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- Ahluwalia Led by Sardar
Jassa singh ahluwalia , area of Jullundar Doab and army of 10,000
regular horsemen. Their held territory in the
neighborhood of Kapurthala, in the Jalandhar doab,
and some villages in Majha such as Sarhali, Jandiala,
Bundala, Vairowal and Fatehabad. Click
here to read more about Ahluwalia Misl
- Bhangi Led by Sardar Hari singh Bhangi, so called Bhangi as
they liked Bhang. ( They were also called Dhillon Sardars) Area between
Beus and Ravi and Ravi and Chenab, so called Bari and Rachna Doabs.
Approximately, 10,000 regular horsemen.
 The Bhangis, owned
Sialkote, Gujrat, Multan, Amritsar, Tarn tarn and Lahore. Here are some interesting stories about
the Dhillon Sardars. During his eighth invasion of India Ahmad Shah Abdali was forced to
retreat from the battle at Amritsar. Then, he
offered the governor ship of Lahore to the Bhangi Sardar Lahna singh Dhillon, but the latter
declined the proposal. He returned to the Shah the fruit he had sent him, saying that such
delicacies were meant for royalty. The Sikhs, he told the messenger, lived on parched gram. Of
this he gave a quantity to the messenger to be presented to Ahmad Shah on
his behalf. Then Ahmad Shah Abdali's son Zaman Shah prepared to attack
India, he collected a large army and got made special Alloy guns. But
he was defeated in a battle with Dal Khalsa forces in-between Lahore and
Amritsar.
Then Sikh forces pursued him to snatch his guns and ammunition.
They followed them all the way to Jhelum river when Zaman Shah could not
take his guns across the rivers in a hurry he threw them in river. Sahib
Singh Bhangi and his men took out the several guns out of the river.
One such gun was called Zamzama. ( This picture on left is
Zamzama Gun as it is in Lahore city today. )
Click
here to read more about Bhangi Misl
- Dalewalia Led by Gulab singh Dalewalia. Later under their leader Tara Singh
Ghaiba they held Rahon, Mahatpur, Nawanshaher and Phillaur. Approximately 5000 regular
horsemen. They were always ahead of others. Dalewalias were continuously moving and
helping other Misls on the command of supreme commanders Nawab Kapur
Singh and later Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. Click
here to read more about Dallewalia Misl
- Faizalpuria. Led by Nawab Kapur
singh virk . Approximately 5,000 horsemen. The territories held were
Jalandhar, and the villages of
Banur, Ghanauli, Manauli and Bharatgarh, in the Malwa.
Click
here to read more about Singhpuria Misl
- Kanaihya. Led by Jai singh Kanaihya. This
regiment ruled the area of riarki around Batala approximately 8,000 horsemen.
Click
here to read more about Kanhaiya Misl
- Karor singhia. Karora singh Dhaliwal established this Misl,
Their territory was Hoshiarpur
and its surrounding areas. His successor Baghel singh Dhaliwal
subdued the force less Mughal Emperor Shah Alam I of Delhi, and located
and constructed the Gurudwaras in Delhi, in the memory of Seventh Guru,
Ninth Guru and others. A special note is made here by a late historian
Hari Ram Gupta that contrary to what happened in raids by other powers which were frequent in those uncertain times, during those
attacks by Sikhs there was not a single instance of woman having been molested. Later when Shah Alam gave him 2 Lakh
tribute Baghel Singh vacated Delhi on the condition that his 30,000
forces will stay in Delhi, Where his forces stayed, it is still known as
Tees Hazari in Delhi. Approximately 10,000 horsemen, many other
irregular forces. Their forces combined
with Ahluwalia misl crossed Jamuna and captured Saharanpur in Feb 20,
1764. The Sikhs overran the territory of Najib-ud-daulah the Rohilla
Chief, and returned after realizing from him a tribute of eleven lakhs of rupees.
Click
here to read more about KaroraSinghia Misl
- Nakai Led by Hari singh Nakai. This band ruled the area between
Ravi and Ghara, Naka Area. Approximately 7,000 horsemen. They ruled over
the country South of Lahore, between Ravi and the Sutlej.
