Sirdar Gujjar Singh (? – 1788) was the son of Bhai Nattha Singh. When his maternal grandfather died, he became the chief of his Jatha. Later, this Jatha joined Bhangi Misl, under Sirdar Hari Singh Bhangi’s leadership. In 1765 he, along with Sirdar Lehna Singh Bhangi and Sirdar Jai Singh Kanhaiya, captured Lahore. They divided the control of the city among themselves. Lehna Singh, being the elder, took possession of the fort and the central part of the city. Sirdar Gujjar Singh was given the charge of the eastern part of the city. (This area is still known as Qila Gujjar Singh). Sometimes later, Gujjar Singh captured Eimanabad, Sodhra, Wazirabad, several villages of Gujranwala, Gujrat etc. Later, he attacked Jammu, Punchh and the surrounding areas. Towards the end of 1766, Ahmed Shah again attacked Punjab. The Sikhs vacated Lahore and avoided fighting in order to save their sources. In 1767, he joined the other Sikh Misls to defeat Jahan Khan, General of the army of Ahmed Shah. Gujjar Singh died at Lahore in 1788. Gujjar Singh’s son Sirdar Sahib Singh was married to Raj Kaur, the daughter of Sirdar Charhat Singh Sukkarchakkia (grandfather of Maharaja Ranjit Singh).
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)