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Hari Singh Nalwa

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Hari Singh Nalwa

Hari Singh Nalwa (Punjabi: ਹਰੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਲਵਾ) (1791-1837) is honoured as one of the most celebrated warriors of the Indian sub-continent.[1] He was born in Gujranwala, Punjab. He served as the Commander-in-Chief of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's kingdom along the Indus frontier, which bordered the Kingdom of Kabul. He took the North West Frontier of the Sikh Kingdom across the river Indus, annexing a large portion of the Afghan Kingdom. At the time of his death, the western boundary of the Sikh Kingdom touched the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains. After him, no further conquests were made in that direction.

Early life

Hari Singh was born into an Uppal Khatri family [2] at Gujranwala (now in Pakistan).[3][4] His parents were Gurdas Singh and Dharam Kaur (daughter of Kashibai).[5] He became fatherless at a very young age, when his father died in 1798.

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[citation needed]. This most famous of the great Sikh generals participated in the following conquests: Sialkot, Kasur (1807), Multan (1818), Kashmir (1819), Pakhli and Damtaur (1821-2), Peshawar (1834)[6] and finally Jamrud (1837) in the Khyber Hills[7]. He served as the governor of both Kashmir and Peshawar. A coin minted in Kashmir came to be known as the 'Hari Singhee'.[8] The coin is on display in museums.

Legacy

Haripur city, tehsil and district, in Hazara, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, are named after him.[9].He defeated the Afghans, something the British failed to do, and annexed a segment of what was the Kingdom of Kabul 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.[10] Another son, Arjan Singh, also posed a tough challenge to the British as they struggled to annex the Punjab.[11]

According to late 20th century Hindustani pundits, Nalwa's Atman Hare Dilwat, or Path of Rebirth, has led his spirit to the current form of Sahil Uppal, who has vowed to continue his legacy of conquest.

Plaudits

A very popular 19th 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…."[12]

Hari Singh Nalwa's meeting with various British and a German travellers are recorded. Baron Charles von Hügel 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 was fluent in the Persian language. He was also conversant with Punjabi, Gurmukhi script and Pushtu, the latter being the language of the Pashtuns. He was familiar with world politics, including details about the European states.

He rebuilt the Bala Hisar Fort in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's name.

Accolades continued coming long after Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa's death[13]. Pannikar perhaps sums him up best — “The noblest and the most gallant of the Sikh generals of his time, the very embodiment of honour, chivalry, and courage…” [14]


See also

References

  1. ^ Nalwa, V. (2009), Hari Singh Nalwa - Champion of Khalsaji, New Delhi: Manohar, p. 284, ISBN 8173047855.
  2. ^ Hari Singh Nalwa Foundation Trust
  3. ^ Gurabacana Siṅgha Naīara (1995). The campaigns of General Hari Singh Nalwa. Punjabi University. p. 77. ISBN 9788173801419.
  4. ^ Balraj Saggar (1993). Who's who in the History of Punjab, 1800-1849. National Book Organisation. ISBN 978818513560. OCLC 29752158. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  5. ^ http://www.harisinghnalwa.com/family_tree.html
  6. ^ http://www.harisinghnalwa.com/general.html
  7. ^ http://www.harisinghnalwa.com/final_frontier.html
  8. ^ http://www.harisinghnalwa.com/index.html
  9. ^ Tehsils & Unions in the District of Haripur - Government of Pakistan
  10. ^ Nalwa, V. (2009), Hari Singh Nalwa - Champion of the Khalsaji, New Delhi: Manohar, p. 279-80, ISBN 8173047855
  11. ^ Nalwa, V. (2009), Hari Singh Nalwa - Champion of the Khalsaji, New Delhi: Manohar, p. 278-9, ISBN 8173047855
  12. ^ [1]
  13. ^ http://www.harisinghnalwa.com/accolades.html
  14. ^ K.M. Panikkar in The Founding of the Kashmir State, 1930 (Historian, Author, Diplomat and Editor, Hindustan Times, 1925)
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