THE concept and design of memorial obelisks, as are seen at different places in South Asia, originally come from Egypt. But the historical significance of the one at the Christian Graveyard in the village of Chillianwallah lies closer to home.
Turn west from Kharian, on the Grand Trunk Road and the way leads to Chillianwallah — a historic village that played an important role in shaping the history. The village was the battleground where the British and Sikh forces fought one of the most crucial encounters in 1849.
The battle fought here in the fields of Chillianwallah was the turning point for the British. Had the Sikhs been victorious on January 13, 1849, it is difficult to see how the British could have sustained their hold over the subcontinent. However, both the British and the Sikhs consider Chillianwallah as their victory.
Sikh historians consider it a Sikh victory because they broke the British force as well as the myth that the Europeans were invincible. The British retreat is a fact acknowledged by both the sides. Still, had the Sikhs realized their advantage and continued the battle, after the fighting stopped at night, they would have overrun the British who were exhausted, seriously depleted and in unfamiliar terrain.
The British force had suffered heavy casualties and six of their regiments lost standards at the battle. Nature came to their aid and heavy rainfall prevented the Sikhs from crossing the suddenly inundated field and flooded irrigation drains. This gave the British to pick themselves up, regroup and retreat in order.
The Sikhs had little, if any, superiority to the British force of 13,000. The artillery was about equal. The British handling of their artillery was much efficient than that of their opponents and this was a major winning factor in all the battles.
The Sikhs, led by Sher Singh Attariwala, were deserted by some of their allies such as the Rohillas, and the Dogras under Colonel Stienbach, a former employee of the Sikh government, who turned coat to fight for the British.
Lord Gough, an old general led the British forces. He was sacked despite the victories because of the high casualties and a near defeat. The list of military disasters which the British suffered in India is long. But most of these were rationalized by British military historians by highlighting situational factors, which made British defeat certain and inevitable. Also, in many cases, the defeat was due to the circumstances involving overwhelming numerical inferiority, excessive battle exhaustion, adverse weather and unfamiliar terrain.
The Battle of Chillianwallah is, however, one odd exception and stands out as an encounter in which the British failed to defeat their opponents. Following a succession of military victories 1757, it was assumed that no native subcontinental army whether from India, Nepal or Afghanistan, could stand a determined bayonet charge by the “Red Coats”.
Thus once the British suffered a rude reverse accompanied by heavy attrition despite having all the advantages, opinion changed. Which is why Chillianwallah stands out as a battle, that changed Indian perceptions about British military effectiveness.
The damage done at Chillianwallah to the prestige of British force was enormous. It played a major role in changing Indian attitudes about the British. But the defeat was soon forgotten enough and Lord Gough again became a hero, thanks to ‘angling’ by the British military historians.
Thirty-nine days later, the Battle of Gujrat was fought. The Sikhs lost. Those who were captured were killed; those who still refused to surrender were chased and killed.
After Gujrat, the vast area passed from the successors of Ranjit Singh to the sons of John Company. And ten years later, to the imperial Crown.
Today nothing much is left of history in Chillianwallah. The only sign right on the Kharian-Mandi Bahauddin-Sargodha Road is a British cemetery called Gora Kabristan. Under the clump of shady trees are some fading graves of British soldiers, a few headstones and a cross. The obelisk in memory of those British who were killed in the Battle, stands tall in the center of graveyard with citation written in English and other local languages.
The Chillianwallah Memorial Obelisk is in good condition. The boundary wall of the cemetery is falling apart and at some places it has already disappeared. The village children are seen playing Gulli Danda, near the parameter. Even the presence of the soldiers resting in the graveyard, helpless and neglected, far removed from the noisy haunts of the past, is not felt.
Nearby, there is a very old tree, certainly older than the graveyard, where busses plying on the route stop and from where villagers, oblivious of the past history of the place, board the overloaded busses to go to the town for exchanging commodities. The Union Council Chillianwallah can hardly be expected to take care of the historic graveyard. Maybe some one should think of preserving the past relic. It is part of our history.
THE concept and design of memorial obelisks, as are seen at different places in South Asia, originally come from Egypt. But the historical significance of the one at the Christian Graveyard in the village of Chillianwallah lies closer to home.
