Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/458

 450 MAN of Mangalsi was the birthplace of a Bisen, who attained the greatest dis- tinction of any native of this pargana. Hindu Singh entered the service of Nawab Shujá-ud-daula as a private soldier. He rose rapidly to the rank of Subadar. His regiment was one of several sent to reduce Birjaulia, a strong fortress near Bangarmau. The seige lasted many days, and the Nawab wrote impatient letters, angry at the delay. But still Ajab Singh, commandant of the expedition, would not permit an assault. Then Hindu Singh, with an insubordination justified by the result, bimself led his regi- ment to the attack. He carried the fort at the point of the sword, and, as the Bisens say," a great many zamindars were killed." Hindu Singh himself was wounded. The Nawab on hearing of this brilliant feat cashiered Ajab Singh, made Hindu Singh " captain " in his room, and gave him the com- mand of seven regiments, and the rank of a jarnail (general). His brother, Barjai Singh, was promoted to the command of his own old regiment, and from that time forth he was present with the Nawab's forces in almost every action in which they were engaged. He fought alongside English troops in the Rohilla war of 1774. His descendants proudly declare that the English General admitted the entire credit of the victory (at Babul Nála ?) to rest with him, although the fact is the native troops were not advanced till the close of the battle, and Colonel Champion complained, "we have the honour of the day, and these banditti the profit." The services of Hindu Singh, however, were bandsomely rewarded, and the Nawab gave him the revenue-free tenure of Kapási and Lakhauri, two of the richest villages in the Pargana. Asif-ud-daula held him in as high esteem as bis father. There is a story that Asif-ud-daula was shooting near Butwal in Naipál. A tiger came out of the forest straight in front of the Nawab's elephant. Hindu Singh, who was near by, drew off the tiger by making his elephant lie down, and as the tiger attacked him, sliced it in two with one sweep of his scimitar. The astonished and delighted Nawab presented the valorous general with his own elephant. Hindu Singh in the excitement did not lose his self-pos- session, and promptly suggested that a grant of land would be useful for the support of so huge a beast. And the Nawab directed that he should hold thenceforth free of revenue his village of Uchitpur. Under Wazír Ali Khan and Saádat Ali Khan, Hindu Singh remained in the possession of his honours and dignities, but he seems to have with- drawn from active life. His brother, Bariár Singh, commanded at the siege of Mundrasan and took the fort. Soon after Hindu Singh died and was succeeded by his son, Rája Madho Singh, who seems to have led a simple country life, and is familiarly remembered as the “Siwáe Saheb." He and his family held two Subahdaris. Their estate was in Huzúr Tahsil. In 1843 it was finally absorbed in the great taluqa of Rája Bakhtawar Singh.* Kapási and Uchitpur were held by Sir Mán Singħ revenue-free till the revised settlement, and Lakhauri revenue-free for life. • Rája Bakhtáwar Singh, Brahman, and Rája Darshan Singh, Kurmi, were also instances in this district of successful soldiers of forture. The former began life as a trooper in the old 8th Light Cavalry, the latter as a common day-labourer. Both attracted the notice of Nawab Saidat Ali Khan, an admirer of fine physique, and after his enthronement by u9, Ghazi-ud-din Haider put bis newly acquired royal powers into force by creating them and to others tájag of the realm,