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Introduction

Mian Dido is synonymous with Dogra resistance in Jammu. He was the guerilla warfare general of Jammu and killed more than 300+ Khalsa soldiers alone. He fought for the identity of the Dogra nation and Dogra people. Mian Dido believed that Jammu should be ruled by the Dogra Rulers only. It should be a sovereign and independent state. He strived his whole life for this cause and fought against the invaders with almost no military assistance. Mian Dido became the apostle of love and judgment for the masses of the region. He was the legend in his lifetime. That’s why people called Mian Dido- The icon of Dogra resistance and valor.

Birth

Mian Dido was born in Samvat 1780 at village Jagti situated at about ten kilometers north-west of Jammu. Mian Dido was educated at his parental home and his schooling took place in the wild forests of the region. He attained expertise in sword fighting and archery when he was merely ten years old. His main sport was to fight with the wild cats, tigers, and other savage animals.

Invasion of Jammu

Prior to the Sikh rule in Jammu, the Dogra Pradesh was divided into twenty-two principalities. It was Raja Ranjit Dev (1733-82) of Jammu who conquered most of the states of the Jammu region and established his sovereignty in these states. But after the death of Raja Ranjit Dev, the gloriousness of the Jammu Raj started to decline. The war of succession started between Brijraj Dev and Dalel Singh, the two sons of Raja Ranjit Dev. Consequently, the political stability of Jammu was threatened by both the internal and external forces. The Sikh Misls of Punjab became active and taking advantage of the political crisis of Jammu subsequently annexed Jammu to Lahore Darbar and Sikh rule got established in Jammu. Kharak Singh, son of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh was appointed as Jagirdar of Jammu.

After Jammu had been conquered by Sikhs in 1808 in which Gulab Singh gallantly fought in the battle of Gumat. Cantt. of 2000 men was established in Jammu. New land taxes enabled money lenders to exploit zamindars most. A lot of bounty was drawn from Dogra kingdom which was not acceptable to Dogras. People of Jammu started to resent Sikh rule. Mian Dido was disturbed with the unjust rule of Sikhs. To save people from economic exploitation by Sikh rule and money lenders, he went for armed rebellion against the unjust demands and exploitation of Sikh administrators. Bhau, Slathia, Chibs, and zamindar Rajputs openly came out against the Sikh rule.

Social reformer

There is anecdote popular about the guerrilla warrior that a poor man, somehow managed to get a good match for his daughter but at the time of the ritual, the father of the bridegroom suddenly asked for a lump sum amount in lieu of dowry which the poor fellow could not provide resulting in the return of the Barat, instantaneously. Mian Dido came to know of the fact and ordered his men to stop the marriage procession in the way. He assured the father of the bridegroom that he would get the amount very soon. He should not return empty-handed tarnishing the image of the bride and her relatives. The man was so frightened that he bowed before the wishes of the warrior and got his son married the same girl without taking even a single penny as dowry. Several such anecdotes are in vogue till today.

Raids on Sikh camps

According to Captian G.C. smith: There was a garrison of two thousand men in Jammu, but Dido hesitated not to attack the place on several occasions by night or by day, though his force sometimes numbered only fifty or sixty men. In one of these assaults, he burnt down nearly the whole place and carried off a great part of the moveable property of the Sikh inhabitants. After these exploits, he would disappear as suddenly as he came, and the Sikhs never ventures to pursue him a musket shot from walls. It is said that seldom fifteen days passed without an achievement of this kind, and according to tradition, Dido from time to time, slew, with his own hand, above three hundred of Sikh soldiers.

Following guerrilla tactics, after such raids, he would vanish as fast as he would descend. Sikhs never dared to pursue him in the hills because they knew well death would be waiting for them there. Sikhs found it impossible to administrate and collect taxes. Mian and his followers became the scourge of Sikhs in Jammu. Many a time large force was despatched from Lahore to capture Mian dido but in vain.

Disrespect of Maharaja Ranjit singh

It is stated in the historical documents that Pt. Birbar Dhar from Kashmir sent some fruits in the boxes to appease Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab which never reached its destination. Instead, he packed cow dung cakes and sent it to the monarch of Lahore. It infuriated the feudal lord who ordered his troops to captivate the guerrilla warrior alive or dead. The Khalsa forces tried their best but could not capture him. Virtually he was the lord of the ravines of Jammu region. Then Maharaja Ranjit Singh assigned Maharaj Gulab Singh to capture and eliminate Mian Dido. As Maharaj Gulab Singh hailed from Jammu he knew about the support of Mian. Maharaj Gulab Singh was a Jamwal Rajput and he himself not wanted Mian to be killed.

