Bhangi Misl

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Bhangi Misl
Bhangi Misal
1748–1810
CapitalAmritsar
Common languagePunjabi
Religion
Notable Sardar's 
• 1739–1746
Bhuma Singh
• 1746–1765
Hari Singh
• 1765–1774
Jhanda Singh
• 1774–1775
Ganda Singh
• 1782–1800
Gulab Singh
Historical eraEarly modern period
• Split from Singhpuria Misl
1748
• Annexed by the Sikh Empire
1810
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
File:Blank.png Mughal Empire
File:Sikh flag.jpg Singhpuria Misl
Sikh Empire File:Sikh Empire flag.svg
Today part ofPakistan, India
Misls of the Sikh Confederacy
File:NORTHERN INDIA 1780 by hellbat.jpg
A 1780 map of the Punjab Region shows the relative positions of the Sikh Misls and other states.

The Bhangi Misl (Punjabi pronunciation: [pə̃˨ŋɡiː mɪsəl]) was a large and powerful Sikh Misl[1] headquartered in Amritsar. It was founded in the early 18th century by Sardar Chhajja Singh Dhillon,[1][2][3] who was baptised into the Khalsa tradition by Banda Singh Bahadur.[4][5] It was a first misl to established a Khalsa Raj and publish Khalsa currency coins.[citation needed] The Bhangi Kingdom/Misl was founded by Dhillon Jats.[6]

Etymology

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The misl received its name "Bhangi" because Chhajja Singh and his soldiers frequently used the herbal intoxicant bhang (drink made from cannabis sativa).[7][8] Bhang (hemp) was a wild-growth plant found in the jungles of Punjab and along river-banks.[9] An intoxicant can be produced by pounding the plant in a mortar and sifting it.[9]

History

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Expanse of Bhangi Misl

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File:INDIA, Independent States. Sikhs (Misls). temp. Desa Singh. VS 1833-1839, AD 1776-1782. AR Rupee (20mm, 11.55 g, 2h). Multan mint. Dated VS 1832 (AD 1775). (1121 1).jpg
Coin minted under Desa Singh Bhangi, VS 1833-1839, AD 1776-1782. AR Rupee (20mm, 11.55 g, 2h). Multan mint. Dated VS 1832 (AD 1775)

The misl was founded by Jats.[10] It grew in strength and territory to cover an area from Gujrat to Multan and emerged as the strongest power in the western Punjab region.[11] The Misl went north into Jammu until Poonch, west to the Indus River, south to the Multan, and east to central modern day Punjab, India.[12] In 1761, the Bhangi chief Hari Singh captured Kasur and nearby areas of Ferozepore.[13] However, deaths among the leadership during the late 1760s reduced the Misl's power.[11] On 16 April 1765, the Bhangi sardars Gujjar Singh and Lehna Singh Kahlon, allied with Sobha Singh of the Kanhaiya Misl, conquered Lahore.[14] They did not plunder the city as it was the birthplace of Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru.[14]

Decline of power

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The Bhangi misl engaged in numerous power struggles with the Sukerchakia Misl until they were severely weakened at the Siege of Lahore and the loss of Lahore to Ranjit Singh in 1799.[15][citation needed]

In 1810, Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent a force to Gujrat to annex the Bhangi Misl. Its chief, Sahib Singh, did not resist Ranjit Singh's forces and thus the misl was annexed by the Sikh Empire.[16] Due to the pleading of the mother of Sahib Singh, Mai Lachhmi, Ranjit Singh bestowed him with a jagir worth 100,000 rupees, however Sahib Singh died in 1811.[16] Sahib Singh's two widows, Daya Kaur and Rattan Kaur, were wedded to Ranjit Singh via chador dalna.[16]

Zamzama cannon

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Bhangi Misl held the possession of Zamzama, the famous cannon, which was at the time named Bhangi Toap, Bhangianwala Toap and Bhangian di Top, names it retains to this day.[17]

List of sardars (chiefs)

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The list of the chiefs of the Bhangi Misl are as follows:[18][10]

  1. Chhajja Singh Bhangi
  2. Bhima (Bhuma) Singh
  3. Hari Singh
  4. Jhanda Singh
  5. Ganda Singh
  6. Charhat Singh (died nearly immediately)
  7. Desu Singh
  8. Gulab Singh
  9. Gurdit Singh
  10. Sahib Singh (? – 1810)[16]

Territory

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The misl originated from Panjwar near Amritsar.[10] The Bhangis held the Upper Rechna Doab, Upper Chajj Doab, and territory around Lahore and Amritsar.[10] The Bhangi Misl controlled much of western Punjab between Multan and the Hill States, including the settlements of Lahore, Amritsar, Gujrat, and Sialkot.[19]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Sikh History (2004). "The Bhangi Misal" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, History of the Sikhs, 2004. Retrieved on 7 September 2016
  2. ^ Singh, Rishi (2015). State Formation and the Establishment of Non-Muslim Hegemony:Post-Mughal 19th-century Punjab. India: Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 23 April 2015. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Dhavan, Purnima (2011). When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799, p.60. OUP USA Publisher, 3 November 2011.
  4. ^ Jaspreet Kaur (2000). Sikh Ethos: Eighteenth Century Perspective, p.99. Vision & Venture, Patiala, 2000.
  5. ^ Jain, Harish (2003). The Making of Punjab, p. 201. Unistar Books Pvt. Ltd, Chandigarh.
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Singh, Bhagata (1993). A History of The Sikh Misals, p. 89. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1993.
  8. ^ Seetal, Sohan Singh (1981). The Sikh Misals and the Punjab States, p.11. India: Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana, 1981.
  9. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ Singh, Khushwant A History of the Sikhs, Volume 1: 1469-1839. Oxford University Press, 2004, Page 198, Footnote 11
  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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