Content deleted Content added
Judgeonline (talk | contribs) m References updated in intro. Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
m Reference was improperly defined and caused an error, and is not a replacement for the previous reference, so it was fixed and added alongside the previous reference. |
||
Line 20:
}}
The '''1837 Poonch Revolt''', also known as the '''1837 Poonch Rebellion''', was a revolt in the [[History of Poonch District|Princely state of Poonch]] against the Sikh Empire's [[Dogra dynasty|Dogra]] rulers, Raja [[Dhian Singh]] and [[Gulab Singh|Raja Gulab Singh]]. The revolt took place in what is now present day [[Poonch Division]], [[Azad Kashmir]], Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Schofield|first=Victoria|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8J6LDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT85|title=Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War|date=2010-05-30|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-0-85773-078-7|language=en}}</ref> It was led by an influential zamindar of Poonch and headman of the [[Sudhan|Sudhans]], Sardar Shams Khan.<ref name="Kashmiri Fight For Freedom (1819 - 1946)">{{cite book |last1=
== History ==
Line 31 ⟶ 33:
In 1837, the significant battle of [[Battle of Jamrud]] occurred. The battle did not have a clear victor, but [[Hari Singh Nalwa]], a respected and valued general of the Sikh Empire whom took part in the conquest of Kashmir and other regions had been killed. Rumors of the death of Gulab Singh in the campaign too sprung up, alongside that of a total Sikh defeat which promoted dissidence in Poonch. Taking advantage of this, Shams backed clashes between the local militias and Sikh garrisons. Gulab Singh became aware of Shams involvement, and issued a warrant for the arrest of him and his family. Shams eluded the chasing authorities. After this, an all-out rebellion began.<ref name="Kashmiri Fight For Freedom (1819 - 1946)">{{cite book |last1=Saraf |first1=Muhammad Yusuf |title=Kashmiris Fight for Freedom: 1819-1946 |date=1977 |publisher=Ferozsons |location=University of California |pages=85–89 |url=https://ia803404.us.archive.org/24/items/part-i-kashmiris-fight-for-freedom-vol-1-1819-1946-by-yusuf-saraf/Part%20I%20-%20Kashmiris%20Fight--For%20Freedom%20vol%201%20%281819-1946%29%20by%20Saraf%20s.pdf}}</ref>
Led by Shams Khan and chieftans of the [[Sudhan]] tribe, other local tribes too rose up in a revolt. Local garrisons and forts were attacked and captured. In response to this, Gulab ordered his son, Ottam Singh to suppress the revolt. He arrived with an army of five thousand troops, but was defeated by the rebels. The prince was able to escape with some remnants of the army. Local garrisons and forts were thereon under the control of Shams and the rebels, and the rebellion almost reached Jammu itself. <ref name="Kashmiri Fight For Freedom (1819 - 1946)">{{cite book |last1=Saraf |first1=Muhammad Yusuf |title=Kashmiris Fight for Freedom: 1819-1946 |date=1977 |publisher=Ferozsons |location=University of California |pages=85–89 |url=https://ia803404.us.archive.org/24/items/part-i-kashmiris-fight-for-freedom-vol-1-1819-1946-by-yusuf-saraf/Part%20I%20-%20Kashmiris%20Fight--For%20Freedom%20vol%201%20%281819-1946%29%20by%20Saraf%20s.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Gulabnama">{{cite book |last1=Ram |first1=Diwan Kirpa |title=Gulabnama Of Diwan Kirpa Ram |date=1876 |publisher=Gulshan Books |location=Srinagar |pages=156–163}}</ref><ref name="Four Reports">{{cite book |last1=Cunningham |first1=Sir Alexander |title= Four Reports Made During the Years 1862-63-64-65 |date=1871 |publisher=Government Central Press |location=Simla |pages=13|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p4AXM4MbyL0C}}</ref>
