Col J P Singh
Meteoric Rise of Gulab Singh
At the tender age of 16, he distinguished in the ‘Battle of Gumat’. Impressed by his swordsmanship, Sardar Hukam Singh, the invading Sikh Chief, narrated the story of his prowess to Maharaja Ranjit Singh for which the emperor rewarded him by appointing as Sawar. Later Gulab Singh commanded the same army which he fought against in the Battle of Gumat. Within 12/13 years, in 1822, Punjab Emperor anointed him Raja of Jammu.
Rise of Gulab Singh from a Sawar to a favorite General is an interesting story. To start with, he impressed the emperor at Garh-Damala Fort battle (present Garhdiwala). It was a lofty Castle of Afghans in Jullundur Doab. Since previous attempts to invest the Fort had failed, in 1815, the emperor himself led the expedition to invest the Fort. The strongly fortified mud fort was once the headquarters of Hoshiarpur Principality. Gulab Singh was at Jammu at that time. Emperor wasn’t happy with his absence during this crucial battle. Mounted on his majestic elephant, Emperor had just finished inspecting preparations for the assault and was just about to give orders, Gulab Singh suddenly appeared infront of the Emperor and performed the formalities of royal salutations. Soon after Gulab Singh pulled up his horse swiftly like a Kite. The horse rested his front hoofs on the forehead of Regal Elephant. Gulab Singh put a handful of ‘Ashrafis’ in ‘King’s Hawdli’ as a token of obeisance. It astonished the spectators as much as it astonished the emperor. A loud applause arose. Emperor was so pleased of this act of chivalry that he asked Mahoot to receive the ‘Nazrana’. While the emperor diverted his attention towards storming the fort, Gulab Singh, keen to lead the attack and storm the Fort declared, “the emperor wouldn’t have to lead any attack so long as Gulab Singh was alive”. He requested the emperor to watch his feats. Then and there he pulled the reins of his horse and all alone fell upon the enemy as a hungry lion. In the twinkling of an eye, Gulab Singh had crossed the Moat (deep water channel) of the Fort and swung upon the coveted castle where he dug down his spear like a flag on the rampant of the Fort. By this unprecedented heroic deed he made history in the splendor of dash and gallantry. On witnessing the rare dash, the brave Khalsas assaulted the fort from all sides resulting in an instantaneous success. Emperor was amazed to see it happen. He bestowed untold honors and favors upon Gulab Singh.
From thereon, Gulab Singh mastered successes, one after the other. Being very ambitious, he undertook unprecedented risks of life. In 1818, he took part in the battle of Multan. During the siege, he volunteered to retrieve the body of Emperor’s most favorite Commander Sadhu Singh, who had fallen under the fort wall. Despite heavy enemy firing, he retrieved the body. This gallant act was lauded by the emperor in his royal court. No wonder, such acts of valour and chivalry, which are many more, made him a great conqueror. Thereafter Gulab Singh became one of the important strategist of Lahore Darbar resulting into emperor of Punjab making him Raja of Jammu.
Coronation of Gulab Singh.
Akhnoor to the Archaeologists is a last Indus valley settlement. I have seen it as ‘Timber Market’ where Deodar flowing down Chenab form higher reaches was collected for distribution. More to it is a plethora of history/mystery which is necessary to understand the rise of Dogra dynasty. The mythical ‘Virat Nagri’ of Mahabharat era is none else but Akhnoor. Mughal emperor Jhangir called it ‘Aankhon-ka-Noor’ after his sore eyes were cured with the cold water therapy at Jia Pota. Akhnoor is significant for its political, historical, spiritual, religious and archaeological sites. Pandav Gufa is adjacent to Jia Pota. It is here where Pandvas spent their Aghyatvas. As inscribed in Gufa signboard, they were servants of Virat Raj. Lord Krishna visited them in this Cave where they planned war strategy, the consequences of which ie their victory in Mahabharata is attributed. Upstream was ancient Buddhist Monastery which His Holiness, Dalai Lama visited in November 2011. Jia Pota’s divine connect can thus be attributed to the meteoric rise of Dogra Dynasty.
Expansion of Jammu Raj.
