Tuesday, August 4, 2020

THE IGNORED DEFENDER OF DHARMA KANHAD DEV SONIGARA - IMMORTAL RAJPUTS






What is biggest shortcoming of Hindus in my view?  That they forget.  We have  forgotten sack of Brahamanabad.  Even name got erased from our collective memory.  We have forgotten sack of Lamghan. And again name erased. We have forgotten tears of millions of our women and kids.  They lamented while we dance on tunes of secularism.  Their sacrifice remain without retribution and be very clear,  justice can't be achieved without it. We  have forsaken justice. 

{ किसी के शोर से भारत🇮🇳 का
.....वंदन रुक नहीं सकता, }
[ जबतक खून में है हलचल😎
 भगवा 🙏 झुक नहीं सकता ।


Shame on us if we can forget sack of Somnath. And can we forget what happened when Allauddin sacked Somnath.  Thousands of women and kids captured,  forced to March with army, weeping and lamenting,  enduring tortures.  They were meant to be sold all over the world.


But at that time earth was not completely devoid of Kshatriya spirit. One such example can be seen from the plunder of the historic Somnath temple by tyrant Alauddin Khilji in which two Rajput rulers, Hammir Dev Chauhan  of Ranathambore and Kanhad Dev Sonigara of Jalore, joined together to retrieve the lingam and restored the broken lingam at several Shiva temples in their kingdoms. Sword of Kanhad Dev Songara striked and they were freed.  But we don't even recognize these days such great son's and daughter's of maa Bharati ....


....Whie Reading, Kānhaḍade Prabandha of Padmanābha translated into English by V. S. Bhatnagar , This is published by Voice of India publications, established by Sita Ram Goel. The Prabandha was composed by Padmanabha, a Nagar Brahman, in 1455 CE. He was patronised by Akhairaja, a descendent of Kanhadade. The subject is the war between Kanhadade Chauhan, the ruler of Jalore and Alauddin Khilji. The language is old Rajasthani/Gujarati.


The last stand of Kanhadade took place in 1311 CE, so this would make the Prabandha 144 years after the event. But the story starts with the attack of Ulugh Khan, a general of Alauddin Khilji, on Gujarat in 1299 CE.


Alauddin, through messengers, asked Kanhadade(va) to let his army pass through Marwad to attack Gujarat in 1299 CE. But Kanhadadeva refused in these words from the Prabandha


Effects of the fall of Anahilapur Patan, the capital of Gujarat, to the army of Ulugh Khan, the general of Khilji. 


Graphic account of the Ulugh Khan's attack on Somnath. Worth reading in full.




After the attack, Ulugh Khan ordered the Linga to be sent to Delhi, to be crushed and made into lime. Throughout the prabandha, The word Mūgala (मूगल) is used for Muslims among the others. There were many converted Mongols in the Delhi army. The word predates the Mughals of the Babur line. Also Muslims are called Asuras throughout the prabandha.


Account of people captured for slavery 


On his return journey to Delhi, Ulugh Khan decided to pass through Kanhadadeva's territory in Marwad and challenge him. He was carrying the Linga from Somnath. Kanhadadeva is mentioned as having a dream about Ganga and Gauri, asking him to free the Linga. 


Kanhadadeva's messengers were sent to the camp of Ulugh Khan. They conveyed Kanhadadeva's message to him. 


The messengers also saw the condition of the people captured from Gujarat who were being transported to Delhi.


Kanhadadeva's Rajputs made a night attack on the Muslim camp to free the captives and get back the Somnath linga.


Further description of the attack. (The word Rāut is used more frequently than the word Rajput, throughout the Prabandh.) 


Ulugh Khan escaped after many of his men were slaughtered.


All the captives were set free. Five idols (मूरति in the original text) were made out of the Somnath Linga and were installed at five places. This probably indicates that the Linga was damaged and not intact. The next episode is the siege of Siwana fort, north of Jalore, ruled by Kanhadadeva's nephew Sātala. This siege was ordered after Kanhadadeva's successful routing of Ulugh Khan.


The siege of Siwana fort is shown as lasting for 7 years with Rajputs putting up a strong fight. There is a mention of rockets (हवाई), shot from the fort on the besieging Delhi army. The mentions of stone throwing machines (ढीकुली) are frequent.


Some other weapons used by the Rajputs from the fort, on the enemy. 


Finally, the Turks contaminated the source of water in the fort by throwing a cow carcass in the pond. 


The reaction of the queens of Sātala is mentioned in a brief dialogue and the message they sent to Jalore. 


The word Jamahara (जमहर) is used for Jauhar everywhere in the Prabandha. There is a theory that it comes from Yamaghara (यमघर). Entering Jauhar/jamahara, meaning entering the abode of Yama.


After the Jauhar of the women, Sātala and his men rode out to fight till the last.


Next, the Turks started ravaging Marwad to pressure Kanhadadeva. They attacked Bhinmal, a seat of learning. The prabandha mentions that there were 45,000 Brahmans in Bhinmal.


