at March 9, 2006 8:31 AMThis article was particularly interesting, since the “forgotten regiments” mentioned in the article below happen to be Muslim regiments who fought valiantly beside everyone else in the freedom struggle of India. The article is written by a Pakistani, lamenting the fact that most Pakistanis have forgotten these heroes, while honoring British loyalist-Indians(or currently Pakistanis) and rewarding them with Pakistan’s first Prime Ministership and Presidency. A look at our shared heritage and history.
No guard of honour is mounted on the grave of Ahmad Khan Kharral the only Punjab notable who challenged the British in 1857 but there are roads in Lahore named in the honour of some who were the most trusted British stooges. There is no monument at Gugera or in Murree for the Kharals or Dhunds (Abbasis) of 1857 but one at Taxila in the memory of the Punjab movable column sent to Delhi in 1857! There are regiments on the other hand who are proud of their march from Marinade to Delhi or for services rendered at Lucknow against the rebels, but hardly anyone in today’s Pakistan knows about regiments which challenged the British Empire at a time when it was said that the sun never set for the British Empire. The First Afghan War is a familiar war of Indo British history. However, hardly anyone in today’s Pakistan knows about the 2nd Bengal Light Cavalry. This unit was sent to Afghanistan in 1839. Unlike the English East India Company’s Bengal Army infantry which was three fourth Hindu the vast bulk of the Bengal Army Cavalry was Muslim; comprising Hindustani Pathan and Ranghar/Kaimkhani/Lalkhani Muslims from modern UP and Hariana Provinces of India. The 2nd Bengal Cavalry disobeyed its officers orders to charge a body of Afghan Horsemen at Perwan on 2nd November 1840! Sir Fortescue the official historian of the British Army found the regiment’s behaviour inexplicable describing it as an incident “which after endless explanations remain always mysterious”. Fortescue was surprised because the 2nd Light Cavalry was an excellent unit in terms of war performance till 2nd November 1840. The unit was disbanded for misconduct. There is one aspect of this unit’s history which was overlooked by British historians. As per Major General Shahid Hamid the unit was raised from Afghans of Kandhari origin settled in Lucknow in 1788 by the Nawab Vizier of Oudh. It was renumbered as the 2nd Bengal Native Cavalry in 1796 and taken over by the East India Company’s Bengal Army .It is possible that the peculiar Afghan origin of the units manpower may have played a part in their reluctance to charge their fellow Muslim Afghans at Perwan!Posted by shanti at August 6, 2003 8:58 AM
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I want to say that after Quaid-e-Azam the best President we have is toady and that is Gen Perwez
Mushraff.
Mushraff is a visionary ICON.
Toady Pakistan is regaining and reviving. Excellent policies adopted by Perwez.
Mushraff should not remove his uniform.
I call him ” The New Founder of Pakistan”
Best Regards,
Hanif Bhaty
General Secretary
Anjuman-E-Falah Block- A North Nazimabad
( A Non Political Mohallah Committee)
Karachi 74700
My Address: B-81-Block-A ground Floor
North Nazimabad Karachi 74700
Pakistan
Tel: 0092-21-6639048
Cell: 0092-0333-2114090
Pakistan Zindabad
Pakistan
Posted by: Hanif Bhaty at April 7, 2004 4:48 PM
If u want to see Pakistan in development and as a good country, you need Gen Mushraff forever.
I am totally against his removing the uniform
Mushraff should not remove his uniform in any way or any pressure.
THE BEST HONEST AND DEDICATED LEADER IS
GEM PERWEZ MUSHRAFF.
I DONOT WANT ANY SEAT OR ANY OPPORTUNITY OF ANY KIND BUT I WANT TO SEE PAKISTAN AS THE BEST NATION OF THE WORLD.
Best Regards
Hanif Bhaty
Karachi /Pakistan
General Secretary
Anjuman-e-Falah Block- A North Nazimabad
Karachi 74700
Pakistan
Posted by: Hanif Bhaty at April 7, 2004 4:53 PM
Musharraf is a toady? :smartass:
Posted by: Aadisht at April 23, 2004 5:49 AM
Hey, don’t diss my “close friend” like that, Aadisht! :tongue3:
Posted by: Shanti at April 23, 2004 7:49 AM
This is one super duper site6
Posted by: purple flower6 at May 27, 2004 8:06 PM
if we see Pakistan prosperess than we need Muhtema Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan ok .
Posted by: adnan ahmad taga at July 11, 2004 10:22 PM
According to me Mushraff is not good man
because
a)He tells only stories not work Practical e.g Kala Bagh Dam Problem,Poverty Problem,Kasmir issue etc
b)He has not his own ideas But he express only America.This is not good thing for his personality
c)He is saying that our Economic power is increased ,But its not right .Because if so then Why there are too much Economic Problems
Posted by: Muhammad Hafeez Ullah Naich at June 1, 2005 4:30 AM
It is nice to see comments about worriers who fought Birtish colonialists. People of Dhund (Abbasi) tribe were among the few in the Punjab who challenged the British during 1857. After the war a number of the brave men were killed by the British rulers. probably 23 others were sent to “Kalapani ” for life imprisonment. We in Murree do not know till now what happened to them. I would like to use these columns to search the descedents of those brave men. if someone knows anything about these people please tell me at wajihabbasi@yahoo.com
Thanks.
Posted by: wajih at June 22, 2005 4:45 AM
Shanti thank you for the comment on forgetten heroes. It is a shame that we have forgetton those who made sacrifices the liberation of the people of Soutrh Asia and are praising those who or their ancestors collaborated with the British imperialists. In my view India and Pakistan should jointly declare a day in memory of the start of first war of Indepedence (so called sepoy mutiny) declare it annual holiday and celebrate it together. The struggle against the British can be the most important and efficient glue to join the two countries.
I do not think we will be independent till the time we start loving the freedom fighters and hating the collaborators.
Wajih Abbasi
Posted by: WAJIH at March 9, 2006 3:29 AM
Wajih, I couldn’t agree more with you. I think we as people share a lot more than the politicos want us to realize.
Posted by: shanti at March 9, 2006 8:31 AM
Yes Shanti you are right. I strongly believe that their are a number of area where Pakistan and India should work together. I think forum like this one can help increase the sense of togtherness and decrease the communication gap that existed for fifty eight years.
Posted by: wajih at March 14, 2006 10:39 PM
Dear Brothers,
The sacrifices of our ancestor heroes to fight the opressors are not being recognised in India or Pakistan as both are ruled by British minded(bastards)opportunists.British made it sure before leaving India that their stooge rule these countries and same people conspired with them to partition this land.
Many of my Taga?Tyagi muslims also left to Pakistan in 1947 and I salute them for the pain they suffered in partition by losing their huge properties & status.I invite all my friends to work for justice & pride of our masses and ignore the jingoism of national pride created by the bastards.
Regards,
Posted by: Munesh Tyagi at June 7, 2007 4:20 AM