Pathania
Encyclopedia
Pathania is the name of the branch of the Tomara Clan
of Chandravanshi, Rajputs, descended from Lord Arjuna
, the hero of Mahabharata
. It is one of the ruling Rajput
clans of India. They mostly live in and around Himachal Pradesh
, in North India
. The Pathania clan established the Kingdom of Nurpur
in Himachal Pradesh
, in the 11th century and ruled it until 1849, This clan has to its credit two Maha Vir Chakra
winners in the Indian Army, among other war and peace time gallantry awards. This clan has also served valiantly in the British armed forces of India.
The great Vikramaditya
of the year 56BC is claimed to be an ancestor of the Tomara Pathania Rajputs.
In the Hindu tradition in India
and Nepal
, the widely used ancient calendar is Vikrama Samvat or Vikrama's era. This is said to have been started by the legendary king following his victory over the Saka
s in 56 BC.
Rana
Jethpal (1100?), the younger brother of King Anangpal II of Delhi, came to Jallandhar Doab
also called Bist Doab to conquer a territory for himself. After crossing the Beas
river he captured a fort called Bhet, and for this reason, he acquired the name Rana Bhet. After this he came upon the city of Pathankot
(possibly ancient Pratisthana), and following the customed tradition of Rajputs, in which the King almost in all instances took his name from the name of the country where he exercised his dominion, he came to be known as a Pathania Rajput, instead of a Tomara.
had its capital at Pathankot
, now a district of Punjab
, India
. The kingdom included Pathankot and a large tract on the plains of the Punjab
; also the whole of the present Nurpur Tahsil of Kangra district
of Himachal Pradesh
, with the addition of Shahpurkandi, now in Gurdaspur
, and also a small tract to the west of the Ravi, called Lakhanpur, now in Jammu & Kashmir State. The Kingdom was bounded on the north by Kangra and Chamba
, on the south by the Punjab plains, and on the west by the Ravi river. The Capital was at pathankot, which was known as Paithan in the medieval times. All through their history the Pathania clan rebelled against the foreign invaders, both Muslims and the British. Although sometimes the Pathania Kings held the high office's of Generals known as Mansabdar
(Army Commander, reserved for Hindu and Muslim Princes of note) in the Mughal military and captured many a kingdom for the Mughal Emperor in Hindustan and beyond the Indus up till Uzbekistan
, yet repeatedly they rebelled against the forces of the Mughal's and other foreign invaders.
at a nearby place, Daula Dhar early in 1849.(Presently known as a Village of Dalla Near Dharkalan)
from Pathankot
. This fortress was originally built by the Guleria Rajputs. It was seized during the reign of Raja Suraj Mal Pathania, and a younger brother, Madho Singh, was made the Quiledar or the commander of the fort. For more information on Kotla, see Kotla, Himachal Pradesh
.
Pathania from Chamba state and was secretly fortified by him and his sons in preparation for his infamous rebellion against Mughals(1640–42). This fort was never seized or captured. However, Raja Jagat Singh Pathania was persuaded to stop the war against the Mughals. Shahjahan knew that Jagat Singh could not be browbeaten and he could use his help in times of war. Therefore he sent for a compromise on mutually agreed terms.
The folklore associated with the siege of fort goes that the Mughals forces cordoned the fort for such longtime that they planted mango plants which fruited before the end of siege (this place near taragarh fort today is called Amb ka Bagh literally meaning Mango orchard). Yet this long siege could not break the will of Raja jagat Singh and his men whose ration had diminished. According, to folklore the men of Raja Jagat Singh one day to fool cordoning forces used milk of female dog (who had given litter inside fort but fed in Mughal camp) to prepare a kheer (milk pudding) and threw it out side the fort. When the cordon commander of Mughal forces saw this he died of shock and the news reached the Mughal emperor who was forced to negotiate with Raja Jagat Singh Pathania.
