Amar Singh Thapa
Nepalese-Tibetan War | |
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Amar Singh Thapa distinguished as Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa
Early life and family
He was grandson of Ranjai [of Sirhanchowk] and son of Bhim Sen
He was popularly named "Amar Singh Thapa (Bada)" to distinguish him from another Kaji Amar Singh Thapa (Sana), Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa's father, by identifiers "Bada" and "Sana" meaning elder and younger.[1] His family members were added to the Royal Court by Bhimsen Thapa,[2] who was also a member of Bagale Thapa clan.[9] His eldest son Ranadhoj Thapa was deputy to Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister) Bhimsen Thapa sharing the authority[10] while other four sons namely – Bhaktabir Singh, Narsingh, Ramdas and Ranjore Singh, all of them were Kajis at some point.[6] His youngest son Ranajor Singh Thapa fought with him in the Anglo-Nepalese War[11] while his eldest son Ranadhoj Thapa, was vice to Mukhtiyar of Nepal.[12] His grandson, young Surat Singh Thapa, was appointed to post of Kazi in 1832 C.E. to retaliate growing Darbar politics after which the government papers were jointly signed by Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa and Kazi Surath Singh.[13][6] His two grandsons from eldest son Ranadhoj Thapa, namely – Ripu Mardan and Badal Singh, were both Kaji at some period.[6] Thus, his family was another influential Bagale Thapa family in the Royal Court alongside the premier Bhimsen Thapa family.[9]
Early Conquests
Bada Amar Singh led many conquest battles of Western provinces in the
He commanded the
Bada Amar commanded his troops further to
He later met Akali Chandan Singh Nihang who converted him to Sikhism. For a few years Amar Singh Thapa led the life of a Sikh hermit although he didn't follow Sikhism completely and was a Sehajdhari Sikh. He wrote a book on his belief in Sikhism called the Adi Bhagvan Prakash which has not been published as of yet and remains in the Nepali State Archives.[20]
Bada Kaji Amar Singh advised
Anglo-Nepalese War
The appointment letter of two of three
Similarly, another appointment letter of
Further to the westward lies the valley of the Dhoon,[24] and the territory of Sue-na-Ghur;[25] and further still, the more recent conquests, stretching to the village, in which Umar Sing,[26] a chief of uncommon talents, commanded, and indeed, exercised an authority almost independent.[27]
When the Kathmandu Durbar solicited Nepalese chiefs' opinions about a possible war with the British, Amar Singh Thapa was not alone in his opposition, declaring that –
They will not rest satisfied without establishing their own power and authority, and will unite with the hill rajas, whom we have dispossessed. We have hitherto but hunted deer; if we engage in this war, we must prepare to fight tigers.[28]
He was against the measures adopted in Butwal and Sheeoraj, which he declared to have originated in the selfish views of persons, who scrupled not to involve the nation in war to gratify their personal avarice.[28][29]
First Campaign
The British columns led by British Generals
He commanded Gorkhali forces to defend the town of Srinagar from The third division army under Major-General Gillespie coming from western side. His son Ranjore Singh Thapa was holding forces at Nahan, the chief town of Sirmaur.[31]
Second Campaign
During the second campaign, he was serving as sector commander of Sindhuli Gadhi and eastern front facing heavy casualties from the assault of Colonel Kelly and Colonel O'Hollorah under Main Operational commander David Ochterlony. His son Ranjore reached Sindhuli Gadhi to defend the fort. The British couldn't reach Sindhuli Gadhi and felt back.[31]
Heritages built
Amar Singh was a religious personality who built many forts across Nepal and India. The original
Legacy
Bada Kaji Amar Singh is often hailed as Living Lion of Nepal[33][12] due to his fighting prowess, greater leadership and patriotism. British Historian Hamilton drew comparisons of him with the ancient Carthaginian General Hannibal.[34] A popular patriotic quote in the Nepalese history is attributed to him:
Ma Bagh ko Damaru hu, malai sino khane Kukur nasamjha. Translation: I am cub of tiger, don't mistake me with a carcass-eating dog. Translated by Arjun Bhadra Khanal[35]
The letter from the central government of Nepal held the praises of Kaji Amar Singh in the letters to other civil and military officers including provincial governors:
Kaji Ambar Simha Thapa is old and mature, and also true to his salt. Act according to his advice.
The village of
Descendants
Amar Singh was married to Dharmabati. Nepali historian
Nepali movie director, Sunil Thapa, who is married to popular Nepali actress Jharana Thapa, is an eighth patrilineal descendant of Bada Kaji Amar Singh making their daughter Nepali actress Suhana Thapa a ninth descendant.[41]
Gallery
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Letter sent to PM Bhimsen Thapa and Kazi Ranadhoj Thapa by (Pvt. seal L to R) Bakhat Singh Sardar, Dalbhanjan Pande (Pande Kazi), Ranabir Singh Thapa, Kaji Narsingh Thapa (Elder Amar Singh Thapa's third son) and sundry captains
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Statue of Amar Singh Thapa (elder) at Amargadhi Fort; Quote is visible in the image
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Gangotri Templewas built by Bada Amar Singh
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Jayanti Mata Temple near Kangra Fort was built by Bada Amar Singh
Notes
- ^ Bada Kaji Amar Singh Thapa was distinguished from Kaji Amar Singh Thapa (sana), Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa's father, by terms Bada and Sana meaning elder and younger.[1]
- ^ His father's name was Bhim Singh Thapa with personal title of Bagh (meaning: Tiger) in the administrative office of Umarao as per government gazettes while many historians as Kumar Pradhan wrote alternatively as Bhim Sen Thapa,[6] the same name of Mukhtiyar of Nepal.[7]
References
- ^ a b Acharya 2012, p. 3.
