Faridkot
Faridkot district (Punjabi: ਫਰੀਦਕੋਟ) is one of the twenty-two districts in the state of Punjab in North-West Republic of India. According to Punjab’s Geo-Area, Faridkot is a Malwa district. It is one of the biggest cotton markets in South-East Asia. The name ‘Faridkot’ is derived from Baba Farid, a god-lover who wanted see the God. Faridkot was feudlist province under British rule, but now it is a district in Punjab in independent India. Few part of District Moga & Mukatsar were also taken from Faridkot.
The ancestor of the Faridkot principality, Bhallan was an ardent follower of Guru Har Gobind. He helped the Guru in the battle of Mehraj. He died issueless in 1643. Kapura, a nephew of Bhallan, succeeded him. Kapura founded the town of Kotkapura in 1661 and was the Chaudhry of eighty-four villages. Although a Sikh he,not wanting to earn the emity of the Mughals, did not help Guru Gobind Singh Ji in his fight with the Mughals.
The famous last battle of Muktsar (Khidrane Di Dhaab) now a historic town, happened after Nawab Kapura declined Guru Gobind Singh’s request to use his fort to fight the Mughal Army. Otherwise the last war between Mughals and Guru Gobind Singh Ji was destined to happen at Kotkapura. Guru ji moved from Kotkapura to Dhilwan Kalan from there to Talwandi sabo via Guru ki Dhab. However, later in the battle of Muktsar in 1705, Nawab Kapura helped Guru Gobind Singh Ji in an underhand manner. Kapura was slain by Isa Khan Manj in 1708. He had three sons named Sukhia, Sema and Mukhia. Mukhia killed Isa Khan and took control of the entire area. Sema was also killed in this battle in 1710. Kapura’s elder son Sukhia again came into power in 1720.
A dispute between the grandsons of Kapura (sons of Sukhia) led to the division of the state in 1763. The older brother, Sardar Jodh Singh Brar, retained control of Kotkapura, and his younger brother, Sardar Hamir Singh Brar, was given Faridkot.
The state was captured in 1803 by Ranjit Singh, but was one of the Cis-Sutlej states that came under British influence after the 1809 Treaty of Amritsar. During the Sikh wars in 1845, Raja Pahar Singh aided the British, and was rewarded with an increase of territory. The state had an area of 642 square miles, and a population of 124,912 in 1901. It was bounded on the west and northeast by the British district of Ferozepore, and on the south by the state of Nabha. The last Ruler of Faridkot was Lt. HH Farzand-i-sadaat Nishan Hazrat-i-kaisar-i-hind Raja Sir Harindar Singh Brar Bans Bahadur.
Faridkot district is slightly small in area. It is popular due to Faridkot (City), Kotakpura and Jaito. Faridkot is well-known for Historical and religious purposes.