There were some other forts situated in the territory of the Pathania Kingdom, but they were either destroyed by the massive earthquake which struck this region in April 1905, or were completed destroyed by the Mughal armies.
was in 1848 against the British by Ram Singh Pathania, for his King who was still a minor.
Ram Singh 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.
Finally then Lt Governor of Punjab, John Lawrence sent a strong contingent led by Gen Wheeler to capture Ram Singh 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's men inflicted heavy losses on British troops. Following words are inscribed on the grave of British officer killed in this action:-
Such was the intensity of Ram Singh Pathania's campaign against the British that locals still sing a ballad praising his courage:
After the battle of Dalla Dhar the British realized that it would be impossible to defeat and capture Ram Singh in a Military operation, therefore they used another means to capture him. They bribed a local Priest to tell them when and where Ram Singh could be found alone and unarmed. Based on this information British soldiers laid an ambush and captured 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 many believed was the first armed revolt against British Raj, Ram Singh Pathania was sentenced to life imprisonment and deported to Rangoon (Burma)[according to some historians he was deported to Singapore]. He died there on 11 November 1850.
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
.
Every year on 16 & 17 August, a fair honoring Ram Singh is held at Dalla dhar, near Shahpurkandi, Pathankot
, where the sword and Armour of the lionheart, Ram Singh Pathania is displayed.
In his book Ball of Fire a nickname given to the 5th Infantry Division (India) on World War-II, Antony Brett has mentioned about Lt Anant Singh’s leadership qualities. ‘Although wounded in the face and in both legs, he collected his company headquarters and any other men he could muster, and pushed the enemy out with the bayonet. Only then, and under orders, did he hand over the company to his second-in-command, but the latter, too, was wounded by bomb splinters,’ wrote Brett. He subsequently rose to the rank of Major General.
PARAM VASHISHT SEVA MEDAL
Lt.Gen. Mahinder Singh Pathania of Reh was awarded the PVSM BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA'after the 1962 Indo-China conflict.He became the Adjutant
General at Army Headquarters.
the 'Pathanias' have played a very active role in the political sphere of Himachal Pradesh. Pathania politicians from the Kangra-Chamba belt of Himachal have contributed immensely in development of the state.
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
of Chandravanshi, Rajputs, descended from Lord Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
, the hero of Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. It is one of the ruling Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clans of India. They mostly live in and around Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, in North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. The Pathania clan established the Kingdom of Nurpur
Nurpur
Nurpur is a city and a municipal council in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was formerly a Kingdom ruled by the Pathania clan of Rajputs, since the 11th century AD. The capital of the Kingdom was at Pathankot, now in Punjab....
in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, in the 11th century and ruled it until 1849, This clan has to its credit two Maha Vir Chakra
Maha Vir Chakra
The Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It may be awarded posthumously. Literally Maha Veer means extraordinarily brave.-Appearance:The medal is made...
winners in the Indian Army, among other war and peace time gallantry awards. This clan has also served valiantly in the British armed forces of India.
Rana Jethpal: founder of the royal house of Pathania
Until 1164 a Tomara Dynasty reigned in the Rajput principality of Delhi. Anangpal II, the Tomara King claimed descent from the Pandavas, who founded Indraprastha, the ancient Delhi. He therefore presents the phenomenon of a King occupying a throne established by another ancestor, King Yudhishtra, 2250 years before him.The great Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya was a legendary emperor of Ujjain, India, famed for his wisdom, valour and magnanimity. The title "Vikramaditya" was later assumed by many other kings in Indian history, notably the Gupta King Chandragupta II and Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya .The name King Vikramaditya is a...
of the year 56BC is claimed to be an ancestor of the Tomara Pathania Rajputs.
In the Hindu tradition in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, the widely used ancient calendar is Vikrama Samvat or Vikrama's era. This is said to have been started by the legendary king following his victory over the Saka
Saka
The Saka were a Scythian tribe or group of tribes....
s in 56 BC.
