AHMAD SHAH DURRANI (1722-1772), the first of the Saddozai rulers of Afghanistan and founder of the Durrani empire, belonged to the Saddozai section of the Popalzai clan of the Abdali tribe of Afghans. In the 18th century the Abdalis were to be found chiefly around Herat. Under their leader Zaman Khan, father of Ahmad Khan. they resisted Persian attempts to take Herat until, in 1728, they were forced to submit to Nadir Shah. Recognizing the fighting qualities of the Abdalis, Nadir Shah enlisted them in his army.
BHAG SINGH, RAJA (1760-1819), born on 23 September 1760, succeeded his father, Gajpat Singh, to the gaddi of Jind state in 1789. He was a man of extraordinary vigour, intelligence and diplomatic astuteness. Like his father, he was also a close ally of Patiala and joined hands with Bibi Sahib Kaur`s troops in 1794 against the Marathas. He was mainly responsible for checking the advance of George Thomas towards Sikh territories and later on of General Perron of the Maratha service.
NICHOLSON, JOHN (1821-1857), political assistant at Firozpur (1844-45), was born in Dublin on 11 December 1821, the son of Dr Alexander Nicholson. He obtained cadetship in Bengal Infantry in 1839 and in December the same year was posted to the 27th Native Infantry at Firozpur. In 1844, he became political assistant at Firozpur in which capacity he was found indulging in intrigues against the Sikh State and Lord Hardinge felt inclined to remove him from the frontier.
