Jai Singh Kanheya

Jai Singh Kanhaiya (1712–1793) was the founder and, until his death, leader of the Kanhaiya Misl in Punjab. His daughter-in-law, Sada Kaur succeeded him as the misl leader.

Early life Jai Singh was born in a Jat family of the village Kahna, 21 km southwest of Lahore.

Misldar

Working in collaboration with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, he seized a part of Riarki comprising the district of Gurdaspur and upper portions of Amritsar. His headquarters shifted from his wife's village at Sohian, 15 km from Amritsar to Batala to Mukerian. He had territories on both sides of the rivers Beas and Ravi. Qazi Nur Muhammad, a historian, wrote in 1765 that Jai Singh Kanhaiya had extended his territory up to Parol, which was 70 km southeast of Jammu and that he was allied with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia because they shared the territory of Batala.

On the Diwali day in 1784, all the Sikhs chiefs gathered at Amritsar, he behaved coldly with Maha Singh and refused his attempts to reconcile and called him Dancing boy Maha Singh took this insult to heart and he attacked Kanhaiya camp outside Amritsar, Jai Singh pursued him, A further engagements took place near Majitha, he was forced to seek shelter inside the town, which was besieged, he escaped into Jalandhar and prepared his army for battle against Maha Singh.

Conflict with Sansar Chand

Sansar Chand requested Maha Singh to help him get back his Kangra Fort in return for a tribute of two lakh rupees. Maha Singh promised to send a force upon his arrival at Gujranwala