Crumbling heritage: Once a proud Pathania stronghold, the thousand-year-old fort now pleads for revival before silence consumes its legacy

Raghav Guleria

High on a rugged cliff overlooking the Jabbar river in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district stands Nurpur Fort, a weathered sentinel of history. Built nearly a 1,000 years ago, this architectural marvel has witnessed dynasties rise and fall, conquests unfold and legends take shape.

Today, though its palace walls crumble and frescoes fade, the fort still whispers stories of courage, devotion and timeless artistry. Its intricate carvings of animals, deities, and royal figures remain as fragile echoes of its grandeur awaiting the restoration that could revive its legacy for generations to come.

Once called Dhameri, the town of Nurpur traces its royal lineage back to the 11th century, when Jeth Pal of the Tomar dynasty founded a kingdom here. The Pathania rulers who followed gave the region both prosperity and pride, none more than Raja Jagat Singh Pathania (1618–1646). His reign is still celebrated in folk ballads that praise his just rule:

History records that even the Mughal court could not resist Nurpur’s charm. Queen Nur Jahan, enchanted during a visit with Emperor Jahangir, expressed her desire to settle here. Local lore says that the clever Raja, unwilling to surrender his jewel of a valley, staged a crowd of goitre patients to convince her otherwise. The queen, alarmed, quickly changed her mind. The town, however, kept her name — Nurpur.

The fort’s walls are not only stone and mortar but also soaked in stories of resistance. Among them shines the tale of Wazir Ram Singh Pathania, a young prince who rose against British designs on Nurpur in 1848, nearly a decade before the First War of Independence. Betrayed during worship and imprisoned, he was sent to the dreaded ‘Kalapani’ and later to Rangoon. Tortured but unyielding, he died at just 24, a martyr for freedom.

His courage found voice in the ballads sung by Kaka Darves of Chowari, who, with his sarangi, stirred patriotic fervour by singing: “Koi Killa Pathania Zor Kadiya…” These songs, once carried on the winds of Nurpur, kept alive the flame of resistance in young hearts.

Tucked within Nurpur Fort lies one of its rarest jewels — the Sri Brijraj Swami Temple. What makes it extraordinary is its devotion not to Radha but to Meera Bai, alongside Lord Krishna. According to legend, the idol of Krishna, once worshipped by Meera herself, was brought from Chittor as a royal gift. Even today, its faded frescoes reflect a time when devotion and artistry were inseparable, binding the fort’s cultural and spiritual identity.

Today, the fort lies under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, though much of it stands neglected. Crumbling bastions and weatherworn frescoes bear testimony to time’s slow decay. The descendants of Nurpur’s royal lineage, including Durgeshwar Singh Pathania, call for urgent restoration. They envision light-and-sound shows, revival of folk ballads, and cultural events to breathe life back into its corridors.

Rajeshwar Pathania, descendant of Wazir Ram Singh, sees Nurpur Fort not only as a historic monument but as a self-sustaining citadel of resilience. His plea is simple: let the fort’s legacy of valour and devotion become a beacon for both heritage lovers and travellers.

If given a chance, Nurpur Fort could rise again — not merely as ruins to be remembered, but as a living monument where history, culture and pride converge.

The Bench is dealing with petitions filed by several homebuyers, who booked flats under subvention schemes in various housing projects in Noida, Greater Noida and Gurugram, and were allegedly forced by banks to pay EMIs despite not getting possession of flats

Satya Prakash Tribune News Service

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the CBI to register six more regular cases (RCs) to probe into the alleged unholy nexus between banks and builders to dupe homebuyers in real estate projects in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mohali and Prayagraj.

A three-judge Bench led by Justice Surya Kant allowed the CBI to proceed as per law after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati mentioned on behalf of the probe agency that it has completed preliminary enquiry (PE) in projects of various builders, except Supertech Ltd, falling outside Delhi-NCR in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mohali and Prayagraj.

The PE revealed commission of cognisable offences, Bhati said, adding the agency wanted to register six RCs and conduct search and seizure in the matter.

While allowing the CBI to go ahead with the registration of RCs, the Bench, which also included Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N Kotiswar Singh, asked the ASG to share relevant portions of the sealed cover CBI report with amicus curiae advocate Rajiv Jain.

Taking note of an “unholy nexus” between banks and builders resulting in duping of thousands of unsuspecting homebuyers in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court had on April 29 directed the CBI to register seven PEs against Supertech Ltd and other builders.

On July 22, it had allowed the CBI to register 22 cases to probe the “unholy nexus” between banks and developers to dupe homebuyers in Delhi-NCR and had granted six weeks to the agency to complete the PEs with regard to projects outside the NCR.