Rana
Rana (title)
Rana is a Princely title of Royalty in Sanskrit. Rana is used by the Jats and Rajput of South Asia. The name is usually interpreted to mean "Prince".Compound titles Rana Sahib, Rana Bahadur, and Maharana.-Royal title in India:...
Jethpal (1100?), the younger brother of King Anangpal II of Delhi, came to Jallandhar Doab
Doab
A Doab is a term used in India and Pakistan for a "tongue" or tract of land lying between two confluent rivers...
also called Bist Doab to conquer a territory for himself. After crossing the Beas
Beas River
The Beas River is a river in the northern part of India. The river rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows for some 470 km to the Sutlej River in the Indian state of Punjab....
river he captured a fort called Bhet, and for this reason, he acquired the name Rana Bhet. After this he came upon the city of Pathankot
Pathankot
Pathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
(possibly ancient Pratisthana), and following the customed tradition of Rajputs, in which the King almost in all instances took his name from the name of the country where he exercised his dominion, he came to be known as a Pathania Rajput, instead of a Tomara.
Brief history
The Kingdom of NurpurNurpur
Nurpur is a city and a municipal council in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was formerly a Kingdom ruled by the Pathania clan of Rajputs, since the 11th century AD. The capital of the Kingdom was at Pathankot, now in Punjab....
had its capital at Pathankot
Pathankot
Pathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
, now a district of Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The kingdom included Pathankot and a large tract on the plains of the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
; also the whole of the present Nurpur Tahsil of Kangra district
Kangra district
Kangra is the most populous district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Dharamsala is the administrative headquarters of the district.-Geography:Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is situated in Western Himalayas between 31°2 to...
of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, with the addition of Shahpurkandi, now in Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur is a city in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. It is located in the center of and is the administrative head of Gurdaspur District. It was the location of a fort which was famous for the siege it sustained in 1712 from the Mughals...
, and also a small tract to the west of the Ravi, called Lakhanpur, now in Jammu & Kashmir State. The Kingdom was bounded on the north by Kangra and Chamba
Chamba, Himachal Pradesh
Chamba is an ancient town in the Chamba district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India. According to the 2001 Indian census, Chamba has a population of 20,312 people...
, on the south by the Punjab plains, and on the west by the Ravi river. The Capital was at pathankot, which was known as Paithan in the medieval times. All through their history the Pathania clan rebelled against the foreign invaders, both Muslims and the British. Although sometimes the Pathania Kings held the high office's of Generals known as Mansabdar
Mansabdar
Mansabdar was the generic term for the military -type grading of all imperial officials of the Mughal Empire. The mansabdars governed the empire and commanded its armies in the emperor's name...
(Army Commander, reserved for Hindu and Muslim Princes of note) in the Mughal military and captured many a kingdom for the Mughal Emperor in Hindustan and beyond the Indus up till Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
, yet repeatedly they rebelled against the forces of the Mughal's and other foreign invaders.
List of rulers
- Raja Jai Pal, About 1095 establishes Pathania branch of the Delhi TomarTomarTomar Municipality has a total area of 351.0 km² and a total population of 43,007 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 16 parishes, and is located in Santarém District...
Kings. His brother Raja Bhu Pal lived in Paithan, modern day PathankotPathankotPathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
. - Raja Ghatr Pal
- Raja Sukin Pal
- Raja Jagrat Pal
- Raja Ram Pal
- Raja GoPal Pal
- Raja Arjun Pal
- Raja Varsha Pal
- Raja Jatan Pal
- Raja Vidurath Pal
- Raja Jokan Pal, married a Tirharan Rani
- Raja Kirat Pal, also called Rana Kirat
- Raja Kahko Pal
- Raja Jas Pal 1313/1353
- Raja Kailas PalKailas PalRaja Kailas Pal Pathania was a King of Nurpur, who succeeded Raja Jas Pal as the chief of the Pathania Clan of Rajputs. He is accorded credit for wounding and defeating a famous Muslim General, Tatar Khan, who was a governor of Khorasan and who had invaded the Punjab. Kailas Pal received a reward...