Click
here to read more about Nakaii Misl
- Nishanwala
Led by Dasaundha singh. So called Nishanwala
cause they carry the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag in the battle. Approximately 2,000 horsemen.
Their territory was Ambala, Ropar, Anandpur Sahib, several hill chiefs paid tribute to this
misl.
Click
here to read more about Nishanwala Misl
- Ramgarhia Led by Nand singh Sanghania, so called as they
extended fort of Ram Rauni at Amritsar which was later called Ramgarh.
Riarki Area around Batala Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their territory
was parts of Amritsar, Qadian, Batala and Sri Hargobindpur, in
the Bari doab and Miani, Sarih, and Urmur Tanda in the
Jalandhar Doab. Jassa Singh Ramgarhia
was a great Sikh warrior of times of Nawab Kapur
Singh and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. He led Khalsa army in many battles. In command of Dal
Khalsa he was just behind Jassa Singh Ahluwalia after the retirement of Nawab Kapur Singh.
Click
here to read more about Ramgarhia Misl
- Sukerchakia Led by Nodh Singh, Ranjit singhs Misl. Area of Gujranwala, they
often carried their arms beyond Jhelum. Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their territories were
Gujranwala and parts of Pothohar (currently Rawalpindi, Islamabad, etc.) Charat Singh, Ranjit
singh's grandfather was one of the commanders with Nawab Kapur singh and then with Jassa
Singh Ahluwalia.
Ranjit Singh's father Mahan Singh also led Sikh forces to many victories.
Once Charat Singh Sukarchakia and Gujar Singh Bhangi of Bhangi misl secured a crucial victory
over Sarbuland Khan, the Afghan faujdar of Rohtas. Sarbuland Khan fell a captive into the
hands of the Sikhs who treated him with magnanimity. So deeply was he impressed with
consideration shown to him by Charat Singh Sukkarchakkia that he offered to serve as a
governor under him if the Sardar proclaimed himself king. "The kingship is already conferred on
us by the Guru," said the Sardar, "but we want to keep you a prisoner so that the world may
know that Charat Singh has captured the uncle of Ahmad Shah Abdali." "There is still a greater
distinction in releasing me," said Sarbuland Khan. "For, they will say that Charat Singh captured
the uncle of Ahmad Shah and, then, set him at liberty." The Khan paid the tribute and was
allowed to return to his country.
Click
here to read more about Shukarchakia Misl
- Shaheed. They drew their name from their Baba Deep Singh ji Shaheed , custodian of Damdama Sahib Gurudwara. This misl was in charge of Malwa part of Punjab which is current day Ludhiana.
Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their
territories were also in some districts in Ambala (parganah of Shahzadpur) and district of Saharanpur.
Click
here to read more about Shaheed Misl
- Phulkian. Misl is the only misl that was kicked out of the Dal Khalsa due
to its anti Sikh policies in the time of Baba Deep Singh and Nawab Kapur Singh. This
misl was founded by Baba
Ala Singh.
Click
here to read more about Phulkian Misl
What impelled these Sikh confedracies to united and zealous action was their faith in the
common destiny of the Khalsa. Any call for a joint cause was joyfully answered and the
greatest sacrifices willingly made for its realization. Their living conviction was that the
Guru had invested them with moral and temporal dignity and charged them with the duty
of liberating the country imparted an element of philanthropy to their extremely dangerous
and heroic adventure.
To did fighting for the Panth was the consummation most cheerfully sought; to
compromise with evil and injustice was considered the extreme of degradation and
pusillanimity. This brave new spirit created a revolutionary impulse in the country.
The Sikhs gave new direction to the course of Indian history. When Zaman Shah, son
of Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani), reached Peshawar on January 30th 1799, that was the
last invasion of any Mughal, Turk, Greek, Persian, No more invader could come from
that side into Punjab. Sikhs boldly sealed off the western frontiers of Punjab.
All these Misls or bands together were called Dal Khalsa. They met at least twice
a year at Amritsar for Sarbat Khalsa. So called Sarbat Khalsa as the whole community of the
Sikh Panth (panth means path) gets together. The leader of the Dal Khalsa was to be head of the both Sikh state and "Church".
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