1837 Poonch Revolt

The 1837 Poonch Revolt, also known as the 1837 Poonch Rebellion, was a revolt in the Princely state of Poonch against the Sikh Empire's Dogra rulers, Raja Dhian Singh and Raja Gulab Singh. The revolt took place in what is now present day Poonch Division, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.[1]

This article is about the uprising in Azad Kashmir. For the rebellion in the princely state, see 1947 Poonch Rebellion.
1837 Poonch revolt
Part of Kashmir Conflict

Map of Jammu and Kashmir with Geographic regions
Date1837
Location
Poonch
Result Rebellion suppressed, Poonch's merger with Jammu and Kashmir
Belligerents
Sudhans of Poonch, led by Sardar Shams Khan Maharaja of Jammu
Maharaja Gulab Singh
Dhian Singh

History

In 1837, after Hari Singh Nalwa's death in the Battle of Jamrud, the Sudhan tribe of Poonch rose in revolt with other tribes and Pahari-speaking people. The insurgency was led by Shams Khan one of the head men of the all tribes.[2][3] and former confidential follower of Dhian Singh.[3] Shams Khan's betrayal of the regime was taken personally; Gulab Singh was given the task of suppressing the rebellion.

After defeating the insurgents in Hazara and the Murree hills, Gulab Singh stayed at Kahuta to subdue the insurgents. Shams Khan and his nephew Raj Wali Khan were betrayed and were decapitated as they slept. Meanwhile, the lieutenants were captured, flayed alive, and put to death.

Contemporary British commentators stated that the local population suffered immensely.[4] Many rebels were captured and treated vengefully — their hands and feet were severed. The skin of Mali Khan and Sabz Ali Khan, two of Shams's close accomplices, was peeled off their bodies and their heads were hung on a gallows in a crossroad to deter others. The rebel chief was also decapitated.[5][6][7]

Graveyard plaques of 18th-century Shams Khan in Poonch,
Portrait of Raja Dhian Singh in opaque watercolor and gold on exhibit at the Tokyo National Museum. c. mid 19th century.

References
  1. Schofield, Victoria (2010-05-30). Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85773-078-7.
  2. Sir Alexander Cunningham, Four Reports Made During The Years 1862-63-64-65, (The Government Central Press, 1871), Volume I, Page 13.
  3. Sir Lepel H. Griffin, The Panjab Chiefs., (T.C. McCarthy, Chronicle Press, 1865), Page 594.
  4. Hastings Donnan, Marriage Among Muslims: Preference and Choice in Northern Pakistan, (Brill, 1997), 41.
  5. Kapur, Manohar Lal (1980). History of Jammu and Kashmir State: The making of the State. India: Kashmir History Publications. p. 51.
  6. Snedden, Christopher (2015). "Jammu and Jammutis". Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris. HarperCollins India. ISBN 9781849043427.
  7. Malik, Iffat (2002), "Jammu Province", Kashmir: Ethnic Conflict International Dispute, Oxford University Press, p. 62, ISBN 978-0-19-579622-3
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