Sada Kaur
Encyclopedia
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
.
Daswandha Singh Gill, in 1762 in Firozpur
. She was married to Gurbax Singh Kanheya, the son of Jai Singh Kanheya
, the chief of Kanheya Misl
. Her husband died fighting in the Battle of Batala against the Sukerchakia Misl, the Ramgarhia Misl as well as Sansar Chand Katoch. In 1785, Sada Kaur, along with Jai Singh Kanheya, then betrothed her daughter to Ranjit Singh
, the Sukerchakia Misl's chief's son, and they were married in 1786. In 1789, her father-in-law, Jai Singh Kanheya
, also died. Sada Kaur then assumed the leadership of the Kanheya Misl
as well as the loyalty of its 8,000 cavalrymen. After the death of his father, Mahan Singh, in 1792 Ranjit Singh was made the chief of the Sukerchakia Misl and Sada Kaur became his regent. Sada Kaur used both Kanheya and Sukerchakia misals to push Ranjit
forward. In 1796 the Afghan
king Shah Zaman attacked Punjab with 30,000 troops. No one stood in his way except Sada Kaur and her son-in-law. Ranjit was only 17 when he fought the afghans and defeated them.
The people of Lahore
who were tired of the rule of Bhangi misl
requested Sada Kaur and Ranjit Singh
to take over Lahore
. Sada Kaur advised Ranjit that who controls Lahore controls Punjab. On 7 July 1799 Ranjit Singh and Sada Kaur attacked Lahore with 25,000 troops. The people of Lahore opened the city gates for them. Ranjit entered the city through Lohari gate
and Sada Kaur entered through Dehli gate. Sada Kaur made Ranjit Singh the king
of Lahore in 1801.
In the battles for Amritsar
, Chiniot
, Kasur
, Attock
and Hazara she was with Ranjit Singh. In 1807 Ranjit Singh remarried. Sada Kaur didn't approve of it. She broke with Ranjit. Now Sada Kaur thought of ruling her own state but Ranjit Singh restricted her movements. She retained the majority of her estates
until 1820. Sada Kaur died in Lahore in 1832.
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
who played an important role in Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
's rise to power in Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
. She was the mother-in-law of Maharajha Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
and she was the chief of Kanheya misl
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...
.
Life and career
Sada Kaur was born to sardarSardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
Daswandha Singh Gill, in 1762 in Firozpur
Firozpur
Firozpur is a city on the banks of the Sutlej River in Firozpur District, Punjab, India, founded by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq , a Muslim ruler of the Tughlaq Dynasty who reigned over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388.The Manj Rajputs say the town was named after their chief, a Rajput of...
. She was married to Gurbax Singh Kanheya, the son of Jai Singh Kanheya
Jai Singh Kanheya
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.-Early life:...
, the chief of Kanheya Misl
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...
. Her husband died fighting in the Battle of Batala against the Sukerchakia Misl, the Ramgarhia Misl as well as Sansar Chand Katoch. In 1785, Sada Kaur, along with Jai Singh Kanheya, then betrothed her daughter to Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
, the Sukerchakia Misl's chief's son, and they were married in 1786. In 1789, her father-in-law, Jai Singh Kanheya
Jai Singh Kanheya
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.-Early life:...
, also died. Sada Kaur then assumed the leadership of the Kanheya Misl
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...
as well as the loyalty of its 8,000 cavalrymen. After the death of his father, Mahan Singh, in 1792 Ranjit Singh was made the chief of the Sukerchakia Misl and Sada Kaur became his regent. Sada Kaur used both Kanheya and Sukerchakia misals to push Ranjit
Ranjit
Ranjit can refer to:Ranjit Singh GurdaspuriyaRanjit Gurdaspuriya*Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire*Ranjit Singh of Bharatpur, ruler of the Bharatpur princely state in Rajasthan, India*Ranjit Chowdhry, actor*Ranjit Mullick, Bengali film actor...
forward. In 1796 the Afghan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
king Shah Zaman attacked Punjab with 30,000 troops. No one stood in his way except Sada Kaur and her son-in-law. Ranjit was only 17 when he fought the afghans and defeated them.
The people of Lahore
Lahore
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...
who were tired of the rule of Bhangi 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"...
requested Sada Kaur and Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
to take over Lahore
Lahore
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...
. Sada Kaur advised Ranjit that who controls Lahore controls Punjab. On 7 July 1799 Ranjit Singh and Sada Kaur attacked Lahore with 25,000 troops. The people of Lahore opened the city gates for them. Ranjit entered the city through Lohari gate
Gate
A gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or a moderately sized opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Other terms for gate include yett and port...
and Sada Kaur entered through Dehli gate. Sada Kaur made Ranjit Singh the king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
of Lahore in 1801.
In the battles for Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, Chiniot
Chiniot
Chiniot is a city and administration headquarter of Chiniot District, in the state of Punjab, Pakistan. Located between the heart of river Chenab with the heads of small rocky hills, it is known for its wooden furniture architecture which has a great attraction in all over the world.- Name and...
, Kasur
Kasur
Kasur , the capital of Kasur District in Pakistan. Kasur is located adjacent to the border of Ganda Singh Wala between Pakistan and India, and is a tourist attraction because of the daily occurring Flags lowering ceremony...
, Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
and Hazara she was with Ranjit Singh. In 1807 Ranjit Singh remarried. Sada Kaur didn't approve of it. She broke with Ranjit. Now Sada Kaur thought of ruling her own state but Ranjit Singh restricted her movements. She retained the majority of her estates
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
until 1820. Sada Kaur died in Lahore in 1832.