Chaudhari Gurditta Of Dhanaula died in 1754, and was succeeded by his grandson, Hamir Singh. His only son Chaudhari Surat Singh Of Dhanaula (or Suratya), having died two years earlier, leaving two sons, Hamir Singh and Kapur Singh. 134 Hamir Singh was a brave and an energetic chief and added very largely to his possessions. According to James Skinner, Hamir Singh was a man of strong determination and valour. He was deeply kind to his subjects and always kept their well-being in mind. He was fond of good weapons. He always, very much, appreciated and honoured the army personnels. ‘ He founded the town of Nabha in 1755. In 1759, he obtained the possession of Bhadson and in the beginning of 1764, having joinedRaja Ala Singh of Patiala and other Sikh Jat rulers in the battle of Sirhind, when Zain Khan, its Afghan governor, was killed, he obtained Amioh as his share. In 1776, he conquered Ron from Rahimdad Khan. Hamir Singh was the first ruler of Nabha who established a mint which may be accepted as a sign of his complete independence. He issued coins in the names of the Sikh Gurus and not in the names of the Mughal and Afghan kings.
In 1774, Gajpat Singh of Jind, on a frivolous pretext, took Hamir Singh prisoner and seized the strong town of Sangrur, along with many villages, and it was never restored.
As the story goes, at the time of Mahan Singh’s marriage with the daughter of Gajpat Singh, the Sukarchakia chief came with a large marriage party of about ten thousand horsemen. Their horses and camels were let loose to graze in the neighbouring pasture (bit) which belonged to the Nabha state. Yaqub Khan, an officer of Hamir Singh of Nabha, attacked the Jind party that looked after the animals. After the departure of the marriage party Gajpat Singh feigned illness and called Hamir Singh and Yaqub Khan to Jind and tortured Yaqub Khan to death and treacherously imprisoned Hamir Singh. He occupied Amioh, Bhadson and Sangrur. On the intercession of Maharaja Amar Singh of Patiala Gajpat Singh released Hamir Singh and restored his possessions of Amioh and Bhadson and kept Sangrur with him permanently. Hamir Singh died in 1783.
References :-
- Lepel Griffin, op. tit, p. 382.
- Khushwaqal Rai, op. tit, p, 121; Lepel Griffin, op. tit, p. 382; Gian Singh, op. tit, p. 631; Muhammad Latif, op. tit, p.382