Kanhadadeva's response to the sack of Bhinmal


Kanhadadeva's men attacked the Turks' camp and freed the captives from Bhinmal. Notice the word Asura, for Turks, which is used frequently.


There is a subplot about entirely one sided love of the sultan's daughter Piroja (Furuzan/Firoza) for Viramadeva, son of Kanhadadeva. She believes that she and Virama were married in many previous births. 


The sultan sent an envoy to Jalore with the offer of marriage of his daughter with Viramadeva.


Viramadeva's response:



The Delhi army now besieged Jalore. There were many attacks and counterattacks. Eventually Rajputs managed to capture Samas Khan, the husband of Piroja's sister and his entire harem. 


The sultan's daughter asked him to let her go to Jalore and mediate the release of Samas Khan, his wife and other captives.


She went to Jalore for negotiations and met Viramadeva and told him about her previous births. They talked with a curtain between them, not face to face. His reply: 


After the marriage being denied, she asked for the release of the prisoners and a promise not to do night attacks on the Sultan's army. 


Viramadeva agreed to her demands if the Turks won't violate temples, Brahmans and cows. Piroja agreed to this on behalf of Sultan. The prisoners were released and sent out with the princess. The siege was lifted and the Sultan returned to Delhi.


The last Khaṇḍa opens with a description of Jalore. It mentions that a gong was sounded after every ghaḍi to let people know the hour. Ghaḍiyāla is still the word for clock in Gujarati. The sultan prepared for the second siege of Jalore. He gathered enormous resources for the siege to be successful. His daughter had prophesied that the fort won't fall for seven years but it will fall in the 8th year.


The princess had given instructions about Viramadeva: 


Kanhadadeva prepared for the war and sent messages to the Rajputs to gather at Jalore. Rajputs gave tough fight to the Turks and four years went by. The sultan's general sent a message to him. The sultan's reply is interesting as it shows the fundamental imbalance of resources. 


The Habshi (हबसी in the original text) soldiers are mentioned many times in the work.


There is an episode about the Mahajans coming to the aid of Kanhadadeva, when the provisions were getting low in the fort, reminiscent of the Maharana Pratap and Bhamashah episode.


Ultimately, at the end of the 8th yr of siege, the Turks managed to bribe an insider with the promise of making him in charge of the fort, if he let them in. The Turks started to pour inside the fort. However, the man was killed by his wife when she got to know of his treachery.


The men, sent by Kanhadadeva against the enemy, died fighting after killing many Turks. The women began the preparations for Jauhar. 


Valuables were disposed of.


The coronation of Viramadeva was performed, as Kanhadadeva was about to go out to fight till the end. Viramadeva's mother, after giving her blessings, entered the jauhar fire with the other queens. 


"Fifteen hundred and eighty-four Jauhar fires were lit that day in the Jālor fort!" 


The king's Purohita, Somachanda Vyāsa, also chose to die fighting.


The king and his men set out to fight till the last. 


Kanhadadeva and his men gave a good fight. (Sonagiri is the hill on which the Jalore fort is built, also used as a name for the fort.) 


The battlefield is called Dhārātīrtha (धारातीरथ in the original text), more than once in the Prabandha. Derived from the edge of the sword (dhāra).


Finally, Kanhadadeva, along with many of his men, died fighting. 


After Kanhadadeva, Viramadeva prepared for his last stand. He ruled only for three and half days. 


Viramadeva, like his father, gave a fierce fight and fell after killing a large number of Mlechchhas.


Viramadeva's head was sent to the sultan's daughter as she had ordered. But, the head turned away when she came in front of it, as Viramadeva had vowed not to look at her face.


She went to the bank of Yamuna, performed the last rites by consigning Viramadeva's head into fire and then jumped into the waters of Yamuna.

Credits - Senior Chandrapida Sir

Padmanabha ends the Prabandha with the words that whoever recites or listens to this Prabandha would earn great Puṇya.

×-×-×-×-×-×

जालौर के वीर शासक कान्हड़देव का नाम आते ही लेखकों की कलमें ठहर जाती है तो पढ़ने वालों के कलेजे सिंहर उठते हैं। कारण यह नहीं कि उसने अपने से कई गुना शक्तिशाली दुश्मन को मात दी और अंत में बलिदान दिया। यह तो राजस्थान की उस समय की पहचान थी। कलम के ठहरने और कलेजों के कांपने का कारण यह था कि कान्हड़देव जैसे साहसी एवं पराक्रमी शासक का अंत ऐसा क्यों हुआ ? क्यों नहीं अन्य शासक उसके साथ हुए, क्यों नहीं सोचा कि कान्हड़देव की पराजय के बाद अन्य शासकों का क्या होगा। शायद डॉ. के.एस. लाल ने अपने इतिहास ग्रंथ 'खलजी वंश का इतिहास' में सही लिखा है कि'पराधीनता से घृणा करने वाले राजपूतों के पास शौर्य था, किंतु एकता की भावना नहीं थी। कुछेक ने प्रबल प्रतिरोध किया, किंतु उनमें से कोई भी अकेला दिल्ली के सुल्तान के सम्मुख नगण्य था। यदि दो या तीन राजपूत राजा भी सुल्तान के विरुद्ध एक हो जाते तो वे उसे पराजित करने में सफल होते।'