1353/1397 - Raja Nag Pal 1397/1438
- Raja Prithvi Pal 1438/1473
- Raja Bhil PalBhil PalRaja Bhil Pal Pathania was a Rajput ruler of the kingdom of Nurpur, in the Himalayan foot hills. He was a contemporary of Sikandar Lodi of Delhi , and assisted him in his wars and therefore increased his own territory....
1473/1513 - Raja Bakht MalBakht MalRaja Bakht-Mal Pathania was a King of Nurpur, who succeeded Raja Bhil Pal in 1513. Raja Bakht-Mal's reign covered an eventful period in Indian history. Like his father he was in good terms with the Lodi dynasty of Delhi...
1513/1558 Fought along Sikandar Sur(son of Shershah Suri against Emperor Akbar) - Raja Pahari Mal 1558/1580
- Raja Vasu Dev 1580/1613 Rebelled against Akbar time and again, Paithan taken away from him
- Raja Suraj Mal 1613/1618 Rebelled against Jehangir
- Raja Jagat SinghRaja Jagat SinghRaja Jagat Singh Pathania succeeded Raja Suraj Mal as the King of Nurpur, Himachal/India. He was the second son of Raja Basu Dev. The golden period of Pathania rule on Nurpur came under the reign of Raja Jagat Singh. Under him the state reached her pinnacle...
1618/1646 - Raja Rup Singh 1646/1661 Taragarh taken from him, granted 1500 mansab
- Raja Mandhata Singh 1661/1700
- Raja Dayadhata 1700/1735
- Raja Fateh Singh 1735/1770
- Raja Prithvi Singh 1770/1805
- Raja Bir Singh 1805/1846, born 1785, last ruling Chief of Nurpur, married a daughter of Raja Jit Singh of ChambaChambaChamba may refer to:*Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, city in Himachal Pradesh, India*Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, India*Chamba State, princely state*Chamba, Uttarakhand, small town in Tehri-Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, India...
, and had issue. He died in Battle in, 1846. - Raja Jaswant Sngh 1846/1898
- Raja Gagan Singh 1898/1952, 6th Viceregal Darbari in Kangra District, an Honourary Magistrate in Kangra District, the Hereditary title of Raja was conferred 15 March 1909 by the Viceroy, married and had issue. He died 1952.
Nurpur (Dhameri) Fort
Built in the 11th century. It was one of the primary strongholds of the Clan. It was also the main seat of the royal family.Shahpurkandi Fort
This 16th century fort nestles at the foot of the Himalayas and overlooks the river Ravi. It was constructed by a Rajput chief, Jaspal Singh Pathania around 1505, who made it his capital to have control over the Kangra and the Nurpur regions. It was the refuge of Ram Singh Pathania who rebelled against the British during 1848. He was caught while offering prayer to the goddess DurgaDurga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
at a nearby place, Daula Dhar early in 1849.(Presently known as a Village of Dalla Near Dharkalan)
Kotla Fort
It is situated in the interior of Kangra. The fort of Kotla lies almost half way to Gaggal in Himachal pradeshHimachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
from Pathankot
Pathankot
Pathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
. This fortress was originally built by the Guleria Rajputs. It was seized during the reign of Raja Suraj Mal Pathania, and a younger brother, Madho Singh, was made the Quiledar or the commander of the fort. For more information on Kotla, see Kotla, Himachal Pradesh
Kotla, Himachal Pradesh
Kotla is a small hill town situated on the Pathankot–Dharamshala road, in Himachal Pradesh, India. The town is about 45 km from Pathankot and the same distance from Dharamshala...
.
Taragarh Fort
This fortress was captured by Raja Jagat SinghRaja Jagat Singh
Raja Jagat Singh Pathania succeeded Raja Suraj Mal as the King of Nurpur, Himachal/India. He was the second son of Raja Basu Dev. The golden period of Pathania rule on Nurpur came under the reign of Raja Jagat Singh. Under him the state reached her pinnacle...