The Bench is dealing with petitions filed by several homebuyers, who booked flats under subvention schemes in various housing projects in Noida, Greater Noida and Gurugram, and were allegedly forced by banks to pay EMIs despite not getting possession of flats.

Under the subvention scheme, banks disburse the sanctioned amount directly to the accounts of builders, who are then required to pay EMIs on the sanctioned loan amount until flats are handed over to homebuyers. After builders started defaulting on EMIs to banks, as per the tripartite agreement, the banks sought EMIs from the homebuyers.

Earlier, taking note of a CBI report recommending registration of seven PEs, the Bench had directed the UP and Haryana DGPs to give a list of DSPs, inspectors and constables to the agency to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) for the probe.

It had also ordered the CEOs/administrators of Greater Noida Authority, Noida Authority, secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, RERA (UP) and RERA (Haryana), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the RBI to notify one nodal officer from among their senior-most officers to assist the SIT.

The Bench has been monitoring the progress of the probe on a monthly basis so that poor homebuyers “can be bailed out of the crisis”.

The amicus curiae had called Supertech Ltd the “main culprit” in defrauding homebuyers, whereas Corporation Bank advanced more than Rs 2,700 crore to builders through subvention schemes. Supertech Ltd alone had secured a loan amount of Rs 5,157.86 crore since 1998, he had submitted.

Will cut travel distance by 66 km; approval also for Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat

In a major boost for Punjab’s economy, the BJP-led NDA government on Tuesday announced two major railway projects for the border state–the long sought Rajpura-Mohali rail link and a new Vande Bharat train between Ferozepur and Delhi.

The Rajpura-Mohali link, the demand for which was first raised in Parliament in 1976, will reduce travel distance by approximately 66 km and considerably cut the commuting duration between Patiala and Chandigarh. Currently, trains from Ludhiana have to pass through Ambala to reach Chandigarh.

All 13 districts of the Malwa region will also be connected to Chandigarh, easing traffic on the existing Rajpura-Ambala rail route and shortening the Ambala-Morinda link. Among available options, this route also requires the least agricultural land acquisition, ensuring minimal impact on farming activities. The 18-km link will cost Rs 443 crore, with the Centre estimating a two-year completion timeline.

Vande Bharat train will, meanwhile, ensure daily service (barring Wednesday) connecting the border district of Ferozepur to the national capital. The train will cover 486 km through Ferozepur Cantt, Bathinda, Patiala and Delhi route in six hours and 40 minutes.

The twin announcements were made by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, with the Centre intimating Punjab about key sanctions.

Rajpura-Mohali link benefits

• Patiala commuters currently take Rajpura-Ambala rail route to reach Chandigarh; or travel via Rajpura, Sirhind, Morinda and Mohali
• New link to ease traffic on Rajpura-Ambala route
• Will directly connect Mohali rail link to Sirhind-Rajpura rail link at Sarai Banjara and save people’s detours
• Among available options, the new link requires the least agricultural land acquisition
• Will enable faster movement of agricultural produce; reduce transportation costs for industries
• Connects Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, shrine of Shaikh Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi, Haveli of Todar Mal and Sanghol Museum

He said majority land to be acquired for the link did not fall in agricultural zones. “The Centre will offer adequate compensation. We urge farmer unions to help us realise the crucial project in time. It is a 50-year-old demand,” Bittu said, adding that while two years was the estimated project timeline, the Centre hoped to “definitely complete it within three years”.

The demand for the Rajpura-Mohali rail link was first made by Congress MPs Narain Chand Prashar and Raghunandan Lal in the Lok Sabha in March 1976.

The new Vande Bharat train will connect Ferozepur, Faridkot, Bathinda, Dhuri (CM Mann’s home segment), Patiala, Ambala Cantt, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Delhi. Asked when the Vande Bharat train will be operational, Bittu said, “Within days.”

“PM Narendra Modi normally tries to flag off projects of great importance himself. The train will be flagged off within days,” Bittu told this correspondent, indicating a possible flag-off (physical or virtual) by the PM himself.

Vaishnaw said the BJP government had raised the rail budget for Punjab around 25 times from Rs 225 crore between 2009 and 2014 to Rs 5,421 crore in 2025-26.

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Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged brief small arms fire on September 20, 2025, along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district. The firing started around 6:15 pm and continued intermittently for about an hour before ceasing, with no reported injuries on either side.

Army sources emphasised that this incident did not amount to a ceasefire violation, characterizing it as a limited and mutual exchange of fire rather than a full escalation. The Indian Army has not yet issued an official statement on this exchange.