Realizing the severity of the rebellion, Gulab Singh was forced to withdraw from his campaign against the Yusufzai. He marched with an army of eight thousand regular infantry and twelve thousand irregulars, and encamped himself in [[Kahuta]]. He chose not to engage immediately, and rather sought to promote dissent and treachery within the rebellion. He bribed the local Sardars and enemies of Shams, both through actual bribes and lavish promises. This either neutralized them as foes or turned them to his side completely. After this had been accomplished, Gulab Singh then entered [[Poonch District, Pakistan|Poonch]] through [[Jhelum]], and marched towards the heartland of the Sudhans and the rebellion itself, [[Mong, Azad Kashmir|Mong]], and [[Pallandri Tehsil|Pallandri]].<ref name="Kashmiri Fight For Freedom (1819 - 1946)">{{cite book |last1=Saraf |first1=Muhammad Yusuf |title=Kashmiris Fight for Freedom: 1819-1946 |date=1977 |publisher=Ferozsons |location=University of California |pages=85–89 |url=https://ia803404.us.archive.org/24/items/part-i-kashmiris-fight-for-freedom-vol-1-1819-1946-by-yusuf-saraf/Part%20I%20-%20Kashmiris%20Fight--For%20Freedom%20vol%201%20%281819-1946%29%20by%20Saraf%20s.pdf}}</ref>
Major clashes occurred at [[Pallandri Tehsil|Pallandri]], Pallangi, Pachhiot, Paral, Panthal, Baral, Narian and Chokian. The deadliest of which occurred in Mang, resulting in back and forth control over some of the territories, but ultimately after Sikh reinforcements arrived the Sudhan and other rebels were overwhelmed. To spread terror throughout the ranks of the rebels, Gulab Singh devastated all captured territories, permitting total plunder and terror in great excess. He also set a reward of five rupees for the head of every insurgent and anyone that was connected to him, regardless of age or gender. The rebels were outmatched both in number and arms. Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, resistance began to disperse as rebels raced to protect their own families. Homes of the locals were ransacked, survivors who could not escape either massacred or enslaved. Shams Khan had evaded arrest up to this point, but eventually had his hiding place exposed to the Dogras. He was beheaded, alongside his nephew Rajwali. Their heads were later put in two cages of iron at the very top of the Adha Dek pass. Leaders such as Sardar Sabz Ali Khan and Sardar Malli Khan were flayed alive, alongside other commanders and notable members of the Sudhan tribe. The rebellion was then ultimately crushed, as all ring leaders were either dead or captured, and no opposition was left.<ref name="Kashmiri Fight For Freedom (1819 - 1946)">{{cite book |last1=Saraf |first1=Muhammad Yusuf |title=Kashmiris Fight for Freedom: 1819-1946 |date=1977 |publisher=Ferozsons |location=University of California |pages=85–89 |url=https://ia803404.us.archive.org/24/items/part-i-kashmiris-fight-for-freedom-vol-1-1819-1946-by-yusuf-saraf/Part%20I%20-%20Kashmiris%20Fight--For%20Freedom%20vol%201%20%281819-1946%29%20by%20Saraf%20s.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Four Reports">{{cite book |last1=Cunningham |first1=Sir Alexander |title= Four Reports Made During the Years 1862-63-64-65 |date=1871 |publisher=Government Central Press |location=Simla |pages=13|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p4AXM4MbyL0C}}</ref>
Contemporary British commentators stated that the local population suffered immensely.<ref>Hastings Donnan, ''Marriage Among Muslims: Preference and Choice in Northern Pakistan'', (Brill, 1997), 41.[https://books.google.com/books?id=PL_ACoFwJ2gC&pg=PA41]</ref> Captured rebels were treated vengefully — their hands and feet were severed. The skins of chieftans Mali Khan and Sabz Ali Khan Sudhan, two of Shams's close accomplices and lieutenants, were peeled off their bodies and their heads were hung on a gallows in a crossroad to deter others.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fWw8AAAAIAAJ |title=History of Jammu and Kashmir State: The making of the State |last=Kapur |first=Manohar Lal |publisher=Kashmir History Publications |year=1980 |isbn= |location=India |pages=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris |chapter=Jammu and Jammutis|first=Christopher |last=Snedden |year=2015|publisher= HarperCollins India |isbn= 9781849043427|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s5KMCwAAQBAJ}}</ref><ref name="Iffat Malik">{{citation |last1=Malik |first1=Iffat |title=Kashmir: Ethnic Conflict International Dispute |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n9J8QgAACAAJ |year=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-579622-3 |chapter=Jammu Province |page=62}}</ref>
| |||