Zorawar Singh Kahluria - Napoleon of Jammu Kashmir

The year was 1841, a little more than a century before the Kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir acceded to the Indian Union. Under the liege of Maharaja Gulab Singh Jamwal, an ambitious Rajput general by the name of Zorawar Singh Kahluria commandeering a 6000-strong army went on a crusade to liberate Mount Kailash and conquer Tibet, the former, an object of divine provenance to his people that was occupied by the Tibetan hordes. The campaign, fueled partly by pious and in part by militaristic fervor was preceded by a successful conquest of Baltistan.

The army was divided into 3 columns. Ladakhi prince Nono Sungnam's column followed the Indus river back to its source, Lake Mansarovar. 300 men under Ghulam Khan marched along-side the Mountains south of Indus leading up to Mount Kailash. The central thrust was lead directly by Zorawar Singh.

After passing through Lake Mansarovar, these three columns converged at Gartok. Tibetans made a hasty retreat to Taklakot. Dogras quickly approached them there. As per the Chinese Imperial Resident in Lhasa, Tibetans ran away as soon as they saw the approaching Dogra army. The resident called the local defenders cowardly.

At this point, Zorawar Singh had liberated every major settlement between Leh and Kailash, including, but not limited to, Daba, Tholing, Tsaparang Rudok, Gartok, and Taklakot. The areas were integrated within the administration of Jammu and Kashmir and dozens of forts were built to defend the frontier.

What was won on the battlefield, was lost in Lahore. The treacherous conspirators along with the British agents sabotaged the winter supplies. Nepal also betrayed the cause of Kailash's liberation and helped Chinese and Tibetans, despite having a shaky relations with the Sino-Tibetan alliance! This was the final stab in back against the campaign. Dogra force was more than 500 miles into the enemy territory, supply lines were thin, and were deeply cut short by the palace sabotage. Nepal, which was just 15 kilometers away from the Dogra force refused to supply, and instead, aided the rogue enemy.

On December 12th 1841, General achieved the priceless martyrdom. He was covering his army which was regrouping to avoid intense cold, coupled with the rain, snow and lightning. His right hand was hit with musket fire, so he continued fighting with his left hand. He fought to the very last.

The Sino-Tibetan alliance were finally obliterated in the battle of Chushul. The panicked Chinese made peace. Aksai Chin came under effective control of Jammu and Kashmir after the battle.

Lands from Aksai Chin and Kailash-Manasarovar to Gilgit Baltistan and Jammu are marked with the blood, valor and sacrifice of Zorawar Singh and thousands of brave Dogra sons of the soil.