Not so long ago

"कोई किल्हा पथानिया जोर लडा

कोई बीटा बज्ज़ीर द ख़ूब लडा"

Meaning alone fighter Pathania, son of bazir fought with bravery.

In these lyrics of folk tales the legend of Ram Singh Pathania's is remembered as hero of first Rising against the British Empire. This 24 old brave young man along with his fistful of colleagues shook the British empire in 1846.Ram Singh Pathania's was born to Shayam Singh bazir of Nurpur state ( in himachal Pradesh) on 10 April 1824.

Because of English-Sikh treaty in 1846 most of himachals states came under direct control of English. During this time Nurpurs king Vir Singh died leaving his 10 year old son as the new king; taking advantage of this British in return of five thousand took away all the rights of king.

Ram Singh Pathania's could not take this turn of events in his stride so he secretly formed a small but efficient army. When the second english-sikh war broke out Pathania's along with his small troops looted mammon cant on the eve of 15 August 1846 and then attacked shahakundi fort. Because of this unexpected attack British ran away. On the morning of 15 august Pathania's called for the uprooting of British from Nurpur and declared 10 year old Jasvant as king and himself the bazir of the state. Seeing this many hill states declared their independence. Stirred by this British attacked but brave Pathania's fought with British at "Dalle ki dhar". After many days of fierce battle British had to retreat.

One of the relatives, leftituent Jhon peel of Queen Victoria hoping of good words from Queen attacked Pathania's only to be killed along with his body guards. Grave of John peel at “dalle ki dhar" is evidence of Pathannia’s Bravery. But one day Pathania was captured when Pathania was busy in his prayers, because of one traitor and thereafter sent to Rangoon. In Rangoon on 17 August of 1849 after the tortures of British he left this world for his motherland outside his motherland.

The question here does not arise who was the first freedom fighter of India but do we care about our independence or not. Watching RDB in multiplexes is surely not going to help anybody especially those we encounter daily at traffic lights. Everybody can do something how and when depends on the person.