Roaring Personality - Hari Singh Nalwa

"Baaghmaar" Hari Singh Nalwa. "Nalwa" (one with claws, like that of a tiger).

Title Of "Nalwa" was given to him by Maharaja Ranjit Singh after he, "had killed a tiger single-handed on horseback, with the sacrifice, however, of his horse."

In 1804, at the age of fourteen, his mother sent him to the court of Ranjit Singh to resolve a property dispute. Ranjit Singh decided the arbitration in his favour because of his background and aptitude. Ranjit Singh gave him a position at the court as a personal attendant.

During a hunt in 1804, a lion attacked him and also killed his horse. His fellow hunters attempted to protect him but he refused their offers and killed the lion by himself with a shield and dagger, thus earning the cognomen Baagh Maar (Lion-killer).He was commissioned as Sardar, commanding 800 horses and footmen, in that year.20 Major Battles Were Fought by Hari Singh Nalwa.

Only Sikhs have emerged victorious in Afghanistan.

In the two and a half centuries that Afghanistan has existed as a nation, three super powers — the US, Russia and Britain have attempted to subdue the Afghans with little or absolutely no success. The Sikhs won the only real victories against them. Hari Singh Nalwa's success has remained unmatched.Hari Singh Nalwa effectively reversed the entire course of history of Afghan Sikh relations. Afghans, who had been invading, looting and plundering the territory saw for the first time a reversal when Hari Singh established the Sikh kingdom in their domain. He effectively stopped the invasions forever.

Last Time
While the Maharaja was busy with preparations for the marriage of his son, Nau Nihal Singh, Hari Singh Nalwa was guarding the North-West Frontier. He had a handful of forces with him when the entire Afghan army attacked them at Jamrud.

Nalwa was fatally wounded in the battle but his death was kept a secret till the arrival of reinforcements. The fear of his presence kept the Afghan army at bay for almost ten days.
As a distinguished warrior, Nalwa commanded the respect of even his enemies, the Pathans. Ballads were composed in celebration of his bravery.

Architect in Nalwa
Nalwa also had a highly developed aesthetic sense. He built gardens in Srinagar and Amritsar. A town, Haripur (near Hazara, now in Pakistan), was planned and built by him. The various temples, gurdwaras and mosques he built bear testimony to his secular outlook.

He had four sons and he did not try to promote any of them at the court of Lahore. When he died, very little money was found in his toshakhana. It is said he gave most of his wealth in charity.

Ballads on his life
Hari Singh Nalwa's life became a popular theme for martial ballads. His earliest biographers were poets, including Qadir Bakhsh urf Kadaryar, Misr Hari Chand urf Qadaryaar and Ram Dayal, all in the 19th century.

In the 20th century, the song Mere Desh ki Dharti from the 1967 Bollywood film Upkaar eulogises him. Amar Chitra Katha first published the biography of Hari Singh Nalwa in 1978

Ballad speaks …
ਕਾਫ਼ — ਕੋਈ ਜਹਾਨ ਤੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਨਾ, ਹਰੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੇਹਾ ਵੱਡੀ ਓਟ ਵਾਲਾ।
ਪਹਿਲਾ ਹਥ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਦਸਿਆਸੂ, ਕਿਲਾ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ ਕੀਤਾ ਸਿਆਲਕੋਟ ਵਾਲਾ।
ਦੂਜਾ ਹਥ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਦਸਿਆ ਸੂ, ਕਿਲਾ ਮਾਰ ਮੋਇਆ ਜਮਰੌਦ ਵਾਲਾ।
ਕਾਦਰਯਾਰ ਜਹਾਨ ਤੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਹਿਣਾ, ਲਸ਼ਕਰ ਮਿਲ ਗਿਆ ਜੇ ਮੁਲਕੁਲ ਮੌਤ ਵਾਲਾ।।੨੨।।

(Qadir Bakhsh urf Kadaryar 19th cent.: 139)

Kaaf — There is no one in the world who matches Hari Singh’s monumental stature. His career commenced with the conquest of the fort of Sialkot, and he died defending the fort of Jamrud. No one, however, lives on in this world when death beckons, said Qadaryaar.

Ballad speaks:
Kabit
ਦਸਵੇਂ ਬਰਸ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਹੁਲ ਲੀਤੀ ਖੰਡੇ ਵਾਲੀ, ਛਕਿਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ ਹੋਂਵਦੀ ਲੁਕਾਈ ਸੀ।
ਯਾਰਵੇਂ ਬਰਸ ਸਵਾਰੀ ਖ਼ੂਬ ਕਰਨ ਲਗਾ, ਸ਼ੇਰ ਵਾਂਗੂੰ ਗੱਜੇ ਵਿਚ ਕੁਵੱਤ ਇਲਾਹੀ ਸੀ।
ਬਾਰਵੇਂ ਬਰਸ ਰੀਤ ਫੜੀ ਸਰਦਾਰਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ, ਤੇਰਵੇਂ ਬਰਸ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਭ ਚਿਤ ਆਈ ਸੀ।
ਚੌਦਵੇਂ ਬਰਸ ਚਿਤ ਕਰੇ ਖੰਡਾ ਫੇਰਣੇ ਨੂੰ, ਸੀਤਾਰਾਮਾ ਰੱਤੀ ਜੋ ਨਸੀਬਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ ਛਾਈ ਸੀ।੩।।
                                                                                                              (Sitarama in Amar Singh, 1903)

In his tenth year, he was initiated into the fold of the Khalsa (Pahul) which was a source of joy for all.
In his eleventh year, he displayed expert horsemanship, could roar like a lion, and was blessed with immense God-gifted strength.
By the age of twelve, he displayed leadership qualities. By the age of thirteen, he could recite the Gurbani (Sikh Scriptures) from memory.
At fourteen, said Sita Rama, he aspired to become an expert swordsman and destiny fully favoured him.
                                                                                                                 
On conclusion of Khande-da-Pahul, the ceremony of initiation, ten-year-old Hari came into the fold of the Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh at which time his surname became 'Singh'. Amarnath writes that in 1804 Hari was given the title of 'Sardar', or Chief, and was placed to command 800 men comprising both sowars (cavalry) and piyade (infantry). Hari Singh became 'Nalwa' after the Sardar "had killed a tiger single-handed on horseback, with the sacrifice, however, of his horse" .

Its difficult to stop writing about Hari Singh Nalwa. Will Come up with more inspiring stories from his life.

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