GURBAKHSH SINGH KANHAIYA

GURBAKHSH SINGH KANHAIYA (1759-1785), son ofJai Singh, head of the Kanhaiya family, was born in 1759. He was first married to the daughter of Raja Harnir Singh of Nabha and then to Sada Kaur, daughter of Dasaundha Singh Gill. Sada Kaur, who became Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s mother in law, acquired great fame during her soninlaw`s early days.

Gurbakhsh Singh who accompanied his father in his various campaigns of conquest won reputation as the conqueror of the Karigra Fort which he seized from its Afghan occupant in 1783. Gurbakhsh Singh was killed in February 1785 while assisting his father in a battle fought against the allied forces of Mahari Singh Sukkarchakkia and Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra, near the town of Batala.

References :

1. Griffin, Lepel, and C.F- Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1909
2. Seetal, Sohan Singh, The Sikh Misals and the Punjab. Ludhiana, n.d.