Veer Singh Dillon - Legacy

Legacy

Almost every generation of Veer Singh's family made an impact on history of India. The army of Jallaha in Gurdaspore was the only army which sided with the Indian rebels in 1857. Subsequently, when the empire fell into the hands of the British throne, the royals of Britons did not want to lose the support of the Sikhs who by now had only the Jallaha as their leader. So in 1858 when the British Crown was ruling over India let the Jallha retain his title and position he enjoyed earlier thus avoided trouble in Punjab. But under the treaty the army of the Jallha would now consist of Royal British officers who later plagued the Sikh army. The army of Jallaha was officially included into the Royal British Forces in 1862 as the "The Royal Sikh Infantry" and "The Sikh Cavalry," (now called the sikh regiment, part of the army of the Republic of India.) The Jallah was also officially given The Title of The "Duke of Gurdaspore" but the Jallaha preferred retaining Jallaha as his title so that he would be closer to his people. The Jallaha also refused British Army Rank of a General for himself.

He also retained the uniform for his forces, and the disc sword was retained as a part of the uniform. He urged the British officers of his forces also to wear the saffron colours on their uniform (which is still the uniform of the Sikh Regiment and the Disc sword is also still a ceremonial uniform of the Sikh Regiment in India. Veer Singh was a senior member of Ranjit's court. His sons posed a tough challenge to the British as they struggled to annex the Punjab. The armies of the Jallaha of Gurdaspore (now under the son of Veer Singh) were not defeated due to their strong defense. But later the British signed a treaty with the ruler in which his areas would also come under the British empire but Jallaha would still remain the supreme commander of the forces and also the chief administrator of the area.

The sons of Jallaha became a part of the British Forces but the later generations of the Jallaha were not content with the British rule did not serve the British in the armies, more famously Devinder Singh Jallah Gurdaspuriah formed an alliance with Subash Chandra Bose and raised a Sikh regiment in the unofficial Indian National Army and named it Maharaja Ranjit Singh Regiment after his Grandfather's King's name. Incidentally this regiment later was merged into the Sikh regiment of the Indian Army which was raised by Devinder Singh's great grandfather. After this mutainy by Devinder Singh, the official title awarded by the British was reversed. But the people of Gurdaspore and its neighbouring areas were loyal to the Jallaha. Thus after this act by the British, most of the Royal Sikh Regiment walked out of the army and protected the Jallaha and his family. This is one reason why the British never could take control of the official residence of the Jallaha, in fear of death by the very own men they trained. But this act greratly helped the Indian freedom movement. Firstly it weakened the British forces, and secondly it put many of trained men on the Indian side of the conflict.

After independence from the British was reached, the Jallaha never involved themselves in politics, and also never asked for the official declaration of their title. The descendants of Veer Singh still live in Gurdaspore, (Gurdaspur) and are sill referred to as Jallaha Gurdaspuriaha, with the title being handed down by the people of Gurdaspur to the first of them in the generation. The Jallahas still serve in the armed forces in India and form a part of the elite Regiments of the Army of the Republic Of India. They are considered to be masters of the martial art of Gatka. The People of Gurdaspore(Gurdaspur) consider them as the saviours of their land and honour.