Col J P Singh, Retd
History of Jammu and Kashmir, is practically the history of one man, a Dogra Rajput, Gulab Singh of Jammu born at the closing of 18th century. The barren hills of Duggarland were ruled by number of Rajas. By the end of that century, their power was limited between Ravi and Chenab and waned and waxed depending on the fortune of the rulers. East of Ravi were independent Rajput Kingdom of Basoli & Kishtwar and to the West of Chenab were Bhimber and Rajouri which were ruled by Mohammdans, the descendents of Hindu Rajputs. Up the Jhelum Valley, the country was held by small Mohammdan Chieftains. Hence the present state of Jammu and Kashmir was fragmented into small principalities from the very early times. It goes to the credit of Dogra warrior Gulab Singh to have consolidated these fragments into a single vast Himalayan Empire called Jammu & Kashmir.
Early Life.
Maharaja Gulab Singh was born on 21st October 1792 (corresponding to 5th Kartik 1849) at Smailpur, Jammu, to Mian Kishore Singh. His grandfather Mian Zorawar Singh took keen interest in his bringing up and sent him to live with Mian Mota, Madar-ul-Maham (Minister) of Raja Jit Singh, the last ruler of Jammu. Gulab Singh thus learnt the art of warfare from younger brother of his grandfather.
Rise of Gulab Singh.
To understand history and geography of Jammu & Kashmir, it is important to understand how it came into existence in the 19th century. It was in 1808 when, Gulab Singh as a young lad of 16, fought bravely in the famous battle of Gumat against the Sikh Army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and forced them into negotiations with Raja Jit Singh. Two years later he joined the same army as Cavalryman and worked his way up, step by step, through sheer hard work, skills, bravery, valour and loyalty to become a General and later be anointed as Raja of Jammu on 17 June 1822. Similar one case prevails in the world history where Alexander the Great’s father King Philip of Macedonia took keen interest in son’s bringing up. Alexander was putting under the tutelage of Aristotle, a great philosopher when he was 13. At the age of 16 Alexander got sucked into the battlefield, like Gualb Singh, when his father waged a war against Byzantion leaving young Alexander behind as regent of Macedonia. During King Philip’s absence a rebellious tribe invaded Macedonia. Alexander responded quickly, fought bravely and drove the invaders out of the empire. Thereafter King Philip appointed Alexander General in his army. After his father’s death Alexander built a vast empire by conquering various kingdoms of Europe and Asia. Similarly with Jammu as spring board, Gulab Singh built up a vast empire by conquests and treatties. There were 22 Principalities in Jammu which he unified through treaties and conquests. He followed his expansion plan by series of Northwest and Trans-Himalayan campaigns. These campaigns are unprecedented in the world history but was denied the distinction of ‘Gulab Singh the Great’.
Military Prowess.
In 1815 Maharaja Ranjit Singh led an expedition to invest Garh Damala Fort which was a lofty castle in the Jallandar Doab frontiers. This strong mud fort was once the headquarters of Hoshiarpur Principality. At that time Gulab Singh was at Jammu. On learning of the impending attack on the fort and seeing it as an opportunity to win Maharaja’s favours, Gualb Singh joined the ranks at Hoshiarpur. While the Maharaja was mounted on the majestic elephant and was inspecting preparations for assault on the fort, Gulab Singh surfaced in front of the Emperor and performed the formalities of salutations. After that Gulab Singh pulled up his horse swiftly like wind and put a handful of coins in the King’s ‘hawdali’ as a token of obeisance. The horse rested his front hoofs on the forehead of the regal elephant. It astonished the spectators. A loud note of approbation arose. Maharaja was so pleased of this act of chivalry that he asked Mahoot to receive the ‘nazrana’. When Maharaja diverted his attention towards storming the fort, Gulab Singh being anxious to lead the attack, exhorted Maharaja to watch his feats. Gualb Singh pulled the reins of his horse and fell upon the enemy like a lion. In the twinkling of an eye, he crossed the moat of the fort and got atop the coveted castle and dug down his spear like a flag on the wall of the fort. By this heroic deed he made history in the splendour of dash and gallantry. On witnessing this rare dash, valiant warriors got inspired and assaulted the fort and broke the resistance at the entrance. The royal force marched in. Maharaja amazed at an instantaneous victory, bestowed untold honours and favours to Gulab Singh. Jagirs of Lala Chobara and Ramgarh were given to Gulab Singh with authority to raise a unit of 200 Horsemen.