डॉ. के.एस. लाल की उक्त टिप्पणी बहुत ही सटीक है। कान्हड़देव की वंश परम्परा के सम्बन्ध में ही उदयपुर के ख्यातिनाम लेखक एवं इतिहासवेता डॉ. शक्तिकुमार शर्मा 'शकुन्त' ने लिखा है कि- 'चाहमान (चौहान) के वंशजों ने यायव्य कोण से आने वाले विदेशियों के आक्रमणों का न केवल तीव्र प्रतिरोध किया अपितु 300 वर्षों तक उनको जमने नहीं दिया। फिर चाहे वह मुहम्मद गजनी हो, गौरी हो अथवा अलाउद्दीन खिलजी हो, चौहानों के प्रधान पुरुषों ने उन्हें चुनौती दी, उनके अत्याचारों के रथ को रोके रखा तथा अन्त में आत्मबलिदान देकर भी देश और धर्म की रक्षा अन्तिम क्षण तक करते रहे।

बस, यही सब कुछ हुआ था इस चौहान वंश के यशस्वी वीर प्रधान पुरुष जालौर के राजा कान्हड़देव के साथ भी। पृथ्वीराज चौहान की मृत्यु के बाद चौहानों की एक शाखा रणथंभौर चली गई तो दूसरी शाखा नाडौल और नाडौल से एक शाखा जालौर में स्थापित हो गई। कीर्तिपाल से प्रारम्भ हुई यह शाखा समरसिंह, उदयसिंह, चा चकदेव, सामन्तसिंह से होती हुई कान्हड़देव तक पहुँची। किशोरावस्था से अपने पिता का हाथ बांटने के निमित्त कान्हड़देव शासन र्यों में रुचि लेना शुरूकर दिया था। संवत 1355 में दिली के सुल्तान अलाउद्दीन खिलजी ने गुजरात जाने के लिए मारवाड़ का रास्ता चुना। कान्हड़देव को इस समय तक अलाउद्दीन के मनसूबे का पता लग चुका था। वह अपने इस अभिमान के तहत सोमनाथ के मन्दिर को तोड़ना चाहता था। उसने कान्हड़देव को खिलअत से सुशोभित करने का लालच भी दिया मगर वह किसी भी तरह तैयार नहीं हुआ और सुल्तान के पत्र के जवाब में पत्र लिखकर साफ-साफ लिख भेजा-'तुम्हारी सेना अपने प्रयाण के रास्ते में आग लगा देती है, उसके साथ विष देने वाले व्यक्ति होते हैं, वह महिलाओं के साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करती है, ब्राह्मणों का दमन करती है और गायों का वध करती है, यह सब कुछ हमारे धर्म के अनुकूल नहीं है, अत: हम तुम्हें यह मार्ग नहीं दे सकते हैं।”


कान्हड़देव के इस उत्तर से अलाउद्दीन खिलजी का क्रोधित होना स्वाभाविक था। उसने समूचे मारवाड़ से निपटने का मन बना लिया। गुजरात अभियान तो उसने और रास्ते से पूरा कर लिया लेकिन वह कान्हड़देव से निपटने की तैयारी में जुट गया और अपने सेनापति उलुग खां को गुजरात से वापसी पर जालौर पर आक्रमण का आदेश दिया।उलुगखां अपने सुल्तान के आदेशानुसार मारवाड़ की और बढ़ा ओर सर्वप्रथम सकराणा दुर्ग पर आक्रमण किया। सकाराणा उस समय कान्हड़देव के प्रधान जेता के जिम्मे था। द्वार बन्द था। मुस्लिम सेनाओं ने दुर्ग के बाहर जमकर लूटपाट मचाई, लेकिन यह अधिक देर नहीं चली और जेता ने दुर्ग से बाहर निकलकर ऐसा हमला बोला जो उलुगखां की कल्पना से बाहर था, उसके पैर उखड़ गये और भाग खड़ा हुआ। जेता मुस्लिम सेना से सोमनाथ के मन्दिर से लाई पांच मूर्तियां प्राप्त करने में सफल रहा। इतिहास में अब तक इस युद्ध पर अधिक प्रकाश नहीं डाला गया है लेकिन गुजरात लूटनेवाली सुल्तान की सेना को पराजित करना आसान काम नहीं हो सकता था, अत: निश्चित ही जालौर विजय से पूर्व यह युद्ध कम नहीं रहा होगा। स्मरण रहे कि इस युद्ध में सुल्तान का भतीजा मलिक एजुद्दीन और नुसरत खां के भाई के मरने का भी उल्लेख है।

