Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JUNE 7, 1872.
Emperor Jehangir, after whom one of the gates of the fort is named, was so delighted with the Kangra valley that he proposed to make it his residence. The natives, who always sought every opportunity to rebel in their conquerors' absence, were naturally much opposed to this scheme, and the present inhabitants of Kangra will tell you that to prevent the Empir from setting there, the people collected an immense crowd of those who were affected with hideous goitre, and bringing them before Jehangir, warned him that as this terrible deformity was so common in the valley, he and his followers could not hope to escape. This is said to have caused him to remove to Kashmir.
In 1752 A.D. the Panjab passed from the Mughals to the Afghans : and from that time to 1764 A.D. it remained attached to the kingdom of Kabul; but Nawab Taefulah Khan, whom the Mughal Court had appointed commandant of Kangra, had still possession of the place, even when the hill chiefs resumed their territories, leaving him nothing but the lands immediately under the fort. In 1764 A.D. the Afghans, defeated by the Sikhs, crossed the Indus, never more to return, and the Panjab fell into the hands of the Sikh Sirdars : but Fort Kangra was not reduced until 1782 A.D. Taefulah Khau, as isolated Mughal governor. having held it all the intervening years, with no resources beyond the range of his guns. This fact proves the value of the fort as a military post in olden times. Even then it could not be taken by assault, and cnly fell when Taefulah Khan died in the siege, and his followers, disheartened by his loss, surrendered.
Jaya Singh, the conqueror, held the fort for four years, when he was forced to make concessions to & combined army of Sikhs and Katoch Rajputs, at Batala, in the Gurdaspur district, and fort Kangra, after many centuries, came into the hands of Sansar Chand, its legitimate chief. From the possession of this famous fort, Sansár Chand gained the chief power in the hills, and placed Kangra at the head of the eleven Jalandar principalities. Here he reigned for twenty years; but his continued aggressions at last brought him into trouble. He had attacked the hill state of Kulur, and its chief, unable to meet him in person, called in the Gurkhas to his assistance. This led to the terrible Gurkha invasion so much talked of even now by the inhabitants of the valley. The people fled to Chamba and to the plains, not a blade of grass grew in the Kangra valley; but amid all the horrors and confusion of the invasion, fort Kangra remained in the hands of the worsted Katochas, who were at last delivered from the Gurkhas by the interference of Ranjit Singh.
The Sikh, taking a large part of the Katoch do. minions as a reward for his assistancu, gave Tasár Chand the fort and a number of villages, which had always been allotted for the maintenance of ita garrison ; but year by year he encroached more and more on the Katoch independence, and in 1838 an
nexed the whole country. In 1839 Ranjit Singh died, and his disorganised soldiery, invading British territory, were punished. Lahor was occupied and the British army obtained possession of the Jalandar Doab in March, 1846. But even then, in the midst of a conquered country, cut off from all hope of succour and assistance, the native confidence in the strength of the Kangra fort was so great that it held out, in spite of warnings, until a British brigade had actually invested it, when the Sikh Governor agreed to evacuate on condition that he and his men were allowed a free and honourable passage. .
It would be difficult to exaggerate the value which natives set on fort Kangra ; it is a most sacred place, consecrated by its idols and its antiquity : it is of the highest political value, for any native chief holding Kangra would be paramount in the hills; and the Dative idea of its military importance is high and were it unoccupied, it would be immediately seized as a great prize, in case of any disturbance in the Panjab.
After it fell into the hands of the British, the fort was first garrisoned by native troops; and, when the country was supposed to be sufficiently quieted down, they were replaced by a bill corps which was then formed. But in the same year in which this change was made, the Multan insurrection broke out, and it Was thought necessary to replace regular troops in the Fort. Ram Singh was only prevented from attacking and perhaps conquering the garrison there in 1848, by a sudden movement of Captain Davidson's and Major Fisier's irregular horse to its succour. This Ram Singh during his short-lived power was joined by about 400 men, and was only dislodged by Mr. John Lawrence, now Lord Lawrence, bringing up reinforcements and driving him out of the Nurpur Fort.-Panjab Times, Nov 21.
A LAKE LEGEND OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES.
LAKE Taroba in the Chanda district, situated 14 miles east of Segaon, in a basin of the Chimur hills, at a considerable height above the plain, is believed by the natives of the surrounding country to owe its origin to enchantment. It is far from any village, and though artificially embanked at one point, has all the appearance of a natural lake. Its depth is very great and the water is considered to be of peculiar excellence. In the early agesso runs the legenda marriage procession of Gavalis was passing through these hills from the west. Hot and thirsty they sought for water but jund none, when a strange-looking old man suggested that the bride and bridegroom should join in digging for a spring. Laughingly they consented, and with the removal of a few spadesful of earth a clear fountain leapt to the surface. While all were delightedly drinking, the freed waters rose and spread into a wide lake, overwhelming bride, bridegroom, and procession ; but fairy hands soon constructed a temple in the depths, where the spirits of the drowned aro