1857 Gadar and Gujjars

[AP Singh]

Hi Gujjars,
Here is some information about the brave Gujjars and their fight with the britishers in 1857 Mutiny. You will find only Gujjars and Gujjars fighting against Britishers and later their number of villages were fired and Gujjars were hanged whereas the traitors were awarded.
Munshiji (An obedient servant of his british masters) has called Gujjars as Robbers looting the stores of British battalions going from other places to Delhi. This is wrong description of Gujjars and dilution of Arms/Ammunition to Stores to please the bosses by Munshi Lal.

The NARRATIVE OF MUNSHI JEEWAN LAL. ... contained information of the mutiny of troops at Meerut, of ... affected with the spirit of the mutiny. They cornplained bitterly ... Baksh to repress the rising ; a Gujar village was fired ...www.kapadia.com/NativeNarrative/NarrativeofMunshiJeewanLal.htm - 302k - Cached - More from this site - Save

[AP Singh]

Hi Gujjars,
Here is some more information about 1857 Gadar and Gujjars of Buland Shahar. The Gujjars and Musalman Rajputs having Royal blood were fighting the enemy (The British in this case). How can anybody expect them to join the army of the enemy and have a regiment. That is why there is no Gujjar or Mughal Regiment till today since all these regiments were made by Britishers for their allies.


www.1911encyclopedia.org/B/BU/BULANDSHAHR.htm


Bulandshahr enjoyed an evil reputation in the Mutiny of 1857, when the Gujar peasantry plundered the towns. The Jats took the side of the government, while the Gujars and Mussulman Rajputs were most actively hostile.

See Imperial Gazetteer of India (Oxford, ed. 1908); F. S. Growse, Bulandshahr (Benares, 1884).

[AP Singh]

Hi Gujjars,

Here is the information how the Gujjars Destroyed The Metcalfe House (Gujjar used to call it as Matka house as a disrespect shown by them to the British regime since at that time it was the power Centre of Britishers in India). That was the time when the control of Delhi once again went in to the hands the its founders (Delhi was founded by Gujjar Tanwars).
After the first inpendence war British again gained control over Delhi with the help of some traitors and hanged many Gujjar leaders in and around Delhi.

Fatah Pur a village near Meharauli inhabited of Gujjar tanwars was one such village where no Gujjar male was left alive as every male of more than 12 years of age was hanged.



Please visit the website to see more:

www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/29/stories/2003122900700200.htm

Metcalfe House was destroyed during the Mutiny of 1857 by the same Gujjars from whom the land was taken to erect the building.

[AP Singh]

The Gujjars this revolt against British started much earlier.

See the fact recorded by Mr.H.C. Williams in the Gazetteer of Dehra Dun of 1890:

During the erstwhile British regime. During the middle of the 19th century a Gujjar called Kalua had terrorised the British forces for years by his constant attacks upon them. He did not trouble the local Indians but was a constant threat to the British forces. Such was the fear the British had of him that when finally he was captured his head was severed and stuck on a pole outside the jail for a month as an abject lesson to the local population not to oppose their 'masters'. This was before the first war of independence or as the Britishers preferred to call it 'the sepoy mutiny'. As a matter of fact Kalua was one of the first freedom fighters of the country.

[AP Singh]

Here is the another record of the Battle between Gujjar Raja of Kunja and British forces in the year 1924.

www.sociology.ed.ac.uk/sas/conf16/panel14.htm


Paper Giver 1: Dirk H.A. Kolff

Paper 1 Title: An Ancien Regime Barony Facing the Modern Company State

Paper Abstract: This paper attempts to analyse a three-hour fight between a company of Gurkhas and a few hundred of Saharanpur Gujars in full revolt on 3 October 1824. There must be few 'small wars' in Indian history so well-documented as this one, both official and private accounts being available giving several points of view, even, to an extent, the Gujar version. The background is the resumption by the British East-India Company of the Gujar little kingdom of Manglaur-Hardwar in 1813 and the subsequent attempt of the Thakur (Baron) of Kunja to keep alive the tradition of Gujar leadership in the Upper Doab. It is a study of the cognitive dissonance of clan politics and the modem state of the Company leading to a confrontation that neither party appeared capable to find an exit strategy for. Different traditions of agrarian management led to different techniques of conflict management and negotiation, as well as, on both sides, to ideas of total war, plunder, jauhar, and annihilation of the adversary that one is not accustomed to associate with either Indian, Gurkha, or British history. The analysis of these idioms of conflict is presented in an as detailed as possible narrative of the events of the day.

