SIKH WARRIOR’S HEROICS AGAINST AFGHANS

SIKH GENERAL HARI SINGH NALWA WAS FEARED IN LIFE AND DEATH. AS A YOUNGSTER, HE MANAGED TO DEFEAT AFGHAN MONARCH KUTAB-UD-DIN KHAN AT THE BATTLE OF KASUR IN 1807. SUBSEQUENTLY, NALWA WAS FEARED BY AFGHANS WHO FEARED FIGHTING AGAINST HIM

- DR ANKITA KUMAR

Legendary Sikh General Hari Singh Nalwa was known as the “most feared Sikh warrior” when he had subdued the unruly forces in Afghanistan. After beating the Afghans and seizing control of several areas along Afghanistan’s border, Nalwa gained notoriety. Additionally, he forbade Afghans from crossing the Khyber Pass, which was the principal entrance for foreign invaders into India from 1000 AD until the early 19th century.

Hari Singh Nalwa was born in 1791 into an Uppal Khatri family and was originally from Majitha, a town in Punjab close to Amritsar. He came from a Sikh family known for their bravery and aggressive demeanour, the Sukerchakia Misl. Both his father and grandfather were outstanding fighters who took part in numerous battles. Hardas Singh, his great-grandfather, was engaged in combat with Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1762.