Hari Singh Nalwa
Birth and Family
Hari Singh Nalwa
(1791–1837) was Commander-in-chief of the Sikh Khalsa Fauj, the army of
the Sikh Empire. He is known for his role in the conquests of Kasur,
Sialkot, Attock, Multan, Kashmir, Peshawar and Jamrud. ... He served as
governor of Kashmir, Peshawar and Hazara.
Hari Singh Nalwa was born in Gujranwala, in the Majha region of Punjab
to Dharam Kaur and Gurdial Singh Uppal,in a Sikh Khatri family.
After his father died
in 1798, he was raised by his mother. In 1801, at the age of ten, he took Amrit
Sanchar and was baptized as a Sikh. At the age of twelve, he began to manage his father's
estate and took up horse riding.
In 1804, at the age of fourteen, his mother sent him to the
court of Ranjit Singh to resolve a property dispute. Ranjit
Singh decided the arbitration in his favor because of his background and
aptitude. Hari Singh had explained that his father and grandfather had served
under Maha
Singh and Charat Singh, the Maharaja's ancestors, and
demonstrated his skills as a horseman and musketeer.Ranjit
Singh gave him a position at the court as a personal attendant.
Military career
During a hunt in 1804, a tiger attacked him and also killed
his horse. His fellow hunters attempted to protect him but he refused their
offers and allegedly killed the tiger by himself bare handedly by tearing the tiger apart from
its mouth, thus earning the cognomen Baghmar ,Tiger-killer.Whether he was by
that time already serving in the military is unknown but he was commissioned as
Sardar,
commanding 800 horses and footmen, in that year.
The twenty major battles of Hari Singh Nalwa ,either participated or was in command
Battle of Kasur
In 1807 Hari Singh's first significant participation in a
Sikh conquest on assuming charge of an independent contingent was in 1807, at
the capture of Kasur. This place had long been a thorn in the side of Ranjit
Singh's power because of its proximity to his capital city of Lahore. It was
captured in the fourth attempt. This attack was led by Maharaja Ranjit Singh
and Jodh Singh Ramgarhia. During the campaign the Sardar showed remarkable
bravery and dexterity.The Sardar was granted a Jagir in recognition of his
services.
Battle of Sialkot 1808
Ranjit Singh nominated Hari Singh Nalwa to take Sialkot from
its ruler Jiwan Singh. This was his first battle under an independent command.
The two armies were engaged for a couple of days, eventually seventeen year old
Hari Singh carried the day.Nalwa lead the army to victory and planted the Sikh
Flag on top of the fort.
Battle of Attock 1813
The fort of Attock
was a major replenishment point for all armies crossing the Indus. In the early
19th century, Afghan appointees of the Kingdom of Kabul held this fort, as they
did most of the territory along this frontier. This battle was fought and won
by the Sikhs on the banks of the Indus under the leadership of Dewan Mokham Chand, Maharaja Ranjit Singh's
general, against Wazir Fatteh Khan and his brother Dost Mohammad Khan, on behalf of Shah Mahmud of Kabul. Besides Hari
Singh Nalwa, Hukam Singh Attariwala, Shyamu Singh, Khalsa Fateh Singh Ahluwalia
and Behmam Singh Malliawala actively participated in this battle. With the
conquest of Attock, the adjoining regions of Hazara-i-Karlugh
and Gandhgarh became tributary to the Sikhs. In 1815, Sherbaz Khan of Gandhgarh
challenged Hari Singh Nalwa's authority and was defeated.
Attempt on Kashmir (1814)
The Sikhs made an attempt to take Kashmir soon after the
Battle of Attock. The army was under the general command of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh, who camped at Rajauri. The troops were led towards Srinagar by Ram Dayal,
grandson of Dewan Mokham Chand, while Jamadar Khushal Singh commanded the van,
Hari Singh Nalwa and Nihal Singh Attariwala brought up the rear. Lack of
provisions, delay in the arrival of reinforcements, bad weather and treachery
of the allies lead to the Sikhs to retreat.The next few years were spent in
subduing Muslim chiefs within the Kashmir territory, en route Srinagar
Valley.In 1815–16, Hari Singh Nalwa attacked and destroyed the stronghold of
the traitorous Rajauri chief.
Conquest of Mahmudkot (1816)
In preparation of the conquest of the strongly fortified Mankera, Ranjit
Singh decided to approach it from its southern extremity. After the Baisakhi of
1816, Misr Diwan Chand, Illahi Bakhsh, Fateh Singh
Ahluwalia, Nihal Singh Attariwala and Hari Singh Nalwa accompanied by seven
paltans and the topkhana went towards Mahmudkot. When news of its conquest
arrived, it left the Maharaja so elated at the success of Sikh arms that he
celebrated this victory with the firing of cannons. Two years later, on their
way to Multan, the Sikhs captured the forts of Khangarh and Muzzaffargarh.
Battle of Multan (1818)
The winter of 1810 saw a jubilant Sikh army stationed near
Multan in the Bari Doab. They were riding high on the success of having
conquered the Chuj Doab. The possession of the city of Multan was taken with
little resistance; however, the fort could not be captured. The fort was
bombarded and mined without effect. Sardar Nihal Singh Attariwala and the young
Hari Singh Nalwa were seriously wounded. A fire pot thrown from the walls of
the fort fell on Hari Singh and he was so badly burnt that it was some months before
he was fit for service.Ranjit Singh was disconcerted beyond measure at the
length of the siege and perforce had to abandon the attempt. Multan was finally
conquered under the nominal command of Kharak Singh and the actual command of
Misr Diwan Chand. It was a fiercely contested battle in which Muzzaffar Khan
and his sons defended the place with exemplary courage, but they could not
withstand the onslaught of the Sikhs. Hari Singh Nalwa was "chiefly
instrumental" in the capture of the citadel.
Peshawar becomes tributary
Peshawar becomes tributary 1818 When Shah Mahmud's son, Shah
Kamran, killed their Barakzai Vazir Fateh Khan in August 1818 the Sikhs took
advantage of the resulting confusion and their army formally forded the Indus
and entered Peshawar, the summer capital of the Kingdom of Kabul (modern-day Afghanistan),
for the first time. Thereafter, Hari Singh Nalwa was deputed towards Peshawar
in order to keep the Sikh dabdaba kayam — maintain the pressure.
Mitha Tiwana becomes his jagir (1818)
In the beginning
of 1819, Hari Singh accompanied Misr
Diwan Chand to collect tribute from the Nawab of Mankera. On
completion of the mission, Diwan Chand crossed the river
Chenab along with his topkhana and set up his camp in Pindi
Bhattian near Chiniot. He was asked to leave Hari Singh stationed in the
suburbs of Nurpur and Mitha
Tiwana.Hari Singh must have achieved significant success for soon thereafter the
Maharaja bestowed all the possessions of the Tiwana chiefs in
jagir on the Sardar.
Kashmir becomes a part of the Punjab (1819)
, In April 1819, the Sikh army marched towards Kashmir. On
this occasion, Prince Kharak Singh held nominal command. Misr Diwan Chand led
the vanguard, while Hari Singh Nalwa brought up the rear for the support of the
leading troops. The third division, under the personal command of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh, expedited supplies and conveyed these to the advance troops. On
the morning of 5 July 1819, the Sikh columns advanced to the sound of bugles. A
severe engagement took place between the two armies and the Sikhs captured
Kashmir. Great rejoicing followed in the Sikh camp and the cities of Lahore and
Amritsar were illuminated for three successive nights. Thus came to an end the
five centuries of Muslim rule in Kashmir. Two years later, as Governor of
Kashmir, Hari Singh Nalwa put down the rebellion of the most troublesome Khakha chief,
Gulam Ali.
Battle of Pakhli (1819)
Under the Afghans, Hazara-i-Karlugh, Gandhgarh
and Gakhar
territory were governed from Attock. Kashmir collected the revenue from the
upper regions of Pakhli,
Damtaur and Darband. Numerous attempts by the Sikhs
to collect revenue from Hazara-i-Karlugh not only met with failure, but also
the loss of prominent Sikh administrators and commanders. Following the Sikh
conquest of Kashmir, tribute was due from Pakhli, Damtaur, and Darband. On his
return to the Punjab plains from the Kashmir Valley, Hari Singh and his
companions followed the traditional kafila (caravan) route through Pakhli
hoping to collect tribute from the region. The Sikh request for Nazrana
resulted in the usual "fighting and mulcting"; the party however, was
successful in their mission.
Battle of Mangal (1821)
Hari Singh's most spectacular
success in the region of Hazara came two years later. On the successful
conclusion of his governorship of Kashmir, he departed from the Valley and
crossed the river Kishenganga at Muzaffarabad
with 7000 foot soldiers. Hari Singh Nalwa traversed the hazardous mountainous
terrain successfully, however when his entourage reached Mangal he found his
passage opposed. Mangal, the ancient capital of Urasa was now the
stronghold of the chief of the Jaduns who controlled the entire region of Damtaur. Hari
Singh requested the tribesmen for a passage through their territory, but they
demanded a tax on all the Kashmir goods and treasure he was taking with him.
All trade kafilas routinely paid this toll. Hari Singh's claim that the goods
he carried were not for trade purposes was not accepted. When parleying
produced no result, a battle was to occur. Hari Singh then left to join forces
with the Sikh army poised for an attack on Mankera, but after he had collected
a fine from every house and built a fort in this vicinity.
Battle of Mankera (1822)
The Sindh
Sagar Doab was chiefly controlled from Mankera and Mitha Tiwana. Nawab
Hafiz Ahmed Khan, a relative of the Durranis, exerted considerable influence in
this region. Besides Mankera, he commanded a vast area protected by 12 forts.
With the weakening of Afghan rule in Kabul, the governors of Attock, Mankera,
Mitha Tiwana and Khushab
had declared their independence. Ranjit Singh celebrated the Dussehra of 1821
across the river Ravi, at Shahdera. Hari Singh, Governor of Kashmir, was most
familiar with the territory that the Maharaja had now set his eyes on. Nalwa
was summoned post-haste to join the Lahore Army already on its way towards the
river Indus. The Maharaja and his army had crossed the Jehlum when Hari Singh
Nalwa, accompanied by his Kashmir platoons, joined them at Mitha Tiwana. The
Sikhs commenced offensive operations in early November.
Nawab Hafiz Ahmed's predecessor, Nawab Mohammed Khan, had
formed a cordon around Mankera with 12 forts—Haidrabad, Maujgarh, Fatehpur,
Pipal, Darya Khan, Khanpur, Jhandawala, Kalor, Dulewala, Bhakkar, Dingana and
Chaubara. The Sikh army occupied these forts and soon the only place that
remained to be conquered was Mankera itself. A few years earlier, the Nawab of
Mankera had actively participated in the reduction of Mitha Tiwana. The
Tiwanas, now feudatories of Hari Singh Nalwa, were eager participants in
returning that favour to the Nawab. The force was divided into three parts—one
column being under Hari Singh—and each column entered the Mankera territory by
a different route; capturing various places en route all three columns rejoined
near Mankera town. Mankera was besieged, with Nalwa's force being on the west
of the fort.
,The Nawab were allowed to proceed towards Dera Ismail Khan,
which was granted to him as jagir. His descendants held the area until 1836.
Battle of Nowshera (1823)
The Sikhs forayed into Peshawar for the first time in 1818,
but did not occupy the territory. They were content with collecting tribute
from Yar Mohammed, its Barakzai governor. Azim Khan, Yar Mohammed's
half-brother in Kabul, totally disapproved of the latter's deference to the
Sikhs and decided to march down at the head of a large force to vindicate the
honour of the Afghans. Azim Khan wanted to avenge both, the supplication of his
Peshawar brethren and the loss of Kashmir. Hari Singh Nalwa was the first to
cross the Indus at Attock to the Sikh post of Khairabad; he was accompanied by Diwan Kirpa
Ram and Khalsa Sher Singh, the Maharaja's teenaged son, beside 8,000 men.
,The Afghan army was expected near Nowshera, on the banks of the river
Kabul (Landai). Hari Singh's immediate plan was to capture the Yusafzai
stronghold to the north of the Landai at Jehangira,
and the Khattak territory to its south at Akora
Khattak. Jehangira was a masonry fort with very strong towers and the
Afghan Yusafzais offered tough resistance. Hari Singh entered the fort and
established his thana there.The remaining troops re-crossed the Landai River
and returned to their base camp at Akora. ,Mohammed Azim Khan had encamped
roughly ten miles north-west of Hari Singh's position, on the right bank of the
Landai, facing the town of Nowshera, awaiting Ranjit Singh's approach. The
Sikhs had scheduled two battles – one along either bank of the Landai.
,After Hari Singh had successfully reduced the Afghan tribal
strongholds on either side of the river, Ranjit Singh departed from the fort of
Attock. He crossed the Landai River at a ford below Akora, and set up his camp
near the fort of Jehangira. The famous army commander Akali Phula
Singh and Gurkha commander Bal Bahadur, with their respective troops,
accompanied the Maharaja. The Afghan Barakzais witnessed the battle from across
the river. They were not able to cross the Landai river. Eventually, the
inheritors of Ahmed Shah Abdali's legacy withdrew from the
area, toward the direction of Jalalabad.
Battle of Sirikot (1824)
Sirikot lay less than ten miles to the north-west of Haripur. This Mashwani village was strategically placed in a basin at the top of the north-east end of the Gandhgarh Range, which made its secure location a haven for the rebellious chiefs in the entire region. Hari Singh Nalwa went towards Sirikot before the rains of 1824. It was another six months before the attempt produced conclusive results. The Sardar almost lost his life in the course of this expedition. Ranjit Singh's military campaign for the winter of 1824 was scheduled towards Peshawar and Kabul. While stationed at Wazirabad, he received an arzi (written petition) from Sardar Hari Singh informing him that he and his men were overwhelmingly outnumbered – one Sikh to ten Afghans. Ranjit Singh marched to [Rohtas], from there to [Rawalpindi] and via [Sarai Kala] reached Sirikot. With news of the approach of the Sikh army, the Afghans withdrew.
Battle of Saidu (1827)
The redeemer of the Yusafzais came in the form of one Sayyid
Ahmad , who despite being a 'Hindki' was accepted as a leader by them. Budh
Singh Sandhanwalia, accompanied by 4,000 horsemen, was deputed towards Attock
to assist in suppressing the Yusafzai rebellion. The Maharaja's brief required
him to thereafter to proceed towards Peshawar and collect tribute from Yar
Mohammed Khan Barakzai. Budh Singh first heard of the Sayyid after he had
crossed the Indus and encamped near the fort of Khairabad. Ranjit Singh was
still on the sickbed when the news of the Sayyid's arrival, at the head of a
large force of the Yusafzai peasantry, reached him. The gallantry of the
Yusafzai defence in the Battle of Nowshera was still vivid in his mind. On
receiving this news, he immediately put into motion all the forces that he
could muster and immediately dispatched them towards the frontier.
,The Barakzais in Peshawar, though outwardly professing
allegiance to the Sikhs, were in reality in league with the other Afghans. The
Sayyid marched from Peshawar in the direction of Nowshera. Sardar Budh Singh
wrote to the Sayyid seeking for a clarification of his intention. The Sayyid
replied that he wished to first take the fort of Attock and then engage Budh
Singh in battle.
,Hari Singh Nalwa stood guard at the fort of Attock with the
intention of keeping the Sayyid and his men from crossing the river until
reinforcements arrived from Lahore. News had reached the Sikhs that the jihadis
accompanying the Sayyid numbered several thousand. The battle between the
Sayyid and the Sikhs was fought on 14 Phagun (23 February) 1827. The action
commenced at about ten in the morning. The Muslim war cry of Allah hu Akbar, or
"God is the greatest", was answered by the Sikhs with Bole so nihal,
Sat Sri Akal, or "they who affirm the name of God, the only immortal
truth, will find fulfilment". Ironically, the opposing forces first
professed the glory of the very same God Almighty, albeit in different
languages, before they commenced slaughtering each other. The cannonade lasted
about two hours. The Sikhs charged at their opponents, routed them, and
continued a victorious pursuit for six miles, taking all their guns, swivels
and camp equipment.
Occupies Peshawar (1834)
The occupation of the great city of Peshawar and its
ruinous fort, the Bala Hisar showered that it was a reflection
of Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa's formidable reputation in the region. Masson arrived
in Peshawar just in time to see the Sikhs take control of the city. His
eyewitness‘ account reports that the Afghans withdrew from the region and Hari
Singh Nalwa occupied Peshawar without conflict.
Dost Mohammad Khan withdraws (1835)
Hari Singh Nalwa was the governor of Peshawar when Dost
Mohammed personally came at the head of a large force to challenge the Sikhs.
Following his victory against Shah Shuja at Kandahar, in the first quarter of
1835, Dost Mohammed declared himself padshah (king), gave a call for jihad and
set off from Kabul to wrest Peshawar from the Sikhs. Ranjit Singh directed his
generals to amuse the Afghans with negotiations and to win over Sultan Mohammed
Khan. He directed them that on no account, even if attacked, were they to enter
into a general engagement until his arrival.
,Hari Singh Nalwa and the other Sikh chieftains requested
Ranjit Singh to permit them to engage with the Afghans. On 30 Baisakh (10 May
1835), Sardar Hari Singh, Raja Gulab Singh, Misr Sukh Raj, Sardar Attar Singh
Sandhanwalia, Jamadar Khushal Singh, the Raja Kalan (Dhian Singh), Monsieur
Court, Signor Avitabile, Sardar Tej Singh, Dhaunkal Singh, Illahi Bakhsh of the
topkhana, Sardar Jawala Singh and Sardar Lehna Singh Majithia were ordered to
move. The troops fanned out over five kos, forming a semicircle in front of the
Amir's encampment. Sardar Hari Singh proposed that the water of the stream
Bara, which flowed in the direction of Dost Mohammed Khan's camp, be dammed.
When the Ghazis appeared, Sardar Hari Singh commenced firing his guns. The
Maharaja, however, prohibited him from indulging in battle and dispatched his
Vakils to negotiate with the Amir.
,Dost Mohammed Khan was assured that the Sikhs would affect
a truce until their Vakils were in his camp. He accused Fakir Aziz-ud-din of
making "use of much language, having plenty of leaves but little
fruit". On finding both his step brothers, Jabbar and Sultan, irredeemably
lost to him, Dost Mohammed decided to retire from the field with the whole of
his army, armament and equipage. He left at night, making sure that the Fakir
did not return to the Sikh camp until after he had gone through the Khyber
Pass.
Jamrud ,Khyber Pass (1836)
In October 1836 following the Dussehra celebrations in
Amritsar, Hari Singh made a sudden attack on the village of Jamrud, at the
mouth of the Khyber Pass. The Misha Khel Khyberis, the owners of this village,
were renowned for their excellent marksmanship and total lack of respect for
any authority. Hari Singh Nalwa's first encounter with this tribe had taken
place following the Battle of Nowshera when he had pursued the fleeing Azim
Khan; and once again, when he chased Dost Mohammed Khan in 1835.
The occupation of Jamrud was rather strongly contested but
it appeared that the place was taken by surprise. On its capture, Hari Singh
Nalwa gave instructions to fortify the position without delay. A small existing
fort was immediately put into repair. News of this event was immediately
transmitted to Kabul. Masson informed Wade of the passage of events along this
frontier in a letter dated 31 October 1836. With the conquest of Jamrud, at the
very mouth of the Khyber, the frontier of the Sikh Empire now bordered the
foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains.
Panjtaar defeated (1836)
The defeat of the Khyberis sent shock waves through the
Afghans. Hari Singh Nalwa accompanied by Kanwar Sher Singh, now proceeded
towards the Yusafzai strongholds, north-east of Peshawar, which had withheld
tribute for three years. The Sikhs defeated the Yusafzais, with their chief,
Fateh Khan of Panjtar, losing his territory.It was reported that 15,000 mulkia
fled before the Sikhs, many being killed and the remaining taking refuge in the
hills.After burning and levelling Panjtar to the ground, Hari Singh returned to
Peshawar realising all the arrears of revenue. Fateh Khan was obliged to sign
an agreement to pay tribute on which condition Panjtar was released.When news
of the conquest of Panjtar reached the Court of Lahore, a display of fireworks
was proposed.
Battle of Jamrud (1837)
The Maharaja's
grandson, Nau Nihal Singh was getting married in March 1837. Troops had been
withdrawn from all over the Punjab to put up a show of strength for the British
Commander-in-chief who was invited to the wedding. Dost Mohammed Khan had been
invited to the great celebration.Hari Singh Nalwa too was supposed to be at
Amritsar, but in reality was in Peshawar (some accounts say he was ill, Dost
Mohammed had ordered his army to march towards Jamrud together with five sons
and his chief advisors with orders not to engage with the Sikhs, but more as a
show of strength and try and wrest the forts of Shabqadar,
Jamrud and Peshawar. Hari Singh had also been instructed not to engage with the
Afghans till reinforcements arrived from Lahore.Hari Singh's lieutenant, Mahan
Singh, was in the fortress of Jamrud with 600 men and limited supplies. Hari
Singh was in the strong fort of Peshawar. He was forced to go to the rescue of
his men who were surrounded from every side by the Afghan forces, without water
in the small fortress. Though the Sikhs were totally outnumbered, presence of Hari
Singh Nalwa put the Afghan army into panic. In the melee, Hari Singh Nalwa was
grievously wounded. Before he died, he told his lieutenant not to let the news
of his death out till the arrival of reinforcements, which is what he did.
While the Afghans knew that Hari Singh had been wounded, they waited for over a
week doing nothing, till the news of his death was confirmed. The Afghans
withdrew after witnessing Nalwa’s body hung outside the fort.Hari Singh Nalwa
had not only defended Jamrud and Peshawar, but had prevented the Afghans from
ravaging the entire north-west frontier, in turn was not able to invade
Afghanistan himself. The loss of Hari Singh Nalwa was irreparable and this Sikh
defeat was costly for that precise reason.
The victories in battles that were achieved over the
Afghans, were a favourite topic of conversation for Ranjit Singh. He was to
immortalise these by ordering a shawl from Kashmir at the record price of
Rs5000, in which were depicted the scenes of the battles fought with
them.Following the death of Hari Singh Nalwa, no further conquests were made in
this direction. The Khyber Pass continued as the Sikh frontier till the
annexation of the Punjab by the British.
Administrator.
Hari Singh's administrative rule covered one-third of the
Sikh Empire. He served as the Governor of Kashmir (1820–21), Greater Hazara
(1822–1837) and was twice appointed the Governor of Peshawar (1834-5 &
1836-his death). He worked closely with 2nd in command of the Khalsa Army, the
Hindu 'Raja Mahan Singh Mirpuri' on many affairs
related to administration.