This skirmish comes months after Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7, 2025, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. During Operation Sindoor, India targeted Pakistani terror infrastructure, destroying several airbases and terror launch pads, while incurring minimal damage itself. The four-day conflict concluded quickly with a ceasefire agreement reached on May 10, 2025, brokered with significant involvement by the United States among other international actors.

Since May, there have been occasional tensions and reported ceasefire violation claims, but the Indian Army has consistently denied any unprovoked firing by Pakistan, as evidenced by official clarifications issued for reports in August 2025 regarding ceasefire breaches in the Poonch region.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh recently stated that Operation Sindoor ended promptly as soon as its anti-terrorism objectives were met, emphasizing that prolonging conflict would impose a disproportionate cost. He explained that the operation achieved its goal of striking terror infrastructure and thus terminating the conflict early was a strategic decision: “Why should we carry on? Because any conflict has a lot of price which has to be paid”.

The brief exchange of fire on September 20 does not signal a major escalation but remains a localized, controlled incident within the ongoing tense but largely stable ceasefire environment established after Operation Sindoor in May 2025.

Based On India Today Report

The Tribune Editorial: Fought during the 1965 war in the Khemkaran sector of Punjab, this clash is remembered as one of the largest tank battles since World War II.

HE opening of Punjab’s first military heritage site at Asal Uttar is a fitting tribute to a decisive moment in India’s history. Fought from September 8 to 10, 1965, in the Khemkaran sector of Punjab, this clash is remembered as one of the largest tank battles since World War II

The small village of Asal Uttar in Punjab, meaning ‘a befitting reply,’ witnessed an unparalleled display of valour by Indian troops against the Pakistani forces. This clash in Punjab thwarted Pakistan’s objective to seize Jammu and Kashmir and posed a threat to Delhi. Military historians view it as a pivotal moment in the conflict. Despite being heavily outnumbered and equipped with vintage tanks, our forces successfully crushed the enemy.

Against the backdrop of persistent attempts by Pakistan to annex Jammu and Kashmir, the 1965 war emerged as a response to India’s recovery from the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The conflict unfolded swiftly, with Pakistani forces launching “Op Desert Hawk” attacks in the Rann of Kutch and infiltrating Kashmir.

Captured American Made Pakistani Patton Tank, Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Pakistan’s two-phase strategy began with unrest in Kashmir, leading to “Op Gibraltar” in August 1965. Encouraged by China, infiltrators and the Pak Army sought to exploit the perceived discontent in the region. This was followed by “Op Grand Slam,” an attempt by the Pak Army to cross the international border.

Amid this tumult, the Battle Group of the Pakistan Army, comprising the 1st Armoured Division and 11th Infantry Division, crossed the International Border and captured the Indian town of Khem Karan. The gravity of the situation prompted the GOC, 4 Mountain Division, to order a strategic retreat, assuming a ‘Horse Shoe’ shaped defensive position with Asal Uttar, a few kilometres away from Khemkaran, as its focal point.

India 1965 War: Asal Uttar Map, Image Courtesy: Indian Defence Academy

The Indian Army’s 18 RAJPUTANA RIFLES, 1/9 GORKHA RIFLES, and 4 GRENADIERS covered three axes to Khem Karan, providing depth to 1/9 Gorkha Rifles. In a well-planned tactical move, Indian troops breached the Rohi Canal at night, flooding the sugarcane fields. The following morning, the Pakistani tanks, primarily M47 and M48 Patton tanks, were lured into the trap set by the Indian defence.

As the marshy terrain slowed down the Pakistani tanks, many of which got stuck in the mud, the Indian Army’s 9 DECCAN HORSE, equipped with Shermans, engaged them with impunity, knocking off 11 Pakistani tanks. In total, ninety-seven Pakistani Patton’s, Shermans, and Chaffee’s were destroyed or captured, while the Indian Army lost only 10 tanks.

Despite a successful incursion by two Patton tanks, the Indian defence, cleverly positioned amidst crops, has destroyed 11 enemy tanks. The 4th Grenadiers, including the brave Company Quarter Master Havaldar Abdul Hamid, played a pivotal role, destroying four tanks and turning the tide. Havaldar Abdul Hamid, later awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his unmatched bravery during the Battle of Asal Uttar, was the soldier who took on advanced Patton tanks with his ordinary anti-tank jeep. On September 9, Hamid had destroyed two Patton tanks with the help of his jeep and had essentially become an eyesore for Pakistani soldiers.

