The last battle was fought in the mid-19th century against the British by the great Wazir Ram Singh Pathania for his King who was still a minor. After fighting a guerrilla war against the British, he made brigadier Wheeler assemble a considerable force on the dhaula dhar range against him. Ram Singh Pathania fought the British many times in pitched battles, but they could not defeat him, and there were heavy losses on both sides, with the British losing many officers. Eventually the British keeping in tune with their tradition of treachery realized that it would not be possible to capture this brave Rajput Prince by military means. They bribed a Brahman to tell them where he could be found alone and unarmed, so that they would ambush him. Soon he was captured while he was praying on the banks of the Ravi river without his weapons, near the Shahpurkandi fortress. Legend has it that before he could be overcome by the soldiers he managed to kill some of them with just his praying tool. Some historians say that he was betrayed by the Raja''s of Jammu and Guler and handed over to the British. He was sentenced to life imprisonment beyond the high seas,and sent to Rangoon (Burma).He died there on 11th November,1856, he was just 23. The kingdom was annexed by the British soon after this.Some say that Ram Singh Pathania was the first freedom fighter of India, who stood against the British might and fought bravely against them, but sadly not many people know about him outside his state. He was a true Rajput, who followed the valorous tradition of his brave ancestors till the end. Every year a fair honoring his name is held in the dhaula dhar ranges of Himachal Pradesh, where the sword and armour of the lionheart Ram Singh Pathania is displayed.Thursday 19 January 2012
The last battle was fought in the mid-19th century against the British by the great Wazir Ram Singh Pathania for his King who was still a minor. After fighting a guerrilla war against the British, he made brigadier Wheeler assemble a considerable force on the dhaula dhar range against him. Ram Singh Pathania fought the British many times in pitched battles, but they could not defeat him, and there were heavy losses on both sides, with the British losing many officers. Eventually the British keeping in tune with their tradition of treachery realized that it would not be possible to capture this brave Rajput Prince by military means. They bribed a Brahman to tell them where he could be found alone and unarmed, so that they would ambush him. Soon he was captured while he was praying on the banks of the Ravi river without his weapons, near the Shahpurkandi fortress. Legend has it that before he could be overcome by the soldiers he managed to kill some of them with just his praying tool. Some historians say that he was betrayed by the Raja''s of Jammu and Guler and handed over to the British. He was sentenced to life imprisonment beyond the high seas,and sent to Rangoon (Burma).He died there on 11th November,1856, he was just 23. The kingdom was annexed by the British soon after this.Some say that Ram Singh Pathania was the first freedom fighter of India, who stood against the British might and fought bravely against them, but sadly not many people know about him outside his state. He was a true Rajput, who followed the valorous tradition of his brave ancestors till the end. Every year a fair honoring his name is held in the dhaula dhar ranges of Himachal Pradesh, where the sword and armour of the lionheart Ram Singh Pathania is displayed.
Monday 9 January 2012
Wazir Ram Singh Pathania was such a great personality, a handful of their colleagues on the strength of iron in his soul and the whole British Empire VI was reminded of the milk.
Freedom fighter Ram Singh PathaniaSham Singh's father, King Veer Singh of Nurpur state (1789-1846) was the minister. Ten-year-old son, Prince Raja Bir Singh, Jaswant Singh, the heir to the throne of Nurpur, leaving himself has passed away. But the British declared the state to unite under his rule. Wazir Ram Singh was mighty from childhood. Coloniser of the initiative against the nefarious about his heroic colleagues August 14, 1848 the fort was attacked the night of Shahpur Kandi. British army fled, frightened by the attack and several were killed.