[AP Singh]

Here is the site where the Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 9, p. 50. can be seen in original:

dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_056.gif

[AP Singh]

Here is the site where the Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 16, p. 201. can be seen in original where the situation of the villages in and around Ludhiana can be visualised.

In the villages of Ludhiyana, the Muhammadan Gujjars were the only people to show sign of disaffection (To british regime), the hindu and sikhs jats remaining steadfastly loyal.


dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_207.gif

[AP Singh]

Hi Gujjars,
See this page. This is the manner the Gujjar History is distorted by British Regime but then you can not expect sweet from the enemy.

This is the reason I believe more on Inscriptions since they can not be distorted.

dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V02_355.gif

Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 2, p. 320.



Graphics file for this page
320 THE INDIAN EMPIRE
1904, 1905 (mentioned above) for his speculative reconstruction of the
earlier history, enriched by great knowledge of the facts. The present
paper was unfortunately written before the appearance of Dr. Hoernle's
articles. But whatever our theories regarding the infusion of Gijar blood
among the Rajputs, there was certainly no Gurjara (GUjar) empire in
Northern India in the eighth and ninth centuries A.D. The assumption
of imperial titles does not connote the exercise of imperial power; and Dr.
Hoernle's Gurjara emperors are merely the kings of Kanauj from Bhoja I
downwards, whose power was often very limited, and to whom Dr. Hoernle
adds Bhoja's obscure ancestors in Rajputina.

[AP Singh]

Hi Gujjars,
The Parikshat Garh Fort which was built by Gujjar Raja Nain Singh of Nagar Gotra (The Rana of Nagda, Nagraha, a Pratihar or Chauhan branch of Gujjars) was also dismantled in 1857 after the 1857 revolt, the first war of independence was crushed with the help of the traitors.
Here is the detail:

Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 20, p. 2.

dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V20_008.gif


Parlchhatgarh.-Town in the Mawana tahsil of Meerut District,
United Provinces, situated in 28? 59' N. and 77? 57' L., 14 miles east
of Meerut city. Population (1901), 6,278. The fort round which the
town is built lays claim to great antiquity; tradition ascribes its con-
struction to Parikhnuts, grandson of Arjuna, one of the five Pandava
brethren in the Mahabharata, to whom is also attributed the foundation
of the town. The fort was restored by Raja Nain Singh on the rise of
Gujar power in the eighteenth century. It was dismantled in 1857,
and is now used as a police station.

[KPS Gujjar]

Dear A.P. Singh
The year mentioned in respect to War in Kunja (first line) is a typo mistake it was 1824 and the mention of Kalua goes with the same story.
Full Stroy is :

Vijay Singh was land lord of Kunja-Bhagawan Pur Riyasat. He proclaimed himself Raja of the Riyasat, with Kalyan Singh as his army general. It is Kalyan Singh who is sometimes referred to as Kalua. From 1822-25 they held a fierece armed protest against British. The place where Vijay Singh's fort was build is Kunja Bahadurpur.
No british soldier or officer dare to tresspass their territory. Raja Vijay Singh started collecting Malguzari and extended his Riyasat beyond Meerut on one side and so is on other sides.
When British were transporting their treasury from Jawalapur to Saharanpur, it was escorted by 200 British Soldiers. But as I mentioned earlier they never dared and whenever they did they were butchered and treasury looted. Same happened to this episode, most of the soldiers were killed and everything looted by Raja Vijay Singh's army under the leader ship of Kalyan Singh (Kalua), Kuda and Bhoora.
British forces planned to suppress this uprising. They commanded Gurkha Batallion for the task. In their first attempt they met the same fate, what they always met when faught against Raja Vijay Singh.
At last in 1824-25 British managed to conquer the fort with a vast Gurkha Regiment and planned attack. Raja Vijay Singh and Kalyan Singh lost the battle of life in saving the motherland.
Raja Vijay Singh's head and Kalyan Singh's waist (DhaD) were hung on the main gate of Dehradun Jail. Later the head was transferred to Thomson College (University of Roorkee),. Skull was there at University of Roorkee (Now IIT Roorkee) till 1974.
One cannot sum up the whole story without mentioning Kuda and Bhoora. Kuda and Bhoora also faught alongwith Raja Vijay Singh. In the British attack of 1824-25, Kuda was injured and laid down his life for the Mother Land in 1825 while they were again organizing an attack and recruiting army in Rishikesh. Bhorra continued the fight and build an army. He started Gurilla War against British troops. Later he was also killed in an encounter with British Forces.
In a single day 100s of natives (adult males) of Kunja Bahadurpur were hung by neck till death. If anyone is interested he may still visit the Huge Tree where they were hung. It is close to Roorkee, and one can still find the iron rings (Kunde plural of Kunda) on the tree where people were hung.
When Bhoora and Kuda were recruiting their army people from Kunja-Bhagawanpur riyasat migrated to the jungles near Rishikesh,as a part of their army. There is a village Aurangabad near Hardwar court. People in that village are of Chauhan Gotra and are known as Rajputs, while they all know that they migrated from Kunja-Bhagawan pur Riyasat and were Gujjars.