In his private capacity, Hari Singh Nalwa was required to
administer his vast jagir spread all over the kingdom. He was sent to the most
troublesome spots of the Sikh empire in order to "create a tradition of
vigorous and efficient administration".The territories under his
jurisdiction later formed part of the British Districts of Peshawar, Hazara
(Pakhli, Damtaur, Haripur, Darband, Gandhgarh, Dhund, Karral and Khanpur), Attock (Chhachch,
Hassan Abdal), Jehlum
(Pindi Gheb, Katas), Mianwali (Kachhi), Shahpur
(Warcha, Mitha Tiwana and Nurpur), Dera
Ismail Khan (Bannu, Tank, and Kundi), Rawalpindi
(Rawalpindi, Kallar) and Gujranwala. In 1832, at the specific request of William
Bentinck, the Maharajah proposed a fixed table of duties for the whole of his
territories. Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa was one of the three men deputed to fix
the duties from Attock (on the Indus) to Filor (on the Satluj).
Diplomatic mission
In 1831, Hari Singh Nalwa was deputed to head a diplomatic
mission to Lord William Bentinck, Governor-General of
British India.
The Ropar Meeting between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the head of British
India followed soon thereafter. The Maharaja saw this as a good occasion to
get his son, Kharak Singh, acknowledged as his heir-apparent. Hari Singh Nalwa
expressed strong reservations against any such move.The British desired to
persuade Ranjit Singh to open the Indus for trade.
Legacy
Nalwa was also a builder. At least 56 buildings were
attributed to him, which included forts, ramparts, towers, gurdwaras, tanks,
samadhis, temples, mosques, towns, havelis, sarais and gardens.He built the
fortified town of Haripur in 1822. This was the first planned town
in the region, with a superb water distribution system.His very strong fort of
Harkishengarh, situated in the valley at the foothill of mountains, had four
gates. It was surrounded by a wall, four yards thick and 16 yards high. Nalwa's
presence brought such a feeling of security to the region that when Hügel
visited Haripur in 1835-6, he found the town humming with activity. A large
number of Khatris
migrated there and established a flourishing trade. Haripur, tehsil
and district, in Hazara, North-West Frontier Province,
are named after him.
,Nalwa contributed to the prosperity of Gujranwala,
which he was given as a jagir sometime after 1799, which he held till his death in
1837.
He built all the main Sikh forts in the trans-Indus region
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — Jehangira and Nowshera on the left and right bank
respectively of the river Kabul, Sumergarh (or Bala Hisar Fort in the city of Peshawar),for
the Sikh Kingdom. In addition, he laid the foundation for the fort of
Fatehgarh, at Jamrud
(Jamrud
Fort).He reinforced Akbar's Attock fort situated on the left bank of the river
Indus by building very high bastions
at each of the gates.He also built the fort
of Uri in Kashmir.
A religious man, Nalwa built Gurdwara Panja Sahib in the town of Hassan
Abdal, south-west of Haripur and north-west of Rawalpindi,
to commemorate Guru Nanak's journey through that region. He had donated the
gold required to cover the dome of the Akal Takht
within the Harmandir Sahib complex in Amritsar.
Following Hari Singh Nalwa's death, his sons Jawahir Singh
Nalwa and Arjan Singh Nalwa fought against the British to protect the sovereignty of the Kingdom of the
Sikhs, with the former being noted for his defence in the Battle of Chillianwala.
A tribute to the Champion of the Khalsaji. Hari Singh Nalwa's
leadership qualities continued to inspire the Sikhs 81 years after his death
(front page of a book published in 1918)
A commemorative postage stamp was issued by the Government
of India in 2013, marking the 176th anniversary of Nalwa's death.
Death
Hari Singh Nalwa died fighting the Pathan forces of Dost
Mohammed Khan of Afghanistan. He was cremated in the Jamrud Fort built at the
mouth of the Khyber Pass in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Babu Gajju Mall Kapur, a
Hindu resident of Peshawar, commemorated his memory by building a memorial in
the fort in 1892.
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