Sabz Khan, Mallee Khan & Shams khan who were flayed alive in 1832 by Dogra Raja Sardar Shams Khan was the Raja (ruler) of Poonch, at the time of Aap-raji or Self-rule (just before the foundation of modern state of Jammu and Kashmir by Gulab Singh). Sardar Rajwali was the nephew of the Shams Khan , gallant Kashmiri warrior who went into revolt against Gulab singh along with the Sudhan and other Pahari tribes in November1832. During this revolt, Sabz Ali and Mallee Khan, (both Sudhan Pathan) along with many companions were flayed alive in Mang (Palandri, Sudhnuti). Hundreds of Kashmiri children and women were taken to Jammu as prisoner. Shams Khan and Rajwali were killed by a traitor Nur Khan Terola in the Daigwal village. The heads and Skin of all the martyrs were hung of a tree located in Mang( palandri, Azad Kashmir) which is still present there. Located in Mang this monument reminds of the henious events of 1832 when the local people of Mang rebelled against the Sikh rule of Ranjeet Singh. At the time, Ghulab Singh was a General in his army and was responsible for supressing any descent. In 1832 there was a rebellion in and around Mang by the local people and Ghulab Singh was sent to deal with it. M L Kapur in his book ‘the history of jammu & Kashmir’ mentions, to quell the rebellion in Poonch and Chibbhal territory Ghulab Singh returning from Peshawar and after some desultory warfare, the rebels were completely routed. Many of them were captured, and treated with vengeance; their hands and feet were severed by axes, while skins of Sardar Mali Khan and Sardar Sabaz Ali Khan, two of the close accomplices of Shams-ud-Din, were peeled off their bodies, and their heads were hung on gallows in a crossing as a warning to others. Hands were ultimately laid on the chief rebel as well, and his head was cut off. The rebels were hung on this very tree featured here and skinned alive. The practice of skinning alive rebels continued for some time. In Pahari language the story of these gallant heroes of Kashmir is sung and known as Waar or ballad, with the name Shams Khan, Sabz Ali teh Mallee Khan née waar. Story of these warriors of Kashmir has been narrated in form of a poem to pay remember these great warriors and to pay tribute to the great sacrifice for Freedom. The English translation by Bawa Satinder Singh produced from his book JammuFox is given below for your information. Background Information: The Warr (ballad) is a type of poem in Pahari language of Kashmir. existing in shape of folk songs narrating the events of some war. A type of history recording or paying tributes to the heroes is an example of the resistant literature of Kashmir. This particular warr is about the event of flaying alive of the leaders of the resistance against Gulab Singh in Mang (Distt.Palandri) about 170 years ago. In 1836 Dogra Raja Gulam Singh was the ruler of Kashmir and his era was known for the oppression and tyranny against the innocent and common people, particularly on the muslims of jammu & Kashmir. Poonch was the only region where Ghulab Singh was unable to take control entirely. Poonch was, at that time, under the rule of Shams Ali Khan who was from the Maldiyal Tribe. He went to Jammu to meet Ghulam Singh in 1837.It starts with the discussion which took plave between the Shams Khan and Ghulab sigh was as follow : Shams te Malli Sabz Ali di Warr Praised be the lord and his black-robed prophet(P.B.U.H).Praised be the saint of Baghdad who rescued the wrecked ships from the sea.Great was the Raja Rustam, lord of all Poonch, after him was born Raj Wali Shams khan the warrior, who from his youth dreamt of the independence. He mounted a black stallion and rode to Jammu. Ghulab singh inquired, you are soldier? from what state? O,Raja said Shams, Poonch is my land and I am a warrior of the Maldyal tribe And Gulab Singh bestowed on him a robe of honor, a horse and a pair of gold bangles.The Shams Khan daringly demanded, hand over the administration of Poonch to me the Raja agreed but warned him, Do not steal my revenues And Shams promised to remit the taxes faithfully. Shams returned home, opened free kitchens for the poor and arranged feasts. But the soon the village elders and accountants met to