Popularly known as Mai Fatto, was the wife of
Baba Ala Singh, founder of the Patiala family. She was the eldest
daughter of Chaudhari Khana, a zamindar of Kaleke, in present-day
Sangrur district of the Punjab. It is said that at her birth her
parents, disappointed at having a female child, put her in an earthen
vessel and buried her alive.
A holy man, Dyal Das, in the line of Bhai Bhagatu, happening to
pass along and, seeing the mother in tears, enquired the cause of
her grief. On Dyal Das's advice, the child was dug out from underneath
the earth unhurt. As she grew up, she came to be known by the, name
of Fatto. She was married to Ala Singh in 1707 and bore him three
sons, Sardul Singh, Bhumia Singh and Lal Singh, all of whom died
in the lifetime of their father, and a daughter, Pardhan Kaur.
Fateh Kaur was a devoted housewife. She helped her husband in matters
of state as well. It was she who at the time of plunder of Barnala
took the initiative and appointed a deputation to negotiate peace
with Ahmad Shah Durrani who was on his way to Kabul after the battle
of Panipat (1761). She was able to secure peace on payment of a
tribute.
It was also owing to her influence that Baba Ala Singh had the
support of the descendants of Bhai Bhagatu, one of the most revered
Sikh families of the Sutlej territory. Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh of this
family, who founded the state of Kaithal, helped Baba Ald Singh
in his conquest of a large number of territories, including Budhladha
and Tohana.
Fateh Kaur lovingly served the Dal Khalsa and kept an open Guru
ka Langar for them. After the death of Baba Ala Singh, Fateh Kaur
installed her grandson, Amar Singh, on the throne of Patiala. Himmat
Singh, half-brother of Amar Singh, raised a revolt against him,
but Fateh Kaur intervened and brought about a compromise between
the two.
Fateh Kaur, who is counted among the builders of Patiala state,
died in 1773 at Patiala and was cremated near Baba Ala Singh's samadh,
in the area known as Shahi Samadhan, the royal cemetery.
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