VALIANT MIAN DODA - DUGGAR DESH HERO & A WARRIOR UNPARALLELED IN HIS COURAGE - IMMORTAL RAJPUTS

सामने खडोई मियां डीडो ललकारा जे दित्ता।

बैरिया छोड़ी दे, साढ़ी कंडी छोड़ी दे।।

अपने माँझे दा मुल्क सम्भाल।

अपने लाहौर दा मुल्क सम्भाल।।

पगड़ी तलवार मियां डीडो हल्ला जे कित्ता।

बड़ी बड़ी मुंडियां बेरी दीआं टांगे गरने नाल।।

लङकान बाल गाने नाल।

हाथ औन्दा नाइन डीडो जामवाल।।

| जय देव, जय डुग्गर, जय डोगरा |

Mian doda Singh the brave Rajput who lived & died for people of Jammu.He rebelled against Sikh dominance and Sahukari exploitation in Jammu Province. He represented the fighting spirit of people of Jammu against the Financial exploitation of People of Jammu by Sikh Empire.

Mian Doda is said to have descended from Raja Haridev of Jammu who ruled from 1656 to 1692 AD. He was mansabdar during Aurangzeb time. Hari Dev’s fifth son, Dalip Singh inherited the Jagir of Jagati (KP Refugee camp stands there today).Fifth in descent from Dalip Singh was Mian Hazari, father of local hero Mian Doda who born in Jagti village, Nagrota, in 1780 to Mian Hazari Singh Jamwal, Mian Doda was a Hero & a warrior, unparalleled in his courage. He alone challenged the Khalsa Court and stood up against Maharaja Ranjit Singh, fighting for Jammu’s freedom.

Even as a young lad he would gather the boys of his village and together they would train themselves in martial arts. He first fought against the Khalsa Court in 1808, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s brother Hukum Singh  came to capture Jammu. Under the guidance of Mian Mota, both Gulab Singh and Mian Doda had fought against the Khalsas in this battle & won. Despite the win, an agreement was reached between Jammu & the Lahore Court, which was never accepted by Mian Doda, who continued to fight for Jammu’s sovereignty. In 1816 Jammu weakened because of internal family feuds of Jammu Raj Parivar, became a jagir of the Khalsa Court and came under Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s son Khadag Singh.

Mian Doda continued to fight for Jammu’s independence and leading outlaws like himself would attack the Khalsa soldiers & garrisons on multiple occasions. The Khalsa Court accused him of treason. One of the accusations against him was that in the Khalsa empire no one was allowed to keep a white falcon except Maharaja Ranjit Singh, yet Mian Dido in clear defiance possessed two white falcons. Many sent by Khalsa court failed to capture Mian Doda or dent his popularity amongst the locals. Khalsa courts passed a decree, making any act of help towards Mian Doda, punishable. Mian Doda survived eating wild fruits of the forest like ‘Garne’ & ‘Ber’. It was when Gulab Singh was tasked with capturing Mian Doda in exchange of greater control of Jammu,that many of Mian Doda’s allies turned against him & he was cornered near Sanjhi Chhat. He fought bravely, killing those who betrayed him before succumbing to his wounds. (1820)

Despite being a mighty power, Lahore Darbar failed to stamp out Mian Doda who had People's Support. After Jammu had been conquered by Sikhs in 1808 in which Dogra Rajput Raja Gulab Singh Jamwal gallantly fought in the battle of Gumat, it became a Jagir of Kharak Singh, son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A garrison of 2000 men was established in Jammu. Jammu people resented the application of Sikh rule. New land taxes enabled money lenders to exploit people. Lot of bounty was drawn from Dogra kingdom which was not acceptable to Dogras.

