Sirdar Lehna Singh Bhangi (? – September 1797) was the son of Bhai Dargahia. His father died when he was just a small boy. Sirdar Gurbakhsh Singh Roranwala, the chief of Bhangi Misl, adopted him. In 1763, after the death of Sirdar Gurbakhsh Singh, Lehna Singh became the chief of the Misl. Lehna Singh had a regular army of about 3000 cavalry and 2000 infantry. In 1765 he, along with Sirdar Gujjar Singh Bhangi and Sirdar Jai Singh Kanhaiya, captured Lahore. They divided the control of the city among themselves. Soon after, he minted the second Sikh coins (the first being Baba Banda Singh’s). This coin too was issued in the name of Guru Nanak – Guru Gobind Singh. Sirdar Lehna Singh ruled Lahore from 1765 to 1797, except for the short period when the Afghans invaded the Punjab. It is said that the residents of Lahore were very much satisfied with Lehna Singh Bhangi. Lehna Singh was a popular ruler. He was a good administrator. Once, when Ahmed Shah attacked Punjab, the Bhangi rulers left the city. The residents of Lahore praised Lehna Singh and requested Ahmed Shah to allow Lehna Singh rule Lahore. Ahmed Shah agreed and he sent a message to Lehna Singh offering him the Governorship of Lahore. Sirdar Lehna Singh refused to accept Ahmed Shah’s subjugation. It is said that Lehna Singh told the messenger to tell Ahmed Shah that the Sikhs would rather choose to live on parched grams than accepting slavery. Lehna Singh, it is said, actually sent a handful of parched grams for Ahmed Shah. When Ahmed Shah left Punjab, Lehna Singh re-occupied Lahore. His territory yielded him about one and a half million rupees.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)