Gulab Singh Saini
Encyclopedia
Gulab Singh Saini was an Indian freedom fighter and commander-in-chief of the army of princely state of Ballabhgarh
. He led the army of Ballabhgarh state in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
and was hanged on January 9, 1858 in Delhi's Chandni Chowk along with two other leaders of the mutiny.
's family for many generations and Gulab Singh's forefathers traditionally held the ranks of army chief successively in this predominantly Jat principality. Gulab Singh Saini's father, Jodh Singh, was also the 'senapati', or commander-in-chief, of Ballabhgarh's army during the time of Raja Ram Singh, who was Nahar Singh's father. Raja Nahar Singh is said to have received all of his military training from Jodh Singh, and later Jodh Singh's son, Gulab Singh, was appointed as the 'senapati' or the army chief upon the coronation of Nahar Singh as the Raja of Ballabhgarh.
, Gulab Singh Saini took a stand against the English army in the village of Sihi. He led a composite army which consisted of Muslims, Jats , Sainis , Meos and a lot of other soldiers of Rajput extractions. On May 10, 1857 Gulab Singh and his native army inflicted a crushing defeat on the army of East India Company and forced them to retreat. This campaign was undertaken to prevent the English army's entry into Delhi to dethrone Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last nominal Mughal
emperor of India. Due to Gulab Singh's efforts English temporarily failed in accomplishing this and this allowed Bahadur Shah Zafar to be coronated once again as the emperor of India and the nominal leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by a congre of Indian rulers
Ballabhgarh
Ballabhgarh is a town and a tehsil in Faridabad District of Haryana, India, and is part of the National Capital Region...
. He led the army of Ballabhgarh state in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
and was hanged on January 9, 1858 in Delhi's Chandni Chowk along with two other leaders of the mutiny.
Early life
He was the son of Jodh Singh Saini. His ancestors were close associates of Raja Nahar SinghRaja Nahar Singh
Raja Nahar Singh was a King of the princely state of Ballabhgarh in Faridabad District of Haryana, India. His forefathers were Jats who had built a fort in Faridabad around 1739...
's family for many generations and Gulab Singh's forefathers traditionally held the ranks of army chief successively in this predominantly Jat principality. Gulab Singh Saini's father, Jodh Singh, was also the 'senapati', or commander-in-chief, of Ballabhgarh's army during the time of Raja Ram Singh, who was Nahar Singh's father. Raja Nahar Singh is said to have received all of his military training from Jodh Singh, and later Jodh Singh's son, Gulab Singh, was appointed as the 'senapati' or the army chief upon the coronation of Nahar Singh as the Raja of Ballabhgarh.
Role in 1857 mutiny
According to B.P. Dheeraj, a correspondent of Punjab KesariPunjab Kesari
Punjab Kesari is a Hindi-language newspaper published from many centres in Punjab and Haryana in India....
, Gulab Singh Saini took a stand against the English army in the village of Sihi. He led a composite army which consisted of Muslims, Jats , Sainis , Meos and a lot of other soldiers of Rajput extractions. On May 10, 1857 Gulab Singh and his native army inflicted a crushing defeat on the army of East India Company and forced them to retreat. This campaign was undertaken to prevent the English army's entry into Delhi to dethrone Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last nominal Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
emperor of India. Due to Gulab Singh's efforts English temporarily failed in accomplishing this and this allowed Bahadur Shah Zafar to be coronated once again as the emperor of India and the nominal leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by a congre of Indian rulers
Capture and execution
Gulab Singh Saini was hanged , along with Nahar Singh, Khushal Singh and Madho Singh, in the Chandni Chowk of New Delhi on January 9, 1858 after they had been allegedly captured by deception by English forces. Thereupon, all of his property and land was confiscated by the British colonialists and all public records pertaining to him and his companions were burnt down to erase the influence of their martyrdom on the natives.See also
- Saini historySaini historySainis of Punjab and contiguous region believe that their origin lies in the Surasena lineage of the Yaduvanshi Rajputs of Mathura. This tribe was further a sub division of the Chandravanshi or Lunar Dynasty kshatriyas...
- Saini people
- List of Saini people
- Raja Nahar SinghRaja Nahar SinghRaja Nahar Singh was a King of the princely state of Ballabhgarh in Faridabad District of Haryana, India. His forefathers were Jats who had built a fort in Faridabad around 1739...