HARI SINGH NALWA AND THE BATTLE OF NAUSHERA
SANDEEP SINGH BAJWA
India
has had to face foreign invaders many more times than most other nations. The majority of
these came through the Khyber pass in the North West of India. These invaders were
lured either by riches of India, zeal to convert people to their beliefs or world
domination through force. Th Afghans were among the last to come across the Khyber. By the
late 1700s Afghans has set up small city states all over Punjab and North West. Rohillas
of Awadh (UP), Tipu Sultan of Mysore, Nawab of Malerkotla, Multan, Kashmir all were
ultimately descended from the invaders. The Afghans wrecked havoc on local population in
their territories. Rapes and forced conversions were commonplace in the Afghan ruled
territories. Children born out of forceful marriages and rapes were given a special caste
of "Ranghars". And Ranghars were specially targeted by Maulavis to fill them a
zeal of Islam, in order to make them fighters of Islam.
The Sikhs opposed these Afghan landlords and were
able eventually to wrest control of the biggest city in Punjab, named Lahore, under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Sandhu. In an attempt to bring the North West under their rule the
Sikhs sought to sweep away isolated pockets of Afghan power. In his enterprise Maharaja
Ranjit Singh Sandhu was helped by his many generals. Hari Singh Nalwa was the most
illustrious of them all.
Hari Singh Nalwa
Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa was born
to Gurdial Singh Uppal and Dharam Kaur at Gujranwala (now in Pakistan) in the year 1791. Gurdial Singh was an officer in Ranjit
Singh 's army. He died during a campaign fighting Afghans in 1798, when Hari Singh was
only seven years of age. Hari Singh eventually assumed the responsibility of supervising
the affairs of his father's lands. Hari Singh presented himself before Maharaja Ranjit
Singh in his open Durbar. The Maharaja was so impressed by the feats of chivalry shown by
him that he was taken in the royal service as a personal khidmatgar or an
attendant.
Maharaja commissioned him into the army in 1804 by
granted him a command of a cavalry of 700 men and horses with the honor of Sardar. Hari
Singh Nalwa named his regiment 'Sher-Dil-Rajman'. Hari Singh earned a reputation for
bravery quite early on. During the course of hunting expedition he happened to be a victim
of a sudden attack of a tiger. The attack was so subtle and unexpected that he did not
gain time to pull out his sword. Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa faced the crucial situation with
such boldness that he managed to catch hold of the jaw of the beast forcefully with his
hands and pushed it away with the prowess of arms arranging thus to kill it with his
sword. Baron Charles Hugel says he was called Nalwa for 'having cloven the head of a tiger
who had already seized him as its prey'.
The Sikhs passing established themselves as the
pre-eminent power in Punjab following their defeat of Ahmad Shah Abdali's governor at
Lahore in 1765. But their mode of fighting then was hardly suited to the requirements of a
well organized state. Maharaja Ranjit Singh out of these Sikhs became leader of whole
Khalsa (Sarbat Khalsa). He built up a strong, centralized and efficient military system by
drawing the best elements in foreign with the best elements found in the indigenous
fighting systems.
After some major campaigns of Multan and Kasur
where Hari Singh Nalwa's regiment fought with distinction, Maharaja turned towards
Kashmir. Hari Singh Nalwa's regiment "Sher-Dil-Rajman' was in forefront in campaign
to get back Shah Shuja from the Governor of Kashmir, Shah Shuja's wife Wafa Begum had
promised Kohinoor Diamond for Maharaja if her husband was to be freed from prison of
Kashmir. In 1814 A.D., Hari Singh routed the Kashmiri forces. Shah Shuja gave Ranjit Singh
kohinoor Diamond, from that day on till his death Maharaja Ranjit Singh wore that Diamond
on his right shoulder. Meanwhile, through political means, Ranjit Singh installed his own
governor (Jahan Dad Khan) in Peshawar.
In 1821, Dost Mohammed
Khan and Yar Mohammed Khan, two Afghans were able to expel the Maharaja's nominee Jahan
Dad Khan from Peshawar and thus an expedition was undertaken by Ranjit Singh's Army. A
large army under illustrious commanders was dispatched to rectify the situation in
Peshawar (Cavalry commanded by Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, Infantry by Dhanna Singh Malwai,
and Jagat Singh Attariwala, Artillery by Mian Ghaus Khan). Dost Mohammed Khan managed to
reconcile by paying a handsome nazarana to Maharaja and by accepting the submission to
Khalsa kingdom rather than to kingdom of Kabul.