There are no remains of the fort of Raja Vijay Singh now, so fierce was the British Attack. But as everything is well documented in the Records of Dehradun Gazetteer, Kunja Bahadurpur was awarded the Freedom Fighter Village status by Uttranchal Govt. There is a statue of Raja Vijay Singh in Kunja Bahadurpur, erected recently.
Kunja-Bhagawanpur and landhora riysasat were completery took-over by British only in year 1859.
Please do not confuse Raja Vijay Singh with Vijay Singh "Pathik". (At times people do)

Regards
KPS Gujjar

[AP Singh]

Hi KPS,
Some time out of compulsion also some people changed the name of their clan though these examples are few.

Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 23, p. 419.

dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V23_425.gif


The names Tonwarghar and Sikarwar! are derived from the Sikarwar and Tonwar
Thakurs, who are the chief inhabitants. The Sikarwars are a branch
of the Bargujar Rajputs. During the Muhammadan period one of
the emperors demanded a daughter in marriage from Ishwar Das,
the Raja of Alwar. On his refusal to comply, the Bargujar Thakurs
were slaughtered wherever found. Many were put to death, but
some escaped; and among them Dalku Rao, a petty chief of the
clan, who fled to Fatehpur Sikri, where he found an asylum among
the Shaikhs, on promising to change the name of his clan to Sikarwar,
after Sikri. Sikarwar!

[AP Singh]

Hi KPS,
Thank you for the typing error getting corrected to 1824 but Kalua Gujjar of Dehradun was diffrent than the Kalyan Singh the Army General of Raja Kunja.
Mr.H.C. Williams has recorded the facts about Kalua Gujjar in the Gazetteer of Dehra Dun in 1890 whereas Kalyan Singh fought with britishers 1824.
Kalua Gujjar was a Muslim Gujjar.

[KPS Gujjar]

Hello A.P. Singh and all GUJJARs,
Well I have to cross check the literature I have. Actually Kalyan Singh has been called Kalua Gujjar invariably by British Officers and so is documented in the Official records. If you say Kalua was Muslim then of course we are talking about two different personalities here.
ACHAL SINGH GUJJAR (1857)
Achal Singh Gujjar was native of Tuglakabad (Delhi) and was of Vidhuri Gotra. He migrated to village "BAHGU-NIROJPUR" Distt. Meerut. Bahgu-Nirojpur is 5kms from BAGPAT. He was a land lord and had 1800 Bighas land. He was a very respected personality in the whole vicinity. 1857 wave, made Achal Singh to do something for his motherland.
He called upon a Sabha, of all the neghbouring villages and tahsils. They decided a date to formulate an action plan. Dileep Singh JAT alias Dulle Jat, tipped off the Meerut Police about the same. Dulle JAT himself escorted the whole fleet to the meeting place.
Inspite of 100s of soldiers, rifles and Guns (Top), Achal Singh continued addressing the sabha. He kept of accusing and abusing British and kept on asking the Brave Sons of Motherland to rise and uproot the British Rule. In ordger to teach all a lesson, Britishers targented Achal Singh, tied him to the Gun (TOP) and blew him off. Then started the whole new episode of massacre and hangings. Every one in the family of Achal Singh Gujjar was shot dead except pregnant females. His family still live in village Baghu-Nirojpur and still known for their bravery.
For his LOYALTY towrads British Empire, Dulle JAT was awarded 7800 Bighas of land, which was confiscated from Achal Singh Gujjar (1800 Bigha) and rest from all other Gujjars of Gujjar Villages (6000 Bigha). This is why JATs have more land than Gujjars. Well Done JATs !!! Keep on doing the same, for us GUJJARs Mother and Motherland have same respect and status.
Shahmal Jat of village Bijraul (near BAGPAT) was also with Achal Singh Gujjar in the sabha. He was a close associate of Achal Singh. When Achal Singh was blown off and Britishers started firing, he HID himslef in a farm (KHET), was shot in leg. He somehow managed to reach his village Bijraul, and died. There is a monument in the name of Brave Shahmal JAT in village Bijraul (courtsey JAT netas). I suspect, is there any in village Baghu-Nirojpur for the Sher of this village, Achal SIngh.
Later, on the tip off of Dulle JAT and some others of his BLOOD, British captured/arrested rest of Gujjars who participated in the Sabha.
1000s of Gujjars from Villages :
Tigree, Dagarpur, Gothada, Nagala, Bali, Niwali, Bichpadi, Kadoli, Budheda, Dhodhara
were hungh on a Banyan Tree near village Garhi Jaysi (close to loni, sahadara)

