BHUMA SINGH

BHUMA SINGH (d. 1746), a Dhillon Jatt of the village of Hung near Badhni, in present day Faridkot district of the Punjab, gathered power in men and money during Nadir Shah`s invasion of India in 1739. At the time of the death of Nawab Zakariya Khan, the Mughal governor of the Punjab, Bhuma Singh`SJ`atha was one of 25 roving bands of the Sikhs. Bhuma Singh commanded a body of about 300 men.

It is believed that the name of the band, Bhangi, owed its origin to Bhuma Singh, who used to pound bhang (hemp) for preparing a cooling drink for Sikhs gathered at Amritsar during the summer months. Bhuma Singh lost his life fighting against the Mughals led by Diwan Lakhpat Rai in the Chhota Ghallughara in 1746 near Kahnuvan, in Gurdaspur district.

References :

1. Griffin, Lepel, and C.F. Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1909
2. Gupta, Hari Ram, History of the Sikhs, vol. IV. Delhi, 1982