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{{Short description|Sikh Chief}}
{{Context|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox royalty
| succession = Chief of [[Nakai Misl]]
| reign = 1768-1784
| predecessor = Nahar Singh
| successor = Bhagwan Singh
| birth_date = 1750
| birth_place = [[Multan]], [[Sikh Confederacy]] (present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
| death_date = 1784
| death_place = Kot Kamalia, [[Nakai Misl]], [[Sikh Confederacy]] (present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
| spouse = [[Karmo Kaur]]
| house = [[Nakai Misl|Nakai]]
| issue = Bhagwan Singh Nakai Gyan Singh Nakai Khazan Singh Nakai [[Maharani Datar Kaur]]
| father = Natha Singh
| mother =

}}

'''Sardar Ran Singh Nakai''' (1750- 1784)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh Khazan|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.46356|title=History And Philosophy Of The Sikh Religion|date=1914}}</ref> was the third chief of the [[Nakai Misl]]. He distinguished himself at an early age in campaigns with his father, Natha Singh Sandhu and uncle, the legendary [[Heera Singh Sandhu]] who was the founder of the Misl. Ran Singh was a fierce warrior and a powerful misldar under his leadership the misl was at its highest.<ref>{{Cite book|last=www.DiscoverSikhism.com|url=http://archive.org/details/HistoryOfTheSikhMisals|title=History Of The Sikh Misals|language=English}}</ref> He was the father of [[Maharani Datar Kaur]] and the father-in-law of [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]], the founder of the [[Sikh Empire]]. He was the grandfather of [[Maharaja Kharak Singh]], the second king of the Sikh Empire and [[Kahan Singh Nakai|Sardar Kahan Singh Nakai]], the last chief of the Nakai Misl.

== Family History ==
Ran Singh Sandhu was born into the family of the ruling [[Nakai Misl|Nakai]] [[Sardar]]s. His father was Natha Singh Sandhu (d. 1768), nephew of the legendary [[Heera Singh Sandhu]] (1706-1767), founder of the principality of Nakai Misl in 1748. He had an older brother, Nahar Singh who briefly became the ruler of the Nakai Misl and a younger brother named Gurbaksh Singh.<ref name="Griffin 1865">{{Cite book|last=Griffin|first=Lepel Henry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0ABAAAAQAAJ&q=nakka%20misl&pg=PA118|title=The Panjab Chiefs: Historical and Biographical Notices of the Principal Families in the Territories Under the Panjab Government|date=1865|publisher=T.C. McCarthy|language=en}}</ref>

According to a legend in 1595, [[Guru Arjan Dev]] (1563–1606), the Fifth Sikh Guru, with some of his followers visited the village of Baherwal. However, the Guru was not received with hospitality and he passed on to the neighbouring village of Jambar where he lay down on a charpai (cot) under a shady tree. When Chaudhary Hemraj, [[Sandhu]] [[Jat people|Jatt]], who was absent when the Guru passed through his village, heard of what had happened rushed to Jambar and brought the Guru to his town and apologized for the inhospitality. The Guru blessed him and prophesied that one day his kin would rule. In 1733, Heera Singh became the first in his family to take [[Amrit Sanskar]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Roe|first=Lisa Schassberger.|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.25027|title=Establishment report for exclosure studies of Arabis fecunda / Bureau of Land Management, Butte District; Lisa Schassberger Roe.|date=1992|publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program|location=Helena, Mont.|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.25027}}</ref> In 1748, Heera Singh took possession of the lands surrounding his native village, [[Baherwal Kalan|Baherwal]] and countryside of [[Kasur District|Kasur]] which was located in the Nakka country South of [[Majha]] Region and his misl took the name of that area. ''Nakka'' in Punjabi means border or some sort of a gateway and the Nakka country was located between the [[Ravi River|Ravi]] and [[Sutlej]] south of [[Lahore]]. In the following years he conquered [[Chunian]] from the [[Afghanistan|Afghans]] but died near [[Pakpattan]] in a battle against Sujan Chisti- a devotee of the [[Shrine of Baba Farid]]. The Nakais played an effective role in the battle-field, with a sizable army equipped with the adequate arms and were known for their strength and bravery and they excelled in fighting with the Afghans.