Pathania from Chamba state and was secretly fortified by him and his sons in preparation for his infamous rebellion against Mughals(1640–42). This fort was never seized or captured. However, Raja Jagat Singh Pathania was persuaded to stop the war against the Mughals. Shahjahan knew that Jagat Singh could not be browbeaten and he could use his help in times of war. Therefore he sent for a compromise on mutually agreed terms.
The folklore associated with the siege of fort goes that the Mughals forces cordoned the fort for such longtime that they planted mango plants which fruited before the end of siege (this place near taragarh fort today is called Amb ka Bagh literally meaning Mango orchard). Yet this long siege could not break the will of Raja jagat Singh and his men whose ration had diminished. According, to folklore the men of Raja Jagat Singh one day to fool cordoning forces used milk of female dog (who had given litter inside fort but fed in Mughal camp) to prepare a kheer (milk pudding) and threw it out side the fort. When the cordon commander of Mughal forces saw this he died of shock and the news reached the Mughal emperor who was forced to negotiate with Raja Jagat Singh Pathania.
Mau or Maukot Fort
It was nearest to the plains, almost half way to Nurpur from Pathankot, situated on a low hill of Shiwalik range running east to the Chakki river. It was an enclosure surrounded by dense forests, a Castle of great strength. It was a legend in its times, a saying was in vogue: Mau Ki Muhim Yaro Maut Ki Nishani Hai, 'The expedition to Mau, friends is a call to death'.Isral Fort
This fort was exactly half way to Taragarh from Nurpur fort. It was founded by Raja Nag Pal, in honour of victory of Sukh Pal his brother. Raja Nag Pal was crowned in this fort about 1397. It was an ideal fort commanding the splendid view of the surroundings. It was rich in buildings like palaces, Diwankhana and stable for the horses of the royal family. Now nothing is left. But the site is still known as Diwankhana by the local people. The site is lying in dense forests south of Sulyali village.There were some other forts situated in the territory of the Pathania Kingdom, but they were either destroyed by the massive earthquake which struck this region in April 1905, or were completed destroyed by the Mughal armies.
The Rebellion Of Ram Singh Pathania
Keeping in tune with their valorous tradition, the last battle fought by the Rajputs of the Kingdom of NurpurNurpur
Nurpur is a city and a municipal council in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was formerly a Kingdom ruled by the Pathania clan of Rajputs, since the 11th century AD. The capital of the Kingdom was at Pathankot, now in Punjab....
was in 1848 against the British by Ram Singh Pathania, for his King who was still a minor.
Ram Singh Pathania's Campaign (1845–1849)
In 1845 after death of Raja Bir Singh, ruler of Nurpur (then a hill state in present Himachal Pradesh), the natives wanted to name Prince Jaswant Singh Son of Bir 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 led 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'.Ram Singh 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.
Finally then Lt Governor of Punjab, John Lawrence sent a strong contingent led by Gen Wheeler to capture Ram Singh 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'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 Dalla on 16 Jan 1849 when engaged with insurgents under Ram Singh 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...
Translation: Pathania fought valiantly alone, When Dafli (a one-sided percussion instrument) sounded in 'Dallay di Dhara' (the area where the battle took place), Who hit drums...
After the battle of Dalla Dhar the British realized that it would be impossible to defeat and capture Ram Singh in a Military operation, therefore they used another means to capture him. They bribed a local Priest to tell them when and where Ram Singh could be found alone and unarmed. Based on this information British soldiers laid an ambush and captured 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
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
and Guler, and handed over to the British.
Because of this rebellion, which many believed was the first armed revolt against British Raj, Ram Singh Pathania was sentenced to life imprisonment and deported to Rangoon (Burma)[according to some historians he was deported to Singapore]. He died there on 11 November 1850.
During the main Hindu festivals such as Dusshera Durga Puja
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
, the Baren or Martial
Martial
Marcus Valerius Martialis , was a Latin poet from Hispania best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan...
