THE BIRTH PLACE OF RAMGARHIA PADVI (HONOUR), QILA (FORT) RAMGARH, I/S RAMGARHIA GATE, AMRITSAR.
Sixth Guru of sikhs Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji, built 1st Fort named LOHGARH, at Amritsar for the protection of the City and Golden Temple, to chellenge the Authority of Mugal Empire and to prove the indipendent and true thoughts of the Sikhs. This movement of Sikh thoughts was completed by Tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh sahib ji by Baptising the Sikhs with Amrit prepared by himself, then infusing their sprits with Power & Vigour. For the protection of Amritsar city and Golden Temple, another Fort was proposed by Dal Khalsa Jathedar Bhai Sukha Singh Mari Kamboki, Amritsar in 1747, during a Baisakhi congrigation. The responsibility of construction work was taken over by S. JASSA SINGH ECHOGILIA, who was very expert in building the defence Forts (qilas) etc. To meet the immediate requirements first of all a small Kachcha Fortress called GARHI and named RAMRAUNI after the name of 4th Guru Sri Guru Ram Dass ji, was built, which can house max. 500 armed horse rider/fighter Singhs.
The Mughal rulers felt a great danger to their Authority so they started attcking this small defence fort with their heavy forces and forced the Sikh forces to withdraw and then to distroy the fortress. This happened a number of times but every time S. JASSA SINGH ECHOGILIA AND HIS COMPANIONS rebuilt it as a BIG PAKKA FORT AND RENAMED IT AS QILA RAMGARH OR FORT RAMGARH. This Ramgarh Fort was also attacked by Mughal Forces many times and distroyed it but every time it was rebuilt by S. JASSA SINGH ECHOGILIA. With such a dedication and service to the Sikh Panth, he was now HONOURED AS RAMGARHIA i.e. the BUILDER OF RAMGARH FORT, which is a sign and honour of the entire Sikh Panth. He was also the founder Jathedar of RAMGARHIA MISL & RAMGARHIA EMPIRE. Therefore he was called as MAHARAJA JASSA SINGH RAMGARHIA.
Today, we all are being spoken as RAMGARHIA after our name and this HONOUR had been given to us by M. JASSA SINGH RAMGARHIA BY BUILDING RAMGARH FORT AT AMRITSAR (I/S CHATTIWIND GATE) as detailed above. Now adays this Fort dose not exists. Approx. ¼ the area of the Old City i.e. from Ramgarh Fort to Ramgarhia Bunga (Golden Temple) and from Guruwali Gate to Sultanwind Gate was called RAMGARHIA KATRA and to enter this Ramgarhia Katra their was another gate, called as RAMGARHIA DARWAJA ( TODAY CHATTIWIND GATE). This gate also does not exist now. In the old maps of the City i.e. 1849, one can see the demarcation of this area but today these names has been changed into many other names. That is all the history and historical places have been erased which were the pride of RAMGARHIAS and entire Sikh Panth. We are so ignorent about our HISTORY AND HERITAGE that we never bother about it and do nothing to preserve it. Today our comminity is financialy very strong and well educated and can do anything if it want to do.
Gian Singh Bamrah, Mob: 9464283050, 6283317292..
PRESIDENT, RANGARHIA HERITAGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AMRITSAR. Website: www.ramgarhiahhsociety.org
