Dogra conquest of Ladakh
| Dogra Conquest of Ladakh (1834-35) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_and_Gyalmo_(Queen)_of_the_Namgyal_Dynasty_of_Ladakh,_circa_19th_century.jpg) General Zorawar Singh (seated left) with the Gyalpo (King) and Gyalmo (Queen) of Ladakh. Following his conquest the King of Ladakh agreed to pay 50,000 rupees war indemnity and 20,000 rupees tribute per annum in 1835. Circa 19th century depiction. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Dogra dynasty | Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Zorawar Singh Mia Rai Singh Mehta Basti Ram Mirza Rasul Beg Rana Zalim Singh Mian tuta Uttam Singh Khojah Bhunj |
Gyalpo Tshespal Namgyal Mangal Boti Banka Kalhan Gajapu Dorje Namgyal Chovang Nambdal Rahim Khan | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 5000 | 22,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
130 dead 300 wounded 500 Dogras prisoned |
1600 dead and wounded 6000 Ladaki civilians prisoned | ||||||||
In 1834, Dogra forces under Rajput General Zorawar Singh invaded Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh, where the Gyalpo of Ladakh agreed to pay annual tribute to Gulab Singh and become a vassal of Dogras.[1][2]
Battle[edit]
Dogra troops, numbering 5000, under General Zorawar Singh marched from Kishtwar and entered the Ladakh territory on 16th August 1834. Dogras charged upon a hill governed by a Boti leader Mangal, where Dogras lost 7 soliders whereas Botis lost 30 soliders. Zorawar Singh after winning the hill built a small fort and occupied it for a month. Next Dogras advanced to Shakhar and captured the fort and imposed a tax of 4 rupees on each house. On the same day, Ladakis advanced upon Dogras where 60 Ladakhis were killed while 7 Dogra Rajputs wounded. The chief of Ladakis abandoned Paskyum and fled to Sod.[3]
Ten days later Zorawar Singh sent 500 Dogras under Mehta Basti Ram to occupy Sod. Dogras captured the fort of Sod as well as the Chief of fort. The total number of prisoners captured by Dogras at Sod and Paskyum exceeded 6000. On the following day, the Gyalpo with Banka Kalhan and 22,000 soldiers met the Dogra forces at Mulbil, where a small Dogra Garrison of 500 Men were made prisoners.[4]
Dogras didn't move further for four months. Then Zorawar Singh with his men charged upon the 22,000 ladaki forces of Banka Kahlon at Langkarchu, where Banka and other Chief were wounded. 400 Ladakis died while fleeing in a Avalanche, 1,200 made prisoners. After this decisive victory, Dogras marched towards Mulbil, where they met an envoy with a letter from the Gyalpo, suing for peace.[5]
Aftermath[edit]
Gyalpo agreed to pay 50,000 rupees as war indemnity and an annual tribute of 20,000 rupees to his master Gulab Singh, the Dogra Ruler of Jammu. Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh became a vassal kingdom of Dogras.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Kaul, H. N. (1998). Rediscovery of Ladakh. Indus Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7387-086-6.
- ^ Charak, Sukh Dev Singh (1978). Indian Conquest of the Himalayan Territories: Military Exploits of General Zorawar Singh Dogra. Ajaya.
- ^ Cunningham, Alexander (1854). Ladák, Physical, Statistical, and Historical: With Notices of the Surrounding Countries. Allen.
- ^ Charak, Sukh Dev Singh (1983). General Zorawar Singh. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
- ^ Pandit, Mohammad Amin (1997). Ladakh: Land of Possessive Powers and Charm. Gulshan Publishers. ISBN 978-81-86714-06-5.
- ^ Charak, Sukh Dev Singh (1978). Indian Conquest of the Himalayan Territories: Military Exploits of General Zorawar Singh Dogra. Ajaya.