As Strategist.
As a General, he rendered remarkable services in all campaigns especially in Multan, Attock, Kabul, Kandhar, Manerka, Dera Gazi Khan, Reasi, Kishtwar and Kashmir. By a rare bold strategy he captured Raja Agha Khan of Rajouri who had been eluding Sikh forces for a long time. With his similar other remarkable contributions, conscientious and loyal services, Maharaja Ranjit Singh could expand and consolidate his empire.
Recognition.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had realised that control of Dogra country was a difficult task. The country side was disturbed. Each chieftain plundered his neighbour. Gulab Singh’s abilities were over taxed in restoring order. Hence the Maharaja made a prudent decision to make him ruler of the troubled Duggarland.
Anointed at Jeo Pota.
Somewhere between Lahore, the capital of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab and Kashmir, the citadel of Afghan rulers, lay a small township of Akhnoor, earlier known as ‘aankhon ka noor’. The prolific Chanderbaga River blessed this landmass. This is the town which sisters historic Buddha Stupas representing existence of Buddhism and magnificent Akhnoor Fort, depicting its pristine glory. It was here under a Jeo Pota tree (washed away in 1957 floods) at the Northern bank of river Chanderbaga that Maharaja Ranjit Singh anointed Gulab Singh as the ruler of Jammu on 17 June 1822.
Empire Building.
By knitting together scattered principalities and capturing Ladakh, Baltistan, Gilgit and vast areas of Tibet, he extended the borders of his empire touching China in the North, Tibet in the North East, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in the North West & NWFP in the West. No Indian ruler in the past, not even Chandragupt Maurya or Mughal emperors had attempted to invade Tibet but Raja Gulab Singh did it in 1841. He was so great a General and so astute a statesman that historians referred to him as ‘Ulysses of the Hills’ and ‘Talleyrand of the East’.
Treaty of Lahore.
When the Sikh armies were finally routed in the Anglo- Sikh war in 1846, Raja Gulab Singh, as Prime Minister of Sikh Empire, negotiated with the British and signed the ‘Treaty of Lahore’ in which he was able to secure most honourable terms for the vanquished Lahore Darbar.
Treaty of Amritsar.
In recognition of his audacious leadership and superb diplomacy, Lord Hardinge, the Governor General of India, extended Gulab Singh’s rule to entire Jammu and Kashmir State with absolute sovereignty and elevated him to the status of Maharaja on 15 March 1846 by the Treaty of Amritsar. Maharaja Gulab Singh paid half the amount of war indemnity levied on Lahore Darbar from his treasury amounting to Rs. 75 Lac.
Conclusion.
Maharaja Gulab Singh who changed the map of India was a symbol of secularism and nationhood. By extending borders too far to the Northwest, he has provided ample strategic depth to the Indian capital. He is one of the few historical legacies that India can be genuinely proud of. His contributions to India’s stretch to Central Asia are remembered on 17th June at Jeo Pota by Raj Tilak Celebration Committee and on 21 October at the Royal Retreat Jammu by Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust. His memory will help us sustain nationalism, ethnicity and regional pride. Greatest legacy of Maharaja Gulab Singh lies in the cultural diffusion of divergent culture engineered by him in the territories which he conquered.
His Highness left for the heavenly abode on 30th August 1858 having left a barometer with which the military leaders of Asia, past and present, can compare themselves and military academies world over teach tactics and strategies so successfully applied by Maharaja Gualb Singh in his campaigns whether undertaken for his own or Punjab empire.
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