The Sikh alliance consisted of twelve misls - Bhangi; Nakkai; Sukerchukia; Nishania; Ahluwalia; Shahid; Singhpooria; Kanheya; Ramgharia; Dullewalia; Krore Singha and Phoolkia. Each misl had one leader, one langar and one administration. Some of the names of the misls were derived from their leaders. Some of them were really very powerful with as many as 20,000 and more armed followers. Thus, during this period from the fall of Banda in 1716 up to the establishment of a Sikh state in 1765 was full of brilliant achievements by a few men under the banners of the Khalsa. Privations and defeats were many. Accompanied by so much of convincing fanfare and backed by downright commonsense the new system had tremendous effect on all. Even the out-casts who joined up became good soldiers. Those admitted into Sikhism from the lower castes were known as mazhabi Sikhs. These were enrolled much later by the English into the British East India Company's regiments and earned a good name for themselves as savvy fighters. The period from 1764 until the rise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in early nineteenth century as a pivot of all Sikh activities, was again full of internal dissensions. This period also witnessed considerable increase in the power of the misls. Of the misl chiefs the Bhangis had gained great prominence under Hari Singh and held Lahore, Amritsar and areas north of it. The Sukerchukias, under Maha Singh were another strong misl with their centre at Gujranwala. Their influence extended between the Chenab River and Ravi River. Soon they gained the upper hand and annexed the Kanheya dominions between Amritsar and the hills. |