THE RAMGARHIA MISAL

The founder of the Ramgarhia Misal was a Jat Sikh, named Khushal Singh,of Guga village, near Amritsar.He received pahul (baptism) from the hands of Banda Singh. During the Sikh revolt against the Mughal tyranny he came into prominence through his daring adventures. Khushal Singh was succeeded by another Jat, Nand Singh, who belonged to village Sanghani, near Amritsar.Under Nand Singh’s command the band grew more powerful and they expanded their activities considerably. Nand Singh, after his death, was succeeded by a much more enterprising and a valiant man, named Jassa Singh, under whose stewardship the band assumed the status and the name of the Misal.
Hardas Singh, the grandfather of Jassa Singh, a carpenter by caste, was the resident of Sur Singh which is situated about nineteen miles east of Khem Karan, in the present district of Amritsar. Hardas Singh was initiated into the Khalsa faith by Guru Gobind Singh himself from whose hands he took pahul and fought some battles from the Guru’s side. When the Guru proceeded towards the Deccan Hardas Singh retired to his village. When Banda Singh organised the Sikhs to fight against the Mughals Hardas Singh joined his followers and participated in most of the battles fought by him. He died in the battle of Bajwara in A.D. 1715 (B.K. 1772).