इस पराजय के बाद 1308 ई. में. अलाउद्दीन ने कान्हड़देव को अपने विश्वस्त सेनानायक व कुशल राजनीतिज्ञ के द्वारा दरबार में बुलाया, वे बातों में आ गये और वहां चले भी गये। जब पूरा दरबार लगा था, अलाउद्दीन ने अपने आपको दूसरा सिकन्दर घोषित करते हुए कहा कि भारत में कोई भी हिन्दू राजा नहीं है जो उसके सामने किंचित् भी टिक सके। कान्हड़देव को यह बात खटक गई, उसका स्वाभिमान जग उठा, उसने तलवार निकाल ली और बोल पड़ा-"आप ऐसा न कहें, मैं हूँ, यदि आपको जीत नहीं सका तो युद्ध करके मर तो सकता हूँ, राजपूत अपनी इस मृत्यु को मंगल-मृत्यु मानता है।'जालौर के वीर शासक कान्हड़देव का नाम आते ही लेखकों की कलमें ठहर जाती है तो पढ़ने वालों के कलेजे सिंहर उठते हैं। कारण यह नहीं कि उसने अपने से कई गुना शक्तिशाली दुश्मन को मात दी और अंत में बलिदान दिया। यह तो राजस्थान की उस समय की पहचान थी। कलम के ठहरने और कलेजों के कांपने का कारण यह था कि कान्हड़देव जैसे साहसी एवं पराक्रमी शासक का अंत ऐसा क्यों हुआ ? क्यों नहीं अन्य शासक उसके साथ हुए, क्यों नहीं सोचा कि कान्हड़देव की पराजय के बाद अन्य शासकों का क्या होगा। शायद डॉ. के.एस. लाल ने अपने इतिहास ग्रंथ 'खलजी वंश का इतिहास' में सही लिखा है कि'पराधीनता से घृणा करने वाले राजपूतों के पास शौर्य था, किंतु एकता की भावना नहीं थी। कुछेक ने प्रबल प्रतिरोध किया, किंतु उनमें से कोई भी अकेला दिल्ली के सुल्तान के सम्मुख नगण्य था। यदि दो या तीन राजपूत राजा भी सुल्तान के विरुद्ध एक हो जाते तो वे उसे पराजित करने में सफल होते।'

डॉ. के.एस. लाल की उक्त टिप्पणी बहुत ही सटीक है। कान्हड़देव की वंश परम्परा के सम्बन्ध में ही उदयपुर के ख्यातिनाम लेखक एवं इतिहासवेता डॉ. शक्तिकुमार शर्मा 'शकुन्त' ने लिखा है कि- 'चाहमान (चौहान) के वंशजों ने यायव्य कोण से आने वाले विदेशियों के आक्रमणों का न केवल तीव्र प्रतिरोध किया अपितु 300 वर्षों तक उनको जमने नहीं दिया। फिर चाहे वह मुहम्मद गजनी हो, गौरी हो अथवा अलाउद्दीन खिलजी हो, चौहानों के प्रधान पुरुषों ने उन्हें चुनौती दी, उनके अत्याचारों के रथ को रोके रखा तथा अन्त में आत्मबलिदान देकर भी देश और धर्म की रक्षा अन्तिम क्षण तक करते रहे।

बस, यही सब कुछ हुआ था इस चौहान वंश के यशस्वी वीर प्रधान पुरुष जालौर के राजा कान्हड़देव के साथ भी। पृथ्वीराज चौहान की मृत्यु के बाद चौहानों की एक शाखा रणथंभौर चली गई तो दूसरी शाखा नाडौल और नाडौल से एक शाखा जालौर में स्थापित हो गई। कीर्तिपाल से प्रारम्भ हुई यह शाखा समरसिंह, उदयसिंह, चा चकदेव, सामन्तसिंह से होती हुई कान्हड़देव तक पहुँची। किशोरावस्था से अपने पिता का हाथ बांटने के निमित्त कान्हड़देव शासन र्यों में रुचि लेना शुरूकर दिया था। संवत 1355 में दिली के सुल्तान अलाउद्दीन खिलजी ने गुजरात जाने के लिए मारवाड़ का रास्ता चुना। कान्हड़देव को इस समय तक अलाउद्दीन के मनसूबे का पता लग चुका था। वह अपने इस अभिमान के तहत सोमनाथ के मन्दिर को तोड़ना चाहता था। उसने कान्हड़देव को खिलअत से सुशोभित करने का लालच भी दिया मगर वह किसी भी तरह तैयार नहीं हुआ और सुल्तान के पत्र के जवाब में पत्र लिखकर साफ-साफ लिख भेजा-'तुम्हारी सेना अपने प्रयाण के रास्ते में आग लगा देती है, उसके साथ विष देने वाले व्यक्ति होते हैं, वह महिलाओं के साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करती है, ब्राह्मणों का दमन करती है और गायों का वध करती है, यह सब कुछ हमारे धर्म के अनुकूल नहीं है, अत: हम तुम्हें यह मार्ग नहीं दे सकते हैं।”