Battle
of Naushera
Ranjit Singh's forces at
this time were divided into regular and irregular infantry, regular and irregular cavalry
and artillery. Regular forces were directly under Lahore Sultanate of Ranjit Singh,
irregular forces were supplied by allies or by those kingdoms that were bound by treaties.
Artillery was completely under state control and was led by Mian Ghaus Khan and General
Allard. Ranjit Singh employed several foreigners in his military services. Famous ones
were General Allard leading an artillery regiment and General Ventura leading a regiment
made up of Poorbia (Bihar, Bengali, and UP) soldiers. Both Allard and Ventura had earlier
fought in the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte of France. Ranjit Singh's motive to include
foreigners in his army was to modernize his forces.
In 1822 Fakir Azizudeen, Maharaja
Ranjit Singh's "foreign officer" was sent to Peshawar to collect annual tribute.
He was well received by Yar Mohammed, who ordered the city to be illuminated in the
Fakir's honor. Yar Mohammed paid the tribute in cash and horses. Then Fakir Azizuddin returned
to Lahore well satisfied with his mission. This incident lowered the prestige of Yar
Mohammed Khan among his people.
Mohammed Azim Khan who then
ruled Kabul taunted Yar Mohammed for paying tribute to Sikh infidels. Azim Khan marched
out of Kabul and the cry of jihad echoed at Khyber. Over forty-five thousand Khattaks and
Yusufzai tribesmen under the leadership of Syed Akbar Shah of Balmer volunteered to fight.
Yar Mohammed abandoned Peshawar and went into hiding. And once more Maharaja Ranjit Singh
ordered his army to move north towards Peshawar. Prince Sher Singh, Misr Dewan Chand and
General Ventura were led the battalions of infantry. Hari Singh Nalwa, Phula Singh, Fateh
Singh Ahluwalia, Desa Singh Majithia and Attar Singh Sandhawalia led the cavalry, while
artillery was commanded by Mian Ghaus Khan and General Allard. Recently trained and
incorporated battalions of Purbia (Bihari soldiers) and Gurkha Soldiers were also sent.
These were led by General Ventura and General Balbhadra (Gurkha General). A grand total of
about 25,000 men moved to defend the Sikh kingdom.
In December 1822 orders were given
to march out of Lahore and Prince Sher Singh, younger son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh led the
march with his battalions of Cavalry and Infantry. Hari Singh Nalwa whose Sher-e-Dil
Rajaman battalion was replenished by additional soldiers making it the largest Cavalry
regiment of about 5000 men and horses in the Lahore Darbar's army closely followed Prince
Sher Singh. These advance columns of Lahore Durbar reached Attock river a month ahead of
other forces. They crossed the Attock river using a pontoon bridge and occupied the Sikh
fort of Jehangiria. Mohammed Azim Khan and his Afghani Jihadis soon surrounded the fort of
Jehangiria. Other men helping Mohammed Azim to lead their 45,000 forces of Mujahdeen
were his brothers, Dost Mohammed (who had more than once paid tribute to Lahore), Sayyid
Akbar Shah and Jabbar Khan, the ex-governor of Kashmir. They destroyed the pontoon bridge
over river Attock so that Sikh forces could not cross and started pounding the fort with
their guns. Hari Singh Nalwa and Prince Sher Singh with much grit and determination held
the fort with their total of less then 10,000 men. Since this fort was right on the banks
of a river, there was no shortage of water or other supplies. Hari Singh Nalwa led his
cavalry in numerous sorties outside fort destroying two of the invaluable guns of
Afghanis.
Meanwhile, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and rest of the
Khalsa force which was following his advance columns leisurely arrived in January to find
the only pontoon bridge across the river destroyed. To make matter worse next day
there was a heavy snowfall. The Maharaja was being informed through his network of
intelligence of the rapidly rising force of the enemy but decided to wait for his heavy
guns to arrive which were due by mid-day (March 14, 1823) But, that morning Sikh a Gurmata
(Resolution) was passed that the Afghans would be attacked before their forces could
gather greater strength and irrespective of whether the heavy guns arrived or not.
