Khushal Singh Jamadar

Raja Khushal Singh Jamadar (1790 – 17 June 1844) was a military officer and chamberlain of the Sikh Empire. He was conferred the title of Raja for his conquest of Dera Ghazi Khan, Kangra and other military expeditions. He was a notable figure of the state.

Early life
Khushal Ram was born in 1790, in a Gaur Brahmin family of Village Ikari (Meerut, Western Uttar Pradesh), to Misr Hargobind, a shopkeeper.

Administration and military career


He left his home as an adventurer at a young age to seek his fortune in Lahore, eventually joining the Sikh army as a soldier in Dhaunkal Singh wala's regiment in 1807.

Later, he became one of the bodyguards of Ranjit Singh and soon won advancement by his devotion to his duties and his wittiness and soldierly conduct. He soon gained Maharaja's attention by his fine voice and well built exterior.

In 1812, due to the Maharaja's expressive orders, he became a Khalsa Sikh and was rechristened as Khushal Singh.

Khushal Singh advanced more with time and was appointed personal attendant (Khidmat-gar) to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, rising through the ranks to become lord chamberlain (Darogha'i-Deorhi'i-Mu'alla; which became office of prime minister [Wazir] under Dhian Singh), an office he held for almost 15 years with a temporary break in 1818. This position commanded great influence and authority, as Khushal Singh was master of royal ceremonies and superintendent of both the royal palace and the Darbar. No one could have access to the sovereign or enter the palace without his prior permission.

In addition to his administrative duties, Khushal Singh excelled as a soldier, serving in various military expeditions throughout the region, including Kashmir (1814), Mukerian (1816), Multan (1818), Dera Ghazi Khan (1819), Derajat (1820), Dera Ismail Khan (1821), Leiah (1821), Mankera (1822), Peshawar (1823), and Kangra (1828) amid others.

Death


Khushal Singh distributed all his belongings by way of charity to deserving and needy ones, and died on 17 June 1844. His Samadhi was made in his haveli's garden in Lahore, where his nephew Teja Singh's Samadhi also lies.

Legacy
Descendants of his brother became rulers of Sheikhupura and Raja Dhayan Singh (son of Raja Fateh Singh), was the last ruler of Sheikhupura.