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
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
as well as the Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur is a city in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. It is located in the center of and is the administrative head of Gurdaspur District. It was the location of a fort which was famous for the siege it sustained in 1712 from the Mughals...
district of Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
.
Every year on 16 & 17 August, a fair honoring Ram Singh is held at Dalla dhar, near Shahpurkandi, Pathankot
Pathankot
Pathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
, where the sword and Armour of the lionheart, Ram Singh Pathania is displayed.
Mahavir Chakra
- Lt. Col. Kaman Singh, son of Dafadar Vijay Singh Pathania (Vijay Singh served with 23 Cavalry during Mesopotamia campaign in WW1), was born on 23 April 1917, at Ladori, Nurpur, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. He was commissioned in the Garhwal Rifles on 22 December 1940. Two of his sons fought during the Indo-Pak War of 1971.Lt. Col. Kaman Singh was awarded Mahavir Chakra for his conspicuous gallantry in the Kashmir Ops of 1948. As a mark of respect to the brave Colonel, the last Indian post on the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road was named Kaman Post and the bridge was named Kaman Aman Setu (Bridge).Now his wife and sons are living in Surajpur village in Indora tehsil Disst kangra
- Lt. Col. Anant Singh Pathania son of Lt. Col. Raghubir Singh Pathania, was born on 25 May 1913, at village Re, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. He was commissioned in 5 Gorkha Rifles on 3 February 1945. He was honoured with the Mahavir Chakra for his exceptional gallantry and leadership during the 1948 war.He rose to the rank of Major General,holding post of Dir Military Ops. and Dir. Gen. NATIONAL CADET CORPS.
Military Cross (British Army)
- Lt Anant Singh Pathaniaof Reh,'was in the 13 Frontier Force Rifles, was sent to Waziristan to suppress the Pathans but keeping in mind his leadership qualities Anant was sent to the famous battle of KerenBattle of KerenThe Battle of Keren was fought as part of the East African Campaign during World War II. The Battle of Keren was fought from 5 February-1 April 1941 between the colonial Italian army defending it's colonial possession of Eritrea and the invading British and Commonwealth forces. In 1941, Keren was...
in North-East Africa during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1940-41, where he played a vital role in suppressing Italian forces. He was given the Military Cross for his courage.
In his book Ball of Fire a nickname given to the 5th Infantry Division (India) on World War-II, Antony Brett has mentioned about Lt Anant Singh’s leadership qualities. ‘Although wounded in the face and in both legs, he collected his company headquarters and any other men he could muster, and pushed the enemy out with the bayonet. Only then, and under orders, did he hand over the company to his second-in-command, but the latter, too, was wounded by bomb splinters,’ wrote Brett. He subsequently rose to the rank of Major General.
Vir Chakra
- Flt Lt Virendra Singh Pathaniaof Reh. He was part of a Four Gnat formation escorting a Mystere Formation over Chamb. His formation found four Enemy Sabre aircraft attacking Indian Ground forces. As his formation engaged the enemy fighters, Pathania positioned himself behind one of the fighters and downed it with Cannon fire. The enemy Sabre crashed in our lines. For this aircombat victory Pathania was awarded the Vir Chakra.He retired holding the rank of Group Captain.He was also awarded the VSM.(Vayu Sena Medal).
Sena/Nau Sena/Vayu Sena Medal
- Col. Satish Chander Singh Pathania
PARAM VASHISHT SEVA MEDAL
Lt.Gen. Mahinder Singh Pathania of Reh was awarded the PVSM BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA'after the 1962 Indo-China conflict.He became the Adjutant
General at Army Headquarters.
Politics
Post Independence and after the creation of Himachal PradeshHimachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
the 'Pathanias' have played a very active role in the political sphere of Himachal Pradesh. Pathania politicians from the Kangra-Chamba belt of Himachal have contributed immensely in development of the state.