Mian Dido was disturbed with the surrender of Jammu sovereignty to Lahore. To save people from economic exploitation by Sikhs & money lenders, he took up arms against the unjust demands of Sikh administrators. Peasantry, Bahu & Chib Rajputs came out in open against Sikh rule. Hence he became a folk hero of Jammu. Despite large Sikh force in Jammu, Mian was never scacred to attack them whenever he wanted even with 50 to 60 rebels. In one such assault he burnt the Sikh camp and carried lot of booty which he distributed to the poor. Following guerrilla tactics, after such exploits he would disappear as fast as he would descend. Sikhs never dared to pursue him in the hills. It is said that he himself slew over three hundred soldiers. At times the brigands will enter Jammu with 2 to300 men and kill all the Sikh soldiers they would encounter. They will spend the night at Jammu city, cook meals in the fire they will lit with their belongings. In the morning they would leave with whatever booty they had looted & later distributed.He created mayhem so much Sikhs found it impossible to govern & collect revenue.Hawking had been a favourite amusing sport of Sikh Chiefs. Many of hawks employed in this sport were caught from Trikuta Hill. It was learnt that Mian had caught a remarkably fine hawk. Sikhs considered all Hawks as property of Prince Kharak Singh. Hence they demanded it which Mian stoutly refused. On this one officer & twelve men were sent to snatch it. They reached his hut & the parleys started for handing over the bird. Doda agreed to accompany them to their Jammu Camp with the Hawk.Time was settled for the departure. Mian thereafter gave them rations to prepare meal in the adjoining hut. As they got busy in cooking, Mian gave the Hawk to his wife and asked her to disappear in the Jungle. Seeing his unwelcome guests busy in cooking, he rushed upon them with sword & before they could recover from the shock of sudden attack, he killed 7 of them and fatally wounded four. Only two survived. After that he made hills his permanent abode to continue guerrilla warfare. Sometimes he would lead upto 2000 men in such exploits. He was favoured and sheltered by the people who were against Sikhs and Sahukars.Mian and his followers became pain for Sikhs in Jammu. Once ‘Dali’ of dry fruits sent by Pt. Birbar Dhar for the King Ranjit Singh was intercepted by Mian. Instead, he packed cow dung cakes and sent it to the ruler. 

This pricked King’s honour. While King was brooding over the plan to capture Mian.Once a contingent was sent to Jagti under Atar Singh Kalal but Doda was not there. His old father, Mian Hazari, drew his sword when Atar asked him to surrender. Mian Hazari said, “don’t you know that to lay down life bravely is pride of warriors. Surrendering before the enemy like you is a cowardice”. He was killed by Atar Singh because of infirmity of age. Once a contingent cornered him from all side,. Thus fully armed he reached Sanji Chhat and finding no passage through the army, he charged the column of Atar Singh Kalal. Atar Singh struck him on the head with his sword which cut through the turban. On this Mian got furious on Atar who had slain his father and exclaimed, 

“O coward, I will instantly cut you in two”. 

With one blow, his sword cut through Atar’s shoulder to the belly & tearing through the thigh hit the ground. Seeing this spectacle no1 dared to come closer to him. He thus sat in a perfect composure on a rock & asked for his ‘Huqa’ & began to smoke. Since nobody could catch or defeat him, soldiers resorted to firing. A bullet pierced through his throat. He fell down dead. When Gulab Singh was told of his death, he was anguished since he had decided to present him alive, More so because he was his relative/and a warrior.After Main’s death Gulab Singh took the responsibility of bringing up his sons, Basant Singh and Gushan. He enrolled them in Cavalry Unit. Basant Singh reached to an exalted position of Commandant of the Unit. It deserves to be mentioned that Gulab Singh carried the regret of murder of Mian in his heart for long. One day while hunting, Gulab Singh alone chased his hunt while others lagged behind. Only Basant Singh managed to catch up. When they travelled far Gulab Singh removed his weapons & handed them over to Basant and declared, “O Basant, Your illustrious father has been killed by me. 

A Rajput always revenges his father’s blood. I am without weapons & alone. What more favourable opportunity will you get to avenge”. Hearing this Basant felt bewildered,dropped the weapons and fell on the feet of his benefactor and said, 

“I am brought up by your blessings. How can I do such an act”.

 ‘Such trials of fortune rarely favours the brave’. This shows regret and endurance for the sufferings for killings under his command.

Mian Doda's popularity in Dogra society can be gauged from the folk songs sung in his memory. Lesson from Mian’s struggle is that Dogras will never compromise with identity and dignity and would fight for justice.

He is still revered as Hero, the bravest of braves who sacrificed himself for his land.