== Succession ==
Ran Singh's elder brother Nahar Singh succeeded their uncle, Heera Singh as the second ruler of the Nakai Misl as Heera Singh's son Dal was still a suckling infant.<ref name="Singha, Bhagata 1993 p. 162">Singha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India: Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 162.</ref> Nahar Singh's reign didn't last very long, he died just nine months after his succession, in a fight at Kot Kamalia in 1768. After his death Ran Singh, became the next Sardar of the Misl.<ref name="Singha, Bhagata 1993 p. 162"/>

== Leadership of the Nakai Misl ==
Sardar Ran Singh was the most powerful of all the Nakai chiefs and under his leadership the Nakais rose to a very strong and important position in Punjab. He was very ambitious and started acquiring territory under his Misl, he held [[Chunian]], parts of [[Kasur]], [[Sharakpur]], Gogaira pargana and Kot Kamalia— by defeating the Kharral tribe.<ref name="Singha, Bhagata 1993 p. 162"/> Sometime later Dal Singh was married to the daughter of Sardar Kamar Singh, who wanted to remove Ran Singh and appoint Dal Singh as the Nakai chief. His ambitious led to hostility between Kamar Singh and Ran Singh, while the young Dal Singh was a mere spectator in the intrigues. Kamar Singh was the chief of [[Syedwala]], [[Satghara]] and [[Kot kamalia|Kot Kamalia]] and had four hundred horsemen at his command, and he fearing Ran Singh eyeing his territory. Kamar Singh summoned Ganga Singh Gill of Bujaki and Baga Sudha and Lal Singh of Jamsher Bandu and decided to combine their military resources against Ran Singh.<ref>singha, bhagata (1993). a history of the sikh misals. patiala, india: publication bureau, punjabi university. p. 163.</ref> Despite all their efforts the Ran Singh was victorious due to his military prowess and aid he received from Sardar Amir Singh, leader of Janan community who were subjected to the unfair taxes of Kamar Singh. He continued to exceeded his rule to the taluqas of Bucheke, Chhanga Manga, 69 km from Lahore, Chhichha, Devsal, Fatahpur, Jethupur, Kasur, Kharral fort of Kot Kamalia, Sharakpur, Gugera pargana, 5 km to the west of the Ravi, and Shergarh.<ref name="www.DiscoverSikhism.com">{{Cite book|last=www.DiscoverSikhism.com|url=http://archive.org/details/HistoryOfTheSikhsVol.IvTheSikhCommonwealthOrRiseAndFallOfSikh_648|title=History Of The Sikhs Vol. IV The Sikh Commonwealth Or Rise And Fall Of Sikh Misls|language=English}}</ref> In 1781, Amir Singh killed Kamar Singh and Ran Singh conquered Syedwala. Kamar Singh's estates were inherited by his son-in-law, Dal Singh and brother-in-law, Wazir Singh.<ref name="ReferenceA">singha, bhagata (1993). a history of the sikh misals. patiala, india: publication bureau, punjabi university. p. 164.</ref> Wazir Singh swore revenge against Amir Singh and Ran Singh; and in 1782 he killed Amir Singh in battle. Ran Singh harbored ambitious to conquer Multan, but he was preoccupied by Wazir Singh's armed operations against him.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Sardar Ran Singh Nakai was killed by one of the [[kharal]] tribe men peroka kharal. The year of his death is disputed while Bhagata Singha and [[Hari Ram Gupta]] sum it to be around 1781, Khazan Singh mentions it as Sambat 1839 which is around 1784 A.D. It is probably the latter as his daughter was in her twelfth or thirteenth year when she was married to Ranjit Singh, which means she was born in 1784. At the time of his death the Misl controlled [[Baharwal]], [[Bucheki]], [[Changa Manga]], Chhichha, [[Chunian]], [[Chunian]], Dhaulri, [[Dipalpur]], Faridabad, Fatahpur, Gugaira, Harappa, Jambar, [[Jethpur]], Kanganpur, Khudian, [[Pakpattan]], [[Raiwind]], [[Chichawatni]], [[Fatehabad, Punjab|Fatehabad, Killianwala]], Kot Kamalia, [[Sahiwal]], [[Syedwala]], [[Sharakpur]], [[Shergarh, Punjab|Shergarh]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dusenbery|first=Verne A.|date=2020-10-01|title=From 'overseas Sikhs' to 'the Sikh diaspora' to 'global Sikhs': Retrospect and prospects in the study of Sikhs beyond the subcontinent|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17448727.2020.1846373|journal=Sikh Formations|volume=16|issue=4|pages=441–447|doi=10.1080/17448727.2020.1846373|s2cid=228096974|issn=1744-8727}}</ref>