On the third day, September 10th, however, Pakistan gained ground, breaching Indian defence lines. At 0800 hours, a battalion of Pakistani Armor supported by Patton tanks attacked the 4th Grenadier positions but was unable to locate the battalion’s defences. Nevertheless, they launched an intense artillery bombardment to soften the target, and by 0900 hours, the enemy tanks had penetrated the forward company positions. Hamid knew that it would all be over if the tanks weren’t taken care of. In a melee, Hamid saw a group of Patton’s heading toward the battalion defences. Without caring for his life, he moved out of the flank with his gun mounted on a jeep. Heavy shelling didn’t deter him, and he continued firing, knocking out three Patton tanks back-to-back before the fourth one killed him.

Abdul Hamid, The Patton Killer Hero of the Battle of Asal Uttar Havaldar Abdul Hamid, later won a Param Vir Chakra for his valour and courage Abdul Hamid’s valiant efforts delayed the enemy’s advance, but he ultimately sacrificed his life to destroy two more tanks in a face-off.

Soldier Abdul Hamid 2000 Stamp of India, Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Simultaneously, Pakistani forces attempting to retreat towards the west faced fierce opposition from Indian cavalry and the Deccan Horse tanks, resulting in their entrapment. General Nasir was injured, and Brigadier Shami, the artillery commander, lost his life, signalling the end of Pakistan’s Khemka ran invasion.

The seventeen-day war caused thousands of casualties on both sides and witnessed the largest engagement of armoured vehicles and the largest tank battle since World War II. Hostilities between the two countries ended after a ceasefire was declared through UNSC Resolution 211 following a diplomatic intervention by the Soviet Union and the United States and the subsequent issuance of the Tashkent Declaration. Much of the war was fought by the countries’ land forces in Kashmir and along the border between India and Pakistan. This war saw the largest amassing of troops in Kashmir since the Partition of India in 1947, a number that was overshadowed only during the 2001–2002 military standoff between India and Pakistan.

The remnants of the destroyed tanks stood as a testament to Pakistan’s defeat, losing over 97 tanks, including 72 Patton tanks, leading to the establishment of Patton Nagar, commonly referred to as the graveyard of Patton tanks.

In the humble village of Assal-Uttar, amidst the carnage, the Indian Army showcased unwavering courage, proving that bravery prevails even in the face of adversity. Thus, on 8th September annually, commemorated as Asal Uttar Day, it marks the Battle Honour Day of Battalion 9 JAK Rifles (Rudra Shib Nabh), a crucial force in saving Khemkaran. After 59 years, it remains essential to remind future generations of the heroic valour displayed in this significant tank battle.

The indomitable spirit of Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, posthumously honoured with the Param Vir Chakra, is synonymous with the Battle of Asal Uttar. Additionally, the bravery of Lt Teja Singh Dhadwal, later Colonel, in the Rohi Nala battle, where he became the first Vir Chakra recipient of the 4 Mtn Division, further adds to the rich tapestry of heroism woven during this period.

The poignant reminder of this historic conflict is etched in the form of a grave and a war memorial located on the outskirts of Chima Village, along the Khemkaran-Bhikkiwind road in Tarn Taran district, Punjab. The Army’s mini-documentary on Abdul Hamid aptly categorizes the Grenadiers.

by Nilesh Kunwar

A Distraught Field Marshal

Things don’t seem to be going too well for the recently promoted Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. For starters, his promotion came about thanks to an illusion of Pakistan’s spectacular victory during the four-day-long Indo-Pak conflagrations in May conjured by the Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

However, since ISPR’s narrative was a generous mix of brazen lies, disinformation and omissions, it was bound to crumble under the sheer weight of physical evidence in terms of extensive damage caused to Pakistani defence facilities and terrorist assets. One such example: though the Pakistan air force (PAF) spokesperson emphatically claimed that the Nur Khan air base had suffered minimal damage, this strategic defence facility was hit so badly that even after four months it still remains non operational.

But this is not the Field Marshal’s only worry.

A significant increase in the intensity and frequency of attacks on security forces by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as well as armed groups in Balochistan has turned both these provinces into veritable battlefields. Resultantly, there’s an inordinate increase in casualties being suffered by the security forces. The disquieting part is that despite the use of overwhelming brute force by the Pakistan army, cessation of hostilities in the near future seems unlikely.

Arousing Emotions

As has been its wont, Rawalpindi continues to trivialise the burgeoning crises in KP and Balochistan in an attempt to conceal the Pakistan army’s humongous military failure in these two provinces. It’s doing this by under-reporting casualty data as well as diverting public opinion by falling back on the time tested stratagem of arousing anti-India sentiments amongst the masses in Pakistan by declaring that TTP and armed Baloch groups are proxies being sponsored by New Delhi .