कान्हड़देव के इस उत्तर से अलाउद्दीन खिलजी का क्रोधित होना स्वाभाविक था। उसने समूचे मारवाड़ से निपटने का मन बना लिया। गुजरात अभियान तो उसने और रास्ते से पूरा कर लिया लेकिन वह कान्हड़देव से निपटने की तैयारी में जुट गया और अपने सेनापति उलुग खां को गुजरात से वापसी पर जालौर पर आक्रमण का आदेश दिया।उलुगखां अपने सुल्तान के आदेशानुसार मारवाड़ की और बढ़ा ओर सर्वप्रथम सकराणा दुर्ग पर आक्रमण किया। सकाराणा उस समय कान्हड़देव के प्रधान जेता के जिम्मे था। द्वार बन्द था। मुस्लिम सेनाओं ने दुर्ग के बाहर जमकर लूटपाट मचाई, लेकिन यह अधिक देर नहीं चली और जेता ने दुर्ग से बाहर निकलकर ऐसा हमला बोला जो उलुगखां की कल्पना से बाहर था, उसके पैर उखड़ गये और भाग खड़ा हुआ। जेता मुस्लिम सेना से सोमनाथ के मन्दिर से लाई पांच मूर्तियां प्राप्त करने में सफल रहा। इतिहास में अब तक इस युद्ध पर अधिक प्रकाश नहीं डाला गया है लेकिन गुजरात लूटनेवाली सुल्तान की सेना को पराजित करना आसान काम नहीं हो सकता था, अत: निश्चित ही जालौर विजय से पूर्व यह युद्ध कम नहीं रहा होगा। स्मरण रहे कि इस युद्ध में सुल्तान का भतीजा मलिक एजुद्दीन और नुसरत खां के भाई के मरने का भी उल्लेख है।

इस पराजय के बाद 1308 ई. में. अलाउद्दीन ने कान्हड़देव को अपने विश्वस्त सेनानायक व कुशल राजनीतिज्ञ के द्वारा दरबार में बुलाया, बातों में आ गया और वह चला भी गया। जब पूरा दरबार लगा था, अलाउद्दीन ने अपने आपको दूसरा सिकन्दर घोषित करते हुए कहा कि भारत में कोई भी हिन्दू या राजपूत राजा नहीं है जो उसके सामने किंचित् भी टिक सके। कान्हड़देव को यह बात खटक गई, उसका स्वाभिमान जग उठा, उसने तलवार निकाल ली और बोल पड़ा-"आप ऐसा न कहें, मैं हूँ, यदि आपको जीत नहीं सका तो युद्ध करके मर तो सकता हूँ, राजपूत अपनी इस मृत्यु को मंगल-मृत्यु मानता है।'

यह कह कान्हड़देव अलाउद्दीन खिलजी का दरबार छोड़कर वहाँ से चल पड़ा और जालौर आ गया। सुल्तान ने कान्हड़देव के इस व्यवहार को बहुत ही बुरा माना और 1311 ई. में तुरन्त दंड देने के लिए जालौर की ओर अपनी सेना भेजी। डॉ. के.एस. लाल का कहना है कि राजपूतों ने शाही पक्षों को अनेक मुठभेड़ों में पराजित किया और उन्हें अनेकबार पीछे धकेल दिया। उन्होंने यह भी माना कि जालौर का युद्ध भयानक था और संभवत: दीर्घकालीन भी। गुजराती महाकाव्य 'कान्हड़दे प्रबन्ध' के अनुसार संघर्ष कुछ वर्षों तक चला और शाही सेनाओं को अनेक बार मुँह की खानी पड़ी। इन अपमान जनक पराजयों के समाचारों ने सुल्तान को उतेजित कर दिया और उसने अनुभवी मलिक कमालुद्दीन गुर्ग के नेतृत्व में एक शक्तिशाली सेना भेजी। सुल्तान की सेना का जालौर से पूर्व ही सिवाणा के सामंत सीतलदेव ने सामना किया। दोनों के बीच ऐसा युद्ध हुआ जिसकी कलपना संभवत: सुल्तानी सेना नायकों के मस्तिष्क में थी भी नहीं। यही कारण था कि एक बार पुन: पराजय झेलनी पड़ी और वहाँ से दूर तक भागना पड़ा। सुल्तान को ज्यों ही पुन: पराजय का समाचार मिला, कहते हैं कि वह स्वयं इस बार पूरी शक्ति के साथ जालौर पर चढ़ आया।

