Jai Singh Kanheya
Encyclopedia
Jai Singh Kanheya was the founder and leader of the Kanheya Misl
until his death at the age of 81. His daughter-in-law, Sada Kaur
succeeded him in the leadership of the misl
.
. His father, Khushal Singh, sold wood and grass in Lahore and his family had humble origins. He was initiated into the Khalsa
by Nawab Kapur Singh
and joined the jatha
of Amar Singh Kingra.
and upper portions of Amritsar
. His headquarters shifted from his wife's village at Sohian, 15 km from Amritsar to Batala
to Mukerian
. He had territories on both sides of the rivers Beas
and Ravi
. Qazi Nur Muhammad, a historian, wrote in 1765 that Jai Singh Kanheya had extended his territory up to Parol, which was 70 km southeast of Jammu
and that he was allied with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia
because they shared the territory of Batala
. The hill chiefs of Nurpur, Datarpur and Siba became his tributaries. In 1774, Jai Singh built a bazaar
in Amritsar called the Katra Kanheyan. In October 1778 he collaborated with Mahan Singh Sukerchakia and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
to defeat Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and exiled him to the desert regions of Hansi
and Hissar
. In 1781, he led an expedition into Jammu with Haqiqat Singh and received a tribute from Brij Raj Dev, the ruler of Jammu.
Kanheya Misl
The Kanheya Misl was first led by Sardar Jai Singh Kanhaiya. It had a Strength of 5,000 regular horsemen.The Kanhaiya Misl was founded by Sardar Jai Singh , a Sandhu Jatt of the village of Kahna, 21 km south-west of Lahore on the road to Firozpur. His father Bhai Khushhal Singh sold hay at Lahore...
until his death at the age of 81. His daughter-in-law, Sada Kaur
Sada Kaur
Sada Kaur was a Punjabi Sikh who played an important role in Ranjit Singh's rise to power in Punjab. She was the mother-in-law of Maharajha Ranjit Singh and she was the chief of Kanheya misl.-Life and career:...
succeeded him in the leadership of the misl
Misl
Misl generally refers to the twelve sovereign states in the Sikh Confederacy. The states formed a commonwealth that was described by Antoine Polier as an "aristocratic republic"...
.
Early life
Jai Singh was born in the village of Kahna, 21 km southwest of LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. His father, Khushal Singh, sold wood and grass in Lahore and his family had humble origins. He was initiated into the Khalsa
Khalsa
+YouWebImagesVideosMapsNewsMailMoreTranslateFrom: ArabicTo: EnglishEnglishHindiEnglishAllow phonetic typingHindiEnglishArabicAssumptionGoogle Translate for Business:Translator ToolkitWebsite TranslatorGlobal Market Finder...
by Nawab Kapur Singh
Nawab Kapur Singh
Nawab Kapur Singh is considered one of the pivotal figures in Sikh history, under whose courageous leadership the Sikh community traversed one of the darkest periods of its history. He was the organizer of the Sikh Confederacy and the Dal Khalsa. Nawab Kapur Singh is regarded by Sikhs as a leader...
and joined the jatha
Jatha
Jatha is a term used to describe a group of Sikh volunteers coming together for a specific purpose, which can vary from armed combat to peaceful agitation....
of Amar Singh Kingra.
Misldar
Jai Singh took control of a part of Riarki comprising the district of GurdaspurGurdaspur District
Gurdaspur district is a district in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. Gurdaspur is the district headquarters. It internationally borders Narowal District of the Pakistani Punjab, Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir, the Punjab districts of Amritsar and...
and upper portions of Amritsar
Amritsar District
Amritsar district is one of 22 districts in the state of Punjab in West India. It has a population of 3,074,207 and covers an area of 5075 km²...
. His headquarters shifted from his wife's village at Sohian, 15 km from Amritsar to Batala
Batala
Batala is a municipal council in Gurdaspur district in the state of Punjab, India. It is located about 30 km from Gurdaspur, the headquarters of the district....
to Mukerian
Mukerian
Mukerian is a city and a municipal council in Hoshiarpur district in the Indian state of Punjab.- Geography :Mukerian is located at . It has an average elevation of 245 metres .- Demographics :...
. He had territories on both sides of the rivers Beas
Beas River
The Beas River is a river in the northern part of India. The river rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows for some 470 km to the Sutlej River in the Indian state of Punjab....
and Ravi
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....
. Qazi Nur Muhammad, a historian, wrote in 1765 that Jai Singh Kanheya had extended his territory up to Parol, which was 70 km southeast of Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
and that he was allied with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia
Jassa Singh Ramgarhia
Jassa Singh Ramgarhia was a prominent Sikh leader during the period of the Sikh Confederacy. He was the Commander of the Ramgarhia Sikh Cavalry misl . This period was an interlude, lasting roughly from the time of the death of Banda Bahadur in 1716 to the founding of the Sikh Empire in 1801...
because they shared the territory of Batala
Batala
Batala is a municipal council in Gurdaspur district in the state of Punjab, India. It is located about 30 km from Gurdaspur, the headquarters of the district....
. The hill chiefs of Nurpur, Datarpur and Siba became his tributaries. In 1774, Jai Singh built a bazaar
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
in Amritsar called the Katra Kanheyan. In October 1778 he collaborated with Mahan Singh Sukerchakia and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Sultan ul Quam Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was a prominent Sikh leader during the period of the Sikh Confederacy. He was also Misldar of the Ahluwalia Misl. This period was an interlude, lasting roughly from the time of the death of Banda Bahadur in 1716 to the founding of the Sikh Empire in 1801...
to defeat Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and exiled him to the desert regions of Hansi
Hansi
Hansi is a city and a municipal council in Hisar district in the Indian state of Haryana. Its 2011 population is estimated to be 1,34,568. It is located at a distance of east of Hisar on National Highway 10. Geographically, it is semi-arid with around 46 cm of annual rainfall. It appears...
and Hissar
Hissar
Hissar means Fort or Castle in Arabic. Many forts in Ottoman, Safavi and Mughal empires are named Hissar. Hissar could refer to:*Hisar, India, a city in Haryana state in India.*Hisar District in Haryana state in India...
. In 1781, he led an expedition into Jammu with Haqiqat Singh and received a tribute from Brij Raj Dev, the ruler of Jammu.