✍️Written by Sangram Singh Ranyal (Writer, Social Activist, Poonch J&K)
If anyone truly deserves the title of “Great” in Indian history, it is Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa. Unfortunately, while our textbooks repeatedly glorify the stories of Akbar, Aurangzeb, and other foreign invaders, our real heroes – the Sikh warriors – have been deliberately erased from history.
🔹 Hari Singh Nalwa – From Childhood to the Lion Slayer
Born in 1791 at Gujranwala (present-day Pakistan), Hari Singh was fearless and courageous from a very young age. At just 10 years old, he killed a tiger with his bare hands, earning the title “Nalwa” (Tiger Slayer). This bravery shaped him into one of the fiercest military commanders in Indian history.
🔹 The Lion of the Battlefield
Joining Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army, Hari Singh Nalwa expanded the Sikh Empire across Kashmir, Multan, Peshawar, Hazara, and even to the gates of the Khyber Pass.
Such was his terror that in Afghanistan mothers used to frighten their children by saying:
“Go to sleep, or Hari Singh will come!”
He not only secured India’s frontiers but also permanently blocked Afghan invaders who had looted and ravaged India for centuries.
🔹 Sacrifice and Immortality
In 1837, at the Battle of Jamrud, despite being gravely injured, Hari Singh Nalwa continued to lead from the front. His martyrdom gave the Sikh army enough strength to defeat the Afghans and secure India’s northwestern borders.
His death was a personal loss, but his life became an immortal saga of valor.
🔹 The Sikh Community’s Sacrifices
Hari Singh Nalwa was not alone. Sikh history is filled with unmatched sacrifices:
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji sacrificed his life for religious freedom.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s four sons (Sahibzadas) gave their lives defending Dharma and the nation.
Banda Singh Bahadur shook the Mughal throne by uniting farmers and common people.
During India’s freedom struggle, though Sikhs were only 2% of the population, they made up over 80% of the martyrs.
🔹 Why Were They Erased from History?
British agenda – Colonial rulers deliberately kept Indians away from their real heroes.
Mughal-centered history – Textbooks glorified only the courts and dynasties.
Political convenience – Successive rulers found it easier to ignore Sikh sacrifices.
Targeting the Sikh community – The most selfless warriors were the most neglected.
🔹 The Appeal Today
It is deeply painful that today’s children know about the Mughals but not about their own real heroes like Hari Singh Nalwa.
I urge the Government of India to reintroduce the stories of Sikh warriors into history books, so that future generations grow up inspired by tales of bravery, not just of subjugation.
🔹 Conclusion
As a Sikh, I feel deep sorrow that my community’s sacrifices have been erased from history. But this is not just a Sikh issue – it is a loss for the entire nation.
Hari Singh Nalwa and countless Sikh warriors are symbols of India’s pride and spirit. To forget them is to weaken the nation itself.
The time has come to give them their rightful place in history.