Desu Singh Bhangi was succeeded by his minor son, Gulab Singh Bhangi, who looked after the affairs of the Misal with the help of his cousin, Karam Singh Dulu. Gulab Singh enlarged the city of Amritsar where he lived. During the period of his minority Karam Singh worked as the administrator of Amritsar and on coming of age Gulab Singh dismissed him. 32 A little later, Gulab Singh conquered the Pathan colony of Kasur and Nizam-ud-Din Khan and Kutb-ud-Din joined the service of the conqueror. In 1794, the Afghan brothers recovered Kasur with the help of their countrymen. Gulab Singh, despite his repeated attempts, could not expel the Afghans. He was a weak man and did not possess influence and energy sufficient to keep together the possessions which his father had left for him. Year by year these territories diminished, till at last, the town of Amritsar and some villages including Kuhali, Majitha, Naushehra and Sarhali in the Majha alone remained in his hands. Even the revenue accruing from the Sials got alienated. He had only to live on the income from the city of Amritsar and a few villages.
Ranjit Singh occupied Lahore in July 1799. His successes were creating alarm in the minds of the Punjab chiefs. Gulab Singh called all his Misaldars and supporters to fight against Ranjit Singh. Consequently, an alliance or a cabal was formed with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Nizam-ud-Din of Kasur, Sahib Singh and Gulab Singh Bhangi as its members, the last being the leading man behind the whole plan. In 1800, the allies collected their forces at the village of Bhasin, twelve kos east of Lahore. Ranjit Singh also advanced and encamped his forces opposite to his enemies. After a minor skirmish the contending armies stood apart waiting for a bigger clash. For some months the things lingered on and none could take initiative in attacking the other. In the meantime mutual jealousies developed in the camp of Gulab Singh. In the midst of confusion Gulab Singh died of excessive indulgence in drinking.
The allies dispersed forthwith, without fighting against Bhatti Jat ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was indeed a great political and psychological victory for Ranjit Singh who now found himself clearly on road to monarchy in the Punjab. The constituent chiefs of the alliance, thus dispersed, could not meet again to challenge Ranjit Singh’s power.
References :-
- History of the sikhshy Hari Ram Gupta
- Khushwaqat Rai, Tawarikh-i-Sikhan (1811), (MS., Dr Ganda Singh private collection, Patiala), pp. 82a-b; Bute Shah; op. tit, IV, p. 16; Ganesh Das Badehra, op. tit, p. 142; Lepel Griffin, op. tit, p. 390. According to Ahmad Shah Batalia, Gulab Singh fell ill at Bhasin. He came back to Amritsar where he passed away (op. tit, pp. 16-17); cf, Ali-ud-Din Mufti, op. tit, Vol. I, p. 404.
- Bute Shah, op. tit, p. 15; Gian Singh, op. tit, p. 231.
- Ibid., Lepel Griffin, op. tit, p. 390; Gian Singh, op. tif, p. 231.
- Ahmad Shah Batalia, op. tit, p. 16; Bute Shah, op. tit, p. 16.