History
The Rukhanwala family are the collateral branch of the Kanaiya Misldhars. Hem Singh, the nephew, of Sardar Jai Singh of the Kanaiya Misl, had received the grant of the Ilaka of Rukhanwala, worth Rs. 40,000, after the capture of Kasur, and this he retained under Ranjit Singh. He fought with that Chief against Kasur during the last Campaign of 1807, and received another estate at Khodian worth Rs. 10,000. He died in 1820. His son Mohar Singh fought at Multan and in Kashmir; and in 1821 he was stationed at Pul Kanjri and Waniki to watch the ferries.
He died at the last-named place in 1823. To his sons, who were employed on the same service, Rs. 30,000 of their father’s estate was assigned. Sarup Singh died in 1832, and the jagir was given by the Maharaja to Kahan Singh Banka. The village of Rukhanwala alone was left to the family; but the next year the village of Kali was granted to Atar Singh’s two widows, since dead. The sons of Atar Singh made many applications to Maharaja Sher Singh for the release of the estate, but in vain. Both, with their cousin Megh Singh, served in the Ghorcharas till 1846, when the general reductions were made after the Satlaj Campaign.
The family received in jagir the villages of Rukhanwala and Kali, Tahsil Kasur. On the death of Sardar Jit Singh in 1883, one-fourth the jagir (ris., 1,125 acres, yielding Rs. 600 annually) was resumed. His son Jagat Singh was then att he head of the, family. Gurdit Singh and Megh Singh still enjoyed their jagir shares of Rs. 600 each.
Genealogy
- Chaudhary Kushal Singh, zamindar of Faizalpur, married and had issue.
- Sardar Jai Singh, Misldhar of Kanhaiya, born 1712, he and his younger brother, joined the confederacy of Kapur Singh, known as the Faizullapuria, Faizasadpuria or Singhpuria misl in about 1749, on his brother's death he succeeded to his brother's share of the estate and married the widow according to the rites of 'chaddar dalna'; he soon became a powerful chief, and seized Nag, Mukerian, Haji, Kerrot, Uthiam and other Awan villages, whilst his associates all won jagirs for themselves; in 1783 he marched against Jandiala, and plundered Rasulpur and Mandiala,
and then attached the possessions of Wazir Singh and Bhagwan Singh, the two Nakkai chiefs and compelled them to submit; in 1784, he insulted Sardar Mahan Singh Sukerchakia who plotted his revenge, and with some disaffected allies, including Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra, he marched to Battala and met Jai
Singh's son in battle, the latter was killed and the Kanhaiya forces were routed; he was distressed at the death of his son and gave no further resistance, Kangra fort was returned to Raja Sansar Chand and he restored to Jassa Singh Ramgarhia his estate, and to placate Mahan Singh, he betrothed his grand-daughter to Mahan Singh's son, Ranjit Singh; married (amongst others) (a) in 1759, Bibiji Desan Kaur, his brother's widow, married (b),177x, a daughter of Sardar Bhag Singh Hallowali, a Bhangi chief, and had issue. He died 1793.
- Fateh Singh, married Bibiji (name unknown) Kaur, a daughter of Sardar Khushal Singh Faizullapuria, and had issue
- Bibiji (name unknown) Kaur, married Sardar Gurdit Singh Bhangi.
- Bhaggat Singh
- Nidhan Singh
- Bhag Singh
- Sardar Gurbakhsh Singh (by Desan Kaur), born 1759, by a startagem he secured the strong Fort of Kangra in 1783 and became master of the Hill
States; married 1stly, a daughter of Raja Hamir Singh of Nabha, married 2ndly, 1768, Bibiji Sada Kaur, born 1762, died 1832, daughter of Sardar Dasaundha Singh Gill of Alkolwala, she became the head of the Kanhaiya misl after the death of her fatherin-law, she retained possession of most of the Kanhaiya estates until they were seized by her son-in-law in 1820, and had issue, one daughter. He was killed by an arrow in a battle near Batala in February 1785.
- Bibiji Mahtab Kaur, born 1780, betrothed in 1785 and married at the end of 1786, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore. She died 1813.
- Fateh Singh, married Bibiji (name unknown) Kaur, a daughter of Sardar Khushal Singh Faizullapuria, and had issue
- Jhanda Singh, married Bibiji Desan Kaur, he was killed in a fight with Nidhan Singh Randhawa at Rawalkotli in 1759.
- Bibiji (name unknown) Kaur, married Sardar Bagh Singh Hallowallia, and had issue
- Singha, (see below)
- Sardar Jai Singh, Misldhar of Kanhaiya, born 1712, he and his younger brother, joined the confederacy of Kapur Singh, known as the Faizullapuria, Faizasadpuria or Singhpuria misl in about 1749, on his brother's death he succeeded to his brother's share of the estate and married the widow according to the rites of 'chaddar dalna'; he soon became a powerful chief, and seized Nag, Mukerian, Haji, Kerrot, Uthiam and other Awan villages, whilst his associates all won jagirs for themselves; in 1783 he marched against Jandiala, and plundered Rasulpur and Mandiala,
and then attached the possessions of Wazir Singh and Bhagwan Singh, the two Nakkai chiefs and compelled them to submit; in 1784, he insulted Sardar Mahan Singh Sukerchakia who plotted his revenge, and with some disaffected allies, including Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra, he marched to Battala and met Jai
Singh's son in battle, the latter was killed and the Kanhaiya forces were routed; he was distressed at the death of his son and gave no further resistance, Kangra fort was returned to Raja Sansar Chand and he restored to Jassa Singh Ramgarhia his estate, and to placate Mahan Singh, he betrothed his grand-daughter to Mahan Singh's son, Ranjit Singh; married (amongst others) (a) in 1759, Bibiji Desan Kaur, his brother's widow, married (b),177x, a daughter of Sardar Bhag Singh Hallowali, a Bhangi chief, and had issue. He died 1793.
- Singha, married and had issue.
- Sardar Hem Singh, he received a grant of the ilaka of Rukhanwala, worth 40,000Rs, after the capture of Kassur and later in 1807, he received another estate at Khodian, worth 10,000Rs; married and had issue. He died 1820.
- Sardar Mohar Singh, he took part in battles at Multan and in Kashmir, and in 1821, he was stationed at Pul Kanjri and Waniki to guard the ferries, married and had issue. He died at Waniki in 1823.
- Sardar Anup Singh
- Sardar Sarup Singh, married and had issue. He died 1832.
- Sardar Jit Singh, born 1814, married and had issue.
- Sardar Jaggat Singh, born 1838.
- Sardar Sham Singh, born 1845,
- Sardar Ram Singh, born 1846,
- Sardar Narain Singh, born 1847.
- Sardar Gurdit Singh, born 1827.
- Sardar Jit Singh, born 1814, married and had issue.
- Sardar Attar Singh, married seven wives, and had issue.
- Sardar Mehtab Singh
- Sardar Megh Singh, he served in the Ghorcharahs till 1846.