अब तक सुल्तान को यह आभास अच्छी तरह हो गया था कि युद्ध में रणबांकुरे राजपूतों को पराजित करना कठिन ही नहीं असम्भव है। परिणाम स्वरूप अब सुल्तान की ओर से कूटनीतिक दांव-पेच शुरू हो गये और दुर्ग के ही एक प्रमुख भापला नामक व्यक्ति को प्रचूर धन का लालच देकर अपनी ओर मिला लिया। भापला ने दुर्ग के द्वार खोल दिये और मुस्लिम सेना ने दुर्ग में प्रवेश कर लिया। दुर्ग में तैयारियां पूर्ण थी। ज्यों ही सुल्तान की सेना का प्रवेश हुआ, अन्दर राजपूतों महिलाएं जौहर करने के लिए आगे बढ़ी तो पुरुष भूखे शेरों की तहर टूट पड़े। घमासान छिड़ गया। संख्या में राजपूत कम अवश्य थे लेकिन युद्ध को देखकर ऐसा लग रहा था मानो हजारों की सेना आपस में भिड़ रही हों। यहाँ यदि यह कहा जाए तो अतिश्योति नहीं होगी कि मुट्ठीभर राजपूतों ने पुन: यह बता दिया कि वे मर सकते हैं लेकिन हारते नहीं। देखते ही देखते जालौर के दुर्ग में मरघट की शान्ति पसर गई। 18 वर्ष का संघर्ष समाप्त हो गया। कान्हड़देव का क्या हुआ, इतिहास के स्रोत मौन है लेकिन जालौर का पतन हो गया और साथ ही उस शौर्य गाथा को भी विराम मिल गया जिसका प्रारम्भ चौहान वंशीय वीर-पुत्र कान्हड़देव ने किया था।

अलाउद्दीन को जालौर-विजय की खुशी अवश्य थी, लेकिन उसने यह समझने में किंचित् भी भूल नहीं की कि राजपूताने को जीतना कठिन है। यही कारण है कि इस विजय के उपरांत उसने यहाँ के राजपूत शासकों के संग मिलकर चलने में ही अपनी भलाई समझी और फिर कोई बड़ा अभियान नहीं चलाया। स्वयं डॉ. के.एस. लाल ने अपनी पुस्तक 'खलजी वंश का इतिहास' के पृष्ठ 114 पर लिखा है.राजपूताना पर पूर्ण आधिपत्य असंभव था और वहाँ अलाउद्दीन की सफलता संदिग्ध थी।" अपनी इस बात को स्पष्ट करते हुए डॉ. लाल लिखते हैं कि-'राजपूताना में सुल्तान की विजय स्वल्पकालीन रही, देशप्रेम और सम्मान के लिए मर मिटनेवाले राजपूतों ने कभी भी अलाउद्दीन के प्रांतपतियों के सम्मुख समर्पण नहीं किया। यदि उनकी पूर्ण पराजय हो जाती तो वे अच्छी तरह जानते थे कि किसी प्रकार अपमानकारी आक्रमण से स्वयं को और अपने परिवार को मुक्त करना चाहिए, जैसे ही आक्रमण का ज्वार उतर जाता वे अपने प्रदेशों पर पुन: अपना अधिकार जमा लेते। परिणाम यह रहा कि राजपूताना पर अलाउद्दीन का अधिकार सदैव संदिग्ध ही रहा। रणथम्भौर, चित्तौड़ उसके जीवनकाल में ही अधिपत्य से बाहर हो गये। जालौर भी विजय के शीघ्र बाद ही स्वतन्त्र हो गया। कारण स्पष्ट था, यहाँ के जन्मजात राजपूत योद्धाओं की इस वीर भूमि की एक न एक रियासत दिल्ली सल्तनत की शक्ति का विरोध हमेशा करती रही, चाहे बाद में विश्व का सर्वशक्तिमान सम्राट अकबर ही क्यों न हो, प्रताप ने उसे भी ललकारा था और अनवरत संघर्ष किया था।

Saturday, August 1, 2020

TWIST SOUL AND SENSE AN ECHO OF LOST . . . . . .






With feeble shades that vanish while we gaze..

The mountain tops are tinged, day fades away..

Though those art unmoved, like a warrior crest..

Like the rustle of leaves or like dark water...

Flowings in its stream..








this castle standing magnificently against a backdrop of mountains to the south and the west. 








Like it is in a dark silhouette, backlit under the glare of the setting sun. The entire green valley to the west of the castle is bathed beautifully in evening light.











It is more the setting than the castle itself that gives it a romantic edge. The castle stands on a hillock with rocks and roughly cut stones strewn about the place.








These must have been part of extensions or outer walls that are no longer standing. It is a unique structure that stands in eight levels. It is more like a tower, like In many fairy tales of Rumpelstiltskin'' there are three common settings: a village where the people are poor and hard-working, a castle that houses royalty, and the forest, which may be associated with an evil villain or something kind of magic. 








We headed in search for Eastern mysticism Lahaul may have been perfect as it is the melting pot of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Both religions co-exist seemlessly into each other. The locals refer to their religion as Hindu-Bodh and it is a mixture of both great systems of belief. The two religions intertwine in a way which could be a model for any two religions to exist side by side. Lahaul is where India and Tibet meet and merge unlike at other places where one culture gives way to another.








The Gondhla fort is situated in Lahaul district of himachal pradesh. The Gondhla fort is situated 18 km away from Keylong. The altitude of Gondhla fort is 3160 m from sea level.








Lahaul has only one fort Gondhla. It was built by Raja Man Singh of Kullu in 1700AD. The Gondhla fort is built with wood in the tower type architecture in front Chandra River across the valley.








