BISHAN SINGH, SANT (1862-1949), much honoured in recent Sikh piety, was the son of Bhai Atar Singh of Kanjhia, a village 18 km northwest of Sarigrur (30°14`N, 75°50`E) in the Punjab. Born in March 1862, Bishan Singh received instruction in reciting Scripture from Sant Jagat Singh of his own village. As he grew up he enlisted in the army, but did not serve long. Back in his village after getting his discharge, he married and had a son, whose death at the age of 13 years proved a severe blow.
NAURANGABAD, village 7 km southeast of Tarn Taran (31°27`N, 74°56`E) along the Tarn TaranGoindval road, came into prominence when during the 1840`s the Gurdwara established here by Baba Bir Singh (1768-1844), reputed for his sanctity, started attracting devotees and pilgrims in hundreds every day. During the crisis that followed the assassination of Maharaja Sher Singh on 15 September 1843, and the entrenchment in power of Hira Singh Dogra and his mentor, PanditJalla, Baba Bir Singh`s dera or seat at Naurarigabad, became a rallying point for protesting soldiers and political fugitives, including such persongaes as Prince Pashaura Singh, Prince Kashmira Singh and Sardar Atar Singh Sandharivalia.