History
The ancestors of jagirdar of Bhakha came into the Panjab from Malwa about the beginning of the seventeenth century, and settled near Chunian in the Lahore district.
In 1738 they made a second move to the village of Bhakha in the Amritsar district, from which they derive their family name. Sardar Charat Singh was the son of a sister of Sardar Sawal Singh Ulakhwala, a powerful Bhangi Chief. On the death of Sawal Singh, without issue, the estate was divided by the Sikh gurmata, or national council, between Nar Singh Chamiari, the potrela of the deceased, and Charat Singh, the sister’s son. The share of Nar Singh was the larger; but the jagirs of Charat Singh were valuable and extensive, and he held them till his death. His son Soba Singh held jagirs worth Rs. 40,000, subject to the service of one hundred and fifty horsemen, from Sardar Hakikat Singh Kanaiya; but Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the year 1802 seized all but Rs. 7,000,subject to the service of five horsemen, who with Soba Singh were employed in Ghorchara Kalan. The estate was soon afterwards further reduced to Rs. 2,116 at Guralia and Bhakha, Soba Singh having displeased the Maharaja by refusing to give him his daughter in marriage. Soba Singh died in 1824; and the villago of Curalia was resumed, and the village of Bhakha, worth Rs. 600, alone left to Hari Singh.
In 1848 Hari Singh, with his contingent, served under the orders of Captain Hodson at Rangar Nangal and elsewhere, and remained faithful throughout the disturbances. On the annexation of the country the jagir was upheld to him. He died in 1857; and to his son Ishar Singh half the village of Bhakha, in the Ajnala parganna, has been maintained in perpetuity. Ishar Singh died in 1872. His son Atar Singh, the became the head of the family, wass a respectable and literate Lambardar of two villages, and lived at Bhakha Hari Singh. His brother Mahtab Singh was a Dafadar in the 9th Bengal Lancers. He served with his regiment in Egypt. The family is connected by marriage with the Sardars of China and Raja Sansi.
Genealogy
- Sardar Charat Singh, founder of Bhakha Estate, his ancestors was came into the Punjab from Malwa about the beginning of the seventeenth century, and settled near Chuninn in the Lahore district. In 1738 they made a second move to the village of Bhakha in the Amitsar district, from which they derive their family name,when he was young he expend his Jagir and when he died his Jagir worth was Rs 40000 /-, was married had issues with three sons :-
- Punjab Singh
- Suba Singh
- Falba Singh
- Sardar Suba Singh, Jagirdar of Bhakha, After the death of his father ,he held jagirs worth Rs. 40,000, subject to the service of one hundred and Afty horsemen, from Sardar Hakikat Singh of Kanhaiya Misl; but Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore in the year 1802 seized all but Rs. 7,000, subject to the service of five horsemen, who with Suba Singh. were employed in the Ghorcharan Kalan, The estate was soon alterwards farther reduced to Rs. 2,116 atGuralia and Bhakha, Suba Singh Laving displeased the Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore by refusing to give him his daughter in marriage, was married had issue with one son, he died in 1824 :-
- Hari Singh
- Sardar Hari Singh, Jagirdar of Bhakha, In 1848,he served under the orders of Captain Fodson at Ranger Nangal and elswehere and remained faithful throughout the disturbances. On the annexation of the country the jagirwas upheld to him. He died in 1857; was married had issue with one son, he died in 1857:-
- Ishwar Singh
- Sardar Ishwar Singh, Jagirdar of Bhakha, was married had issues with four sons, he died in 1872 :-
- Attar Singh
- Chattar Singh, was married had issue with one son, he died in 1904 :-
- Dhana Singh (b.1894)
- Mahtab Singh , was born in 1801, was retired as "Jamadar" from the 16th Bengal Cavalry on a pension, having served with his regiment in Egypt and China, Later an Assistant for the registration of transport animal's , his jagir worth was Rs.600 per annum, was married had issues with six sons :-
- Bhagwan Singh, (b.1855), was served in 23rd Cavalry as a Jamadar.
- Raghubir Singh (b.1888), adopted by his uncle Sardar Arjun Singh
- Dalip Singh (b.1892)
- Gurcharan Singh, (b.1895)
- Harnam Singh (b.1909)
- Kartar Singh (b.1908)
- Arjun Singh, was married , he adopted his brother son , his jagir worth was Rs.600 per annum, he died in 1905 :-
- Raghubir Singh (b.1858)
- Sardar Attar Singh, Jagirdar of Bhakha, was a “Safedposh” and “Lambardar” of Two villages and was lives at Bhakha Hari Singh.