From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pathania is the name of a branch of the Tomara clan of Chandravanshi rajputs. It is one of the ruling Clans of India. They mostly live in and around Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu in north India. This clan has to its credit three Maha Vir Chakra winners in the Indian Army. This clan has also won many galantry awards while serving in the British army of India.

About the Book (Twarikh Rajgan-E-Pathania-E-Nurpur, Zila Kangra (History of Pathania Rajas of Nurpur, District Kangra) by Mian Rughnath Singh Pathania:

Written in 1904 A.D., the book documents seven hundred year's history of the Pathania royal house of Nurpur from the year 1138 A.D. to 1885 A.D. The author Mian Rughnath Singh Pathania of Rey, a small village in the vicinity of Indora in District Kangra of Himachal Pradesh, traces the origin of the Pathania Rajputs to the Tomara (Tanwar, Tuar) Dynasty of Delhi. Rana Jethpal (1183-1208 A.D.), the younger brother of Anang Pal III of Delhi, came to Jallandhar Daob to carve out a territory for himself. Since he defeated Kuzbak Khan, the Afghan Governor of Pathankot and became master of the Fort and the town, he came to be known as Pathania instead of a Tanwar Rajput.

The author has traced the origin of the Pathania dynasty of Nurpur to the Pandavas of Mahabharata with the help of a calendar from King Yudhishtir to Anang Pal III of Delhi. The book was originally written in mixed persianized Urdu and devnagari, and the english version was prepared by Mr. AN Walia.

The English version of the book was first published in 2004 by the Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla 171 009 Himachal Pradesh, India.

The Kingdom lasted for about eight centuries with its capital at Nurpur, now in Kangra district, all through their glorious history the Pathania clan rebelled against the foreign invaders, both Muslims and the British. Although sometimes the Pathania Kings held the high office's of Generals known as MANSABDARS ( Army Commander, reserved for Hindu and Muslim Princes of note) in the Mughal military and captured many a kigdom for the Mughal Emperor, yet time and again they rebelled against far more outnumbering forces of the Mughal's and other foreign invaders.

Some important Forts/Castles of the Clan:

NURPUR FORT: Built in the 11th century. It was the primary residence of the royal family.

SHAHPURKANDI FORT: It was built around 1505 A.D. by Raja JASPAL SINGH PATHANIA. It was situated in the capital of the Kingdom.

KOTLA FORT: It is situated in the interiors of Kangra. It was commanded by a member of the clan in submission to the King.

TARAGARH FORT: It is situated in the interiors of the Kingdom. legend has it that this fortress has never been captured by anyone.

The last battle was fought in the mid-19th century against the British by the great Ram Singh Pathania for his King who was still a minor. After fighting a Guerilla war against the British, he made the British governor assemble a considerable force on the dhaula dhar mountains against him. Ram Singh Pathania defeated the British twice in pitched battles. The British had to use other means to capture this Brave Rajput Prince, and soon he was captured while he was praying on the banks of the Ravi river without his weapons, near the Shahpurkandi Fortress, and sent to Rangoon (Burma), where he is said to have died of natural causes, he was 23!! The Kingdom was annexed by the British soon after this.

Kunwar Ram Singh Pathania was the first freedom fighter of India, who stood against the British might and managed to defeat them, but sadly not many people know about him outside his state. He has become a legend not beacause of his famous clan name, but for his valor and for the sacrifice he made for his king and country.

Every year a famous fair honoring his name is held in the dhaula dhar ranges of Himachal Pradesh, where the Armour and Sword of the Lionheart Kunwar Ram Singh Pathania is displayed.