Fortunately, the artillery also arrived in time for the attack.
Hari Singh Nalwa and Prince Sher
Singh had already taken on the enemy earlier crossing the river before the bridge was
destroyed and capturing the fort of Jehangiria. They were exerting powerful pressure on
the enemy but badly needed reinforcements which had arrived on the other side of that
river, but could not wait for the bridge to be constructed under the threat of enemy fire. Ranjit Singh one
early morning leading himself riding on his white horse he dipped in the freezing water to
cross the river. Whole force followed but in this exercise much of the equipment was lost,
that included much needed guns. Akali Phoola Singh's suicide squad who was following
Ranjit Singh, now took the lead, and, without a moment's thought, plunged their horses in
the swollen and turbulent river. How could the others stay behind ? Every one followed
suit, but before they crossed over, the enemy had taken flight from Jehangiria leaving
even their dead or dying in the battle-field and saying in despair:" Toba,
Toba,Khuda Khud Khalsa shud." (God forbid, but it appears, God himself has turned a
Khalsa ! )." It was believed that no one could cross the river at its full fury.
Thus catching the enemy by
surprise Ranjit Singh and his forces broke open the cordon massacring more than
1,000 Afghans. The Afghanas who were from the Khattak and Yusufzai tribes, fled and
entrenched themselves nearby a city then called Pir Sabak (this later became the British
cantonment of Naushera, which is currently one of the major bases of Pakistan Army). This
put a gap between the main Afghan force under Azim Khan's brothers and the column of
tribal Jihadis. A small but swift stream called Landai put a further obstacle between the
two Afghan armies. And he Sikhs were determined to maintain the initiative. Consequently,
whatever was left of Sikh artillery was sent to the bank of the Landai to forestall any
attempts by the two Afghan columns to link up. Meanwhile when news of the disaster
reached Azim Khan he made a dash from Peshawar to join his brothers on the
bank of the Landai river. They could not cross the stream because of constant firing by
Durbar guns. Azim Khan and his brothers then decided to launch an attack early morning
when Punjabi guns were being rested. However, the Sikh Army decided to wipe out the tribal
column before Azim Kahn could strike. As a result, the Gurkha and Purbia battalions were
dispatched to deal with Pir Sabak Hill where tribal mujahids were resting. And though the
Tribal column fought desperately they were overwhelmed by the Gurkhas and Purbias. General
Balbhadra of Gurkha Infantry lost his life during this action in the midst of some of the
fiercest to hand-to-hand fighting.
Meanwhile, seeing their comrades getting killed
all Afghanis came together in a desperate effort to hold the attack by Darbar's army.
Darbar's forces surrounded them from all sides. Both Hari Singh Nalwa and Akali Phula
Singh from one end lead the cavalry charge while Gurkhas who were leaderless after
martyrdom of General Balbhadra and Purbias under General Ventura and Punjabi soldiers
under General Dewan Misr Chand holding their positions. Hari Singh Nalwa pressed on his
cavalry deploying with precision and raising war cries of Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal
from time to time, Hari Singh Nalwa and his disciplined soldiers emptied their muskets on
Jihadis. A wave of about 50 soldiers on their horses would charge at Jihadis, firing their
muskets and then sending more to meet their creator through their bayonets as they gallop
across the battlefield. Hari Singh Nalwa and Akali Phula Singh with their cavalry regiment
of Sher-Dil-Rajman and Nihangs as Khushwant Singh succinctly puts it gave them "coup
de grace." They drove the Khattaks and Yusufzais from Pir Sabak Hill. Heavy artillery
on the land surrounded the Jihadis and opened up a barrage to complete the slaughter.
