Nawab Kapur Singh's Humility

In 1733, the Mughal Governor of Lahore, Zakariya Khan, found it impossible to crush the Sikh rebellion. Desperate for peace, he sent an envoy to the Sikh assembly (Sarbat Khalsa) in Amritsar, offering a large estate (Jagir) and the royal title of 'Nawab'.

The Khalsa, composed of fierce, independent warriors who rejected worldly kingship, flatly refused the offer. They stated that their sovereignty came from God, not from a Mughal governor.

However, understanding the strategic need for a truce, the elders decided to accept it, but refused to give the royal title to any of their generals or leaders.

They looked around the congregation. Bhai Kapur Singh, a dedicated and humble Sikh, was quietly waving a hand-fan over the congregation to cool them in the heat. He also cleaned the stables of the horses.

The Khalsa decided, 'We will give this Nawabship to our humblest servant.' They offered the royal robes and title to Kapur Singh. Startled, he politely refused.

Commanded by the Panth to accept it, Kapur Singh agreed on one condition: 'I will accept this title only if the royal robes are first placed at the feet of five humble Sikhs to wash away the ego attached to them.' He became Nawab Kapur Singh, one of the greatest leaders in Sikh history, yet he never stopped cleaning the stables.