NADAUN, BATTLE

NADAUN, BATTLE OF, fought on 20 March 1691 between an imperial expeditionary force aided by Raja Kirpal Chand of Kangra and Raja Dyal of Bijharval in the Sivalik hills on the one hand and several other neighbouring chieftains who enjoyed the support of Guru Gobind Singh on the other. The hill barons taking advantage of Emperor Aurarigzib`s preoccupation with Maratha insurgency in the South had neglected to pay their annual tributes into the imperial treasury. Early in 1691 orders were issued to Hifzullah Khan alias Miari Khan, Governor of Jammu, to realize the arrears. Miari Khan despatched a punitive force under Alif Khan.

Two of the chieftains. Raja Kirpal Chand and Raja Dyal, submitted without opposition and in fact became Alif Khan`s allies. Raja Bhim Chand of Kahlur (Bilaspur). who rallied the rest of the rulers to make resistance, solicited Guru Gobind Singh for help. The Guru came to his assistance with a body of his chosen Sikhs. The two armies met at Nadaun on the left bank of the River Beas, 32 km southeast of Kangra and 12 km from the temple town of Javalamukhi. Guru Gobind Singh described in his autobiographical poem, Bachitra Ndtak, the action that took place. As the enemy, he says, advanced with Dyal and Kirpal in the van, a fierce battle commenced. It however did not take long to decide the issue.

“The Almighty God hastened the end of the fight and the opposing host was pushed back into the river… Alif Khan fled in utter disarray leaving his camp to take care of itself…” Gurdwara PatshahT Dasviri on the west bank of the River Beas commemorates the battle. The sanctum, a 6metre square room with doors on four sides, has a dome with a brass pinnacle. The Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a raised platform. The present building was got constructed by Rai Bahadur Baisakha Singh in 1929. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which took over control of the shrine in 1935, now administers it through a local committee.

References :

1. Bachitra Natak.
2. Saina Pat, Sri Cur Sobha (ed. Ganda Singh). Patiala, 1967
3. Kuir Singh, Gurbilas Patshahi 10 (ed. Shainsher Singh Ashok). Patiala, 1968
4. Seva Singh, Shahid Bilas. (ed. Giani Garja Singh). Ludhiana, 1961
5. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa[Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
6. Padam, Piara Singh and Giani Garja Singh, eds., Guru kian Sakhian. Patiala, 1986