RATAN SINGH MAN

RATAN SINGH MAN (d. 1857), a general in the Sikh army, was the son of Nahar Singh of Mughal Chakk, now in Pakistan. He joined military service as a trooper under the Sikhs and rose to be an adjutant. He served under Hari Singh Nalva in Kashmir and Hazara and was, in 1821, severely wounded at Marigli in the Kashmir hills where Hari Singh was besieging a strong fort defended by the hillmen. For his services in this campaign, he received a grant of land in Gujrariwala and the command of a regiment under Prince Kharak Singh.

Ratan Singh accompanied Sardar Sham Singh`s contingent to Kulu and Mandi, where he was engaged for nearly two years in reducing the hill tribes to submission. He was created a general by Wazir Jawahar Singh, and received Qila Desa Singh and Naushehra injdgir. He took part in the expedition against Gulab Singh Dogra and the conquest of Jasrota. In December 1844, Gulab Singh had invested Jasrota, expelled the Sikh garrison, and carried away the treasure and crown jewels hidden there by Wazir Hira Singh. The Darbar sent a force under General Ratan Singh to retrieve State property and secure the surrender of Jasrota.

General Ratan Singh fought in the first AngloSikh war as well as in the second. In October 1848, he was serving at Peshawar when the Hazara revolt headed by Chatar Singh Atarivala broke out. His troops joined Chatar Singh and Raja Sher Singh. Ratan Singh along with his son, Sant Singh, fought the British at Ramnagar (22 November 1848), Cheliarivala (13 January 1849) and Gujrat (21 February 1849). Upon the annexation of the Punjab, all his jdgirs in Gujrariwala and Gurdaspur districts were confiscated by the British. Ratan Singh died in 1857.

References :

1. Griffin, Lepel, The Punjab Chiefs. Lahore, 1890
2. Prem Singh, Baba, Khalsa Raj de Usraiyye. Amritsar, 1944