Gen Zorawar Singh: A tribute to the legend

On the frosty morning of 12 December 1841 an exhausted army in bitterness of cold with chilled bones at the altitude of 15000 feet ,with half of them having lost the use of toes and fingers, where all army men were more or less frost bitten and handling of arms was difficult , the General led the Battle at To-Yo with all his valor and might knowing that his army was outnumbered, also knowing that his exhausted army is fighting in an inhospitable terrain and freezing weather but he marched on like a true warrior, who doesn’t survive but thrive , who pushes through the odd situation, who doesn’t relent but fights with the heart of a Lion and comes out victorious.

The general keeps on marching in the battle but in the exchange of fire Gen Zorawar gets wounded in his right shoulder by a gunshot. Un deterred with the injury he kills 5 tibetans and roars " Either Tibetans will take my head or shall take myself." After a Lance hurled at him, got pierced against his chest and he fells to the ground, sword escaped his hands, he got surrounded by Tibetans and slain. The loss of their leader froze the spirit of army and it dispersed frantically to save their lives. Thus with the death of General Zorawar Singh the inimitable adventure of Dogra warrior and glorious saga comes to an end.

The Samadhi of Gen Zorawar Singh has been built atop the 300 feet high hill on To Yo near Taklakot in West Tibet. The memorial is shaped as Buddhist Chorten and is one of its kind. People pray and throng to pay their respect at memorial . Even today, the Tibetans call it “Singh ba Chorten” or the Cenotaph of the “Singh Warrior”. In a common folklore it is said that Tibetans made their children wear Tabiz made with the bones of Zorawar Singh thinking that their children would grow up as brave and strong as Zorawar Singh.

General Zorawar is a forgotten Hero of the Indian Military History and not many know about his contributions to present-day India. His campaign extended to areas of Ladakh and Tibet. General Zorawar truly believed in Offensive Action with his manoeuvre warfare. He had an ‘Offensive Mindset’ and applied the “Forward Posture” policy. It was Zorawar’s sagacity and vision which guided the destiny of J&K under Maharaja Gulab Singh and Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Gen Zorawar Singh was born on 13 April 1786 at Kahlur, in neighboring Himachal. Very little is known about his early life except that he took up a job with Rana Jaswant Singh of Marmat, (Ramnagar) when he was 16. He learnt archery, riding and swordsmanship under Rana’s guidance.
Thereafter he met Raja Gulab Singh at Jammu who appointed him as Sepoy under Kiladar of Reasi. Reasi finally became his family abode where his descendents live and celebrate his legacy. Being smart and intelligent, he won favours of his Kiladar who appointed him as linkman between him and Raja Gulab Singh. Later Zorawar Singh was appointed ‘Inspector of Commissariat of Supplies’ for all the Forts. When Gulab Singh became Raja of Jammu in 1822, Zorawar Singh was appointed Governor of Reasi, Arnas, Kussal and Kishtwar with a title of Wazir. 
Later as General of Raja Gulab Singh, what Zorawar Singh achieved is unprecedented. He launched Trans-Himalayan campaigns starting on 15 April 1834 with an army of 5000 and within 8 years conquered Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kailash Mansarovar and Western Tibet. His Martyrdom on 12 December 1841 ended a saga of remarkable valour of a legendary military commander who took Indian boundaries up to Central Asian Republics.

It is a pity that modern Indians, both young and old know little or nothing about the huge contribution of General Zorawar Singh, the Napoleon of India! He after all has been credited with unprecedented victories in and around North of India.

Though the united map of Jammu and Kashmir as shaped by General Zorawar Singh has been broken and altered many times, including the recent developments, the stories of the past still echo in the Himalayan terrains. Much of what Indians call home towards Northern part of India has remained in India due to the conquests of General Zorawar Singh and Maharaja Gulab Singh.It is unfortunate that such fearless Dogra emperors and warriors such as the valiant General Zorawar Singh were denied their due space in the annals of Indian history. Moreover numerous heritage sites which were built by the Dogra rulers lie in shambles. To summarise , the youth must learn and appreciate the sacrifices of their warriors his and their contribution to India. People who forget their heroes have no option but to see their civilization come to an end slowly. This should be taught to school children in school text books so that they know about the sacrifices their ancestors did and be proud of their legendary heroes.

As George Orwell said “He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”Today let’s remember the valor and sacrifice of one of the greatest warrior of India Gen Zorawar Singh and celebrate his heroic adventures which etched him highest place in the annals of military history.

By DR ARUN MANHAS