Opas 12 kuuluisimpaan Devender Pal Singh -maalaukseen

Guru Gobind Singh and Sahibzada Ajit Singh at Chamkaur

Mata Bhag Kaur

A white horse moves through a crowd, its coat bright against the surrounding figures. Atop the animal sits Mata Bhag Kaur, her hand gripping a sword. She is a center of gravity in a sea of men. Some men stand, watching the movement, while others sit in the dust. The oil on canvas captures the weight of her presence. She does not merely ride; she leads. The brushwork defines the…

Guru Gobind Singh baptising the Five Beloved

This contemporary painting by master artist Devender Singh, imagines the scene set for the Baisakhi celebration of 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. The Guru is baptizing the Five Beloved or “Panj Piyare” who are now the nucleus of the Khalsa- the order of the Pure. They hailed from regions from all over India in the modern states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa and Karnataka. This is indicative of the Gurus…

Baba Deep Singh - Saheed Misal

In the grand tapestry of Sikh history, few figures command as much reverence and spiritual weight as Baba Deep Singh. Devender Pal Singh’s evocative oil on canvas, Baba Deep Singh - Saheed Misal, serves as a breathtaking window into a pivotal era of courage and devotion. The painting captures the essence of the Saheed/Nihang Misal, a martial order founded by the legendary leader himself. Through masterful brushwork, the artist transports…

Jassa Singh - Ramgharia Misal

Chajja Singh Bhangi

The Bhangi Misal was founded by Chajja Singh, a companion of Banda Singh and said to have taken pahul from Guru Gobind Singh. As one of the largest Sikh misals of the period they established an independent government in their territories, which included Amritsar, Gujrat, Chiniot and, part of Lahore city. During an attack on the Afghan arsenal near Lahore in 1762, they captured the famous gun “Zamzama” one of…

Tara Singh Gaiba - Dallewalia Misal

The Dallewalia Misal’s most renowned leader was Tara Singh ‘Gaiba’(1707-1807). In 1783, he assisted in the construction of the 7 gurdwaras at Delhi and also captured 2 guns from the Red Fort. He opened langars (free kitchens) for the poor and needy and was respectfully called “Babaji” by all the Sardars. The misal controlled sizable territory on both sides of the Satluj River. “The widow of the aged leader equaled…

Hira Singh - Nakkai Misal

The Nakkai Misal was founded by Hira Singh (b. 1706). He was initiated into the Khalsa in 1731, and joined the Sikh movement in the Punjab in 1748. He took possession of the Nakka territory lying between Lahore and Gogaira and between the rivers, Satluj and Ravi. With the marriage of Ranjit Singh to Raj Kaur in 1789, the relationship between the two misals was greatly strengthened. In 1802 she…

Baba Ala Singh - Phulkian Misal

The Phulkian states of Patiala, Nabha & Jind were established by descendants of Chaudhary Phul whose sons Tilok Chand and Ram Chand received pahul from Guru Gobind Singh. The founder of the Patiala state was Ala Singh. By his excellent diplomatic skills he gained favor with both the Mughal emperor and the Afghan invaders, while still being in grace with the Dal Khalsa. In 1761, he was granted the title…

Sada Kaur - Kanhaiya Misal

The Kanaihya Misal flourished under Jai Singh and thereafter his daughter-in-law Sada Kaur. A brave and ambitious leader she did not shy away from the battlefield. Playing a critical role in the rise to power of her son-in-law Ranjit Singh she guided and helped him occupy Lahore in 1799. She led her army in the combined Kanhaiya & Sukerchakia campaigns of Amritsar, Kasur, Hazara and Attock. “Thus fell, after having…