Hari Singh Nalwa: Difference between revisions
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== Early life == |
== Early life == |
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Hari Singh was born in an Uppal [[Khatri] |
Hari Singh was born in an Uppal [[Khatri]Sikh family. He became fatherless at a very young age. His father, Gurdas Singh of Gujranwala, died in 1798.<ref>Nalwa, V. (2009), Hari Singh Nalwa - Champion of the Khalsaji, New Delhi: Manohar, p. 284.</ref> |
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<ref>Life and Accomplishments of Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, Marshal of the Khalsa By Gurabacana Siṅgha Naīara Published by Dharam Prachar Committee, 1993 Page 15 </ref>Sikh family. He became fatherless at a very young age. His father, Gurdas Singh of Gujranwala, died in 1798.<ref>Nalwa, V. (2009), Hari Singh Nalwa - Champion of the Khalsaji, New Delhi: Manohar, p. 284.</ref> |
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== Military career == |
== Military career == |
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Revision as of 01:59, 8 February 2009
Hari Singh Nalwa |
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Hari Singh Nalwa (1791-1837) was a legendary Sikh warrior who was born in Gujranwala, Punjab. He was the Commander-In-Chief of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and one of the most honored Sikh warriors.
Early life
Hari Singh was born in an Uppal [[Khatri]Sikh family. He became fatherless at a very young age. His father, Gurdas Singh of Gujranwala, died in 1798.[1]
Military career
Sir Henry Griffin called Nalwa the "Murat of the Khalsa". A British newspaper had asserted in the early twentieth century that had Nalwa the resources and the artillery of the British, he would have conquered the East and extended the boundaries of the Sikh Kingdom to include Europe.[2] This most famous of the great Sikh generals participated in the following conquests: Sialkot, Kasur (1807), Multan (1818), Kashmir (1819), Pakhli & Damtaur (1821-2), Peshawar (1834) and finally Jamrud (1837) in the Khyber Hills.[3] He served as the governor of both Kashmir and Peshawar. A coin minted in Kashmir came to be known as the 'Hari Singhee'. The coin is on display in museums.
Hari Singh earned the cognomen 'Nalwa' after he killed a tiger without the aid of firearms. Baron Hugel, a European traveler wrote in "Travels in Kashmir & the Punjab:
" I surprised him by knowledge whence he had gained the appellation of Nalwa, and of his having cloven the head of a tiger, who had already seized him as its prey. He told the Diwan to bring some drawings and gave me his portrait, in the act of killing the beast."
Nalwa was killed by Akbar Khan, another legendary fighter,during the Battle of Jamrud (1837) while fighting the army sent by Dost Mohammad Khan, the Amir of Kabul. On this occasion, Hari Singh faced the enemy with a handful of forces. The major part of the Sikh army was stationed in Amritsar for display before the British Commander-in-chief, Henry Fane, who had come to attend the wedding of Ranjit Singh's grandson. Had Nalwa not risen to face the challenge posed by the Afghans, the entire North West Frontier of the Sikh Kingdom would have been lost. Hari Singh Nalwa was victorious even in his death, and the Sikhs succeeded in with-holding the fort of Jamrud.
Legacy
Haripur city, tehsil and district, in Hazara, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, are named after him.[4] Had Nalwa had lived long, many feel that the British would never have been able to enter the Punjab. He defeated the Afghans, something the British failed to do, and annexed a large segment of what was the Kingdom of Kabul or Afghanistan, to the Sikh Kingdom.
Nalwa was the consummate example of the Sikh saint-soldier, and India owes much to his strategic genius. His descendants live in India and abroad. This runs counter to the story of Maharajah Ranjit Singh's line, which was forever destroyed by the British, who abducted his children and took them to England, where they were held hostage against the threat of India rising against British rule. Nalwa was the senior most member of Ranjit's court. His son, Jawahir Singh, led the famous charge at the Battle of Chillianwala, a battle in which the British suffered a retreat. Another son, Arjan Singh, also posed a tough challenge to the British as they struggled to annex the Punjab.
Plaudits
A very popular nineteenth century British newspaper, Tit-Bits, made a comparative analysis of great generals of the world and arrived at the following conclusion:
"Some people might think that Napoleon was a great General. Some might name Marshall Hendenburgh, Lord Kitchener, General Karobzey or Duke of Wellington etc. And some going further might say Halaku Khan, Genghis Khan, Changez Khan, Richard or Allaudin etc. But let me tell you that in the North of India a General of the name of Hari Singh Nalwa of the Sikhs prevailed. Had he lived longer and had the sources and artillery of the British, he would have conquered most of Asia and Europe…."[5]
Hari Singh Nalwa's meeting with British, French and a German travelers are recorded. Baron Charles von Hugel remembers him fondly in his memoirs. He met the Sardar at his residence in Gujranwala. On that occasion the German was gifted a portrait of Nalwa in the act of killing a tiger. Hari Singh Nalwa spoke, wrote and read the Persian language. He was also conversant with Gurmukhi and Pushtu, the latter being the language of the Pashtuns. He was familiar with world politics, including details about the European states.
See also
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Generals
- Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual gold medalist at Olympics, who belongs to the fifth generation of Hari Singh Nalwa[6]
References
- ^ Nalwa, V. (2009), Hari Singh Nalwa - Champion of the Khalsaji, New Delhi: Manohar, p. 284.
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.harisinghnalwa.com/general.html
- ^ Tehsils & Unions in the District of Haripur - Government of Pakistan
- ^ [2]
- ^ 'Abhhinav has lagan for hard work'
- General Hari Singh Nalwa: Builder Of The Sikh Empire Author: A S Sandhu
- Hari Singh Nalua
- Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa