Col J P Singh, Retd
15th of April is celebrated as Zorawar Day by Jammu and Kashmir Rifles ( erstwhile J&K State Force ) to commemorate birth and success of legendary warrior who happens to be architect of present Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. Zorawar Singh Kahlooria is said to be born on 15 April 1786 at Kahlooar, now Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh. Later as General of Raja Gulab Singh he launched Ladakh campaign from Kishtwar by marching into the Ladakhi Province of Purig ( the estate of Thi Sultans ) on 15 April 1834 with an army of 400 – 5000 men. Hence Zorawar Day signifies the birth and successes of a great Indian Warrior.
At the age of 16, he became a servant of Rana Jaswant Singh of Ramnagar where he learnt the art of archery and swordsmanship in a traditional way of a Rajput youth. Later he joined as a sepoy of Kiladar of Reasi. Being brave, intelligent and enterprising he won the favours of his master. Kiladar assigned him the duties of carrying messages to Raja Gulab Singh. It was during one of these meetings with Gulab Singh when he brought certain flaws and wastages in Raja’s supply dept and gave an alternative plan. When implemented, the new plan effected lots of savings. Hence Zorawar Singh was promoted as inspector of the commissariat of supplies for all the forts north of Jammu. After the occupation of Kishtwar in 1821, Gulab Singh made him Hakim of Kishtwar. When Gulab Singh became ruler of Jammu he elevated him to the status of Hakim of Reasi, Arnas and Kussal and awarded him the title and appointment of Wazir.
To recount Gen Zorawar Singh’s achievements, a look to the East of Kishtwar is necessary. To its East were the snow-clad mountain and valleys of upper Himalayas. Several principalities of this region were tributary to the Gyalpo (King) of Ladakh. In 1834 one of these, the Raja of Timbus, sought Gulab Singh’s help against the Gyalpo. Rajput General had been waiting for an opportunity to excel himself in warfare. The Rajputs of Jammu and Himachal had traditionally excelled in fighting in the mountains. Therefore Zorawar Singh had no problem in crossing the mountain ranges and entering Ladakh through the Suru River where his 5000 men defeated an army of local Botis. After subduing the landlords along the way, Zorawar Singh received the submission of the Ladakhis. Tsepal Namgyal, the Gyalpo, sent Gen Banko Kahlon to cut off Zorawar Singh’s lines of communications. The astute Dogra general rushed back to Kartse where he sheltered his troops through the winter. In the spring of 1835, he defeated the large Ladakhi army of Gen Banko Kahlon and marched his victorious troops towards Leh. The Gyalpo surrendered and agreed to pay 50,000 rupees as war-indemnity and 20,000 rupees as an annual tribute. This is considered as one of the greatest victories of Gen Zorawar Singh.
Another challenge lay to the Northwest of Ladakh. The region was Baltistan which Zorawar Singh annexed with the help Ladakhi troops. Having consolidated Raja Gulab Singh’s reign in the northwest, Zorawar Singh turned his energies Eastward, towards Tibet. As he had done in Ladakh, Zorawar Singh recruited the Baltis in his army. His force now comprised of men from the Jammu hills, Kishtwar, Ladakh and Baltistan. In May 1841, this army marched into the unknown land of Tibet. Sweeping all resistance on his way, he passed the Mansarovar Lake and converged at Gartok where he defeated the Tibetan force stationed there. Tibetan commander fled to Taklakot. Zorawar Singh stormed that fort on 6 September 1841. Envoys from Tibet and agents of the Maharaja of Nepal, whose kingdom was only fifteen miles from Taklakot, came to him. The fall of Taklakot finds mention in the report of the Chinese Imperial Resident, Meng Pao at Lhasa.
As the intense cold, coupled with the rain, snow and lightning continued for weeks upon weeks, many of the soldiers lost their fingers and toes to frostbite. Others starved to death. The Tibetans and their Chinese allies regrouped and advanced to give Dogras a battle. Zorawar Singh and his men met them in the Battle of To-Yo. On 12 December 1841, in the early exchange of fire the Rajput general was fatally wounded. Later Dogras executed the enemy General to avenge his death and forced the adversary into a peace treaty. 12 December 1841 ended the saga of military adventures of Dogra warrior. Ex-servicemen and combatant units of JAK RIF remember the great warrior on 15 April every year to commemorate his glory.
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