Nahar Singh

Nahar Singh
Born 1823
Died 9 January 1858 (aged 3435)[1]
Monuments Nahar Singh Stadium, Nahar Singh Mahal
Movement Indian Rebellion of 1857

Raja Nahar Singh (1823–1858) was a king of the princely state of Ballabhgarh in Faridabad District of Haryana, India. His forefathers were Jats from Tewatia gotra who had built a fort in Faridabad around 1739. He was involved in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The small kingdom of Ballabhgarh is only 20 miles from Delhi. The name of the Jat Raja Nahar Singh will always be highly regarded among those who martyred themselves in the 1857 war of independence.[2]His palace is taken over by the government of Haryana under Haryana Tourism.[3] It was confiscated by Britishers and no one after and before.[4] Nahar Singh Stadium in Faridabad is named after him.[5]

Early life

Nahar Singh was born to Raja Ram Singh and Rani Basant Kaur at Ballbhgarh on 6 April 1821. His teachers included Pandit Kulkarni and Maulvi Rahman Khan. His father died in 1830, when he was about 9 years old. He was brought up by his uncle Nawal Singh, who took over the responsibility of running the state affairs. According to old story's nahar Singh ji born by god blessing and story is related to goga peer and guru goraksh nath. Goraksh nath take a live anash from nag lok as a son of vask nag and give it to goga ji's mother to take for got a son, bachal mata (name of goga ji's mother) devide it into 4 parts and they self give birth to goga ji other 2nd is son of brahmani known as Nahar Singh 3rd is on lower cast lady is meghwalni known as baju 4th to mare of own home who give birth to goga ji's horse. Nahar Singh was coroneted in 1839.

Anti-British campaign

Nahar Singh refused to extend any help to District Collector William Ford, who was collecting forces to curb the 1857 uprising. For those sepoys of the native infantry or cavalry, who revolted against the British, he opened the gates of services in Ballbhgarh forces with enhanced pay and promotional ranks. As a result of it, according to narrative of Munshi Jeevan Lal by 17 July 1857 the Raja “had taken into his service 200 troopers who had lately been in the employ of the English.” The number continued to swell in the subsequent period. Incidentally, one such sepoy who was granted rank of Naik, appeared as a witness to testify the fact before the Military Commission, which was established to try Raja Nahar Singh. As a matter of fact, to further fortify his armed strength, the Raja not only raised new levies but also collected as much as possible latest weaponry and other war material as was revealed from the recovery of large number of horses, bullocks, carts, English rifles and dresses from his fort after the British assaulted it.

He revolted against the British rule, and joined the forces led by Emperor Bahadur Shah. He drove the British away from the paraganas of Fatehpur and Palwal, and also maintained the safety of national highway from Delhi to Hodal.

Religious tolerance

Nahar Singh aimed to foster harmony between his Hindu and Muslim subjects. He employed several Muslim officials: Hakim Abdul Haq rose to be his prime minister and Mr. Munro became the keeper of royal seals and correspondence. His letter dated 27 May 1857 addressed to the Emperor makes it clear that in view of the absence of any Mosque for the performance of religious ceremonies of his Muslim subjects, he took steps to provide one. The letter reads: Although “I profess the Hindu religion, having observed the conduct and behaviour of those who say that God above is supreme, I have remained in subjection to the guidance of the leaders of the Mohammedan faith, in so much that, although from the first existence of the town, there had been no Mohammedan Mosque, either in the fort or outside in the market, I have caused a lofty one, for congregational prayers, built of stone, to be created within the Fort itself. I have, moreover, had an Eedgah, a place set apart exclusively for prayers at the festival of the Eed, built near my garden called the Dilkhusha, to encourage and conciliate the Mohammedans.”

Letters to the Emperor

Nahar Singh kept complete surveillance of the movements of the enemy activities and put his fast camel riders to report the matter to the Emperor immediately on any new development in the situation. This they did as is testified from the eye witness record of Munshi Jeevan Lal, who noted in his diary on 25 May 1857: “at the time of prayer, a camel rider arrived from the raja of Ballbhgarh to report that he had seen an English force advancing on the city.” This aspect of his character and activities endeared him to the Emperor who entrusted him to “join the duty to command Delhi regiment” and also undertake “to snap the enemy’s supply line from the south of Delhi.” He made the security arrangements so thorough that even John Lawrence, the Chief Commissioner of Punjab was astonished to admit and report to Lord Canning, the Governor General of India that ‘The East and the South (of Delhi) is protected by the strong forces of Raja Nahar Singh of Ballbhgarh, and it is unlikely we can break this wall of soldiers unless we receive reinforcements from China or England.”

Commemoration

Nahar Singh Stadium in Faridabad named after Nahar Singh has hosted several International Cricket Matches

A road is named after Singh near to Wazirpur Depot in Delhi, as also was the Nahar Singh Mahal. A postal stamp was also issued.


References

  1. "1857 - The Story on Stamps". Indiapicks.
  2. "History of Ballabgarh". faridabad.nic. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  3. "Raja Nahar Singh Palace". HaryanaTourism. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  4. "Harayana Tourism". haryanatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  5. "Nahar Singh Stadium". espncricinfo. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
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