There was a violent demonstration in Budhawar in Leh to demand full state status to Ladakh, in which four people lost their lives. By removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Government had also declared Ladakh as a union territory and since then the local people are adamant on demanding the status of full state to the state. The government says that talks are going on with various parties for this. But some people are engaged in removing the talks by resorting to violence.
‘Napoleon of India’ Joravar Singh
In such a situation, we tell you the story of Ladakh’s merger in Jammu and Kashmir. To know it, it is very important to know the great commander Joravar Singh Kahaluria, who won areas like Ladakh, Tibet, Baltistan. Dogra warrior Zoravar Singh Kahluria is also called ‘Napolian of India’, as he expanded the borders of the country to the border of China. Joravar Singh was not only a warrior, but he was also a great patriot dedicated to Punjab’s independence and regional security. His contribution is invaluable in the history of Punjab. Even today, he is proudly remembered in the history of Punjab.
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Zorawar Singh has a major contribution in expanding the empire of North India. It is said that he was born in 1784 in a village in Kangra district of Himachal. His village used to be a part of a princely state named Kahalur and that is why he was named Zorawar Singh Kahaluria. Due to the land dispute in the family, he left his village and went to Haridwar in search of employment. He met Rana Jaswant Singh in Haridwar, who was a landlord in Jammu and Kashmir. Along with Rana Jaswant Singh, he learned the skills of war in Jammu and Kashmir and soon it was time to try this training.
Dogra commander expanded borders
In the year 1800, Maharaja Ranjit Singh established an empire of Sikhs. They now needed warriors. Zorawar Singh first worked in Ranjit Singh’s army and later he went with King Sansar Chand of Kangra. In the year 1817, there was a big change in Zorawar Singh’s life, when he got a chance to go to the service of Dogra Sardar Mia Kishore Singh Jamwal in Jammu. Maharaja Ranjit Singh won the year 1808 Jammu and made it his princely state and handed over the power to Kishore Singh.
Kishore Singh’s son’s name was Gulab Singh. Gulab Singh’s eye on Zorawar Singh and he handed over the leadership of a fort named Bhimgarh to Jorawar. In the year 1819, another big responsibility came on the shoulder of Zorawar Singh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh handed over a large area of ​​Kashmir to Gulab Singh and Gulab Singh became king. He made his most special Jorawar Singh a governor of many Jagirs including Kishtwar. He became the most powerful person after the king in the princely state of Dogra. As soon as he took charge, Zorawar Singh planned to expand his boundaries.
Ladakh freedom from the occupation of Buddhists
Zorawar Singh got his first major victory in Ladakh. Before that, Buddhists ruled in Ladakh and he used to pay tax to Tibet. Ladakh was very important then, because the trade route from Tibet to Afghanistan used to go through Ladakh. The woolen shawl found here was in great demand worldwide. Raja Gulab Singh of Kashmir wanted to bring Ladakh under Dogra rule for a long time. He got this opportunity in 1834.
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That year the local governor of Ladakh rebelled from the local ruler and sought help from Gulab Singh. It was a big opportunity for Gulab Singh to set foot in Ladakh. Therefore, he sent the Dogra Army for Ladakh led by Zorawar Singh. Jorawar Singh reached Kargil with five thousand soldiers. After a long battle here, the Dogra army won. Under a treaty after the war, the ruler of Ladakh accepted the subjugation of King Gulab Singh and thus came under Ladakh Dogra rule and Sikh Empire.
Ladakh captured and merged with second
Although Jorawar was waving the victory flag in Ladakh, a conspiracy against him was starting in Kashmir at this time. Kashmir Governor Mian Singh had a rivalry with Gulab Singh. Desperate by Joravar’s victory, he started instigating rebellion against Dogra rule in Ladakh. As a result, in the next 5 years, a rebellion against Gulab Singh started from Kargil to Leh. Dogra soldiers were killed by capturing forts. Angry with this, Zorawar Singh gathered three thousand soldiers and attacked Ladakh once again.
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This time he did not allow Ladakh to remain a jagir, after merging him completely in Jammu and Kashmir, he made the king there a small village and sent it there. Joravar Singh was named in the entire Sikh empire due to winning Ladakh. However, he did not stop here. In the year 1840, he moved to Baltistan across Karakoram. Here too, the revolt in the royal family gave Zorawar Singh a chance. Finally, Baltistan also came under the rule of Dogra kings. He then established his empire on many areas of Tibet.
Veeragati found fighting Tibetans
On 12 December 1841, Jorawar Singh was fighting his last battle against Tibetans, when a bullet came in his shoulder. Despite this, the Veera warrior continued to fight. Then a Tibetan commander attacked Zorawar Singh with a spear and he got heroic. Seeing the bravery of Zorawar Singh, the enemy also cremated him with respect and the Tibetans made his tomb on Taklakot and also built a memorial in his name.
Rajendra Arora has given details of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in his book Kailash. In this, he writes that the tomb of Joravar Singh is still the same place where he died. Even in the 21st century, the soldiers of China know the name of this great warrior. A light tank has been built in India in the name of Zorawar Singh. There is a plan to deploy this tank on the border of China bordering Ladakh.
In such a situation, when the Ladakh is burning in the fire of violence today, we should not forget the sacrifice of a great warrior like Zorawar Singh. Ladakh became a part of India because of the might and war skills of Dogra commander.
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