Jai Baba Kaliveer
Last Stand 45 dogra Rajput's against 20000 Strong Lahore Darbar forces
Raja Gulab Singh, Raja Dhyan Singh and Raja Suchet Singh these three brothers were most powerful officials in the Darbar of Maharaja Shri Ranjeet Singh Ji Sahib Bahadur. Three brothers had a motto *He who hits my brother, hits me. By displaying unparalleled integrity, character, bravery, subordination and intelligence, these three brothers became most powerful officials in the the state of Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji sahib Bahadur.
Rajah Suchet Singh was the Youngest of the Dogra Brothers. He like, Gulab Singh remained at his Jagir and kept mostly away from politics of Lahore Darbar until the death of Dhian Singh.
He was known to be the most handsome men in lahore darbar at that time. He was a trained marksman probably the bravest of the three brothers and was also the commander of the Sawars Regiment. He was born in 1801 to Mian Kishore Singh. His first campaign came alongside Gulab Singh during the capture of Garh-Damala fort. Raja Suchet Singh were also part of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s armies that along with General Hari Singh Nalwa,General Zorawar Singh and Thakur dass liberated Kashmir from the Afghans finally in 1819.
Both brothers showed great courage in the battlefield after which both were granted jagirs by Ranjit Singh.He got Ramnagar, Samba, Basoli and Jastota. After this he spent most of his time in his own jagirs only going to lahore when summoned for campaigns.
Raja Suchet Singh Dogra and Raja Dhian Singh Dogra, ca. 1840
When Sher Singh, son of Ranjit Singh was assassinated on 15th September 1843, then a few hours after Raja Dhian Singh, the Dogra minister, met the same fate. He and Sher Singh was killed by their common enemies, the Sindhianwala Sirdars who destroyed them both. Dalip Singh, another son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was then installed as Maharaja, with Raja Hira Singh, son of the murdered Dogra Minister, as prime minister. Pandit Jallah Advisor/Mentor of Hira Singh. There is also Jawahir Singh Brother of Rani Jidhan n uncle of Maharaja Dileep.
When Hira Singh became Prime Minister he gave civil powers to Pandit Jallah.Jawahar Singh was made the Guardian to the Maharaja.Jawahar singh wanted to be the Prime Minister and had support of Rani too. On the other hand Pandit Jallah who wanted to be the lone power started inciting Hira Singh against his uncles Gulab Singh and Suchet Singh.Suchet singh knew about this and wanted to get rid of Jallah. Jawahar Singh called Suchet Singh to lahore to help him but Gulab Singh took Suchet Singh back to Jammu. Jawahar Singh tried inciting the Army But Hira Singh had him imprisoned. Even the army was fed up of Jallah's involvement and influence on Prime Minister.Jallah had Hira Singh attack the jagirs of remaining sons of Ranjit Singh Kashmira Singh and Peshaura Singh.Jallah also fabricated accounts to levy unpaid dues on part of Gulab and Suchet singh
There was however a party in the kingdom who encouraged Raja Suchet Singh of Samba and Ramnagar who was the brother of Raja Dhian Singh to aspire to the office of minister, and he also had the support of a section of the Khalsa.
The army then called Suchet singh to lahore assuring him assistance in removing Hira Singh. It was decided that Hira Singh will be taken back to Jammu and Jallah to be handed over to Khalsa army.Suchet Singh on this assurance went to lahore with only 43 of his soldiers. But Jallah gave each soldier a bracelet worth 30 rupees and the khalsa army again switched loyalties.
On the invitation of those who favoured his claim, Suchet Singh came down front the hills to Lahore on 26th March 1844. After his failed attempt at a coup at Lahore Raja Suchet Singh was resting at an old mosque when he was surrounded by approx 14-15000 infantry,3-4000 cavalry & 56 cannons of Hira Singh
Raja Suchet Singh had with him 200 cavalry & 150 infantry which deserted him in the night with exception of 45 of his loyal followers
(according to Gulabnama he had been joined by a body of 3-400 sikhs earlier so it would be safe to say the deserters were mostly sikhs)
Suchet Singh remarked:
"It is not brave to retreat from a battlefield and to be afraid of being killed. The saying goes ‘come what may, we have burnt our boats. At last we have to disappear from this transitory world. What else can be better then to leave this fickle world bravely”
With these words the Dogras prepared from martyrdom & passages were read out to them from their holy book.
Hira Singh wanted to meet his uncle and negotiate terms with him but Jallah presented a potli with false astrological claim that only one of them would be alive. Courtiers like Jawahar mal, Ganda singh and Labh Singh who wanted to make a reconciliation bw them were dismissed. The commander of artillery before firing came back to Hira Singh for confirmation twice but Hira Singh kept quite and Jallah then angrily ordered the commander to start firing, The Dogra Force was surrounded by Khalsa army. Suchet Singh asked his soldiers to leave if they want to but everyone stayed.Rai kesari singh asked Suchet Singh to leave while they keep the enemy engaged but he was too brave to agree.
As artillery pounded & demolished the walls of the mosque the reader went on undaunted & unafraid.
Finally when the walls no longer provided protection Suchet Singh remarking "This numerous imperial force & artillery sent against us verily presents a fair fun" led his 45 men into battle as 15000 Khalsa infantry advanced upon them with their bayonets gleaming.
