5 July 1819[Gupta][EoS][EoS][EoS][Web][EoS]
Conquest of Kashmir
In 1819 a Sikh army under Misr Diwan Chand crossed the Pir Panjal, defeated the Afghan governor Jabbar Khan at Shupian and entered Srinagar. Kashmir stayed part of the kingdom until 1846.
The expedition of 1814 had failed. This time Diwan Chand led the advance, with Prince Kharak Singh behind him and the Maharaja keeping the supply line open from a reserve camp at Bhimbar. They took Rajauri in early June, beat back the local rajas in the passes, and crossed by the Toshamaidan Pass into the valley.
Hari Ram Gupta dates the fight at Shupian to 5 July. The Afghans were pushed back in a few hours, then attacked again as the Sikhs forded a stream, and Diwan Chand rallied his men to win. Jabbar Khan fled towards Kabul, and the army entered Srinagar on 15 July. Akali Phula Singh's men and Hari Singh Nalwa both took part.
Diwan Moti Ram became the first governor, and Hari Singh Nalwa followed him in 1820. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism credits Nalwa with reorganising the administration, building forts at Uri and Muzaffarabad, and leading relief after the floods of 1821.[Gupta][EoS][EoS][EoS][Web][EoS]
Dates in the sources
- 1819-07-03: Wikipedia gives 3 July for the battle at Shupian and notes that 5 July is also given.[Web]