Maya Singh Saini

Historical painting of a Sikh Ghorcharra or cavalryman. Maya Singh Saini participated as a Ghorcharra in the Anglo-Sikh wars. After the defeat of Sikhs he became an insurgent against the English occupation. He was finally arrested and incarcerated.

Maya Singh Saini, sometimes spelt as Mayya Singh Saini, was a notable Indian freedom-fighter ^{[1][2][3][4][5]} from Naushahra in Amritsar district of the Punjab. Maya Singh Saini was an initially a cavalryman and fought in the battle of Ramnagar on 22 November 1848 during the second Anglo-Sikh war. Although the battle of Ramnagar was inconclusive , the Sikh cavalry caused heavy damage to the British forces, which proved to be a great morale booster for the Sikhs.

Thereafter he joined volunteer corps of Bhai Maharaj Singh, the leader of the popular revolt against the British. He participated in the battles of Sa`dullapur and Gujrat. After the defeat of the Sikh forces, Maya Singh was in Bhai Maharaj Singh's train at Sujoval near Balala. From the latter place he was sent to Lahore on a mission, and thus escaped arrest when Maharaj Singh and his companions were captured on the night of 28 and 29 December 1849. He, however, fell into the hands of the British soon afterwards.^[5]

References

1. ^ Freedom Struggle of India by Sikhs and Sikhs in India: The Facts World Must Know, pp87, By Gurdial Singh Grewal, Published by Sant Isher Singh Rarewala Education Trust, 1991, Item notes: v.1, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 2 Sep 2008
2. ^ Kirpal Singh, Bhdl Maharaj Singh : Panjab de Modhi Swatantarta Sangramie. Amritsar, 1966.
3. ^ Documents Relating to Bhai Maharaj Singh, Died as State Prisoner on 5th July 1856 at Singapur, pp 228, By Nahar Singh, Published by Sikh History Source Material Search Association, 1968, Original from the University of Michigan , Digitized 3 Aug 2007 389 pages
4. ^ Sant Nihal Singh, Alias Bhai Maharaj Singh: A Saint-revolutionary of the 19th Century Punjab, pp 105 & 114, By M. L. Ahluwalia, Published by Punjabi University, 1972
5. ^ ^{a b} Rebels Against the British Rule, pp 190, By Nahar Singh, Kirpal Singh, Published by Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 1989

Bibliography

• Ahluwalia, M.L., Bhai Maharaj Singh. Patiala, 1992
• Kirpal Singh, Bhdl Maharaj Singh : Panjab de Modhi Swatantarta Sangramie. Amritsar, 1966.
• Harbans Singh, The Sikh Encyclopedia, , Punjabi University, Patiala

See also

• List of Saini people
• List of Sikh soldiers
• Saini
• Harnam Singh Saini
• Gurdan Saini