History of Bhangoo’s

Submitted by Mr. Rafaqat Ali Bhangoo, Lahore, Pakistan ( rafaqat@bhangoo.com). Submitted on 5^th May, 2004.

A SHORT HISTORY OF BHANGOO JATTS

According to "PRACHIN PANTH PRAKASH" written by RATTAN SINGH BHANGU in 1841, the word bhangoo is derived from BHANG (a hemp). Sardar Hari Singh of Amritsar--a land lord jatt of great courage and war like abilities-- was addicted of bhang and was called Bhangi. This word was then transformed as Bhangoo. Sardar Hari Singh Bhangi fromed a militia and started occupying different cities. He established Bhangi Misl and became its chief. He occupied a vast territory and started strengthening his Misl but he died in 1765 during a war. His descendants including Ganda Singh, Chunda Singh, Lehna Singh and the great Sardar Gujjar Singh Bhangi occupied a range of different cities including Amritsar, Lahore, Multan, Kasur, Gujrat, Jhang, Sialkot, Jammu and other districts. They built many forts like Qila Gujjar Singh in Lahore, Bhangi Qila in Amritsar, Qila Sahab Singh in Gujrat etc. According to Encylopeadia Britiannica, Bhangi Misl was the Largest of 12 Sikh Misls having a large organised army including 20,000 horsemen. Their rule was ended in 1810 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Gujranwala.

Bhangoo jatts are settled in different areas of India and Pakistan. Their main occupation is agriculture. Pakistani Bhangoo jatts are Muslim by faith.

For more details please read:

1. The Punjab Chiefs written by Sir Griffen.

2. Prachin, Panth, Parkash written by Ratten Singh Bhangu

3. Ahmed Shah Durrani written by Ganda Singh