Col J P Singh
Gen Zorawar Singh was born on 15 April 1786 at Kahlur, in neighboring Himachal. Later as general of Jammu Raja Gulab Singh, he launched Trans-Himalayan campaigns starting on 15 April 1834 with an army of 5000 and within 6-7 years conquered Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Western Tibet. His Martyrdom on 12 December 1841, ended a saga of remarkable valour of Dogras who took Indian boundaries up to Central Asian Republics. By an ironical coincidence Gen Bipin Rawat, CDS, one of the greatest military commander of India who took confrontation with PLA head-on in Himalayas is also martyred in December 2021.
Some Sikh historians claim him to be a Sikh and a soldier of Maharaja Ranjit Singh wherein they not only belittle the Dogra General by making him controversial but do a great disservice to the nation by shadowing the legacy of Himalayan Conquests. After PLA ingress in Ladakh resulting into physical clash and martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers including Col Suresh Babu, MVC, CO 16 BIHAR, brought Himalayas into nation’s focus. As a result review of mountain warfare doctrines is on in the security & military hierarchy. Hence it is pertinent to highlight legendary general’s strategic Trans-Himalayas conquests to clear the shroud of mystery from his legacy, if any.
First tribute to the legendary General, in brief, is that in December 1841, when temperature was minus 40 to 50 Degree, he didn’t stop his campaign because the same was the disadvantage to his adversary which he wanted to convert into his asset. Why it didn’t work out is a different matter.
Second tribute is comparison with Napoleon. While Napoleon attacked Russia in September 1812 with 6,85,000 massive army out of which 4 Lakh were French, Gen Zorawar Singh marched into Tibet with just 5,000 soldiers. In the face of Great French Army, Russians followed a strategy of fighting withdrawal inflicting heavy cost on attacking forces to the tune of bloodiest 72,000 casualties a single day. After the final attack on Moscow, in late November, barely a lakh survived. French Army had 3,80,000 dead and rest captured/missing. After this defeat Napoleon returned to Paris to save his throne. Russian campaign ended on 14 December 1812 which ended French hegemony over Europe and led to Napoleon’s exile and final Waterloo. Napoleon’s ‘great army’ was defeated by lesser Russian army despite better logistic support (army marches on its stomach) and under comparatively better climatic conditions. Gen Zorawar Singh unexpectedly faced a composite Chinese and Tibetan force during worst climatic and logistics conditions and lost. Hence legacy-wise comparison of two great military leaders is reasonably favourable to Gen Zorawar Singh.
Let me recount Gen Zorawar Singh’s Trans-Himalayan adventures for the seekers of truth. Terrain & Climate. Table-land Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan were the main objective of Jammu ruler because the ancient Silk Route passed through their capital towns Leh and Skardu. The average height of the area is 12,000 ft where air is rarified, lacking oxygen and making breathing difficult. During the winter, rivers freeze, passes get blocked by snowfall. Snow storms and blizzards are common phenomenon. Grain production, fodder and fuel is never enough for the local population. Hence the terrain, climate, altitude and logistics make living difficult to support a military adventure. Same is true for Indian Army and PLA currently in standoff mode in Ladakh.
In 1834 the Raja of Timbus, sought Raja Gulab Singh’s help against Ladakhi King. Finding the opportunity, Raja Gulab Singh ordered his able leader Zorawar Singh to conquer Ladakh. The Dogra General had been waiting for such opportunity to excel. He entered Ladakh through the Suru River where he defeated a local army of General Mangal and established Dogra control over Western province of Purig by mid August. After a brief pause to refurbish his force, the Dogra Commander marched towards Leh. Ladakh King sent Gen Banko Kahlon to cut off Zorawar Singh’s lines of communication. The astute Dogra General rushed back to Kartse where he sheltered his troops through the winter. (But why he doesn’t do the same in Tibet?). In the spring of 1835, he defeated 22,000 strong Army of Gen Kahlon and marched his victorious troops to Leh. The panic stricken King sued for peace. As per the agreement, he was retained as King with Ladakh as vassal state of the Dogra Kingdom. Soon after the two sides had signed the peace agreement, the Chief of Sod rose in arms against the Dogras. Dogra General quickly suppressed the revolt. Having restored order, Zorawar Singh triumphantly returned to Jammu at the end of 1835. This is considered as one of the greatest victories of Gen Zorawar Singh.
