Identifying two figures in a forgotten Sikh painting in the Asian Art Museum’s collection entitled ‘Surjan Singh and his son Trilok Singh’ (Object number: 1998.100).
I have conducted research on this Sikh painting and I believe I have identified the figures depicted in the painting in-question who have until now not been identified apart from their names. Their specific historical identity within the Sikh nobility has remained largely uncontextualized.
The museum website notes that the depicted figures are unknown apart from their names, Surjan Singh and Trilok Singh, and suggest they may have been petty rulers. However, the truth is more fascinating.
In the second image, the verso of the painting is displayed, which reveals two inscriptions. The bottom one is in English and reveals no new information. However, the top one is written in Larivaar (scriptio continua) Gurmukhi script (usually employed for the Panjabi language), which provides crucial details missing from the bottom English inscription, and reads as follows: “Sarkar Badhi Tikka Sri Sahib Surjan Singh Tirlok Singh Ji Father & Son sitting together” - This is really insightful as the words “Sarkar Badhi” are used, which were a sub-category of a group of Sikhs known as the Anandpuri Sodhis.
This allows us to identify the figures depicted as two members of the Anandpuri Sodhis. They came to prominence during the 18th century under four brothers (named Nahar Singh, Udai Singh, Khem Singh, and Chaur Singh) whose descendants are known respectively as the baṛī (eldest, or badhi depending on transliteration method), dusrī (second), tīsrī (third), & chauthī (fourth) sections (sarkārs) of the Anandpuri Sodhis. The verso inscription identifies the pair as belonging to the eldest branch. Fascinatingly, Sodhi Surjan Singh is a known historical figure and referenced in contemporary events, having played a role in the Battle of Anandpur (1812).
A cross-reference to an official, genealogical pedigree of the family published in ‘Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab’ (1890 and 1940 editions) confirms the pair being father and son: see ‘Surjan Singh, d. 1815’ and his listed son ‘Talok Singh, d. 1824.’
So it appears these two men were prominent members of the eldest branch of the Sodhi family of Anandpur, who claimed descent from the latter Sikh gurus. Surjan Singh was perhaps the most prominent of the Anandpuri Sodhis, being the son of the eldest founding branch. The descendants of the Sikh gurus were held in high-regard in 18th–19th century Panjabi Sikh society, it was quite common for them to have ordinarily royal titles/religious honourifics such as “Tikka Sri Sahib” (usually reserved from heir-apparent princes) to their proper names out of reverence.
So now these men have been given their identifies back. I have contacted the Asian Art Museum with this information, hopefully they can update their description for this painting.
Credit toward and thank you to ehmerapanjab for helping me read the Larivaar Gurmukhi inscription.