Gondhla Fort is a tiny hamlet situated by the banks of the Chandra River some 15 kilometres from Sissu towards Keylong on the Manali- Leh Highway. The history of this massive wooden fort, the only fort of Lahaul, goes way back. While some say the fort was built 20 generations ago from the present Thakur, Fateh Chand, 








Though Lahaul and spiti district officially claimed that this fort dates back to the 1700s and was built under one Raja Man Singh of Kullu who married into the Gondhla family to strengthen and expand his territory.








The staircases of the Gondhla fort are partially notched wooden logs. The fifth storey was belong to the Thakur. The fifth storey is used by thakur for prayer and listen to public and later pronounce his judgement.








The walls of the Gondhla fort is painted in stone colours. The facade of the Ganesha carved on the prayer chamber. The window connecting to the outer room has excellent work of wood carving. The Gondla Fort has antique artifacts like bows arrows,quivers,catapults guns and canons beside age old costumes.








It is in the traditional style of Kuth-Kuni construction meant to withstand earthquakes. What is unique in this castle is that structurally there are no diagonal or vertical beams of wood, just horizontal beams packed in between with stones without use of mortar.








The castle stands in a dangerous state of disrepair. We wonder if getting inside, is really safe. Although there is a little door and a staircase on the southern side, the access is overgrown with weeds. It is not a castle for tourists. It is a romantic ruin in a state of natural decay. This is exactly why I like it so much.








The castle stands straight and tall. At its top is a jettied balcony supported on brackets, at places decorated with horns of sheep. The southern side has projected balconies and gables on two levels. Many wooden boards are missing, the parapets gone and the balcony floor fallen. Recessed windows break the monotony of the castle, particularly on the southern and eastern sides.








The walls are packed with flatly cut stone blocks wedged tightly together between the horizontal wooden beams. 








After 300 years, the structure which appears at a glance to be of primitive construction, is still standing. 











The Gondla Fort is sadly no more accessible and We read (not sure) that it may be being sold off to somebody who is planning to turn the fort into a museum. We would’ve wished for a restoration project but well, Who are We to wish…just..








.....neither we as tourists nor the tourism ministry or the tourism industry is sensitive  enough for the conservation of local heritage and culture. As soon as a new site is discovered it is destined to be destroyed by unplanned money making rat race. The biggest culprit is State Tourism Ministry which knows nothing about developing tourism...We as tourists are also to be blamed, for us tourism only means uncivilized drink, drive, dance and hooliganism. Just think of any famous tourist spots of Himachal and you will realise what we mean.
So wish these places remain unexplored from ..... for their own sake until....








ॐ नमः शिवायः




PARAMVEER SUBEDAR RAM SWARUP SINGH TANWAR IN THE BATTLE OF SIALUM VUM (CHIN HILLS, BURMA) WINNING THE V.C - IMMORTAL RAJPUTS







It would be difficult to find a finer example of cool bravery, cheerfulness, leadership and determination. His action had a profound effect on the rest of the Company, and when volunteers were called for to bring in his body, under the heaviest fire, the entire Company volunteered.

Subadar Ram Sarup Singh's gallantry will inspire the Regiment for all time.

— London Gazette, 8 February 1945








A depiction of an action at Kennedy's Peak in the Chin Hills of Burma, when Subedar Ram Sarup Singh of the Indian Army bravely led his platoon to its objective, resulting in him being mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The painting shows Subedar Ram Swarup Singh and his platoon attacking Japanese positions at the crest of a steep hill, which has a track running up towards the peak. The crest of the hill is also under bombardment from two aircraft that fly in the blue sky above.


















b. 12/04/1919 Khere, India.

d. 25/10/1944 Kennedy Peak, Burma.




Place VC Won Tiddim Area, Burma (now Myanmar)

VC Presented 1 April 1945, Viceroy Lord Wavell, Red Fort, New Delhi, India

War/Campaign Second World War








Subedar Ram Sarup Singh Tanwar (1912-1944) was son of Thakur Jorawar Singh Tanwar; husband of Nath Kanwar, born on 12th April 1919 in Khere, Patiale District, of then undivided India, at present Khedi Talwana village in Gurugram district, india. Khedi Talwana is a hub of around 40 villages inhabited by Rajputs of the Tanwar gotra where men traditionally chose the Army as a career and they still continue to do so with pride as a duty to the nation. 



Ram Sarup passed middle class from Ahir High School, Kanina, and then enlisted in 2nd Battalion of 1st Punjab Regiment on April 12, 1937. He gradually excelled in all service matters and after six years in the ranks, he was awarded the Viceroy Commission in April 1943. He was probably the youngest to have been commissioned through the ranks. Ram Sarup, now Jemadar, was the Platoon Commander of 5th Platoon in ‘B’ Company of 2nd Punjab Battalion. At the young age of 25, he was destined to lead his platoon in the last battle of his career -








A battle which was one of the fiercest fought in Burma Campaign during World War II, a battle which would be witness to his most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy, earning him the coveted Victoria Cross.








