Bhaga

The House of Bhaga rose to prominence from the time of Amar Singh, who was son of Chaudhary Akal Singh a Man Jat Zamindar of the village of Bhaga in the Amritsar district, who about the year 1759 left his village to seek his fortune. He adopted the Sikh faith, joined the Kanaiya Misl and set up as a freebooter. He was so successful in his new profession that he ‘ was joined by a considerable number of followers, the chief of whom was a man named Karam Singh. He overran and took possession of a large part of the Gurdaspur district, including Sujanpur, Sukalgarh, Dharmkot and Bahrampur. He built a fort at Sukalgarh, where he chiefly resided, and where, in 1805, after a life spent in fighting, he quietly died in his bed, leaving his possessions, which he held intact till his death, to his eldest son Bhag Singh. This Chief was not, like his father, of a warlike disposition, and made no attempts to extend his territory, but he was not the less a remarkable man. Few of the Sikh barons could spell out a page of the Granth or sign their names to a deed ; but Bhag Singh was an accomplished scholar. He was master of both Persian and Sanskrit ; he was a skilful painter and understood the art of casting guns. He only survived his father three years, and on his death a dispute arose about the succession.

Desa Singh Majithia, son of Amar Singh’s sister, had always been warmly attached to Bhag Singh, and now favoured the succession of Hari Singh his son. The majority, however, supported Budh Singh the brother, and declared that Hari Singh was illegitimate ; and Budh Singh took possession of the estates. But he did not bold them long. In 1809 Ranjit Singh demanded supplies from him for the Kangra expedition. The Bhaga Sardar, thought himself as good and as strong as the Lahore Sardar, refused to give a man or a rupee. Ranjit Singh accordingly marched against him, and after a severe struggle defeated him and seized all the Bhaga territory. This result was much aided by the defection of Desa Singh Majithia. He had not forgiven Budh Singh for his triumph over Hari Singh, and went over to the enemy, where his knowledge of the Bhaga position and resources were so valuable that, after the affair was over, Ranjit Singh rewarded them by the grant of the Bhaga estates of Bhagowal and Sukalgarh; the latter of which remained with the Majithia family till 1859, when, on the death of Sardar Lahna Singh, it lapsed to Government.

Ranjit Singh left to Budh Singh a jagir at Dharmkot worth Rs. 22,000, which he held till his death in 1846. Raja Lai Singh then resumed it ; but on the representations Sardar Lahna Singh a jagir of Rs. 5,000 was released as a maintenance to Partab Singh, the only surviving son of Budh Singh, and his three widows. But before the formal order for the grant could be issued Partab Singh died sonless, and the Darbar assigned Rs. 3,800 to Hari Singh and the ladies of the family. Hari Singh died in 1852.

Sources :-

• Sir L.H Griffin, Chief and Families of Note in Punjab.