He named his son Ranjit Singh, Victor in War, and celebrated the event with great rejoicing. Continuing his campaign of conquest, Mahan Singh took Pindi Bhattian, Sahival,Isa Khel and Jhang. He then seized Kotli Loharari, in the neighbourhood of Sialkot. In 1782, he, like his father, got involved in the affairs of Jammu. Taking advantage of the internecine feud between the Jammu brothers, he plundered the town, collecting a huge booty, which he refused to share with his partners, the Kanhaiyas. Mahan Singh won over Jassa Singh Ramgarhia to his side, and both of them challenged the Kanhaiyas near Batala.
In the battle that followed, Jai Singh\’s only son, Gurbakhsh Singh, was killed, and the Kanhaiyas suffered a defeat. Later, Sada Kaur, widow of Gurbakhsh Singh, betrothed her daughter, Mahitab Kaur, to Mahan Singh\’s only son, Ranjit Singh. Mahan Singh\’s next target was the Bhangi misl. He picked a quarrel with his brother-in-law, Sahib Singh Bhangi, after the death of his father, Gujjar Singh Bhangi. Sahib Singh shut himself up in the fort of Sodhra, which was invested by the Sukkarchakkia chief. During the protracted siege, Mahan Singh fell seriously ill with dysentery, and was forced to retire. He died in April 1790.
References :
1. Suri, Sohan Lal, Umddt-ut-Twarikh. Lahore, 1885-89
2. Hoti, Prem Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Amritsar, 1918
3. Griffin, Lepel, Ranjit Singh. Oxford, 1905
4. Khushwant Singh, Ranjit Singh, Maharajah of the Punjab. London, 1962
5. Hasrat, Bikrama Jit, Life and Times of Ranjit Singh. Nabha, 1977
6. Bhagat Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and His Times. Delhi, 1990
7. Harbans Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Delhi, 1980