During Burma Campaign in World War II, it was on the Tiddim-Imphal road that some of the fiercest fighting in the entire Battle of Imphal-Kohima took place. During one such battle, 2nd Punjab Battalion, as part of 32 Infantry Brigade ex 20th Indian Division was tasked with capturing a feature adjacent to Kennedy Peak astride the Imphal-Tiddim road. Capture of this feature, which was heavily defended by the Japanese, was vital for 20th Indian Division to further its operations. On October 25, 1944, Jemadar (acting Subedar) Ram Sarup was ordered to attack the targeted feature with his platoon. The battle account of Ram Sarup’s valour for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross, is available in the War Diary of 2nd Punjab Battalion and is corroborated by the book ‘For Valour’written by British historian Bryan Perrett.








on Memorial Gates, Constitution Hill, Green Park, London 





It is due to this honour and spirit of duty that the third generation of late Subedar Ram Sarup Singh Tanwar, VC, proudly serves the Indian Army, while his fourth is gearing up to follow in the footsteps of this proud Rajput clan and Tanwar family. Besides, Khedi Talwana village has been inspired the most by the valour and martyrdom of Ram Sarup. The village is known in the region as ‘Fauji Gaon’ since every household has at least one or two serving soldiers, some for the past three generations.








Lieutenant Nawdeep Rajput Sub.Ramsarup Singh Tanwar, Victoria cross की मुर्ति पर माला पहनते हुए गांव kheri taleana 10.6.2019 





Ram Sarup’s valour and martyrdom has not gone unnoticed. Not only in Khedi Talwana village, Tanwar Rajputs of 40 adjoining villages in present-day Mahendragarh district consider Ram Sarup a warrior next only to Maharana Pratap, and they look up to him as a role model of valour. The writer interacted with many adolescents in villages around Khedi Talwana and asked them “Beta, badey hokar kya banoge?” and the unanimous and prompt response was “Ram Sarup banenge”. When prodded further “Aur kyon?” The response, unanimous, and prompt yet again, “Kyonki Maharana Pratap ke baad Ram Sarup hi to asli veer paida hua




He had reached the rank of Jemadar and then acting Subedar prior to his involvement in the Burma Campaign in the latter half of 1944. On 25th October 1944, at Kennedy Peak, in the Tiddim area of Burma, he was in charge of one of two platoons ordered to take part in a diversionary attack on the Japanese.








The battle summary in War Diary of 2nd Punjab Battalion reads...







On October 25, 1944, Subedar Ram Sarup Singh was ordered to attack a feature adjacent to Kennedy Peak astride the Imphal- Tiddim road with his platoon. Ram Sarup led the attack with great dash which threw the Japanese off balance and in bewilderment they fled from the bunkered position, suffering heavy casualties. In the attack, with both legs injured, Ram Sarup did not take notice of his wounds and led the assault till the objective was captured. When the captured part of the objective was being consolidated, the enemy launched a counterattack supported by heavy fire and grenades. To beat back the counterattack, Ram Sarup activated another light machine gun to give covering fire and led the charge against the advancing enemy, himself bayoneting four. Though badly wounded in the thigh, ignoring the wounds, he maintained his fury, bayoneting four more Japanese to death. However, in that close quarter battle, Sub Ram Sarup Singh was mortally wounded by machine gun fire in the chest and neck and he died a few minutes later.




He finally succumbed to injuries on his neck and chest, but not without inspiring in his platoon a sense of gallantry and valour. Aged 32, he stopped a counter-attack with nothing but his light machine gun and fearlessness of death.








8th February 1945




This feature was of exceptional natural strength and was defended by a large force of fresh Japanese troops who had turned the hill into a fortress. Every approach was covered by medium and light machine guns sited in bunkers. The platoon of Subadar Ram Sarup Singh at once charged the position with another section. This instantaneous action completely bewildered the enemy, who fled from the bunkered positions suffering casualties in their retreat. The Subadar was wounded in the legs but took no notice of his wounds. While he was consolidating his position, the enemy opened heavy fire with grenade dischargers, and at the same time put in a strong counter-attack in three waves of twenty each from a flank.




It seemed that the platoon must be overwhelmed, but Subadar Ram Sarup Singh got another light machine gun into position and led a charge against the advancing enemy, bayonetting four himself, and checking them. Although badly wounded in the thigh, he got up and, ignoring his wound, again went for the enemy shouting encouragement to his men. He bayonetted another Japanese and shot a further one, but was mortally wounded by a burst of medium machine gun fire in the chest and neck.





Named on Rangoon Memorial (face 30), 20 miles north of Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma (now Myanmar)








Sadly, Ram Sarup Singh’s body was not recovered from the battlefield, and he is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial. His posthumous VC was gazetted on 8th February 1945. In 2013, his medal group was acquired privately by Michael Ashcroft and are now on display in the Ashcroft Gallery, Imperial War Museum.








Ram Sarup Singh's medals including VC on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, Imperial War Museum, London (Aug 2014) 





LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT GALLERY, IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, LONDON.








Name shown as Ram Swarup Singh on Rangoon Memorial