I will be writing to this thread, as I have lots of stories to share about BRAVE GUJJARS.

regards
KPS Gujjar

[AP Singh]

Hi KPS,
It is really nice to read your post.
Do you have some information about Dhan Singh Kotwal? He was from village Panchli and there also more than 100 people were hanged in 1857. At time of revolt he was Police Incharge of Meerut and he was the one who mobilised the Indian resources against Britishers.
Regards.
AP Singh

[KPS Gujjar]

Hello A.P. Singh,
Sorry for the delay, I was busy.

DHAN SINGH KOTWAL (1857)
Dhan Singh was Kotwal of Meerut City he was from Garh Panchli village. Though he was a British Servant but being a GUJJAR, fire against British Rule was burning deep inside his heart.
Actually the revolt of 1857 was planned on 31st of May but as we all know it started on 9th of May. When Sepoys refused to use Enfield Cartridges, 90 sepoys were arrested and put in the old Meeurt Jail, chained from neck to toe, by the order of an arrogant and rude Colonel C. Smith.
At that time Dhan Singh "Kotwal" lead Gujjars for the noble cause. He asked Gujjars to get together and uproot the British rule. He planned an attack on Meerut Civil Jail. 30,000 villagers, Chaparane Gujjars from Panchli, Chandela Gujjars from Sikari, Kasana Gujjars from Bhopra & Nagala got together, in his fight against British rule. Dhan Singh Kotwal lead the troops on horse-back and all followed. All major British Officers either fled Meerut or slayed down by the army of Dhan Singh Gujjar or hid under the protection of their Indian friends (Who are the Rich and Famous, today).
They attacked New Meerut Jail, set 839 prisioners free. All of the freed ones also got into his fleet. Risaledar of 3rd Risala with his sepoys attacked the 28th Infantory and looted all arms and ammunitions. Then they attacked the old Meerut Jail and freed the 90 prisioners, who were put behind bars for their protest against Enfield Cartridges. All those 90 Sepoys followed Dhan Singh's orders.
Dhan Singh lead the army of villagers and prisioners and sepoys towards Delhi. They faught a great battle against British Army on the banks of river Hindon. After butchering many-many British troops they entered Delhi through Kashmiri Gate, they met Bahadur Shah Jafar.
Meerut Gazetteer documents " Gujjars became so powerful and darling that British Empire had to sit and lay a plan to suppress them in any possible way. Major William and others formed a Volunteer Corp, of europeans, consisting of 45 horse riders, 11 officers, 8 Platoons, 38th Infantory, 2 sergents and 2 guns (Top). They attacked at 4am on 4th of July 1857, while villagres were asleep, targeting mainly Panchli and Nagala. 46 Gujjars arrested and 40 hung in Panchli & Nagala and 30 hung in Sikari"
While the reality was, 80 Gujjars hung only in panchli and 400 shot dead. Many more in other villages. All properties of Gujjars confiscated and awarded to the beloved of Britishers.
Post independance, Sarpanch of Panchli and leader Bhule Singh Gujjar met Indira Gandhi and told her the story of those villages. She gave back the confiscated (by British and awarded to Mukhbirs) properties of Gujjars.

regrads
KPS Gujjar