Was from the village of Bahirval, near Chunian, in Lahore district, now in Pakistan. He was born the son of Chaudhari Hem Raj, headman of the village. In 1731, he received the initiatory rites of the Khalsa at the hands of the celebrated Bhai Mani Singh, and took to the adventurous and daring way of life of the Sikhs of those days. A number of young men of neighbouring villages joined him in his exploits, and he collected a lot of goods and many cattle, camels and horses.

When the Sikhs sacked Kasur in 1763 and conquered Sirhind in 1764, Hira Singh occupied Bahirval, ChunidA, Dipalpur, Jambar, Jethupur, Kanganval and Khudlarr. He established his headquarters at Ghanian, 60 km from Lahore, on the road from Firozpur to Multan, and laid the foundation of the Nakai principality- so called after the name of the region known as Nakka over which Hira Singh dominated.

Hira Singh was killed in action in 1767 at Pakpattan which he had attacked.

Source: Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Harbans Singh