Wednesday, August 25, 2010

BALBHADRA KUNWAR:-

Balbhadra Kunwar was a brave warrior of Nepal like Bhakti Thapa and Amar singh Thapa.

During the Anglo –Nepal war, Balbhadra Kunwar was in charge of Khalanga Fort. It was also called Nalapani. He had about 600 troops including women, children and aged people whereas the British had 3500 strong troops. A night before the declaration of war, the British General Gillespie had sent a letter to Balbhadra asking him to surrender. In reply he tore the letter and said, “ I shall meet your General in the battlefield “.

The very next day the British troops fired cannon balls at the fort. In reply, the Nepali troops counter attacked with bullets, arrows and rocks. Many British troops including to commanders Ellis and Gillespie were killed in the battlefield. The British troops could not face the Nepali attack and they returned to Dehradun.

The British troops attacked the fort for the second time with full preparation. They stopped the water supply to the fort and kept it surrounded. Due to lack of food and water, women and children died on after another. Balbhadra had no alternatives. He came out with the remaining troops and moved to Jeetgarh. He did not surrender. The British were very impressed with the bravery of Balbhadra. In his memory they erected a stone monument in the battlefield of Nalapani with an inscription as follows: “ This is inscribed as a tribute and respect for our adversary, Bulbudder, Commander of the Fort and his brave Gurkhas” .

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