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Pathania is the name of the branch of the Tomara Clan of Chandravanshi, Rajputs, who claim a mythological descent from Arjuna, the hero of Mahabharata. They mostly live in and around Himachal Pradesh, in North India. The Pathania clan established the Kingdom of Nurpur in Himachal Pradesh, in the 11th century and ruled it until 1849, This clan has also served in the British armed forces of India.
Brief history
Rana Jethpal (1100?), the younger brother of King Anangpal II of Delhi, came to Jallandhar Doab also called Bist Doab to conquer a territory for himself. After crossing the Beas river he captured a fort called Bhet, and for this reason, he acquired the name Rana Bhet. After this he came upon the city of Pathankot (possibly ancient Pratisthana), and following the customed tradition of Rajputs, in which the King almost in all instances took his name from the name of the country where he exercised his dominion, he came to be known as a Pathania Rajput, instead of a Tomara.
The Kingdom of Nurpur had its capital at Pathankot, now a district of Punjab, India. The kingdom included Pathankot and a large tract on the plains of the Punjab; also the whole of the present Nurpur Tahsil of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, with the addition of Shahpurkandi, now in Gurdaspur, and also a small tract to the west of the Ravi, called Lakhanpur, now in Jammu & Kashmir State. The Kingdom was bounded on the north by Kangra and Chamba, on the south by the Punjab plains, and on the west by the Ravi river. The Capital was at pathankot, which was known as Paithan in the medieval times. All through their history the Pathania clan rebelled against the foreign invaders, both Muslims and the British. Although sometimes the Pathania Kings held the high office's of Generals known as Mansabdar (Army Commander, reserved for Hindu and Muslim Princes of note) in the Mughal military and captured many a kingdom for the Mughal Emperor in Hindustan and beyond the Indus up till Uzbekistan, yet repeatedly they rebelled against the forces of the Mughal's and other foreign invaders.
The golden period of Pathania rule on Nurpur (then Dhameri) came under the reign of Raja Jagat Singh (1618 -1646). Under him the state reached her pinnacle. In 1618 Nurpur was ruled by elder brother of Jagat Singh namely Raja Suraj Mal. At this time Jagat Singh was in-charge of Mughal army detachment (Mansab) in Bengal. The rebellious and fiercely independent attitude of Raja Suraj Mal was a source of constant annoyance to Mughals. Therefore, Emperor Jahangir exiled Raja Suraj Mal to Chamba and placed Jagat Singh on ‘Gaddi’ (throne) of Nurpur.
One of the popular uprising in North India againest British Raj was led by Wazir Ram Singh Pathania who ten years before the infamous first war of India's independence captured fort of Shahpur Kandi from British on 14 Aug 1849 and declared state of Nurpur as Independent. However, he and his brave army was defeated by British and Wazir Ram Singh Pathania was exiled to Rangoon.
Clan forts
Mau or Maukot Fort
It was nearest to the plains, almost halfway to Nurpur from Pathankot, situated on a low hill of Shiwalik range running east to the Chakki river. It was an enclosure surrounded by dense forests, a Castle of great strength. It was a legend in its times, a saying was in vogue: Mau Ki Muhim Yaro Maut Ki Nishani Hai, 'The expedition to Mau, friends is a call to death'.
Isral Fort
This fort was exactly halfway to Taragarh from Nurpur fort. It was founded by Raja Nag Pal, in honour of victory of Sukh Pal his brother. Raja Nag Pal was crowned in this fort about 1397. It was an ideal fort commanding the splendid view of the surroundings. It was rich in buildings like palaces, Diwankhana and stable for the horses of the royal family. Now nothing is left. But the site is still known as Diwankhana by the local people. The site is lying in dense forests south of Sulyali village.
References
- History of the Panjab Hill States By J. Hutchison, J.P. Vogel, Asian Educational Services, p. 219
- The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh V. 1 By Mark Brentnall, Indus Publishing, p. 352
- Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh By Mian Goverdhan Singh, Indus Publishing, p. 39
- History of the Panjab Hill States By J. Hutchison, J.P. Vogel, Asian Educational Services, p. 220
- History of the Panjab Hill States By J. Hutchison, J.P. Vogel, Asian Educational Services, p. 213
- The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh V. 1 By Mark Brentnall, Indus Publishing, p. 351
- History of the Panjab Hill States By J. Hutchison, J.P. Vogel, Asian Educational Services, p. 237
- Forts and Palaces of the Western Himalaya By Aśoka Jeratha, Indus Publishing, p. 46
- Forts and Palaces of the Western Himalaya By Aśoka Jeratha, Indus Publishing, p. 51