1899-1976) took orer resporsibility of maintaining the family tradition, He would regularly tour villages of Malwa propagating Sikhi and conducting ‘Amit Sancahar. Educated at the Khalsa College at Amritsar and by traditional religious teachors, he was a pragmatic interpreter of Shi, With influenc of personages like his teacher, Professor Teja Singh association with the great scholar Bhai Kabn Sixgh of Nabha, a close family friend, and the company 0 his saintly father, Bhai Arjan Singh, he emerged o: the epitome of a. true Gursikh, He was known as a7 "upright scholar whe provided dizecton te Sikh thousht during some ofthe most difficult days, particularly the emerging ole and postin of the Panth in independen India and provided a-political leadership in the spiritual tradition of his illustrious forefathers. ha ‘Ardaman Singh passed away in 1076 leaving behin three sons Bhai Haridhan Singh, Bhai Ashok Singh, Bhayee Skander Singh ard two daughter, As per family practice the eldestson Bhai Haridha Singh took over responsiblity of maintaining ths family tradition. Aer 2 prolonged illness he passe away in 1996, During his younger days, he had bee fn active nationalist and worked in close associat Wwith Sardar Sardul Singh Caveshar, who vas then Vice President of the forward block under Nets Subhash Chander Bose, Bhai Ashok Singh is 2 well known figure among Sikh intelligestsia and was President of the Insitt of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh. Bhayee Sikands Singh, an MBA from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, i deeply involved in Sikhi an its propagation and is on the editorial board of th ‘Nishats, the quartely tisteated journat dedicate: the cause ofthe community, in India and the diaspors The present keeper ofthe traditen at Bagrian is Bh Jujbar Singh, son of Bhai Haridhan Singhs The tradi of logarsstarted under directions of Si Guru Hargobins Sahib in 1634 at Bhai Rupa remains continuo ‘maintained at Bagrian and Dayalpura Bhaika,