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Lahina Singh was one
of the triumvirate who ruled over Lahore
for more than 30 years before its occuptation
by Ranjit Singh. He was son of a person
named Daragha but adopted by Gurbakhsh
Singh Roranwala, a Sikh chief of note
belonging to the Bhangi Misl, after
whose death in 1763 he succeeded him
to his estates.
The most spectacular achievement of
Lahina Singh, in collaboration with
Gujjar Singh and Sobha Singh, was the
capture of Lahore from the Afghan nominees,
Kabuli Mall and his nephew Amir Singh,
and minting in 1765 the Sikh coin. Lahina
Singh ruled over Lahore most successfully
for 32 years, with some intermissions,
until his death in September 1797. He
enjoyed complete obedience and respect
of his subjects. When in December 1766,
Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded Lahore and
Lahina Singh retired towards Kasur,
the Muslim citizens of Lahore pleaded
before Shah to confirm Lahina Singh
in the governorship of the Punjab. To
this end, the Durrani actually invited
Lahina Singh, but the latter declined
the proposal. He returned to the Shah
the fruit he had sent him (just like
Sardar Charat Singh), saying that such
delicacies were meant for royalty alone.
The Sikhs, he told the messanger, lived
on parched gram. Of this he gave a quantity
to the messenger to be presented to
Ahmad Shah on his behalf. Lahina Singh
occupied Lahore as soon as Ahmad Shah
left for Afghanistan.
Lahina Singh retained a permanent body
of 3,000 cavalry and 2,000 infantry
and in an emergency he could muster
a forceof 7,000 horse and 4,000 foot.
His territory yielded about 15 lakhs
of rupees annually.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Harbans Singh "The
encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol III."
pages 541-542
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