#Dilsehimachali #blog-2
#50yearsofhimachalpradeshstatehood

Hills stood divided

The resistance of 80 Gorkha guards at Kasauli sprang to significant tangling in my lands. Himachal Pradesh stood divided in support and against the British. It was the dependable Rajas versus the insurgent soldiers.
Indian soldiers stationed in the hill regions craved to fight the British. Converse to the hill chiefs, who were resolute in illustrating their aid to the English men.

Rumour hit Shimla

A rumour made rounds that the dissident soldiers from Kasauli, along with the ones in Juthog, will be on their way to pillage Shimla.
On the one hand, this took the curtain off the artificial British bravery. While on the other it also brought in light the British darlings in the Hill state.
‘Miyan Ratan Singh’, uncle of Raja of Mandi, was endowed with the charge of instant redressal of mutined soldiers.
Another British patriot was Raja of ‘Keonthal’.He sped to their rescue and secured them at his palace in Shimla and Junga. Thakurs of Koti and Balsal state also scored positions in the file of British tory.
Many Britishers took cover in the cantonment towns of Kasauli, Dagshai and Subathu.

Divide and rule

Hill chiefs were a disoriented pack in Himachal. Many stood up to fight against the British, while Others had all hearts for them. They backed the Englishmen when the mutiny broke in my Hill ranges.

The exercises did not go unnoticed. The Hill Chiefs were wholeheartedly praised by the British. Raja Hari Singh of Bilaspur received a salutation of eleven guns. He was also endowed with gifts and Khillat.

It was an unreal time in Himachal Pradesh. Kangra valley was even with the Britishers. At this time, the only Raja who stood the test of time was ‘Raja Shamsher Singh’ of Bushahar. He dared to refuse his support and aid to the Britishers.
Agitated with his behavior, the British wanted to discipline him, but the troops’ lack made it difficult.
Around August in 1857, the spark of #mutiny was crushed and soiled.