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| Architect of Empires: Maharaja Gulab Singh | | Tributes | |
COL J P SINGH
188 years ago began the evolution of J&K State by an act of unprecedented historical significance in which, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab who than indirectly ruled the major part of J&K gave Raj Tilak to his most trusted & loyal General Gulab Singhji on 17th of June 1822 at Jia Pota ( Northern bank of River Chenab ) Akhnoor, the fact not known to many. This day corresponded to 4th of Har, 1879 Vikrmi. From that day onwards began the process of formation of our state under the astute leadership of a great visionary, the Maharaja Gulab Singh whose sagacity, achievements and contributions unfortunately remain buried in the debris of British and Indian archives. To commemorate this event & to promote our rich heritage a public function is held at Jia Pota every year on 17 Jun by Raj Tilak Divas celebration committee Akhnoor.
Gulab Singh was born on 5th of Kartik 1849, corresponding to 21 Oct 1792 in Samailpur which was a Jagir of his grandfather Mian Zorawar Singh, the fist cousin of Maharaja Ranjit Dev the most benevolent ruler in the Dorgra history from 1742 to 1780. He learnt the art of warfare and swordsmanship from his grand father which he displayed remarkably in 1808 in the battle of Gumat against the warriors of mighty Sikh Army at the tender age of 16. His heroic feats in the battle of Gumat led him to the lordship of J&K via Lahore. When Jammu was about to be invested and the Raja of Jammu Ajit Singh had fled to the hills of Nagrota, 16 years old Gulab Singh assembled and led a band of young Dogra fighters in last desperate bid to save Jammu. He pitched them against the Sikh Army. They fought so bravely & beheaded their leading fighters in such a way that the Sikhs were compelled to give up the plan of capturing Jammu and instead offered to enter into an agreement. Bhai Hukam Singh Chimney, the commander of Sikh Army apprised Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the ability of Gulab Singh and recommend that his talent be utilized in the Lahore Darbar and that is what was indeed destined already.
Infuriated by his father’s rebuke after hurting a horse in his unpermitted solo ride, Gulab Singh left home and took service under Nihal Singh Attariwala at Sukhu Chak but after sometime left for Bhimber to serve under Raja Sultan Khan. But the destiny had something else in store for him. He was summoned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Mian Mota Singh recalled Gulab Singh form Bhimber and presented before the Maharaja at Sialkot in Oct 1810. Impressed, Maharaja appointed him Ghorchara when he was 18. From there on began a rewarding, difficult & challenging long journey of the founder ruler of J&K.
In 1812 Mian Kishore Singh, his father and Dhian Singh, his brother were also employed by Lahore Darbar. In 1813 Suchet Singh, then 12 years was also enrolled in the Darbar. All were given good positions. In 1813 Mian Kishore Singh & Gulab Singh took active part in the battle of Attok and won over Fateh Khan, the Governor of Kabul. In 1814 Gulab Singh skillfully secured the vulnerable flank from Mandi to Bushair for the attack on Kashmir led by Maharaja, after which Maharaja granted him Jagirs of Kharoti and Babool (Bayol ) and promoted him to the command of a Cavalry sub unit Within mere 4 years he had become a commander and a Jagirdar from a sepoy. In 1815. he was given the Jagirs of Chobara ( in Sialkot ) and Ramgarh as well as permission to keep additional 200 horses. More golden opportunities followed him in 1818 in expeditions against Multan and against Kashmir in 1819. Thereafter Gulab Singh was tasked to invest Riasi which he did easily and constructed Bhimgarh fort. In 1819, Maharaja of Punjab tasked Gulab Singh to seize Raja Agar Khan of Rajouri. He was captured and taken to Lahore. Neutralising Mian Dido in 1820 was another remarkable achievement of Gulab Singh. Same year Jagir of Chakla was also given to him after which Mian Kishore Singh was titled as Raja of the new Jagir with full powers. In 1821 Gulab Singh occupied Kishtwar and added the principality in Punjab empire.
Finally the great day came when Maharaja Ranjit Singh came to Jammu and declared
Gulab Singh as Raja on 4th of Har 1879 ( 17 June 1822 ) by himself putting Raj Tilak on his forehead upside down by Justifying the unconventional act stating that he had planted him deep down the earth so that none could uproot the Raj ever. With this act of Raj Tilak, a saga of addition of territories began and by 1846 Maharaja Gulab Singh became ruler of a vast state of Jammu & Kashmir.
