Bahram

This Dhillon Jat Chief family migrated from the Amritsar Manjha about one hundred and seventy years ago. Ial Singh, the original founder, is credited with having possessed himself of thirteen villages in the Jullundur Doab and south of the Sutlej, in Patiala territory. He owned three villages at his death. Bahram, in the Jullundur district, fell to the share of Chanda Singh. Gulab Singh was deprived of his rights by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, whom he happened to have displeased, and he maintained himself upon one hundred and forty ghumaons of land in Bahram, made over to him by his brother, Chanda Singh.The latter had seen muchactive service, having accompanied Maharaja Ranjit Singh on several of his expeditions in command of a small body of horsemen, which he was obliged to maintain in return for the jagir rights of Bahram. Ee was killed in a skirmish near Feshawar in 1843.

Deva Singh was also in many fights in his younger days, and was present when Bannu fell to Ranjit Singh’s troops in 1823. At annexation the village of Bahram was given in jagir to the three sons of Chanda Singh and to his brother, Gulab Singh, subject to a deduction of Rs. 1,150 in lieu of the services of six sowars maintained in Ranjit Singh’s time. Gulab Singh’s share was resumed on his death in 1847.The question of further resumptions was reconsidered in 1857, upon the death of Daya Singh, and it was ruled that two-thirds of the revenue of the village should be released to the lineal male heirs of the holders, namely, Deva Singh and Jawahir Singh. They enjoyed hereunder a jagir of Rs. 1,350 per annum. They were also joint owners of forty-eight ghumaons of land in Bahram, and of one hundred and twelve ghumaons in the village of Doburji, in the Amritsar district. Jawahir Singh died in 1888, and his son, Hukam Singh, receives Rs. 451 yearly of his Jagir, Deva Singh was blind for some years before his death in 1894. He was always forward in his offers of service to Government, and was useful to Colonel Lake, Deputy Commissioner of Jullundur, during the Mutiny. After his death Rs. 451 of his jagir were divided as follows:

One-third to the grandson, the son of Basant Singh, and one-third each to his sons Bhagat Singh and Jaswant Singh, who were both at one time in the police as Inspectors. Both jagirs have been reduced by Rs. 35 as a result of diluvion. Lachhman Singh and his sons and also Bhagat Singh now live in the Amritsar district. Deva Singh was a Divisional Darbari, but the family has no seat in Darbar at present.The above-mentioned Sardar Jaswant Singh had two sons, Jai Singh and Kirpal Singh. Both of them took part in the Great War.The former served in the 6th King Edward’s Own Cavalry for over 22 years, and spent four years on active service in France and other places.He did exceptionally well and was several times mentioned in Des-patches. For conspicuous gallantry in the field of battle he was awarded a Military Cross which he received personally from His Majesty the King-Emperor at Buckingham Palace. He also had the honour of furnishing the Mounted Escort of His Majesty at the opening of Parliament in 1917. On retirement from the army, Risaldar Jai Singh, M.O., was made & Divisional Darbari and also appointed an Extra Assistant Commissioner.He died in 1925, leaving behind two sons, Pirthi Singh and Mahabir Singh Dhillon. The former was educated at the Aitchison College and later served as an honorary Lieutenant in the 11th Bn. of the 15th Punjab Regiment for over five years. He also served as an Inspector of Police for three years. The latter, after graduating from the Government College, Lahore, proceeded to Sandhurst and was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in 1933. He is now serving as a Lieutenant in the Ist Battalion of the 14th Punjab Regiment.Risaldar Jai Singh’s younger brother, Kirpal Singh, joined mili. tary service for the duration of the War and rose to the rank of a Risal-dar. He was at present settled in the Montgomery district where he was commands considerable influence as a Zaildar. SardarKirpal Singh’s son, Gurbakhah Singh, was a graduate of the Government College,Lahore.