- ^ a b Pradhan 2012, p. 26.
- ^ a b c Regmi 1987, p. 46.
- ^ Regmi 1975, p. 162.
- ^ "National Heroes / Personalities / Luminaries of Nepal". ImNepal.com. 2011-12-23. Archived from the original on 2017-10-28. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
- ^ a b c d e f Pradhan 2012, p. 195.
- ^ Pradhan 2012, p. 28.
- ^ a b Hamal 1995, p. 191.
- ^ a b Whelpton 1991, p. 21.
- ^ Regmi 1975, p. 178.
- ^ Prinsep 1825, p. 94.
- ^ a b "Cover with the seal of Amar Singh Thapa". Bilder-aus-nepal.de. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ Pradhan 2012, p. 148.
- ^ a b "HISTORY OF THE NEPALI ARMY". Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- ^ Michael 2014, p. 166.
- ^ a b c d e Michael 2014, p. 51.
- ^ Stiller 1973, p. 228.
- ^ Acharya 2012, pp. 83–87.
- ^ "Nepal – The Land and the People". Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
- ^ "Chandan Singh Mukherji", Wikipedia, 2022-06-19, retrieved 2022-06-19
- ^ Acharya 2012, pp. 103–117.
- ^ Pradhan 2012, p. 50.
- ^ a b Regmi 1987, p. 48.
- ^ Dehradun
- ^ Srinagar, Uttarakhand
- ^ Amar Singh Thapa
- ^ Anon 1816, p. 426.
- ^ a b Prinsep 1825, p. 460.
- ^ Prinsep 1825, pp. 79–80.
- ^ Anon 1816, p. 427.
- ^ a b c "Defending a Nation in the Making". Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ Mishra, K. C. (1996). Pilgrimage centres and tradition in Nepal. In: D. P. Dubey (ed) Rays and Ways of Indian Culture. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
- ^ "Bhakti Thapa is the latest national hero of Nepal - OnlineKhabar English News". July 2021.
- ^ a b "Amar Singh Thapa A Great National Hero". risingnepaldaily.com. 2021-06-11. Archived from the original on 2022-03-07.
- ^ "Amar Singh Thapa, Badakaji". 500px.com. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
- ^ a b "How to Make Khukuri: A Complete Guide - Yuna Handicrafts Nepal". yunahandicrafts.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Bagale thapa by Laxman Thapa - Issuu".
- ^ ONA 1978.
- ^ Dabaral 1987, p. 51.
- ^ Acharya 1971, pp. 3–5.
- ^ "ampnews/2013-12-15/6239". nepal.ekantipur.com. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
Sources
- Acharya, Baburam (January 1, 1971) [1950]. "King Girban's Letter To Kaji Ranjor Thapa" (PDF). Regmi Research Series. 3 (1): 3–5.
- Acharya, Baburam (2012), Acharya, Shri Krishna (ed.), Janaral Bhimsen Thapa : Yinko Utthan Tatha Pattan (in Nepali), Kathmandu: Education Book House, p. 228, ISBN 9789937241748
- Anon (1816). "An Account of the War in Nepal; Contained in a Letter from an Officer on the Staff of the Bengal Army". Asiatic Journal and Monthly Miscellany (Vol 1. May 1816): 425–429. )
- Dabaral, Shiva Prasad ‘’Charan’’ (April 1987). "From the Yamuna to the Sutlej" (PDF). Regmi Research Series. 19 (4): 50–54.
- Hamal, Lakshman B. (1995), Military history of Nepal, Sharda Pustak Mandir
- Michael, Bernardo A. (2014), Statemaking and Territory in South Asia: Lessons from the Anglo–Gorkha War (1814–1816), Anthem Press, ISBN 9781783083220
- Office of the Nepal Antiquary (ONA) (1978). Nepal Antiquary. Vol. 5. Office of the Nepal Antiquary.
- Pradhan, Kumar L. (2012), Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839, New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, p. 278, ISBN 9788180698132
- OCLC 152785969.
- Regmi, Mahesh Chandra (April 1987), "Garhwal Appointment, C.E. 1805" (PDF), Regmi Research Series, 19 (4): 46–48
- Regmi, D.R. (1975), Modern Nepal:Expansion: climax and fall, Firma K.L. Mukhopadhyay, ISBN 0883864916
- Stiller, Ludwig F. (1973), The rise of the House of Gorkha: a study in the unification of Nepal, 1768–1816, Manjusri Publication House, p. 390
- Whelpton, John (1991), Kings, soldiers, and priests: Nepalese politics and the rise of Jang Bahadur Rana, 1830–1857, Manohar Publications, ISBN 9788185425641