The next day, August 15 Wazir Ram Singh conquered the fort to his right. Wazir Ram Singh Pathania's announcement was cheered as kings of the hill about five hundred of the brave warrior Tue Singh Manhas and Jasrota leadership came under the flag of the brave Wazir Ram Singh Pathania. Recalled that his mother was Induri Devi Manhas Rajput. Given the serious situation in Jalandhar and Kangra DC DC Henry Lawrence warns Shahpur Kandi with military team arrived in force and attacked the fort. The war continued for some days, but at the end of Ram Singh Pathania, the lack of food had to evacuate the fort. Overnight he went out with his mates went into the forests of the Mau coat and continued guerrilla war. English army followed him a lot but got tricked to Gujarat. With troops and ammunition from army he increased his strength and Shahpur Kandi Fort, he again took possession. British forces got away from him. British forces have also participated in the Kangra fort. King of Jaswan Umed Singh, the Raja Jagat Singh and Una Duttapur altar of the Sikh Sant Singh also declared its independence. King Pramod Chand of Kangra fort of Sujanpur their crown with a 21 gun salute again wore the British army on the hill kings Sam Price's army, defeated the penalties follow a policy of discrimination. Pramod Chand and other kings captive king to Wazir Ram Singh Pathania Almoda was sent to jail but he did not lose hope and their positions north of Pathankot - 2772 ft above sea level, located on the west side Dlle imposed on the edge. British forces were collected at a place called Kumni ray pell.British army due to a new detachment of the enemy soldiers were thrown badly. Wazir Ram Singh Pathania took the blink of an eye. John Peel and his bodyguards were killed. Stone at the grave of John Peel on the cutting edge of Dlle article still refers to the historicity of the event. Wazir Ram Singh Pathania finally was arrested by fraud at the time when the first worship - were busy in the text. To capture as many enemy soldiers before he returned to worship brought hell. He was arrested and taken to the fort of Kangra and the deep distress. Safe-conduct, given the lure of big estates and wealth. But he did not budge. Stupid life sentence for armed revolution, telling them to crack the case was sent to Kalapani. Rangoon jail going through the torture of this great son of the motherland November 11, 1849 at the age of just 24 years, sacrificed his life to protect the homeland.
Sunday 8 January 2012
Keeping in tune with their valorous tradition, the last battle fought by the Rajputs of the Kingdom of Nurpur was in 1848 A.D. against the British by Ram Singh Pathania, for his King who was still a minor.
In 1845 after death of King Veer Singh, ruler of Nurpur (then a hill state in present Himachal Pradesh), the natives wanted to name Prince Jaswant Singh Son of Veer Singh as their new King. Therefore, King's Minister Sham Singh (Father of Ram Singh Pathania) escorted Prince Jaswant from Chamba to a Camp at Kushinagar near Nurpur. Since the prince was a minor the British objected to his being named as new king and sought to take over administration of the Nurpur state. Minister Sham Singh along with other ministers approached Colonel Lee of British Army to recognize minor Prince as their new King. However, Colonel Lee mocked and insulted this delegation lead by Sham Singh on their authority to declare new King. Ram Singh Pathania angered by insult of his father Sham Singh pledged to avenge it. In defiance to British Raj he declared Prince Jaswant as new king. This was the start of Guerilla campaign led by brave Ram Singh Pathania. On the morning of 15 Aug 1845 after a fierce battle he evicted British troops from the fort of 'Shahpur Kandi'.
Freedom fighter Ram Singh Pathania had organized his main defenses around hilly terrain of 'Kumni da Pail' area. This is from where he led guerilla raids to frustrate the several attempts undertaken by British troops to recapture forts of 'Nurpur' and 'Shahpur Kandi' which were under Ram Singh Pathania.
Finally then Lt Governor of Punjab John Lawrence sent a strong contingent led by Gen Wheeler to capture Ram Singh Pathania dead or alive. Ram Singh shifted his defences from 'Kumni da Pail' to further deeper into hills of 'Dallah dhee Dhar'. Here in a major battle with the troops of 51 Sikh Light Infantry in January 1849 Ram Singh Pathania's men inflicted heavy losses on British troops. Following words are inscribed on the grave of British officer killed in this action:-
In the sacred memory of Lieutenant John Peal, 51st Sikh Local Infantry:- He succumbed on 17th Jan 1849 to wounds received in action near Dallah on 16 Jan 1849 when engaged with insurgents under Ram Singh Pathania while gallantly leading his men. This tablet is placed in his memory by the officer (51st Sikh F.F.)
Such was the intensity of Ram Singh Pathania's campaign against the British that locals still sing a ballad praising his courage:
Killa Pathania Khoob Ladayya, Balley Pathania Khoob Ladayya, Dallay di Dhara Dafale Jo Bajdi, Kumni Bajjay Tamur...
After the battle of Dhaula Dhar the British bribed a local Priest to tell them when and where Ram Singh Pathania could be found alone and unarmed. Based on this information British soldiers laid an ambush and captured Ram Singh Pathania while he was offering prayer on the banks of the Ravi river near the Shahpurkandi fortress. Some historians believe that he was betrayed by the Raja's of Jammu and Guler, and handed over to the British.
Because of this rebellion, which locals believed was first armed revolt against British Raj, Ram Singh Pathania was sentenced to life imprisonment and deported to Rangoon (Burma). He died there on 11 November, 1856.
During the main Hindu festivals such as Dusshera Durga Puja, the Baren or Martial Ballads of Ram Singh Pathania are sung to the accompaniment of dafale[music of Himachal Pradesh] by singers known as Adavale and folk artists. These songs are sung in all the districts of Himachal Pradesh as well as the Gurdaspur district of Punjab.
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