The Source Book On Sikhism

Chapter Sixty-Four

S. Hari Singh Nalwa & Subjugation of North-western Frontier

Dr. Kirpal Singh

The greatest legacy of Hari Singh Nalwa is the conquest of Hazara and Peshawar and consolidation of the north-western frontier. But for the achievement all the regions along with the entire trans-Indus territories would have been lost to India forever and in that case these territories would not have been part of the British Empire. Nor Pakistan would have inherited them. These would have been in Afghanistan. Hence Hari Singh Nalwa’s achievement in this context is of international importance. The purpose of this paper is to examine and analyse the circumstances in which this was achieved and to discuss how Hari Singh Nalwa as able to consolidate the defence of the frontier in these areas.

In order to appreciate the heroic work of Hari Singh Nalwa it is very essential to comprehend the political situation and historic background of the trans-Indus territories.

According to Ain-i-Akbari all these areas were included in the Kabul province which was one of the provinces like Lahore Province (Punjab) or Multan Province, Kapul Province and Pakhly viz Hazara (modern district of Hazara) as one of the Sarkars like that of Kabul, Sewad (Peshawar area) Issa Khvl, etc. Though these areas were under the control of Mughals they were never subdued. In the Attock (2) District Gazetter it has been stated: “But the Mughal sway was always more nominal than real. They appear to have been content to levy revenue and there is nothing to show that any serious government was attempted. The whole district paid only about half a lakh of rupees and the heads of each tribe were practically independent”. (1)

This nominal sway of the Mughals ended after the Nadir Shah invasion which created a lot of disturbance in the whole of north-western India in 1738-39 A.D. The Mughal Emperor Mohammed Shah could not resist the massacre loot and plunder of the foreign invader. (2) Nadir Shah established a very strong force on the north-western frontier. The Afghans continued the work that Nadir Shah had begun. With the Khaibar pass and Peshawar district in foreign hands, Punjab became a starting point for the expeditions against the Delhi government. (3) All the trans-Indus areas and some portion of the west Punjab was brought under the control of Kabul kingdom by Ahmad Shah Abdali, founder of modern Afghanistan. The repeated invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali could not crush the Sikhs. On the other hand these had their rise to political power.

The Sikhs were successful in wrestling most of the territory of Punjab from Ahmad Shah Abdali. Gazi Nur Mohammad in his famous Jang Namah gives the details of the Sikh possessions. He concludes: “From Sarhind to Lahore, Multan and Derajet the whole country has been divided by these wretched dogs (4) among themselves”.

The Sikh Chiefs had very nominal control over the western part of Sindh Sagar Doab - viz areas of Fatehjang, Pindigheb and Bhakhar. Hari Ram Gupta writes, "Even the Afghan invaders had not subdued them because they were off the highway in a country difficult of access and Ghebes satisfied themselves by presenting a small tribute consisting of a horse or a few heads of cattle as the invader passed and thus secured his goodwill.” Gujar Singh Stangi could not make an impression on them to any remarkable degree. Charat Singh Sukerchakia overran the southern part of Rawalpindi - he could not get much out of hardy Ghebas and his supremacy over this tract also remained nominal (5):. It was left to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his general, Hari Singh Nalwa to effectively subdue and control both the cis Indus and trans-Indus turbulent tribes.

The rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1799 - 1839) will ever remain a watershed in the annals of the trans-Indus regions. Maharaja Ranjit Singh undertook to subdue and control effectively these ferocious tribes. After the conquest and annexation of Jultan and Kashmir he led his legions across the Indus. This was a big challenge to the valiant Afghans who raised a cry of Jehad under Azim Khan Burkzai, ruler of Kabul. A big army was collected on the bank of the river Kabul at Naushehra. Ranjit Singh won a decisive victory and Ghazis was dispersed in 1823.