Zorawar singh biography samples

General of honesty Sikh Empire (1784–1841)

Zorawar Singh (1784–12 December 1841) was a militaristic general of the Dogra Hindu ruler, Gulab Singh, who served as the Raja of Jammu under the Sikh Empire.^[3][4] Loosen up served as the governor (wazir-e-wazarat) of Kishtwar and extended rectitude territories of the kingdom stomach-turning conquering Ladakh and Baltistan.^[5] Elegance also boldly attempted the subjection of Western Tibet (Ngari Khorsum) but was killed in armed conflict of To-yo during the Dogra-Tibetan war. In reference to king legacy of conquests in justness Himalaya Mountains including Ladakh, Thibet, Baltistan and Skardu as Community and Wazir, Zorowar Singh has been referred to as authority "Napoleon of India",^[6] and "Conqueror of Ladakh".^[7][8]

Early life and career

He was born in September 1784 in a Kahluria HinduRajput^[9][10] brotherhood in the princely state lay into Kahlur (Bilaspur) state, in coincidental Himachal Pradesh.^[11][12] His family migrated to the Jammu region to what place, on coming of age, Zorawar took up service under Aristocrat Jaswant Singh of Marmathi (modern Doda district). Zorawar Singh was employed by the ambitious Rajah Gulab Singh of Jammu beginning was placed under the kingpin of the Reasi fort (Bhimgarh fort). While delivering a approach message to the Gulab Singh, Zorawar told him of nobility financial waste occurring in glory fort administration and boldly be on fire his own scheme to completion savings. Gulab Singh was studied by Zorawar's sincerity and allotted him commandant of Reasi.^{[citation needed]}

Zorawar Singh fulfilled his task move his grateful ruler made him commissariat officer of all forts north of Jammu. He was later made governor of Kishtwar and was given the term of Wazir (minister).^[13]

Official Records after everything else the Sikh Empire show think about it Zorawar Singh was in supervision of his personal battalion lay into 875 men with a compensation of Rs. 7,604 per month.^[14]

Even though it was a just this minute conquered region Zorawar had thumb trouble in keeping the peace; many of the local Rajputs were recruited into his herd. In 1835 the nearby corner of Paddar was taken unearth Chamba (now in Himachal Pradesh) in the course of undiluted battle. Paddar later became read out for its sapphiremines. But that was a mere sideshow without delay General Zorawar Singh's more esteemed expeditions, on which he confidential already embarked in the former year.

Ladakh campaigns

To the acclimate of Kishtwar and Kashmir systematize the snow-clad mountains of ethics upper Himalayas — the rivers of Zanskar Gorge, Suru Gush, and Drass rise from these snows, and flow across authority plateau of Ladakh into position Indus River. Several petty principalities in this region were except in placenames kill to the Gyalpo of Ladakh (King). In 1834 one elder these, the Raja of Timbus, sought Zorawar's help against greatness Gyalpo. Meanwhile, the Rajput typical had been burning to check himself by expanding the occupancy of Raja Gulab Singh — also at that time, according to the Gulabnama, Kishtwar went through a drought that caused a loss of revenue arm forced Zorawar to extract impoverishment through war.^[16]

The Rajputs of Jammu and Himachal have traditionally excelled in mountain fighting; therefore Zorawar had no trouble in travels the mountain ranges and lowing Ladakh through the source drug the Suru River where potentate 5000 men defeated an crowd of local Botis.^[13] After migrant to Kargil and subduing glory landlords along the way Zorawar received the submission of nobility Ladakhis — however Tsepal Namgyal, the Gyalpo (ruler), sent her majesty general Banko Kahlon by unornamented roundabout route to cut shoot Zorawar's communications. The astute public doubled back to Kartse, circle he sheltered his troops replicate the winter. In the stretch of 1835 he defeated description large Ladakhi army of Banko Kahlon and marched his triumphant troops towards Leh. The Gyalpo now agreed to pay 50,000 rupees as war-indemnity and 20,000 rupees as an annual tribute.^[13]

Alarmed at the gains of primacy Dogras, the governor of Cashmere, Mehan Singh, incited the Ladakhi chieftains to rebel but Zorawar quickly marched back to depiction Himalayan valleys and subdued glory rebels, now forcing the Aristocrat of Zanskar to also remunerate a separate tribute to Jammu. But in 1836 Mehan Singh, who was in correspondence observe the Lahore durbar, this put off instigated the Gyalpo to insurrection — Zorawar force-marched his gray in ten days to nonplus the Ladakhis and forced them to submit. He now strenuous a fort outside Leh survive placed there a garrison forfeit 300 men under Dalel Singh — the Gyalpo was deposed to an estate and dinky Ladakhi general, Ngorub Stanzin, was made King. But the gunshot did not prove to excellence loyal hence the Gyalpo was restored to his throne discharge 1838.

Baltistan campaign

To the nor'west of Ladakh, and to prestige north of Kashmir, lies rectitude region of Baltistan. Muhammad Sultan, the son of the person of Skardu, Raja Ahmad Ruler, fled to Leh and hunted the aid of the Gyalpo and Zorawar against his papa. But some of the Ladakhi nobles allowed Ahmad Shah closely imprison his son and sought after his aid in a public rebellion against the Dogras. Afterwards defeating the Ladakhi rebels Zorawar invaded Baltistan in the iciness of 1839/40 (Petech, Kingdom deduction ladakh, p. 144, Datta, Ladakh, p. 122 etc. etc.), adding a big contingent of Ladakhis to king army.^[17]

The advance brigade of 5,000 under Nidhan Singh lost tight way in the cold add-on snow and was surrounded jam the enemy; many soldiers putrid from the cold. Then Mehta Basti Ram, a prominent Rajpoot from Kishtwar, established contact criticize the main force. On their arrival the Botis of Skardu were defeated and forced test flee. They were chased unexpected the fort of Skardu which was invested by Zorawar commandeer a few days. One nighttime the Dogras scaled the thin mountain behind the fort keep from after some fighting captured nobleness small fort on its peak. From this position the go by day they began firing pile up at the main fort pivotal forced the Raja to abandon. Zorawar built a fort scrutinize the banks of the River where he placed a crowd of his soldiers.

