मुक्कन लग्गे माडे दिन,
वेला बड्डले रा आया,
सुत्ती पेदी रागनी जाग्गी,
नवीं रूत्ते ने कुंडा खड़काया,
जेदी ही आस मते चिरे दी,
ओ करिए दस्ना,
वैरी तड़पने ऊण ते असें अस्ना,
The history of Durgara (Duggardesh) can be traced back to the times when it was divided into the numerous territories and each territory had it's own ruler usually known as Thakur or Rana.
The title “Deva” is found after each Rajas name in inscriptions and copper plate deeds. This too was a royal designation, as we learn from Sanskrit literature, and was affixed to the names of Kings and Queens in the masculine or feminine form, as Rex and Regina are in the British Royal family. Hence arose the Rajput salutation Jaideya or Jaideva, which originally was accorded only to Rajputs or Royal rank.
The original form in Sanskrit was Jayatu – Devah – “May the King be victorious”.
The history of the hill states is one of almost continuous warfare. When a strong ruler rose to power, the larger State made tributary their smaller neighbours, but these again asserted their Independence, as soon as a favourable opportunity offered. These wars as a rule did not lead to any great political changes, for on the whole the hill chiefs were considerate of each others rights. Being all of the same race and faith, and also nearly related to one another by marriage and even closer family ties, they were content to make each other tributary or to replace a deposed chief by his own kinsmen.
That the hill States were able to maintain their political status for such a long period was in great measure due to their isolated position and the inaccessible character of the country. It is improbable, however, that they were completely sovereign for any great length of time. In the absence of epigraphically and literary evidence, we may assume that the Western Himalaya formed part, nominally at least, of the great Empires of the Mauryas, Kushanas and Guptas. Each followed one another in succession in Northern India. Kashmir too, as we know, held a lose sovereignty over the hill States between the Sutlej and the Indus and there is a saying:
“Baee Raj Pahad de, Bich Jammu Sardar;
Rakhin laj Pahad di, too para garibnawaz”.
There are twenty two hill chiefs of whom Jammu is the Sardar O God! Please up hold the honour of the hills in your mercy!
If a person of any territory crosses the boundary of other without permission, he was being punished. Each territory was independent of it's own with it's own ruler and had their rules and laws all subjected to their clan god.
These territories were actually the fortified settlements known as 'Durg' and due to this the area was known as 'Durgara' means 'the land of fortified settlements'. The ruler of these settlements was also known as 'Durgeshwara' means 'the lord of fortified settlements'.
When these settlements assimilated or accepted the suzeranity of powerful monarch who assured them to preserve the land from the foreign interference by keeping their common interests; following the chronology of Kot such as Jalsarkot, Jaralkot, Rotkot etc.;
Garh such as Ramgarh, Sooratgarh, Basantgarh etc. and Mandala such as Purmandal, Mandali etc.; they formed their own Janpadas.
In the earliest times, Durgara country (Duggardesh) had numerous smaller Janpadas. Each Janpada had it's own capital usually known as "Thada". In many Janpadas, the real ruler was some diety and a king appointed acted as caretaker of his throne.
Such type of Janpadas were merely found along the Asikni or Chandrabhaga(Chenab). One of such Janapada was Suraaj whose real ruler of Lord Shiva. When the invasion of neighboring kingdoms to Durgara started;
most of smaller Janpadas of Durgara united to form the greater Janpadas and protected them from alien intervention.
The important Janpadas of Durgara which had some significance in history were like Gabdika, Udumbara, Trigarth, Takka, Madra and Darva-Abhisara.
°Gabdika°
Gana-patha of Panini refers to Janapada Gabdika (IV.3.93), under Sindhvadi. Earlier, Brahmpur and then Chamba was made it's capital. Some area of Paddar and Bhadarwah was also it's part. It is one of the oldest Janapada of hilly regions.
°Udumbara/Audumbara°
Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Hamirpur, Una and some western part of Ravi was it's part.
°Trigarth°
It is mentioned by Panini as ayudhajivi sangha, and a confederation of six states known as Trigarta-Shashtha. The name Trigarta denotes the region drained by three Rivers: Ravi, Beas & Satluj, and corresponds to the Jalandhar group of states which had retained their
geographical identity all these years. It contains Patanaprastha (Paithan or Pathankot) situated at the entrance of Kangra Valley.
