RATAN SIṄGH MĀN (d.1857), a general in the Sikh army, was the son of Nāhar Siṅgh of Mughal Chakk, now in Pakistan. He joined military service as a trooper under the Sikhs and rose to be an adjutant. He served under Harī Siṅgh Nalvā in Kashmīr and Hazārā and was, in 1821, severely wounded at Māṅglī in the Kashmīr hills where Harī Siṅgh was besieging a strong fort defended by the hillmen. For his services in this campaign, he received a grant of land in Gujrāṅwālā and the command of a regiment under Prince Khaṛak Siṅgh. Ratan Siṅgh accompanied Sardār Sham Siṅgh's contingent to Kulū and Maṇḍī, where he was engaged for nearly two years in reducing the hill tribes to submission. He was created a general by Wazīr Jawāhar Siṅgh, and received Qilā Desā Siṅgh and Naushehrā in jāgīr. He took part in the expedition against Gulāb Siṅgh ḍogrā and the conquest of Jasroṭā. In December 1844, Gulāb Siṅgh had invested Jasroṭā, expelled the Sikh garrison, and carried away the treasure and crown jewels hidden there by Wazīr Hīrā Siṅgh. The Darbār sent a force under General Ratan Siṅgh to retrieve State property and secure the surrender of Jasroṭā. General Ratan Siṅgh fought in the first Anglo-Sikh war as well as in the second. In October 1848, he was serving at Peshāwar when the Hazārā revolt headed by Chatar Siṅgh Aṭārīvālā broke out. His troops joined Chatar Siṅgh and Rājā Sher Siṅgh. Ratan Siṅgh along with his son, Sant Siṅgh, fought the British at Rāmnagar (22 November 1848), Chelīāṅvālā (13 January 1849) and Gujrāt (21 February 1849). Upon the annexation of the Punjab, all his jāgīrs in Gujrāṅwālā and Gurdāspur districts were confiscated by the British.

         Ratan Siṅgh died in 1857.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. Griffin, Lepel, The Punjab Chiefs. Lahore, 1890
  2. Prem Singh, Bābā, Khālsā Rāj de Usraiyye. Amritsar, 1944

B. J. Hasrat