Life of Ahmad — Page 13
as AHMAD’S as FOREFATHERS 13 cold and overcome with grief. They repaired, shuddering and exhausted, to a village called Begowal, where, though they begged no shelter, Sardar Fate h Singh Ahl u valia, an ancestor of the Maharaja of Kapurthala, treated them with kindness, and extended to them a practical sympathy that they had neither solicited nor expected. In consideration of their sad plight he granted them an allowance for their maintenance, which was, however, by no means adequate for their needs. The family remained there for about 16 years. Jassa Singh died in 1803, and was succeeded by his nephew, Divan Singh, who ruled over Qadian for about 15 years. Mirza ‘A ta Muhammad was poisoned in 1814 by his enemies. His son Mirza Ghulam Murtaza was quite young at that time, but he brought his father’s body to Qadian, so that he might be buried in the family cemetery and thus the ancestral connection with Qadian and the claim over the estate might remain intact. The Sikhs opposed this; but the local population, consisting of humble people, were very much excited and the Sikhs, fearing open rebellion had to give in. Then followed the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who gradually brought all the petty chiefs of the country under his sway. In about 1818 he allowed Mirza Ghulam Murtaza, the son of Mirza ‘A ta Muhammad, to return to Qadian. Mirza Ghulam Murtaza and his brothers thereupon joined the Sikh army and rendered excellent services in several places, including the frontier of Kashmir, which was