There after Raja Gulab Singh rendered remarkable services to Lahore Darbar in the annexation of Kashmir & Multan. In 1827 Sayed Ahmed, an Afghan proclaimed himself a reformist and declared a holy war against Sikhs. Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent his force across Attok under S. Budh Singh Sindhanwalia and asked Gulab Singh to proceed from Jammu. Sikh chief preferred defensive strategy which Gulab Singh opposed, luckily fortune favoured the bold. Gulab singh led the attacks against Peshawar and Jallalabad. After their capture Prince Sher Singh was appointed Governor on 23 March 1835 and Gulab singh was made incharge of Revenue affairs. In April 1837, Afghans attacked fort of Jamrud which guarded the entrance to Khyber pass. Hari singh Nalwa offered heroic resistance till Gulab Singh reached with his 3 Battalions, 1000 horses & 12 pieces of Artillery and succeeded in defeating the invader.
To improve economical and financial state of Jammu & to get control over the trade of Pashmina shawls, Gulab Singh had his eye on Kashmir & Ladakh. In 1834 Gen Zorawar Singh captured Ladakh and over ran Zanskar and Paddar in 1836.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh died on 27 June 1839 and was succeeded by his son Kharak Singh who also died a year later and his son prince Nau Nhal Singh too died on the same day while returning to the palace after his father’s cremation by getting buried under the debris of Palace Deodi which collapsed just then when he arrived under it. Along with him died Udham Singh ( son of Gulab Singh ). After the tragic death of Nau Nihal Singh confusion and dismay struck Lahore. Rani Chand Kaur, his mother became Regent for the son yet to be born to the wife of Nau Nihal Singh after which Dhian Singh who was Wazire Wazarat left Lahore because it was not in line with his proposals. Rani Chand Kaur saught the help of Gulab Singh against fear of take over by prince Sher Singh ( a favourite son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh ) and appointed him Commander-in Chief. But before Gulab Singh reached Lahore Sher Singh won over the army by offering them enhanced pay and perks. On 15 January 1841, Sher Singh captured Lahore and asked Gulab Singh to surrender but Gulab Singh on the contrary held his spirits and went up the ramparts of Hazuri Gate, challenged the invader and forced him to flee despite his having broken the gate and entry in the palace. Sher Singh’s offensive having been dented, he showed eagerness for negotiations. Under the agreement Rani Chand Kaur abandoned her claim to the throne and got the Jagir of Kudi Kudiali near Bhimber costing Rs 9 Lac and Gulab Singh was allowed safe exit from the fort on 20 Jan 1841. Before leaving Lahore on 23 January, Gulab Singh presented Kohe – Noor to Sher Singh. Pleased Sher Singh presented him with villages worth 20 Lac west of Bhimber. Rani appointed Gulab Singh to manage her Jagir and accompanied him to Jammu with her valuables worth 20 Lac. Sher Singh was formally installed as Maharaja of Punjab on 27 January 1841 & Dhian Singh was made Prime Minister.
By May1841 Gen Zorawar Singh had penetrated deep into Tibet when he was ordered by Lahore Darbar to give up this conquest and Gulab Singh was ordered to proceed to Kabul against Akbar Khan son of Dost Mohd who had dislodged Britishers from Kabul. 10 Dec 1841 was fixed for the evacuation of Tibet but before that Tibetans encircled Dogra forces. Gen Zorawar Singh died fighting on 13 December 1841 which was a great set back to the palns of Gulab Singh. Gulab Singh reached Peshawar on 29 January 1842 with 10,000 Dogra troops. It is here that he came in direct contact with Capt Lawrence of British forces. Gulab Singh advised Capt Lawrence, delay and caution in the capture of Peshawar since the Sikh army was no more a cohesive outfit, moreover no General had accompanied it. Hence Capt Lawrence got written orders from Maharaja Sher Singh to put Sikh forces under direct command of Gulab Singh. Britishers offered the rule of Jallalabad to Gulab Singh if he captures Kabul and Jallalabad. In return Gulab Singh was to hand over Ladakh to the Britishers. Gulab Singh did not accept the proposal but persuaded Sikh forces to march to Khyber to invest Peshawar & Jallalabad which were annexed after bloody fights. To recognize his services Britishers decorated Gulab Singh.
