Pran Sukh Yadav

Greatest Commander Pran Sukh Sahib

Pran Sukh Yadav (1802-1888) was aa military commander from Behror in Alwar district of Rajasthan which was part of Ahirwal region and under the control of Ahir ruler of Rewari (before 1803 after that given by EIC to Alwar princely state). He was a revolutionary of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and as a close friend of Hari Singh Nalwa and the --Punjab ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Later during the First Rebellion of India in 1857 he fought along with Rao Tula Ram of Rewari against Britishers in Battle of Nasibpur.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh used the word "रणबांकुरे" for Pransukh Yadav. He further stated that Pransukh shone like the sun, had a long and fine moustache and beard as well, and has a huge body of 7.5" foot and the chest span was 38 fingers i.e. 56 inches and the great devotee of Chamunda and Mahadev.

In his early career he trained Sikh Khalsa Army. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, he fought in both the First and Second Anglo-Sikh wars, due to his hatred towards Britishers. He also started giving military training to the farmers of Ahirwal Region.

Early Life of Pran Sukh Yadav

Pran Sukh's father was the friend of Hari Singh Nalwa. His father was fighting in Bengal war at the time of his birth. At the age of 5, under the supervision of his father, he learned the art of war as well as making efficient war strategies. It was the gift of his father's education and knowledge that he became the Army Chief of Hari Singh Nalwa's army at the young age of seventeen.

Family

Pran Sukh Yadav descendants include the Royal family of Rao Jai Dayal Yadav, Village Nihalpura, Neemrana. One of his great grandsons, Dev Vrat Yadav is an Eminent Lawyer of Rajasthan High Court. After merging the princely state in Independent India, Rao Jai Dayal Yadav developed the Ahirwal region and played a role in bringing western education facilities to grassroots level.

Conflict with Kashmiri Muslim

Pran Sukh went out alone to roam around in Nainikhad (then Punjab), Himachal Pradesh in his father's absence. Nainikhad is very close village to Kashmir. Pransukh saw the forest, far from the village. On the way to the forest, he saw a military cantonment who asked him the reason for coming to the forest.

Before Pransukh understand something, the Muslim commander with his thirty soldiers attacked on Pran Sukh. With the knowledge of his weapon given by his father, he immediately took charge and killed all thirty soldiers. After seeing the fight of Pran Sahib with the soldiers, the commander starts running. Pransukh followed him and ath the end he threw spear and the spear passed through his chest and stucked in the trunck of the tree.

Pransukh Sahib was merely twelve years old when he committed the massacre.

Battle of Pakhli

Now Pransukh ji turned 17, and the cruelty of Kashmiri muslim again started rising up, sikh empire also fighting from one end. As sahib's father was a friend of Nalwa. He told Nalwa to send the chieftains of all warlike Yadav bases of Ahirwal along with Pran Sukh to help Sikh in the war from another end for the welfare of the country.

So, the time came to attack on Muslim ruler ruling Kashmir. Hari Singh Nalwa appointed Pransukh Sahib as his commander.

Pransukh, who was leading the army of Yadavs and Sikhs on the front, waved sword in creepy manner that the opposing camp was already went back. After the war, many small Kashmiri princely states joined Nalwa.

After this war the door of Sikh empire opened to rule over Afghanistan and Iran.

First Anglo Sikh war

Pransukh ji, along with a group of all the warlike warriors of Ahirwal bravely opposed the British army in both the Anglo-Sikh wars of India. The first war was in his name only, in which, seeing his bravery, the Empress of London offered him to become her commander in Asia which he refused. Even after the death of Sher-e-Punjab, Pransukh Sahib continued fighting against Britishers in the battlefield.

Ranjit Singh had said in his praise that:- When we thinking about implementing a strategy till then Pransukh had killed more than a hundred soldiers alone." In his commanding rule under Nalwa, when soldiers and commander of other armies hears that Yadav is in the battlefield, many soldiers fled. Nalwa in his praise said:- "If soldiers start running away from the battlefield during the war then their might be the Pran Sukh in the field too".

In first Anglo-Sikh war, the bravery shown by Pran Sukh Yadav by leading a battalion of only 6 thousand soldiers against 25 thousand soldiers and became immortals in annals of history.

Revolt of 1857

In the battle of Nasibpur in 1857, Rao Tularam and Rao Jaitsi Singh (descendent of Rao Ajaypal Singh of Narnaul) along with Yadav fought with British Army at Nasibpur and then went to Russia to seek military help but died on the way.

On knowing about the mutiny in Erinpura Regiment, Pran Sukh Yadav made contact with the commanders of Jodhpur legion and considered it as an appropriate time to fight with British Army at Narnaul. He was a great military strategist and fought valiantly and was the one who killed Col. Gerrard with his Minie rifle, which aiming at Gerrard from the opposite bank of rivulet where battle was going on, but quickly reloaded the rifle and again shot at Gerrard, who was the only person in redcoat as rest of his men were in Khakee, this time he got his shot right and thus killed Gerrard at Narnaul. Although, Indians lost the battle and he along with his other companion went into hiding for nearly next two-three years but again came back and settled at his native village Nihalpura, now in Alwar of Rajasthan and became a follower of Arya Samaj in his last years.

Famous Battles

1. Battle of Pakhli
2. First Anglo-Sikh War
3. Second Anglo-Sikh War
4. Battle of Mirpur
5. Battle of Rajouri
6. Battle of Baramula
7. Battle of Dhamtaur
8. Battle of Gandgarh
9. Battle of Jamrud
10. Battle of Nasibpur
11. Siege of Mankera