The Arabic word misl means 'like'. The Sikh misls were 'alike', in the sense that they were considered equals. The Misls were twelve companies of Sikhs , some numbering a few hundred while others could field tens of thousands of men. Each Sikh was free to join any Misl he chose, and every Misl was free to act in any way it wished in the area under its control. Only matters affecting the community as a whole were they to take orders from the Supreme Commander Nawab Kapur Singh (see picture in Gallery). It is estimated that the total force which the Dhal Khalsa (army of veterans) could put in the field was about seventy thousand Sikhs.

The misldhar system was ideally suited to the conditions of the time and worked well under leaders like Nawab Kapur Singh and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. It combined freedom of action with the discipline of a unified command; it channeled the energies of the fiercely independent Khalsa soldier in the service of a cause which he held dear - the expulsion of hostile foreigners from the Punjab and the fulfilment of the prophecy of Guru Gobind Singh Ji of the establishment of a Sikh state.

Misldhar (Commander) - Baba Deep Singh (see picture in the Gallery). The name Shaheed (martyr) was taken after Baba Ji's death in the defence of the Harminder Sahib (Golden temple).

Misldhar - Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, who also became the supreme commander of all the Misls.

Also known as Singhpuria. Misldhar - Nawab Kapur Singh (see picture in the Gallery) one time commander of all the Misls.

Misldhar - Nand Singh, later controlled by Jassa Singh Ramgharia (see picture in the Gallery). Name Ramghariha was taken after winning a major battle near the village of Ramghar.

Misldhar - Naudh Singh from the village Sukerchak near Gujranwala. Naudh Singh was the father of Charhat Singh Sukerchakia whose grandson , Ranjit Singh (see picture in the Gallery) became the first Sikh Maharaja of the Punjab.

Misldhar - Dasundha Singh, the standard bearer (nishanwala) of the Dhal Khalsa.

Misldhar - Hari Singh of village Panjwad, also Bhuma Singh.

Misldhar - Jai Singh of the village Khana. Fighting strength of more then ten thousand men.

Misldhar - Hira Singh of the village Baharwal, situated in a tract near Lahore called Nakka.

Misldhar - Karora Singh of the village Paigarh.

Misldhar - Gulab Singh of the village Dhalliwal.

Misldhar - Ala Singh of Patiala district