°Takka°
It was situated to the upper areas of the rivers of Punjab. Most of hilly areas of Durggar was included in it. The name of Takri script of Duggar is said to have it's root in Takka.
°Madra°
It was one of the most powerful and prosperous of the times. Sakala(Sialkot) was it's capital. In ancient times, a lager part of Duggar was it's part.
°Darva-Abhisara°
As like Madra, from Chandrabhaga (Chenab) and Vitasta(Jhelum) a Janapada was there by the name "Darva-Abhisara". In reality, it was confederation of two Janapadas 'Darva and Abhisara'.
Darva was flourished between the intermediate land of Ravi and Chandrabhaga (Chenab) whereas Abhisara was extended from Chandrabhaga to Vitasta. The present Jammu area was it's part.
According to Mahabharata, Arjuna defeated the Darvas and then it was splitted into smaller Kingdoms.
From Rajatarangini, we get to know about some name of these Kingdoms like Babbapura(Babor), Vallapura(Billawar), Kasht vat(Kishtwar), Baratul(Dharmot and adjoining areas), Vishlata(Banihal to Ramaban) and Jasat(Jasrota) etc. whereas
Abhisara was splitted into four kingdoms by 10th century viz. Loharkot/Purantas, Rajapuri(Rajauri), Kalinjer(Kotli) and Nilpura(nearby areas of Mirpur).
The Durgara(Duggar) was the larger country which had the great historical significance but it's being neglected or being tried to hide. There is a great need to bring it into the limelight in order to raise the flame of self-existence within the present generation of Dogras.
THE DOGRAS
There is some little doubt about the derivation of the word "Dogra." Some say it is derived from the Indian word "dogur" or "dugir," meaning "2 hill" or "between two mountain Range," and that the Dogra country is so called because the whole of it is more or less mountainous. Others maintain that the origin of the name is found in two Sanscrit words, "do," meaning "two," and "girath," meaning "lake," there being two small lakes of great beauty known as Man Sur and Sardin Sur.
The first derivation is most probably the correct one, for it is a matter of history that the pioneer Rajputs, who left the plains to make their home in the hills to found the Dogra principalities, styled themselves Dogras, or Hillmen, as distinguished from men of the plains.
The district of Dogra lies between the rivers Chenab and Sutlej, including all the hills and valleys on the slopes of the Western Himalayas.
Rissaldar Major Sunayat Singh of Kashmir Lancers ,1897. He was commandant of the Kashmir Lancers,a unit of J n K State Forces. Painted by Rudolf Swoboda
(He was relative of Maharaja Pratap Singh of Jammu and Kashmir)
The Dogra is a shy, reserved man, with considerable strength of character. He may not be so brilliant as the Rajput found in Rajputana, nor so tenacious and subtle as the Gurkha (Khas Rajput), but he has a high idea of honour, is very self-respecting, and makes a capital soldier. Since he is always ready to cast aside his social prejudices he affords recruiting officers little trouble. The virtues of this solid, quiet, resolute, reliable man are seen in moments of peril, when, without any boasting or striking of attitudes, he will face certain death with a calm determination to do before he dies.
From the above description it will be gathered that the Dogra is simple-minded and generous, capable of the highest loyalty, and a complete stranger to anything like treachery or cruel barbarity. It is through the combination of all these qualities that the Dogras as a race have justly earned, and faithfully maintained, the reputation of being among the best fighting material to be found in India.
The Dogra's physique like every pahari is not so heavily built as that of the Martial races we see in plains. They are man of average height, somewhat sparely built, with fine, sensitive features. Thier complexion are fair, though not as fair as that of the Todas.
A Picket, 20th (Punjab) Regiment of [Bengal] Native Infantry, North-West Frontier, 1868 (c)
{Oil on canvas by Brevet Major (later Major General) Walter Fane (1828-1885), 11th (Madras) Native Infantry, 1868 (c).} The two principal sitters were sketched from life and named by the artist, Major Walter Fane, on the back of the canvas. The officer to the left is Subadar-Major Jaie Singh, (a Dogra Rajput) who enlisted on 27 March 1849. He was awarded the Order of British India and was pensioned on 30 April 1878. In the centre is Havildar Mir Alum (an Afridi), who rose to the rank of Jemadar and served in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880). In the background are two Pathan sepoys.
