Desan Kaur

Bibi Desan Kaur Waraich was born to Sardar Amir Singh Waraich of Gujranwala possibly in the year 1736. Sardar Amir Singh, was a very old Sikh Chieftain of Gujranwala, belonging to the Waraich Jat Clan. She had two elder brothers Dal Singh and Gurbaksh Singh, and a sister Ravi Kaur. In 1756 [2] she was married to Sardar Charat Singh of the Sukerchakia Misl. The couple had four children two sons, Mahan Singh also known as Maha Singh, and Suher Singh followed by two daughters, Rai Kaur and Raj Kaur (not to be confused with the wife of Mahan Singh). Sardarni Desan Kaur administered the Sukerchakia Misl since her husband was mostly away to battle.[3]

Mai Desan Kaur assumed the leadership of the Sukerchakia Misl as Mahan Singh was too young to run his affairs. One of the first tasks she undertook was the rebuilding of the fort at Gujranwala which had been destroyed by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1751-1752. She renamed the new fort Mahan Singh ki Garhi. She formed an alliance with Sardar Jai Singh Kanhaiya of the Kanhaiya Misl.[2] She arranged for her son Mahan Singh to be married to Raj Kaur, daughter of Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind. Rai Kaur was married to Sohel Singh Bhangi and Raj Kaur was married to Sahib Singh Bhangi the son of Gujar Singh.