Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya
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Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya () was the eldest son and heir of
Jai Singh Kanhaiya Jai Singh Kanhaiya (1712–1793) was the founder and, until his death, leader of the Kanhaiya Misl in Punjab. His daughter-in-law, Sada Kaur succeeded him as the ''misl'' leader. Early life Jai Singh was born in a Jat family of the village Kah ...
, the chief of the
Kanhaiya Misl The Kanhaiya Misl was one of the twelve misls of the Sikh Confederacy. It had been founded by Sandhu Jats. History Jai Singh Sandhu (son of Khushal Singh) of the village Kanha (district Lahore) was the founder of this ''Misl''; hence th ...
. He was the father of Maharani
Mehtab Kaur Maharani Mehtab Kaur ( 1782 – 1813) was the first wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire. She was the mother of Maharaja Sher Singh, who briefly became the ruler of the Sikh Empire from 1841 until his death in 1843. ...
and thus, the father-in-law of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder and first maharaja of the Sikh Empire, in the northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling from 1801 until his death in 1839. Born to Maha Singh, the leader of the Sukerchakia M ...
, the founder of the
Sikh Empire The Sikh Empire was a regional power based in the Punjab, Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. It existed from 1799, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahore, to 1849, when it was defeated and conquered by the East India Company, Br ...
.


Early life

Gurbaksh Singh, the only son and heir of Jai Singh Kanhaiya, was born in 1759 to his wife Desan Kaur, who was the widow of Jhanda Singh. His father, Jai Singh, was the founder and leader of the Kanhaiya Misl. Gurbaksh Singh was married at the age of seven to
Sada Kaur Rani Sada Kaur (Punjabi language, Punjabi: ਸਦਾ ਕੌਰ; 1762 – 1832) was a Sikhs, Sikh leader. She served as the Chief of the Kanhaiya Misl from 1789 to 1821, following the death of her husband Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya, the heir to Jai ...
, a daughter of Sardar Daswandha Singh Alkol. The couple had one child together, a daughter named
Mehtab Kaur Maharani Mehtab Kaur ( 1782 – 1813) was the first wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire. She was the mother of Maharaja Sher Singh, who briefly became the ruler of the Sikh Empire from 1841 until his death in 1843. ...
, who was born in 1782. She was married in 1796 to
Ranjit Singh Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder and first maharaja of the Sikh Empire, in the northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling from 1801 until his death in 1839. Born to Maha Singh, the leader of the Sukerchakia M ...
, the successor of
Maha Singh Maha Singh ('; 1760 – 15 April 1790 or 1756 – April 1792), also spelt as Mahan or Mahn Singh, was the second Sardar of the Sukerchakia Misl, which as a Sikh grouping with its guerilla militia was one of twelve Sikh Misls that later became ...
, the leader of the
Sukerchakia Misl The Sukerchakia Misl was one of twelve Sikh Sikh Confederacy, misls in Punjab region, Punjab during the 18th century, concentrated in Gujranwala and Hafizabad districts in western Punjab region, Punjab (in modern-Pakistan) and ruled from (1752 ...
, who was a rival of the Kanhaiya Misl.