The impressive Dogra victory over Ladakh aroused uneasiness at Lahore Darbar. It made Sikhs apprehensive of Raja Gulab Singh’s designs. Placating Lahore’s misgivings over Ladakh, Raja Gulab Singh convinced Maharaja Ranjit Singh that his expedition had actually helped expand Sikh empire. Gen Zorawar Singh also met the Emperor on 16 March 1836 to explain about Ladakh campaign. He put forth his plans to carry Lahore Flag further into Gilgit-Baltistan, Tibet and China. This startled the emperor but bolstered his confidence in him. In 1837, on the instigation of Mahan Singh, the Sikh Governor of Kashmir, Ladakh King revolted against Jammu’s authority. This forced Gen Zorawar Singh’s return to Leh speedily. (speedy action in mountains is the lesson to be learnt). Moment he reached Leh, the King begged for forgiveness. Dogra General exploited Ladakh’s internal feuds to his advantage and forced King to abdicate in favor of a noble Ngorub Stabzin. Appointing Ngorub as the ruler, he returned to Jammu.
In 1838, Ngorub also revolted. Zorawar Singh marched back to Leh via Zanskar. Ngorub was deposed and original King Tse-Pal was re-installed. In 1839, Zorawar Singh returned to Ladakh yet again to face another challenge from the ousted Ngorub. Dogras promptly suppressed the rebellion, arrested the leading insurgents and returned to Jammu. In 1840, Sukamir of Purig raised the banner of rebellion against Jammu. Zorawar Singh reappeared in Ladakh 5th time and this time brutally suppressed the rebellion.
With Ladakh firmly under control, the challenge lay to the Northwest which was predominantly a Muslim region under Afghan patronage. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death in 1839 gave Jammu ruler a free rein in Himalayas. Encouraged by the rifts amongst various Principalities and Royal households, Raja Gulab Singh ordered Zorawar Singh to invade Baltistan. With an army of 15,000, comprising of Dogras and Ladakhis, Dogra General marched to Baltistan at the end of 1840. His bold speed-march in winters and crossing Indus over frozen waters caught the Baltis off-guard and decisively beaten.
Having consolidated his reign in Gilgit-Baltistan, Raja Gulab Singh revived ancient Ladakhi claim over Western Tibet and in May 1841 let Gen Zorawar Singh enter highlands of Tibet with 5,000 men comprising of Dogras, Ladakhis & Baltis. Sweeping all resistance on the way, he passed the Mansarovar Lake and converged at Gartok. Tibetan commander fled to Taklakot. Zorawar Singh stormed Taklakot Fort on 6 September 1841 and invaded the strategic city. Captured Mantalai Flag is the proud possession of 4 JAK RIF. Envoys from Tibet and Nepal met him at Taklakot to negotiate peace. Unexpectedly, in November a composite army of 10,000 Chinese and Tibetans marched to Taklakot to drive Dogras from Tibet. The adversaries came face to face on 10 December. The was a fierce battle began. Temperature by then had fallen to minus 50 due to sweeping blizzards. Yet the Dogras gave a tough fight. On 12 December 1841, the Dogra General was fatally wounded. The death of the Force Commander decided the outcome of the battle. Living up to their bravery, Dogras executed the Chinese General to avenge their commander’s martyrdom. Thus ended the saga of glorious military adventures of Dogras.
Tibetans raised a memorial for the fallen General which is visited by the pregnant women for blessings for a brave son, a rare honour extended nowhere else in the world leaves Napoleon far aside.
December month is special to Indian Army. Acclaimed Tibetan Campaign ended in December 1841. Indian Army pushed the Pakistani invaders back from Kashmir in December 1947. India won 1965 Indo-Pak and 1971 Bangladesh Wars in December month. Now the martyrdom of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in December 2021; the month must rightly be celebrated as ‘month of martyrs’ as announced by Raksha Mantri Raj Nath Singh. It will commemorate the sacrifices of Indian Army for the motherland and advent of war doctrines to safeguard land frontiers and precious lives.
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