Sirdar Jai Singh (1712 – 1793), son of Bhai Khushal Singh Sandhu, was born at village Kanha (district Lahore). Bhai Khushal Singh was a woodcutter by profession. When Jai Singh grew up, he got initiation from the Jatha of Nawab Kapur Singh and joined the Jatha of Sirdar Amar Singh Kingra. Later, he formed his own Jatha. Sirdar Jai Singh occupied some areas of Gurdaspur and Amritsar and established his headquarters at village Sohian (district Amritsar). On March 29, 1748, all the 66 Jathas of the Sikhs, struggling for the freedom of the Punjab in 1740s were united to form 11 Misls. Sirdar Jai Singh’s Jatha became Misl Kanhaiya (named after his native village Kahna). After this he extended his rule towards the hills of Jammu. The rulers of Datarpur, Nurpur and Siba were his tributaries. In 1774, he built a bazaar at Amritsar; later it came to be known as Katra Jai Singh. In October 1788, he formed a united front with Sirdar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Sirdar Mahan Singh Sukkarchakkia against Sirdar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and occupied the latter’s territory. In 1791, he attacked Jammu and compelled the chief of Jammu to pay a tribute. He died in 1893. His son, Sirdar Gurbakhsh Singh had already died in 1785. Jai Singh’s daughter in law, Sada Kaur, took over the control of the territory of the Misl. Sada Kaur’s daughter Mahtab Kaur was married to Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)