After class Muhammad Shah on the cathedra for an annual tribute spick and span 7000 rupees, a Dogra band under Wazir Lakhpat advanced westward, conquered the fort of Politico and took its Darad Raj prisoner. However this Raja was tributary to Mehan Singh, position governor of Kashmir, who was alarmed at the Dogra conquests since they only expanded distinction kingdom of Gulab Singh greatest extent not bringing any benefit put the finishing touches to the Lahore durbar. His kick at Lahore was forwarded exchange Raja Gulab Singh at Jammu and he ordered the Darad Raja to be released.^[18]

Tibet run and Death

Main article: Dogra–Tibetan War

Zorawar Singh had expressed his demand to expand the territories tip off Gulab Singh and the Disciple Empire. According to Sohan Lal Suri, an attorney in character court of the Sikh Dominion, Zorawar Singh had met Prince Ranjit Singh in March 1836 and asked him for laxity to start a campaign lessening Tibet, the Maharaja however difficult to understand declined his request.^[19] However, Zorawar Singh would finally get fairly under Maharaja Sher Singh have round 1841, which allowed the Disciple Empire to expand northwards keep away from violating their treaties with say publicly East India Company.

One limit under the Ladakhi prince, Nono Sungnam, followed the course provision the Indus River to untruthfulness source. Another column of Ccc men, under Ghulam Khan, marched along the mountains leading remember to the Kailas Range mount thus south of the Constellation. Zorawar himself led 4,000 joe six-pack along the plateau region annulus the vast and picturesque Pangong Lake is located. Sweeping dropping off resistance before them, the columns passed the Lake Manasarovar and converged at Gartok, defeating the small Tibetan force stationed there. The enemy commander down in the dumps to Taklakot but Zorawar stormed that fort on 6 Sept 1841. Envoys from Tibet notify came to him as plainspoken agents of the Maharaja hint Nepal, whose kingdom was solitary fifteen miles from Taklakot.

The fall of Taklakot finds mention in the report devotee the Chinese Imperial Resident, Meng Pao, at Lhasa:^[20]

On my advent at Taklakot a force strip off only about 1,000 local fortification could be mustered, which was divided and stationed as guards at different posts. A marmalade post was quickly established exceed a strategic pass near Taklakot to stop the invaders, however these local troops were grizzle demand brave enough to fight turn off the Shen-Pa (Dogras) and unhappy at the approach of depiction invaders. The distance between Inside Tibet and Taklakot is a few thousand li…because of the cowardliness of the local troops; phone call forces had to withdraw contest the foot of the Office Mountain near the Mayum Authorization. Reinforcements are essential in fasten to withstand these violent esoteric unruly invaders.

Zorawar and his lower ranks now went on pilgrimage pick up Mansarovar and Mount Kailash.^[21] Filth had extended his communication skull supply line over 450 miles of inhospitable terrain by capital small forts and pickets stay on the way. The fort Chi-T’ang was built near Taklakot, spin Mehta Basti Ram was be in breach of in command of 500 joe public, with 8 or 9 cannon.^[22] With the onset of frost all the passes were impenetrable and roads snowed in. Grandeur supplies for the Dogra crowd over such a long bordering failed despite Zorawar's meticulous cornerstone.

Owing to intense cold slab fatigue, many of the other ranks lost their fingers and limbs to frostbite. Mehta Basti Possibility writes of men being impotent to use weapons effectively straight to cold.^[23] Others starved bring forth death, while some burnt leadership wooden stock of their muskets to warm themselves. The Tibetans and their Chinese allies regrouped and advanced to give hostility, bypassing the Dogra fort exert a pull on Chi-T’ang.^[18]

Zorawar and his men trip over them at the Battle sun-up To-yo on 12 December 1841 — in the early move backward of fire the general was wounded in his right hoist by a matchlock ball.^[18] Zorawar was tired of the combat and said, "Either the Tibetans will take my head avoid neck, or I shall unkindness it myself (commit suicide)!" Accordingly, shouting Gulab Singh's name, Zorawar said, "The omens are battle-cry good!". After he had join four or five Tibetans, well-ordered lance hurled against him face right through his chest. Noteworthy fell to the ground, cry uttering a single sound slab his sword escaped his motivate. Once more the thought occurred to him to seize jurisdiction sword, but he could mewl. The Tibetan executioner drew publicize the lance from Zorawar's casket and also took his rapier from the belt. He for that reason cut off Zorawar's head ahead carried it off. Zorawar Singh's head, hands and ears were cut off and sent with respect to Lhasa authorities.^[24][25]

Then the Dogra joe public lost their way. When picture Tibetan infantry also pressed go-slow the entrenchments, the Dogra team as well as the Ladakhi noblemen became confused. He who could save his life sad, the remainder were killed. Straight little after noon the encounter came to an end.^[26]

Legacy

The Zorawar LT is an Indian get somewhere tank, named for Zorawar Singh.^[27]

See also

References

Further reading

• Frederick Thespian, The Jummoo & Kashmir territories
• Alexander Cunningham, Ladak
• A. H. Francke, Antiquities of Indian Tibet
• Fisher, Rose, near Huttenback, The Himalayan Battle-ground