Desa Singh Majithia

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Desa Singh Majithia (1768–1832) was a Sikh jagirdar, military general, and statesman. He was one of the early Sikh patrons of art, hiring Pahari painters between 1810 and 1830 while governing the hill states of the Punjab Hills. He became a jagirdar in 1788 after his father Naudh Singh died and held the estate until his own death in 1832. Born in 1768, he was the son of Naudh Singh, a feudal retainer of Amar Singh Bagga of the Kanhaiya Misl. After his father’s death, Desa worked for Buddh Singh Bagga, who had succeeded Amar Singh Bagga. He later joined Ranjit Singh’s army and by 1804 led 400 sowars. In 1809 he took part in the Kangra campaign, driving the Gurkhas of Amar Singh Thapa out of the Punjab Hills, and was promoted to governor of Kangra and the city of Amritsar. He took over Kangra from Wazir Naurang, who had been governor under Raja Sansar Chand. Lands that had belonged to Sada Kaur were granted to Desa. In 1813 he gained Haripur from Guler State. In 1818 he fought in the Multan campaign. His eldest son, Lehna Singh Majithia, succeeded him in his administrative roles after Desa’s death.