Last stand of Raja Suchet Singh & his 45 valiant Dogras against the hoards of Lahore Darbar
Even then his dauntless courage did not forsake him, and refusing to flee, Suchet Singh Roared 'Relying on your good faith i came to lahore. You have forsaken me and now you have come to kill me. I beseech you at this moment behave like true soldiers.
"Come on one by one and let the world see the worth of a rajput soldier'
slew over 30 men & forced 4 battalions to flee before them driving the Khalsa infantrymen into the batonets of their own comrades at the back!!
he and his brave band of heroes charged, sword in hand, into the midst of their foes, In their initial charge this handful of Rajput heroes fell upon the enemy. Within a moment 30 of the khalsa soldiers lay dead. The desperate valor of the dogras stuck a panic in the enemy and their gunners started fleeing & forced 4 battalions to flee before them driving the Khalsa infantrymen into the bayonets of their own comrades at the back!!
Rai kesari singh with his own hands killed no less than 17 khalsa soldiers & cut off the arm of Nidhan Singh Panjhatha, before he fell down to bullet wounds. Raja Suchet singh two was stuck by 2 bullets but still killed 3 soldiers before perished to a man.
But this brave band had extracted a heavy price for their death for they had slain The total loss of khalsa side was 160 killed and more than 200 wounded. Hira singh then Visited the battlefield and saw Rai kesari singh who saluted him by saying ' Jaidev' and then Hira Singh saw his uncle's mangled body and burst into tears on seeing it and well he might for his own end was also near. He ordered his troops to carry his uncle's body in his own palki.
Bodies of Rai kesari Singh and Rai Bhimsen were given an Honorable cremation. Other dead soldiers were also treated well according to their ranks.
Raja Gulab Singh was agonized and perturbed on hearing d news of his youngest brothers demise. Pandit Jalla was successful in creating rift in the all powerful Dogra Family of Lahore Durbar. He persuaded Hira Singh not to attend funeral of his uncle Raja Suchet Singh. Pandit Jalla was successful in sowing the seeds of evil in Dogra Family. He persuaded Hira Singh to confiscate territory of Raja Gulab Singh’s servants and irked many other in the Kingdom. Rani Jind Kour also didn’t like the influence of Hira Singh. One day Pandit Jalla publicly disrespected the Maharaja and Rani Jind Kour. Rani Jind Kour and her brother Jawahar Singh wanted to get rid of Loyal Dogras but the troops wanted only Pandit to go. Hira Singhs mistake of not letting Pandit go resulted in disgruntled troops. Rani Jind Kour asked the troops to choose between Hira Singh Dogra or Rani Jind Kour and Child King. Troops choose their Queen and Hira Singh and Pandit Jalla were left with no choice but to flee. Sohan Singh, Son of Raja Gulab Singh was also with them.
All three were slain. Their heads were chopped off and paraded in the streets of Lahore. With the end of Dogra Family dominance in Lahore Durbar Sikh empire shattered in two Anglo Sikh Wars.
On hearing of his death Suchet Singh's Ranis in Ramnagar placed his turban before them on the pyre and became sati. Same practice was done by his Ranis residing in Samba. He died childless and his fief was merged in Jammu.
Raja Suchet Singh’s wives in the Samba Palace upon hearing the news of his assassination at Lahore Court proceeded to commit Sati.
That place where Raja Suchet Singh Was Assasinated, at present, is being identified and known as Suchetgarh, near RS Pura.
The Samadhi now in ruins was on the banks of Basantar River & the inner chambers had pindis/moortis of Raja Suchet Singh & his wives.
Very little remained of the Samadhi after destructive floods in Basantar River. The Baisakhi Mela that used to be held near the Samadhi stopped after 1947.
The queen just before dying declared that they would reunite with Raja Suchet Singh after two days and upon their union there would occur a storm followed by sounds of thunder and rain.
Close to this ruined Samadhi is the Rani Temple,
renovated and maintained by JK Dharmarth Trust.
There is a Samadhi of Maharani at the site where the sati was performed.
Lying in the shadow of the Ramnagar Fort, is the Samadhi of Rani of Raja Suchet Singh, the brother of the Founder of the State of JK, Maharaja Gulab Singh. The Rani performed Sati after Raja Suchet Singh was murdered by the Lahore Court, in March 1844.
Samadhi was built by Raja Suchet Singh's nephew Raja Ranbeer Singh. Samadhi has a Central Shrine, a Parakrima Path, Tulsi in the courtyard, floral motifs and murals depicting ascetics and Krishna Leela. One of the central mural shows Raja Suchet Singh holding Court.
Ramnagar's 19th-century palace complex consisting of three sections was built by Raja, Suchet Singh (ruled 1822 to 1844), brother of Jammu Raja Gulab Singh - a prominent Dogra warrior in the campaign to oust Bhupendra Dev and by Ram Singh, son of Rajah Ranbir Singh.
Old Palace was built by Raja Suchet Singh (A.D1801-1844) brother of Jmu Raja Gulab Singh a prominent Dogra warrior.
Who was given the Jagir of Bandralta and title of Raja by Maharaja Ranjit singh.
The place is fairly big complex of rooms situated in front of a big courtyard. He had done much to improve the town of Ramnagar by the erection of new bazars and also a baronial palace for himself which is still in good order.
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