Head of the Kanhaiya misl and ally of Maharaja Ranjit Singh; 1762-1832
Sada Kaur
Widowed in 1785, Sada Kaur married her daughter to the young Ranjit Singh, led the Kanhaiya misl and fought beside him at Lahore and elsewhere. They later fell out, and he took her lands and kept her in confinement until she passed away.
Alliance
She was the daughter of Dasaundha Singh Gill and married Gurbakhsh Singh Kanhaiya, who was killed in 1785. Her daughter Mehtab Kaur married Ranjit Singh in 1796, and she became one of those guiding him. Lahore fell to their joint command on 7 July 1799, and she led armies with him at Amritsar, Chiniot, Kasur and Kangra.[EoS]
Breach
The rift grew over the succession, as Mehtab Kaur's sons were set aside for Kharak Singh. She approached Metcalfe and Ochterlony and refused to give up her estates. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had her held at Lahore and took her wealth. She passed away in confinement in December 1832.[EoS]
Images
Sardarni Sada Kaur in a sketch credited to Kehar Singh, an artist of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's court. Published in 1983 by R.P. Srivastava from the Central Sikh Museum.
Kehar Singh, court artist of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 19th century. Central Sikh Museum, Amritsar (as credited on Commons). Public domain. Source
