Akali Phula Singh

Honorable Jathedar Akali Phula Singh
ਮਾਣਯੋਗ ਜਥੇਦਾਰ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਫੂਲਾ ਸਿੰਘ
A prominent Nihang Sikh Khalsa Army general and Jathedar of the Khalsa Panth
Shaheed
6th Jathedar of Akal Takht
In office 1800–1823
Preceded by	Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Succeeded by	Hanuman Singh
6th Jathedar of Buddha Dal
In office 1800–1823
Preceded by	Naina Singh
Succeeded by	Hanuman Singh
Personal details
Born	Phula Singh (1761-01-01)1 January 1761 Shihan, Amritsar, Panjab
Died	March 14, 1823(1823-03-14) (aged 62) Battle of Naushera, Pir Sabaq, Panjab
Father	Ishar Singh
Religion	Sikh

Akali Phula Singh (1 January 1761 – 14 March 1823) was a prominent and highly respected Akali Nihang Sikh leader. He was a saint soldier of the Khalsa Shaheedan Misl and head of the Budha Dal in the early 19th century. He was also a senior general in the Sikh Khalsa Army and commander of the irregular Nihang of the army. He played a role in uniting Sikh misls in Amritsar. He was feared by the British who at many times ordered for his arrest but were not successful. During his later years he served for the Sikh Empire as a direct adviser to Maharajah Ranjit Singh. He remained an army general in many famous Sikh battles up until his martyrdom in the battle of Naushera. He was admired by the local people and had a great influence over the land and his settlement was always open to help the poor and helpless. He was well known and was a humble unique leader and prestigious warrior with high character. He was also known for his effort to maintain the values of Gurmat and the Khalsa panth.

Akali Phula Singh was born in 1761 in a Jat Sikh family of Sran/saran/sara gotra .In their village Dehla (seha) district sangrur,a ਸਾਲਾਨਾ ਸਹੀਦੀ ਜੋੜ ਮੇਲਾ is celebrated every year on 13 march. After his father's death Akali Phula Singh who was still young and his elder brother, the revered saint Baba Sant Singh, were taken care of by Mahant Balram and under his mothers advice he would then later be taken under the apprentice of Akali Baba Naina Singh, the leader of the Shaheedan Misl, and his Nihang order at Anandpur Sahib. It was from Baba Naina Singh that he would receive initiation into the Khalsa.

Akali Phula Singh memorized the entire Nitnem (The writings of the Sikh Gurus which are recited daily by a Sikh) at a young age. As a child he would not eat until he completed memorizing a certain portion of the Sikh Guru's writings and in this way he had the Akal Ustat, 33 Savaiye, and other Sri Mukhwak Bani memorized. Around the age of fourteen Akali Phula Singh's mother also passes away leaving him with the dying wishes of being virtuous, upholding dharma, helping the poor, serving the Panth, in the heart being at the refuge of the Guru, being unaffected by Moh, being a role model on the battlefield, and following the footsteps of his ancestors. This had a great impact on Akali Phula Singh who then gave away his land and his possessions to the poor to start to live the life of a Nihang Saint Soldier. He became very close to Akali Naina Singh's jatha at Anandpur Sahib where he completed his martial arts training and fought many battles. As he began to recite Gurbani with a near perfect pronunciation and began to display great dharmic strength he was made the jathedar of the Shaheedan Misl. He did considerable Seva at Anandpur Sahib which included protecting the Gurdwara from thieves and preparation of langar until eventually the Gurdwara was reformed.