== Issue ==
Sardar Ran Singh Nakai was married to [[Karmo Kaur|Bibi Karmo Kaur]] and had three sons and one daughter.
*Sardar Bhagwan Singh Nakai (d. 1789), fourth chief of the Nakai Misl, succeeded his father
* Sardar Gyan Singh Nakai (d. 1807), succeeded his brother as the fifth chief of the Nakai Misl
* Sahib Khazan Singh Nakai (d. 1835), was granted a jagir at Nankot by his brother-in-law, [[Maharaja Ranjeet Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]
* [[Datar Kaur|Bibi Raj Kaur Nakai]] (d. 1838), was the [[queen consort]] of the [[Sikh Empire]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Patwant|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/647486512|title=Empire of the Sikhs : the life and times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh|date=2008|publisher=Peter Owen|others=Jyoti M. Rai|isbn=978-0-7206-1371-1|location=London|oclc=647486512}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Sood, Dav Raj|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/313905280|title=Ranjit Singh|date=1981|publisher=National Book Trust|oclc=313905280}}</ref>
'''Bhagwan Singh Nakai''' succeeded his father, but the young chief was unable to hold most of his territories against Wazir Singh. Sardarni Karmo with her three sons— Bhagwan Singh, Gian Singh and Khazan Singh, came to a garden in Syedwala and accepted allegiance to Wazir Singh and got her villages released.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shah|first=Bute|title=Tawarikh-i-Punjab, IV, MS., Ganda Singh collection|location=Patiala|pages=63}}</ref> Realizing they might lose all their territories to Wazir Singh, Sardarni Karmo Kaur had her son, Bhagwan Singh approach [[Maha Singh|Sardar Maha Singh]] of the powerful [[Sukerchakia Misl]] to get her infant daughter, Raj Kaur Nakai betrothed to his the four-year-old son, [[Ranjit Singh]]; in order to gain a power ally. Maha Singh accepted the alliance, this was the first political alliance between the Sukerchakis and the Nakais.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sheikh|first=Majid|date=April 25, 2021|title=Three Maharanis of the great Sikh Maharajahs|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1620259/three-maharanis-of-the-great-sikh-maharajahs|url-status=live}}</ref> Wazir Singh tried to break off this match, but was unable to do so and decided to befriend Maha Singh as well.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|author=Griffin, Lepel Henry|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/15033743|title=The Panjab chiefs. Historical and biographical notices of the principal families in the territories under the Panjab government.|date=1865|publisher=T.C. McCarthy|oclc=15033743}}</ref> Later in 1785, Maha Singh was facing attacks from Sardar [[Jai Singh Kanhaiya]] of the [[Kanhaiya Misl]] and called on Bhagwan Singh and Wazir Singh to aid him. After their victory against the [[Kanhaiya Misl|Kanhaiyas]], Maha Singh began to favor Wazir Singh, which made Bhagwan Singh feel left out. Maha Singh tired to reconcile the differences between Bhagwan Singh and Wazir Singh, but they continued to engage in constant warfare and in 1789 he was killed by Wazir Singh.<ref>Singha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India: Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 165.</ref><ref name=":0"/> Dal Singh, son of [[Heera Singh Sandhu]], avenged the death of Bhagwan Singh by killing Wazir Singh, but was later killed by a servant of Wazir Singh.<ref name=":0" />

'''Gyan Singh Nakai''' succeeded by his brother, Bhagwan Singh as the head of the Nakai Misl in 1789 since his brother had no children. Gyan Singh had a relatively peaceful reign and was able to consolidate his power.<ref name="Griffin 1865"/> In 1798, Ranjit Singh sought for Raj Kaur Nakai's hand in marriage- as they were betrothed for quite some time.<ref name="Griffin 1865"/><ref name="Singh">{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Khushwant|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D068dKeyGW4C&q=renamed+datar&pg=PA8|title=Ranjit Singh|date=2009-03-24|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-306543-2|language=en}}</ref> He wanted to unite the [[Sikh Misls]] and consolidate his position as the head of the Sukerchakia Misl, as well as to strengthen the Nakai and Sukerchakia relations. Gyan Singh agreed and the couple were married. In that year Shah Zaman of Kabul invaded Panjab and stayed at Lahore for a period. The Shah's relative, Muzaffar Khan, governor of Multan province, took advantage of Shah's presence in the Panjab and took over Syedwala.<ref name="www.DiscoverSikhism.com"/>