On 15 Sept 1843 Sher Singh and Dhian Singh were murdered by Sindhanwalias. Suchet Singh & Hira Singh resolved to avenge this tragedy. On 20 Sept Sindhanwalias were murdered by Sikh Army and their heads presented to Hira Singh as mementoes which in turn were presented to Dhian Singh’s wife by Hira Singh. Dalip Singh ( the minor son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Rani Jindan ) was proclaimed as emperor with Hira Singh as Wazir. But due to palace intrigues, Suchet Singh, Hira Singh & Sohna Singh ( 2nd son of Gulab Singh ) were murdered on 27 March & 21 December 1844 with which ended the saga of Dogra ascendancy in Punjab but their ascendancy in J&K continued.
Jammu was attacked by Sikh forces in February 1845 and had almost invested but for Bahu Fort, Negotiations brought respite to Maharaja Gulab Singh who agreed to accompany Sikh forces to Lahore as prisoner. But before entering Lahore the same army had been patronized by Gulab Singh which ushered him as King & great Dogra warrior loyal to Darbar and proposed to be appointed as Wazir under Dalip Singh with full powers to pay the army from his resources at Jammu. Gulab Singh stayed at Lahore for three & half months during which he convinced the panches and the religious heads that real threat to Punjab was from Britishers and only he could defend them. Since peace, trade and commerce had suffered a lot after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death they looked up to Gulab Singh as the only person who could restore peace, tranquility, trade and restore the situation. But Gulab Singh preferred to return to Jammu assuring to be at the service of Darbbar when ever summoned. He was permitted by Rani Jindan to return on 9 August 1845.
The period between the murder of Hira Singh in Dec 1844 to beginning August 1845 had been the worst & the saga of trials and tribulations in the life of Maharaja Gulab Singh as well as highly crucial for Jammu Raj. Life of Gulab Singh remained under threat all this while. But his diplomatic skills, sagacity and cool headedness averted every crisis and ultimately he emerged as unharmed victor.
On 13 December 1845 Lord Hardinge, the Governor General declared war against Punjab after the Sikh army had crossed Sutlej by violating their own commitment of not doing so. Army wanted to be led by Gulab Singh in war against Britishers with full powers of govt with Rani to retire forever or be chained in the fort. Gulab Singh was empowered to decide to fight or to make peace. But Gulab Singh relented again on the grounds that his brothers, sons and nephew had been slain at Lahore and suspicion about Dogras loyalty still prevailed therefore it will be difficult to justify any decision that he will make in favour of war/peace. But army persisted with their request of inviting him to Lahore to apportion the blame of their defeat. Finally he reached Lahore on 29 January 1846 due to persistent requests of Rani and the army. On 30th January he was declared Wazir. On 1st Feburary in his 1st darbar he declared that the war with Britishers was a folly and decision was taken to send an emissary to Britishers for friendship & peace. Some Panches still insisted to fight under him on which Gulab Singh asked them to select another warrior/commander better than him. Since there was none they also left the final decision to him. On 10th February ended the Anglo-Sikh war. He was given written undertaking by Rani, Dalip singh and the Panches that they will abide by any agreement that he will reach with Britishers. At the same time Britishers sent a letter asking Darbar that Gulab Singh be sent to negotiate if Sikhs wished to preserve the kingdom of Lahore. Gulab Singh was requested to meet the Britishers immediately to check their advance to Lahore which was welcomed by Governor General. Their terms were as follows. (1) War indemnity of 2 Crores on Punjab. (2) Annexation of Doab to British empire. Not agreeing to harsh terms Gulab Singh made it clear that the Sikh army could still fight. He got the amount reduced to 1.5 Crores and got Dalip Singh’s title restored besides many other concessions by the treaty of Lahore which he signed wtith Britishers on 9 March 1846.
On 16th of March 1846 Britishers entered into the Treaty of Amritsar with Maharaja Gulab Singh under which they transferred all hilly territories situated Eastwards of Indus and Weastwards of Ravi including Chamba for Rs. 75 Lac. After this treaty Kashmir came under Maharaja on 9 November 1846 with its dependences of Gilgit, Indus valley and Chilas. In 1847 chiefs of Rajouri, Bhimber, Poonch, Jasrota, Ramnagar, Basohli & Kishtwar were given pension and retired. Thus came into existence the vast state of Jammu & Kashmir.
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