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Gulab Singh and the Battle of Jammu 1809

The year was 1808. The place, Jammu. Raja Jaid Singh was placed on the throne of Jammu to be its king, supported by the presence of Mian Mota Singh, the all-powerful kingmaker of Jammu. In this period of madness in the province of Jammu, one hoped that Jammu would witness a semblance of balance and stability being created. Jammu had been in a free fall following the death of Raja Brijraj Dev. Sampuran Singh, the successor, succumbed to smallpox, leading to the situation that a new successor had to be found desperately. In the scramble, the name of Jaid Singh came forward, and with Mian Mota Singh’s support, Jaid Singh ascended the throne. Raja Brijraj Dev of Jammu ( painting with San Diego Museum of Art) Contributing to the constant madness in Jammu were the Khalsa forces who would raid Jammu and pillage it constantly, devoiding it of its wealth. The 1783 pillage of Jammu remained afresh in the minds of the people and the aristocrats alike - for two months, one witnessed not a single ...
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The Ballad of Raja Jagat Singh Pathania of Noorpur


Mughal Painting of Raja Jagat Singh Pathania, now at the Cleveland Museum of Art

Raja Jagat Singh Pathania was believed to be the greatest ruler of Noorpur state, which today stands divided between Punjab and Himachal. A mansabdar of the Mughal forces, he had spared no occasion to seek independence from the Mughal yoke. Interestingly, he had great relations with  Nurjehan, Jahangir's wife, who interceded and sued peace despite a rebellion against Shah Jahan. It was in her honor amid a trick played on the Mughals that the original kingdom of Dhameta was renamed as Noorpur.

His reign had seen the Noorpur state reach its zenith in military might and culture. However, his history is poorly documented in present times, and remains ignored barring some local scholars of Himachal Pradesh. A ballad that still survives from the historical period was documented by eminent Himachal scholar and Hindi author Dr. Gautam Sharma ‘Vyathit’. The version transcribed and translated by him is presented below from his book ‘Folklore of Himachal Pradesh’.

Though not much description has been provided in terms of timelines, in all likelihood the Emperor Nali mentioned here may refer to Shah Jahan. The ballad refers to an Afghanistan campaign. This campaign may have been the first Afghanistan campaign led by Murad Baksh in 1646 where they defended Afghanistan from the Persians. The year 1646 is believed to be the year Raja Jagat Singh died.

Listen my brothers in Noorpur reigned Raja Jagat Pathania
Son of Karamchand, grand-son of Tarachand
Given of gods, born at full term
Born to rule Noorpur.
Thou art fortunate O King, thy feet have the lucky Chakra sign
Thy forehead bears the sign of the snake which brings wealth.

Nali the Moslem king heard of Jagat Singh and sent him a letter
Jagat reads the letter of the king Nali.
“I hear that in the hills, a Jagata is becoming famous.
Come and test your powers against mine.”
Jagat Singh read the letter, his eyes grew blood shot,
“Who was it that went and spread all this?
May you die O mega barber, thou art the culprit.
You were born and brought up here and now thou has betrayed me?”

Voices arose, let us go to fight in battle field.
People dug up buried family treasures, and heaped them in their gardens.
Jagat Singh spent money in fistfuls and asked his people to get ready for battle, to die.
Some are fond of their old mothers, some are devoted to their vivacious wives,
“Those that love women may stay at home, brothers.
And those that love the king, come with me.”
The king Jagat left for Delhi.

The Moghul women sitting on roof tops saw the armies of the hill folk.
One said, “the kind of the hills has come”
The other said, “he is a subordinate of ours,”
The kind at this, yelled, “If I am truthful, I shall tie these people with handcuff.”
Raja Jagat Singh orders his servants,
“We must finish them at one go.”

“Where were you when god distributed good looks?” (the emperor Nali asked Jagat)
“When god was distributing good looks, I had gone to acquire wisdom,”
Nali saluted the brave and witty king.
“Such a brave man should be sent across the area of Atak (Attock),
Colelct as much bounty s you like in two and a half hours,
I give you Delhi to loot.”
The forces of Jagat entered the city and took all the gold and silver, and nothing else.
As the day arose, Delhi screamed and wailed,
Jagat Pathania left Delhi and reached Kabul.
He ordered his faithful soldiers to fight.
And they killed all the Moslems in sight.
Twenty-two princesses of Kabul were slain, none came to the front,
The battle over, the armies returned.

Among the high hills, Jagat pitches his tents.
And said, “I am Indra, the lord of gods,
Who is as great as I am?”
Indra was cross and sent a snow storm to finish his forces.
“Thou has been vain O king, one should not be vain.”
Indra shot arrows of snow. The dying soldiers screamed,
“Listen to us, O king!
We are getting buried in snow, who shall save us?
The snow is covering the tents.”
And soon Jagat and his armies lay buried in snow.

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Gulab Singh and the Battle of Jammu 1809

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