While Hari Singh was leading his Sher-Dil-Rajman
attacking Jihadis from one end, from other side Akali Phula Singh and his Cavalry of
Nihangs, or the "Crocodile Sikhs who fight till death" were performing similar
feat. Jihadis were surrounded by Gurkha Infantry at one end, General Ventura soldiers at
other end, while waves of Cavalry charges were attacking from the one side. Jihadis
changed their tactics and decided to go for the leaders in order to demoralize the Khalsa
forces. General Bhalbhadra was shot, General Ventura was injured and Akali Phula Singh's
horse was shot. This angered Akali Phula Singh and he made a grave mistake by getting on
an elephant. Now Akali Phula Singh's towering torso was seen from all over the
battlefield. Ghazi Jihadis saw the Khalsa General on top of an elephant and immediately
trained their muskets on him. Akali Phula Singh's body was riddled with bullets, he
collapsed in his howdah exhorting the Nihang Sikhs to not to give way. Akali Phula Singh
through his dashing feats had inspired other Sikh commanders his martyrdom renewed the
vigor to fight. Mohammed Azim Khan watched the massacre from the other side of the stream
without being able to help his tribesmen brother. He did not had the will to fight till
death. By the day's end, Four thousand tribesmen were left dead on the field. Probably two
times that number were injured and left dying at the battlefield. It was a crushing defeat
for Afghanis. Hari Singh Nalwa whose ideal was Akali Phula Singh, chased the remaining
Afghans deep into their territory killing hundreds more.
Mohammed Azim was too ashamed to
face the people of Peshawar and he returned to Afghanistan, where he died in couple of
months. This battle proved the effectiveness of organized military. Death of a General
Akali Phula Singh at this battle was the biggest loss of the campaign for Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. Azim Khan's Jihadis had lost heart and abandoned their zeal for Jihad in complete
disorder. 14 large and 18 small guns were captured by the Sikhs. It showed them the
effectiveness of organized artillery and cavalry regiments as well as old tactics of
Guerilla warfare. In this battle not all of Ranjit Singh's forces took part, some
regiments just waited for their turn which never came. General Allard and Ventura's
participation in this battle with their divisions and trained army of Lahore kingdom with
Akali division of the army had absolutely no match for untrained militia who although
surpassed in sheer numbers, Afghans after a great massacre submitted and Naushera was
captured. Albeit, the Lahore troops lost an indispensable commander. Hari Singh Nalwa
played a conspicuous role first by inflicting a crushing defeat upon the enemy and
secondly by pursuing the enemy after the defeat in order to be sure about the victory of
the Lahore troops. The battle of Naushera made it evident to the frontier tribesmen that
the Afghan militia was weaker than those of Lahore troops. This battle sealed the further
prospects of Muhammad Azim of Kabul and established the Sikh supremacy over Peshawar.
"Akali Phula Singh's memorial still stands
intact there. For Ranjit Singh as much as for others, the joy of a superb victory was
marred by this sad and heart-rending event. This monument (now situated in the Frontier
Province of Pakistan) on the bank of the river Kabul was endowed wish a Jagir by Ranjit
Singh and a Gurdwara was also built on the site. Sardar Gurbaksh Singh. well-known Punjabi
writer and editor of Preet Lari", settled there in early thirties of this
century. and tilled the farm attached to this monument. The place is still called Samadh
Akali Phoola Singh."
"Three days later the
Maharaja entered Peshawar the head of his victorious troops. The citizens welcomed him and
paid him homage with nazarana (gifts). The Maharajah's sojourn was, however, not a
peaceful one. what the tribesmen could not achieve in open combat, they tried to gain by
the cold-blooded murder of Punjabi soldiers under cover of darkness."
Ranjit Singh knew about the tactics of these
tribesmen. A few days later both Yar Mohammed and Dost Mohammed presented themselves at
court and sought the Maharajah's pardon. He forgave them readily and accepted their
tribute of presents and horses. Yar Mohammed was reinvested governor of Peshawar on
promising an increased annual revenue of Rs.1,000,000 to the Lahore Durbar. This was first
time that Afghanis were totally beaten and humiliated in their own country by their former
subjects. Ranjit Singh made this possible through his able generals and brilliant military
tactics. So huge was this victory that it caused apprehensions in British circles. British
realized that sooner or later showdown with Ranjit Singh was inevitable. In particular,
they realized that the Durbar's conquests had reached the furthest geographical limits of
the Punjab in the north and north-west. Beyond were impassable mountains and inhospitable,
unprofitable regions.
In order to pacify his new conquests Ranjit Singh
ordered Hari Singh Nalwa and Prince Sher Singh to remain in North West Frontier province
at the end his campaign. He also ordered them to construct series of small forts all along
the highway leading to Khyber pass. He correctly had assessed the importance of Khyber
pass, and thus organized the defenses of his frontier around Kabul. |