The Dogras are very particular in all matters relating to food and drink. They are keen sportsmen, and in rifle-shooting they maintain a fair standard of excellence. Hawking and snaring birds are favourite pastimes among them, and even such games as tip-cat, leap-frog, and hop-scotch are not unknown to them.
"The Siege of Lahore one such example of great marksmanship, it is also the story of 3000 men successfully holding out against a armed force of 60000-1,50,000 men."
Screenshot from A history of the reigning family of Lahore
This is one the many legendary feats performed by the Dogras in this great siege against impossible odds where During the siege of Lahore unable to withstand Dogra fire Sultan Mahomed a artillery Captain under sikhs took hostage 1000-1200 women of the Sikh capital to save his troops from the Dogras.
The Dogras were however were forced to shoot at the enemy for the sake of survival. With great skill, accuracy & care Dogra marksmen killed 186 enemy artillerymen while the collateral damage being only 19 women out of the 1000-1200 taken hostage killed!!
Alexander Gardner with his trained Dogra artillerymen. (1864)
This brave and loyal race were faithful to us during the Mutiny, and their services at the siege of Delhi were invaluable; but as early as 1849 their soldierly qualities had been recognised, for it was at that time that the Government enlisted great numbers of them in the Punjab Frontier Force. The reason of this lay chiefly in their military value, although it was at the same time evident that they would be useful to balance the influence of the martial, who were still imbued with their traditions.
The 2nd Sikh Infantry, raised at Kangra in 1846, consisted entirely of Dogras. This was the regiment that ratified its loyalty by assisting to quell a rebellion of its own countrymen. Later, in the second Afghan war, this same regiment, the majority still being Dogras, fought gallantly at the battle of Ahmad Khel. Indeed, there was a moment in this battle when victory or defeat depended entirely on this regiment. At this critical juncture it behaved splendidly, and disaster was averted.
ज्वाला माता की जय is the war cry of the soldiers of DOGRA REGIMENT
This is one of the gates the 4th battalion of the DOGRA REGIMENT has constructed as a mark of their devotion to the great Goddess Jwalamukhi at Jawalaji (Kangra).
Dogras from Himachal,Jammu and some parts of Punjab are recruited in Dogra Regimental Centre: Faizabad, UP
Motto: Kartavyam Anvatma (Duty Before Death)
War Cry: Jwala Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Goddess Jwala)
Mascot:Tiger
THE DOGRA REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS
Company Regiments—Cavalry
It must be borne in mind that Company Regiments are those which contain squadrons or companies of different native classes. The following regiments of Indian Cavalry contain Dogras in the proportions given:
7th Hariana Lancers, one squadron.
9th Hodson's Horse, half a squadron.
10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Hodson's Horse), one squadron.
11th King Edward's Own Lancers (Probyn's Horse), one squadron.
12th Cavalry, one squadron.
13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers (Watson's Horse), one squadron.
16th Cavalry, one squadron.
19th Lancers (Fane's Horse), half a squadron.
21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force) (Daly's Horse), half a squadron.
23rd Cavalry (Frontier Force), half a squadron.
25th Cavalry (Frontier Force), one squadron.
Class Regiments—Infantry
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| A beautiful image of the Colours on Parade! 37th Dogras in 1890's. |
37th Dogras. Raised 1858, disbanded 1882, re-formed 1887.
Comprises 8 companies of Dogras.
Battle Honours.—"Chitral," "Punjab Frontier."
Uniform.—Scarlet, facings yellow.
38th Dogras. Raised 1858.
Comprises 8 companies of Dogras.
Battle Honours.—"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand."
Uniform.—Scarlet, facings yellow.
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| 38th Dogras with captured pasthun tribalmen |
The regiment went on to serve in Palestine, taking part in the battles of Megiddo and Nablus before helping capture Damascus (1918).
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| 38th Dogras on the Great Pyramid, Egypt (1918) |
The 38th Dogras arrived in Egypt in April 1918 where they joined the 10th Division which was then undergoing a major reorganisation with many British units being replaced by Indian ones. 38th Dogras ceased to exist after 1922 when they were merged into 17th Dogra Regiment. 17th Dogra Regiment dropped the '17th' prefix and became part of Indian Army after India's Independence in 1947. They fought valiantly in 1947-48 war supporting the J&K State Forces.
41st Dogras. Raised 1900.
Comprises 8 companies of Dogras.
Uniform.—Scarlet, facings yellow.
Jai Duggar Jai Dogra🇪🇦
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