In fact the two great men in Dogra history were legends in their lifetime. Both Mian Dido and Gulab Singh were the great warriors but the irony of the fate was that the two could not compromise with their way of life. Mian Dido was deadly against the regime of Khalsa fidelity on Duggar land whereas Gulab Singh was supporter of the regime. Both of them belonged to the same clan. It was Mian Dido who forced Maharaja Ranjit Singh to cede the authority to Maharaj Gulab Singh.

Incident of Hawk

Hawking had been a favourite amusing sport of Sikh administrators. Many of hawks in this sport were caught from Trikuta Hills. Mian Dido had a white falcon which was not allowed to be domesticated except by the royal family. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was having a pair of such falcons, Mian Dido was asked to send the white falcon to Lahore court but he refused. A contingent of 200 strong soldiers was despatched to Jammu to catch the bird. Nain Singh especially was despatched with a dozen of soldiers to do this job. They reached his hut and the parleys started for handing over the bird. Dido agreed to accompany them to their Jammu Camp with the Hawk.

Time was finalized for the departure. Mian afterwards gave them rations to prepare a meal in the adjoining hut. As they got busy in cooking, Mian gave the Hawk to his spouse and asked her to escape in the Jungle. Seeing his undesirable guests busy in cooking, he rushed upon them with sword and before they could recover from the shock of sudden attack, as he was excellent swordsman he killed seven of them and fatally wounded four. Only two survived and told the whole incident in Jammu. After that, he made hills his permanent residence to continue guerrilla warfare. Sometimes he would lead a legion of up to two thousand men in such raids. He was endorsed and sheltered by the people who were against Sikhs and Moneylenders(sahukars).

Jammu is in favour of Mian Dido

Prince kharak singh himself found that no one in Jammu follows the order of Lahore darbar and everyone is loyal to Mian dido. The brutalities of Khalsa rule causes rebellion of both commoners and people higher clans.There was chaos everywhere and no one listens to administration. All these incidents led to the coronation of Maharaj Gulab Singh because it was impossible for Sikhs to continue their reign in Jammu.

Killing of his father

Once a contingent was sent to Jagti under Atar Singh Kalal but Dido was not there. His old father, Mian Hazara, drew his sword when Atar asked him to surrender. Mian Hazara said, “don’t you know that to lay down life bravely is the pride of warriors. Surrendering before the enemy like you is a cowardice”. He was killed by Atar Singh because of the infirmity of age. Hazara Singh said that he would kill the enemy and behead them. He was all alone among the thousands-strong Khalsa Army and killed twelve to fourteen members of that army. Then suddenly a bullet penetrated his body and Hazara Singh died. The members of the Sikh army assaulted the 90 years old man and killed him and hanged his dead body in front of his house but they were not able to capture Mian Dido.

Revenge from Atar Singh

This act of cowardness filled Mian with the feeling of revenge but the forces of Lahore darbar were after him. Mian Dido went to

the Trikuta peaks and took shelter in the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi. Soon a confrontation was to take place between Main Dido and killer of His father Mian Hazara Singh -Atar Singh Kalal. Gulab Singh along with Atar Singh Kalal reached Trikuta hills. They flanked from 3 directions.

Maharaja Gulab Singh wanted to capture him alive. Seeing there is the killer of his father Mian Dido fully armed he reached Sanji Chhat and finding no passage through the army, he attacked in the killer of his father Atar Singh Kalal. Atar Singh smashed him on the head with his sword which cut the turban. On this Mian got angry at Atar who had assassinated his father and shouted, “O coward, I will cut you in two halves ”. With one blow, his sword cut through Atar’s shoulder to the belly and tearing through the thigh hit the floor. Glimpsing such horror no one dared to come closer to him.

Death of the hero

He thus crouched in a perfect composure on a rock and asked for his ‘Huqa’ and began to smoke. Since nobody could catch or win against him, troops resorted to firing. A bullet pierced through his throat. He fell down dead. When Gulab Singh was told of his death, he was anguished since he wanted to capture him alive because he has his duties towards both Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Jammu. Moreover, Mian was his relative and a warrior. The killing of Mian Dido filled Gulab Singh with grief. He was burning in rue.

After Main’s death, Gulab Singh took the commitment of bringing up Miao Dido’s sons, Basant Singh and Gushan Singh. He recruited them in the Army. Basant Singh attained to the dignified position of Commandant of the Unit. It needs to be remembered that Gulab Singh was always in the guilt of the murder of Mian on his soul for long. One day while hunting, Gulab Singh alone chased his hunt while others stayed backward. Only Basant Singh managed to catch up.

Immortal Hero

He was always Robinhood for the people of Jammu. Mian’s popularity in Dogra society can be found from the folk songs sung in his memory. Mian dido’s efforts clearly illustrated that Dogras will never jeopardize their identity and dignity and they have enough grit to fight against the peril no matter how big it is.