Akali Phula Singh in Battle

The following is a contemporary account of Akali Phula Singh with his Nihang battalion in the Battle of Peshawar (1823) as recorded by a court poet of Maharaja Ranjit Singh named Ganesh Das within the text Fatehnama Guru Khalsa Ji Ka.

ਕੁਦਾਇ ਕੇ ਕਿਕਾਨ ਪਰਿਓ ਮਾਰਨ ਪਠਾਣਨ ਕਉ ਫੂਲਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੰਗ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇਸ਼ ਮਸ਼ਹੂਰ ਹੈ ।

Phula Singh, famous for battle across all lands, was galloping on his horse to kill the Pathans

ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮ ਫਰੰਗੀ ਹੂੰ ਕੋ ਪਹਿਆ ਫੂੰਕ ਡਾਰਿਓ ਜਬ ਤਬ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਲੋਗਨ ਮੇਂ ਭਲੋ ਜਸ ਪੂਰ ਹੈ ।

When he first attacked and burnt [the camps] of the British, from that praise of his spread amongst the people.*

ਮਾਰਨ ਦੁਰਾਨੀਆਂ ਕੋ ਚੜ੍ਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਪਹਾੜ ਪਹਿ ਹਾਥ ਲੀਏ ਖੰਡਾ ਮਾਰ ਤੁਕਰਨ ਕਉ ਚੂਰ ਹੈ ।

He is mounted up towards the mountains to kill the Durannis, holding a Khanda in his hand, mincing the Turks

ਕੀਨੋ ਜਬ ਵਾਰ ਮਾਰ ਖੰਡਾ ਸੂਤ ਧਾਰ ਚਲੀ ਸ੍ਰੋਨਿਤ ਕੀ ਧਾਰ ਸੋ ਫਵਾਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੂਰ ਹੈ ।

When he swings and draws his Khanda sword back the stream of blood that gushes forth is so quick!

Fatehnama Guru Khalsa Ji Ka, Ganesh Das

Page 182

*This relates to an incident in 1809 where Akali Phula Singh had a skirmish with British troops under Captain White. The British troops had run and flea their camp which was then burnt to the ground by Akali Phula Singh.