Military career

In 1778, a quarrel arose between the Ramgarhias and the Kanhaiyas.
Jai Singh Kanhaiya Jai Singh Kanhaiya (1712–1793) was the founder and, until his death, leader of the Kanhaiya Misl in Punjab. His daughter-in-law, Sada Kaur succeeded him as the ''misl'' leader. Early life Jai Singh was born in a Jat family of the village Kah ...
and Haqiqat Singh Kanhaiya, supported by
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (3 May 1718 – 23 October 1783) was a Sikh leader during the period of the Sikh Confederacy, being the supreme leader of the Dal Khalsa (Sikh Army), Dal Khalsa. He was also Misldar of the Ahluwalia (misl), Ahluwalia Mi ...
and
Maha Singh Maha Singh ('; 1760 – 15 April 1790 or 1756 – April 1792), also spelt as Mahan or Mahn Singh, was the second Sardar of the Sukerchakia Misl, which as a Sikh grouping with its guerilla militia was one of twelve Sikh Misls that later became ...
, attacked the headquarters of
Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Jassa Singh Ramgarhia (1723–1803) was a prominent Sikh leader during the period of the Sikh Confederacy. He was the founder of the Ramgarhia Misl. Early life Jassa Singh Ramgarhia was born into a Sikh family in 1723. According to W. H. McLe ...
at Sri Hargobindpur and captured it. At the same time, Gurbaksh Singh besieged Batala. Mala Singh, the brother of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, who was infamous among the people, had his officers and the leading citizens of Batala join forces to admit Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya into the city, causing Mala Singh to flee. Batala became the headquarters of the Kanhaiya Misl. In 1783,
Sansar Chand Sansar Chand (c. 1765 – 1824) was a Punjabi Rajput ruler of the erstwhile Kangra State in what is now the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Early life Sansar Chand was a scion of the Katoch dynasty, which ruled Kangra for centuries until t ...
invited
Jai Singh Kanhaiya Jai Singh Kanhaiya (1712–1793) was the founder and, until his death, leader of the Kanhaiya Misl in Punjab. His daughter-in-law, Sada Kaur succeeded him as the ''misl'' leader. Early life Jai Singh was born in a Jat family of the village Kah ...
to help him capture Kangra Fort. Jai Singh deputized Gurbaksh Singh to Kangra, and he besieged the fort. Saif Ali Khan died during the siege, and his son Jiwan Khan assumed command of the defenses. Gurbaksh Singh suggested to
Sansar Chand Sansar Chand (c. 1765 – 1824) was a Punjabi Rajput ruler of the erstwhile Kangra State in what is now the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Early life Sansar Chand was a scion of the Katoch dynasty, which ruled Kangra for centuries until t ...
that he offer a cash incentive and jagir to Jiwan Khan for surrendering the fort to the Raja. When negotiations were completed, Gurbaksh Singh secretly hinted at treachery on the part of the Raja and offered a large sum of money on his own behalf to Jiwan Khan. Upon receiving the heavy bribe, Jiwan Khan admitted Sikh troops into the fort under the Raja’s command. Gurbaksh Singh then established his authority over all the Kangra hills up to
Palampur Palampur is a hill station and a municipal corporation situated in the Kangra District in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Palampur is served by the Palampur Himachal railway station (PLMX), situated in Maranda, approximately 2 kilometer ...
.Singha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India:Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.


Death

The Kanhaiyas, who had replaced the Bhangis as the most powerful ''
misl Major Indoor Soccer League has been the name of three different American professional indoor soccer leagues: *Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992), known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League *Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2 ...
'', disputed Ranjit Singh's father's right to plunder
Jammu Jammu () is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute ...
, and in one of the many skirmishes between the two ''misl''s, Gurbaksh Singh was killed in battle against Maha Singh in February 1785. In the absence of any heir, Gurbaksh Singh's widowed wife,
Sada Kaur Rani Sada Kaur (Punjabi language, Punjabi: ਸਦਾ ਕੌਰ; 1762 – 1832) was a Sikhs, Sikh leader. She served as the Chief of the Kanhaiya Misl from 1789 to 1821, following the death of her husband Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya, the heir to Jai ...
(an intelligent and ambitious woman) became the chief of the Kanhaiya Misl after her father-in-law's death in 1789. She played an important role in
Ranjit Singh Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder and first maharaja of the Sikh Empire, in the northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling from 1801 until his death in 1839. Born to Maha Singh, the leader of the Sukerchakia M ...
's rise to power in
Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
and used to lend support of the Kanhaiya ''misl'' to Ranjit Singh till 1821, when she developed differences with him and as a consequence lost her territory to him.


In popular culture

*Rumi Khan portrays Gurbaksh Singh in
Life OK Life OK was an Indian pay television channel owned by Star India. It was launched on 18 December 2011 replacing Star One. It also started airing in the United States on 1 March 2012, and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 28 May of that s ...
's historical drama ''Sher-e-Punjab: Maharaja Ranjit Singh''.


See also

*
Ranjit Singh Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder and first maharaja of the Sikh Empire, in the northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling from 1801 until his death in 1839. Born to Maha Singh, the leader of the Sukerchakia M ...
*
Sada Kaur Rani Sada Kaur (Punjabi language, Punjabi: ਸਦਾ ਕੌਰ; 1762 – 1832) was a Sikhs, Sikh leader. She served as the Chief of the Kanhaiya Misl from 1789 to 1821, following the death of her husband Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya, the heir to Jai ...


References

1750s births 1785 deaths Punjabi Sikhs People killed in action Sikh warriors 18th-century Indian people {{Sikh-stub