Gurbakhsh Rai was a Masand of Ram Rai. After the death of Ram Rai, he wanted to be the chief of the Dera of Ram Rai at Khurvaddhi (Dehradun). He created trouble for Punjab Kaur, the widow of Ram Rai. It was he who instigated Fateh Chand, the ruler of Garhwal, to attack Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. This resulted into the battle of Bhangani (September 18, 1688). Gurbakhsh Rai spent rest of his life at Srinagar (district Garhwal) and died there in 1742.
(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)