On 17 June 1822, began a journey that changed the history of the sub-continent. Once in possession of Jammu, he determined to become the founder of a dynasty. He annexed all the 22 Jammu Principalities, militarily & diplomatically. In 1834, his legendary General Zorawar Singh conquered Ladakh and by 1840 annexed Skardu & Gilgit-Baltistan. In 1841 he commanded him to march to Tibet. Dogras occupied Mansarovar & Taklakot and captured Mantalai Standard, the flag of Chinese Imperial Army, which is still in the possession of 4 JAK. Undoubtedly the motivation behind such adventures was the revenue generating ‘Pashmina Trade’. But the sudden death of Dogra General on 12 December 1841, followed by sudden snow blizzards halted the Dogras march into Tibet. Consequent to Dogras defeat, Ladakh rose in revolt. The farsighted and Dogra Raja re-established his control over the warring Ladakh in the nick of time. Tibetans and the Imperial Court in China realised the futility of waging a war against Dogras at this extreme periphery of their empire while it was facing bigger threat from the first Opium War. As a result both sides entered into ‘Treaty of Chushul’ in September 1842 upholding the boundaries of Ladakh. Luckily the Sino-Indian boundary created by Maharaja Gulab Singh in Ladakh has sustained for 180 years despite Chinese bogus claim over Ladakh.
Trans-Himalayan Vision.
Having annexed Gilgit-Baltistan, Maharaja Gulab Singh laid the foundation for the control of Silk Route via Kashagar, by his successors. His son Maharaja Ranbir Singh added vast Aksai-Chin plateau to Dogra Empire but his adventure towards Central Asia was prevented by the British fearing his hobnobbing with their rival Russia. Hadn’t it been for British opposition, Maharaja Gulab Singh’s Central Asian dreams would have come true.
Annexation of Kashmir.
Kashmir the land of Rishi Kashyap and Sufi Saints was 100% Hindus. It was subjected to forcible conversion by Muslim invaders till the Sikhs took its control from Afghans in 1820. Kashmir wasn’t ‘paradise’ for its scenic beauty but also a paradise from all hues. It was rich in raw material and natural resources and unprecedentedly a marvel of art and culture. It must be noted that Kashmir wasn’t in Gulab Singh’s expansion plans since it was under Sikhs. However a combination of circumstances, which generate lot of heat & dust even today, got him Kashmir by ‘Treaty of Amritsar’ after paying indemnity of Rs. 75 Lakh which Lahore Darbar was unable to pay after defeat. Thereafter Kashmir got insulated from foreign aggressions and conversions.
Geo-strategist Relevance of J&K.
Acquisitions of Maharaja Gulab Singh formed a ‘geo-strategic pivot’ that turned vital for Tsarist-Russia, Imperial China and Great Britain. Thus extension of Dogra empire was seen with vengeance. Had the partition of the sub-continent not taken place, India would have been a major player in the politics of the Northern region of the Globe spanning two continents. If it were not the Dogra Rule and further conquests to enhance J&K boundaries, all Hindus of North India would have been converted to Islam and Indo-Pak & Sino-Indian borders would have settled along River Ravi, at the time of partition and the PLA would have been sitting at the doorsteps of Punjab.
To dampen religious extremism of Islam in Kashmir, the Dogra Rulers vigorously promoted Sufi Islam & Sufism in Kashmir which later got trampled under the weight of radical Islam soon after the end of Dogra Rule, a cause of national concern.
During the partition massacre, Mahatma Gandhi saw a ray of hope emanating from the valley for which he is eloguised. It wasn’t because of the imprints of Mughals/Afghan culture but one century old secular imprints of Dogra rulers. Dogriyat effect on Hindus of Kashmir was so much that Pak designs of conversion attempts of nineties at gun point, seen in ‘Kashmir Files, miserably failed. Does Delhi know it?
Maharaja Gulab Singh turned history and geography on his side by controlling the vast Silk Route over which the East-West trade traversed. It added to the state revenue. It also provided deep strategic depth to Srinagar which today benefits Delhi. Thus Delhi owes a lot to Maharaja Gulab Singh for insulating Hindu culture from vandalism and extending Indian frontiers far & wide to provide deep strategic depth to Delhi besides giving mineral rich mountainous landmass for future Indian prosperity. If it were not Maharaja Hari Singh’s decision to accede to India despite political, religious and geographical impediments, India wouldn’t have been the champion of plurality and secularism world over.
Taking the Legacy Forwards.
Legacy of Maharaja Gulab Singh is unprecedented. He is embodiment of Indian strategic importance and pluralism. He has given political identity to J&K. He has left the lessons in facing adversities and managing contradictions. Events such as founder ruler’s birthday celebration in Jammu and coronation day at Jia-Pota, every year, commemorate the glory of the founder of J&K and must be promoted.
(The author is a member of Management Committee of Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust & Co-Chairman of Raj Tilak Celebration Committee).
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