determined the amount of revenue owed to Gulab Singh. thirty six thousands rupees the told Shams, are due. Stung by such oppressive taxation, Shams and his nephew Raj wali decided to rebel. Let us recruit a force of valiant soldiers, they said. What a wonderful pair God had created in Shams and Raj Wali. The forts of Tatwala and Bhalangai wala Shams took by storm, A dozen other fortresses fell and Tara Singh Dogra was captured, He begged for mercy in the name of God and offered submission. Shams khan then sent emissaries to the tribe of Kakka and Bamba, which assured Shams of their full support. When news of revolt reached Gulab Singh, he became exceedingly angry. And commanded Dewan Dhannoo with five hundreds soldiers to march Poonch. Shams advanced to meet him. Looking scornfully at the Dogra commander he exclaimed, I know you are Dewan Dhannoo , But I am Shams Khan the warrior. I shall give you such a battle that people will sing tale about it, I shall rip you apart with my sword and scatter your limbs around. Dewan Dhannoo beat a hasty retreat down the hill from Chappra and galloped back to Jammu, there he raised a hue and cry and told Gulab Singh, O Raja, if you remain at Jammu, you shall have to wash your hands of Poonch, Shams has risen to open rebellion. When Gulab Singh heard this, he trembled with rage. And at once ordered his forces to return from Kishtwar. He recruited additional soldiers and collected laborers to work as porters; The iron of the blacksmiths was confiscated for casting shells; The yarn of the weavers was taken for making tents. Gulab Singh himself assumed command and hastened to Poonch. Hearing this many of camp followers deserted Shams. The raja first marched to Pindi Jhelum and then entered Poonch. His other camps were established at the village of Mang and Bagh, respectively. He flayed alive Malli and Sabz Ali and stuffed their skins with straw atMang, Even innocent young children he flayed alive. Then the raja searched for Shams and questioned Muzaffar Khan of Uri, Who feigned complete ignorance to save his own skin. But fate led Shams and Rajwali to the village of Dhagwala Where Nur Khan Terola, the chief, invited them to dinner. In order to ensnare and disarm them. At midnight Raj Wali woke and cried, O, Uncle ! I had a terrible dream. I have seen myself being served a dish full of blood. Surely it is a sign that our death is near. The ill-omened dream foretold the truth; they were betrayed. Shams felt deep chagrin at the way he had been tricked, And in the dead of night tried to escape over the wall, But Nur Khan saw him and dragged him down. The cornered rebel looked to the left and looked to the right but no friend did he find. Alas! Who could be his ally at this, his final hour? Shams turned to the Nur Khan and cried, O, Brother! You seem determined to commit this treachery. But remember that valiant soldiers are not afraid to sacrifice their lives for the sake of holy Quran His enemies remained unmoved. They beheaded Shams and Raj Wali and carried their heads to Bagh. There Gulab Singh saw the severed heads and was filled with joy. Praise be to your mother, O, Shams Khan, A son like you no other mother will ever bear. After this a huge number of Maldyal warriors, elders, Children And Women were brutely assassinated in order to teach the lesson to other tribes. A name not to fogotten is the sardar Kala Khan whose bravery in poonch district was recognised by Indian commander in 1947 and was giving command of 50 soldiers in 1947, his nephew now reside in Canada and teaches flying in Manitoba Canada. This historical incident is a clear evidence of the fact the Kashmiris wanted to get Freedom from the Hindu Rule from more than 170 years ago even before the India attained its freedom from Britishers. Kashmiris never accepted itself as a Part of India and the history itself is the witness of that fact. Some of the Images of that tree on which their skins were hanged are added below. A Monument was formed near that tree to pay tribute to the glorious sacrifice of these warrior. (FRONTLINE KASHMIR Voice against the illegitimate occupation of Jammu & Kashmir by Indian forces)
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 15:51:15 +0000