'''Khazan Singh Nakai''' was the third and the youngest son of Sardar Ran Singh Nakai and Sardarni Karmo Kaur. He assisted his nephew Kahan Singh, who succeed his father, Gyan Singh as the sixth chief of the Nakai Misl in 1807. After Ranjit Singh had declared himself the Maharaja of Punjab in 1801 he had kept consolidating majority of the Misls. The ambitious Maharaja had been eyeing the Nakai territory, but had spared it till the death of Sardar Gyan Singh in 1807. But soon after suggested Sardar Kahan Singh wto join the [[Lahore]] [[Durbar (court)|Darbar]], which the proud Nakai chief steadily refused to obligate. Finally, in 1811, Ranjit Singh sent Kharak Singh to annex all the Nakai territories; Sardar Kahan Singh came back from a campaign in Multan to find his cousin, Kharak Singh has taken over his misl. Diwan Hakim Rai, the administer of the Nakai Chief, immediately approached Ranjit Singh with the request that it was not proper for the Lahore forces to take military action against his nephew's misl. Sohan Lai Suri notes that the Maharaja, very poliety, said ''"I have nothing to do in this matter, Kunwar Kharak Singh is the maternal grandson of the Nakais and only he knows as to what is to be done."''<ref name="Singha, Bhagata 1993 p. 166">Singha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India: Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 166.</ref> Before having his estates seized Kahan Singh was successful in conquering Pakpattan. Ranjit Singh granted Kahan Singh jagir at [[Baherwal Kalan|Baherwal]] while his brother-in-law, Khazan Singh was granted a jagir at Nankot. The Nakais continued to live in Baharwal and the Nakais remained loyal to Maharaja Ranjit Singh.<ref name="Singha, Bhagata 1993 p. 166"/> Khazan Singh was succeeded by his only son Panju Singh.

'''Bibi Raj Kaur Nakai''' was the youngest and the only daughter of Sardar Ran Singh Nakai and his wife Sardarni Karmo Kaur. In 1797, she was married to the then [[Ranjit Singh|Sardar Ranjit Singh]] of [[Gujranwala]] As many ladies in the Sukerchakia Misl bore the name "Raj Kaur", like Ranjit Singh mother and his aunt (daughter of [[Charat Singh|Sardar Charat Singh]]), she was renamed Datar Kaur.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lafont|first=Jean Marie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YrG_aJTgnw0C&q=raj+kaur|title=Maharaja Ranjit Singh|date=2002|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri|language=en}}</ref> Ranjit Singh lovingly addressed her as Mai Nakain, she remained his favorite and most respected wife all his life.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Tibbetts|first=Jann|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lsHLDAAAQBAJ&q=50+Great+Military+Leaders+of+All+Time+By+Jann+Tibbetts&pg=PT384|title=50 Great Military Leaders of All Time|date=2016-07-30|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-85505-66-9|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Singh"/><ref>{{Cite book|author=Vaḥīduddīn, Faqīr Sayyid|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/52691326|title=The real Ranjit Singh|date=2001|publisher=Publication Bureau, Punjabi University|isbn=81-7380-778-7|oclc=52691326}}</ref> It was his second marriage, with the first being to [[Mehtab Kaur]] of the [[Kanhaiya Misl]]. In 1801, Ranjit Singh founded the [[Sikh Empire]] and was proclaimed the "[[Maharaja|Maharaja of Punjab]].", after liberating Lahore in 1799.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh.|first=Kushwant|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/923306292|title=Ranjit Singh, Maharajah of the Punjab.|date=1962|publisher=Allen & Unwin|oclc=923306292}}</ref> Earlier the same year she gave birth to his first son and [[heir apparent]], [[Kharak Singh]]. It was his birth that persuaded his father to proclaim himself the Maharaja. In 1805, she gave birth to another son, [[Rattan Singh]]. She was exceptionally intelligent and assisted him in affairs of State, and bore him his elder sons, hence becoming his [[queen consort]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=Sood, D. R.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/499465766|title=Ranjit Singh.|date=1981|publisher=National Book Trust|oclc=499465766}}</ref> She led the [[Sikh Khalsa Army]] during the [[Siege of Multan (1818)|Battle of Multan (1818)]].

His grandchildren include: Bibi Ratan Kaur, Bibi Daya Kaur and [[Kahan Singh Nakai|Sardar Kahan Singh Nakai]] the children of Sardar Gyan Singh; Panju Singh the only son of Khazan Singh; [[Maharaja Kharak Singh]] and [[Rattan Singh|Kunwar Rattan Singh]] the sons of Datar Kaur and [[Maharaja Ranjeet Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Misls]]
[[Category:Sikh warriors]]
[[Category:Sikh Empire]]
[[Category:1750 births]]
[[Category:1784 deaths]]

Ran Singh Nakai - Revision history

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