The Sukerchakia Misl was one of 12 Sikh Misls in
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
during the 18th century concentrated in
Gujranwala and
Hafizabad
Hafizabad (Urdu and pa, ) is a city and capital of Hafizabad District located in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the 31st largest city of Pakistan. It is also a Tehsil.
Ancient history
Hafizabad is an old city in Punjab, Pakistan. In 327 BC, duri ...
district in Western
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
(in modern-
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
) and ruled from (1752–1801). Misl was founded by
Chaudhary Charat Singh a
Jat
The Jat people ((), ()) are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in late medieval times, and su ...
of
Sandhawalia
Sandhawalia or Sandhanwalia is a Jat clan of present-day India and Pakistan.
History
The members of one particular Sandhanwalia Jat Sikh family occupied important positions in the Sikh Confederacy. The progenitor of this family was Choudhary C ...
and grandfather of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839), popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or "Lion of Punjab", was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He s ...
. The Sukerchakia last Misldar (commander of the Misl) was Maharaja
Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839), popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or "Lion of Punjab", was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He s ...
. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, Maharaja
Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839), popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or "Lion of Punjab", was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He s ...
united all the
Misls and established an independent
Sikh Empire
The Sikh Empire was a state originating in the Indian subcontinent, formed under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established an empire based in the Punjab. The empire existed from 1799, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahor ...
.
History
Chaudhary Naudh Singh was the Landlord Chaudhary of
Gujranwala area that he renamed as Shukar Chak i.e. Thanks for the land.
Chaudhary Charat Singh was the eldest son of Chaudhary Naudh Singh, the father of Maha Singh, and the grandfather of Ranjit Singh. Charat Singh created the Sukerchakia Misl.
He distinguished himself at an early age in campaigns against
Ahmad Shah Abdali
Ahmad Shāh Durrānī ( ps, احمد شاه دراني; prs, احمد شاه درانی), also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī (), was the founder of the Durrani Empire and is regarded as the founder of the modern Afghanistan. In July 1747, Ahm ...
and split from the Singhpuria Misl to establish The Sukerchakia Misl in
Gujranwala. He married Sardarni Desan Kaur the daughter of Sardar Amir Singh of Gujranwala, an older but still powerful sardar, and moved his headquarters there. He extended his rule in
Rohtas,
Chakwal
Chakwal (Punjabi and ur, ) is a city in Rawalpindi Division, Punjab province, Pakistan.
It is the 66th largest city of Pakistan by population. Chakwal is located 90 kilometres south-west of the federal capital, Islamabad and 270 kilomet ...
, Pind Dadan Khan which Stood in Pothohar Region of Northern Punjab and took
Wazirabad
Wazirabad (Urdu/ pa, ) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the capital of Wazirabad District.
Famous for its cutlery products, it is known as the city of cutlery and is also quite famous for its foods.
Wazirabad is situated on the banks of th ...
under his control. Then came Sardar Maha Singh (d.1792) who also expanded the Misl further. After the decline of the
Mughals
The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...
, Maharaja
Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839), popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or "Lion of Punjab", was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He s ...
united all the
misls
The Misls (derived from an Arabic word مِثْل meaning 'equal') were the twelve sovereign states of the Sikh Confederacy, which rose during the 18th century in the Punjab region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent and is cit ...
and shaped a powerful kingdom in
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
.
"
Chaudhary Charat Singh strengthened his position by matrimonial alliances.
* Dal Singh Kalianwala of Alipur renamed Akālgarh was married to the sister of Charat Singh.
* Sohel Singh
Bhangi was married to the daughter of Charat Singh.
* Sahib Singh Bhangi, son of Gujar Singh, was married to another daughter, Raj Kaur.
* Charat's Singh's son
Mahan Singh
Maha Singh ( pa, ਮਹਾਂ ਸਿੰਘ, Mahaṅ Singh; 1760 – 15 April 1790 or 1756 – April 1792), also spelt as Mahan or Mahn Singh, was the second chief of the Sukerchakia Misl. He was the eldest son of Sardar Charat Singh and Sardar ...
was married to the daughter of Jai Singh Mann of
Mogalchak-
Mananwala
Manawala ( ur, ) is a city in Sheikhupura District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is situated on the Lahore- Sheikhupura-Faisalabad road.
History
Prior to the Partition of India, Mananwala was established by and belonged to the famous Sikh Mann Sard ...
.
To establish a prominent place for himself among the Sikhs Charat Singh built a fort at Amritsar to the north of the city." -
Hari Ram Gupta
Hari Ram Gupta (5 February 1902 – 28 March 1992) was an Indian historian. The main focus of his work was the Sikh history of 18th century. During 1957 to 1963, he was head of Panjab University's History department. Following his retirement, ...
Battles fought by Sukerchakia Misl
*
Battle of Lahore, (1759)
The Battle of Lahore was fought between the Durrani Empire and the Maratha Empire, who were assisted by the forces of the local Sikh Misls such as the Sukerchakia Misl and the Ahluwalia Misl of the Punjab in 1759.
Background and battle
Ahmad S ...
*
Battle of Sialkot (1761)
The Battle of Sialkot was fought between Durrani Empire and Sukerchakia Misl of Dal Khalsa in 1761.
Background
Ahmad Shah Durrani raided India and defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat like he defeated them at Bararighat and Sika ...
*
Battle of Gujranwala (1761)
The Battle of Gujranwala was fought between the Durrani Empire and the Sikh Confederacy in September 1761.
Battle
Ahmad Shah Durrani raided India in 1761 and defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat in January 1761. He then returned ...
.
*
Sikh Occupation of Lahore
The Siege of Lahore took place in 1761 when the Sikhs besieged Lahore and captured it after facing no opposition from Durrani forces.
Background
After victory in the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmad Shah Durrani sent General Nuruddin with 12,00 ...
.
*
Battle of Sialkot (1763)
The Battle of Sialkot took place on 12 November 1763, between the Durrani Empire, led by Jahan Khan, and the Sukerchakia Misl, led by Charat Singh, as part of the Afghan-Sikh wars which concluded with Sikh victory.
Background
During the battle ...
.
* Battle of Gujrat (1797)
* Battle of Amritsar (1798)
References
{{Sikh Empire
Misls
Ranjit Singh
Jat princely states
Indian surnames
Social groups of Punjab, India
History of Sikhism
Sikh Empire
Princely states of India
Princely states of Punjab
History of Punjab
History of Punjab, India
Gujranwala District