Even though no credible evidence has been provided to support this allegation, the very mention of Indian involvement in KP and Balochistan is enough to mobilise public opinion in favour of the Pakistan army. And with Field Marshal Munir resurrecting the two nation theory by alleging that there was an existential incompatibility between Hindus and Muslims, even an honest attempt to put the army’s professional performance under scrutiny becomes an unpatriotic act.

Field Marshal Munir has attempted to further insulate his army’s professional shortcomings in dealing with TTP by his penchant for invoking Islamic edicts. To project TTP as an anti-Islamic entity, he has decreed that this group would henceforth be referred to as Fitna al Khwarij (a phrase used for the Khwarij Islamic sect responsible for the first civil war (Fitna) in the Islamic community).

Consequently TTP terrorists are now called “Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij” by Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). Thus besides being portrayed as a proxy of Pakistan’s arch enemy Indian, TTP is also being projected as an anti-Islamic group that (as per Field Marshal Munir’s own Quranic interpretation), “should be executed, hanged, or exiled from the land.”

Even though armed Baloch groups are not pursuing any religious agenda and are fighting solely against the unlawful occupation of their land and indiscriminate exploitation its resources by Pakistan, the Field Marshal has nevertheless officially named these groups Fitna al Hindustan in an attempt to depict them as an Indian proxy with an anti-Islamic character.

Grand Declarations And Ridiculous Threats

Field Marshal Munir has been breathing fire while addressing his countrymen- both within the country as well as those living abroad. In April, he summarily dismissed the serious security threat in Balochistan by boasting that “We will beat the hell out of these terrorists very soon …you think, these 1500 terrorists belonging to BLA, BLF and BRA, etc, can take away Balochistan from us … (sic)”

Five months have since elapsed but one finds that despite massive deployment of soldiers supported by heavy artillery, drones, armed helicopters and even fighter jets, armed Baloch groups continue to hold sway in several districts and openly challenge the government’s writ with impunity. Besides attacking military targets at will, they are frequently blocking roads by establishing check posts in broad daylight and even taking over temporary control of cities after disarming the para military forces and local police.

The Pakistan army has also unleashed a reign of terror in an attempt to terrorise the Baloch people into submission. While enforced disappearances as well as extra judicial killing of innocent people are commonplace, those protesting peacefully against abduction and illegal confinement of their family members are being unduly harassed by the authorities.

Even the leadership of human rights movements like Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) hasn’t been spared and many including BYC leader Mahrang Baloch, who in 2024 figured the BBC’s 100 list as well as in Time magazine’s TIME 100 Next list for shaping the future of politics, have been incarcerated on trumped up sedition charges.

However, these brute measures have failed to break the determination and resolve of the persecuted Baloch people. This is definitely a reason of serious concern for Rawalpindi and more for the Field Marshal who boasts about beating the hell out of the Baloch armed groups.

Prognosis

Field Marshal Munir’s recent utterances like his coarse talk about wrecking the “shining Indian Mercedes” with “dump truck full of gravel” (Pakistan), and the barefaced “If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us” nuclear threat smacks of extraordinary arrogance. Such behaviour is called superiority complex, a term used to describe an attitude of superiority which conceals actual feelings of inferiority and failure.

As mentioned earlier, Field Marshal Munir has accused New Delhi of sponsoring TTP and armed Baloch groups to wage proxy war and destabilise Pakistan as a state policy to divert public attention from Pakistan army’s failure to rein-in TTP and the various armed groups in Balochistan. Since the public largely believes this accusation, Pakistan based terrorist groups have started asking as to why isn’t the Field Marshal taking punitive military action against India?

In a country that’s fed 24X7 with anti-India propaganda and where Hinduphobia is institutionalised (remember Field Marshal Munir’s “Hindus are different from Muslims in every way” remark?) this demand has the potential of gaining widespread public support.

Furthermore, Field Marshal Munir has made his countrymen believe that the Pakistani armed forces can easily destroy India as well as ensure that no harm comes to Pakistan. In the regard, readers would recall his pretentious “We’ll start from India’s East, where they have located their most valuable resources, and then move westwards” remark during the Tampa dinner in Florida

Since TTP and armed Baloch groups have no sanctuaries on Indian soil, the only form of the so-called retribution that Rawalpindi can undertake is to use its sponsored terrorists groups to commit some heinous act of terrorism. However, after being pummelled mercilessly for having masterminded the April 22 Pahalgam attack, only a dimwit would dare repeat any such action.

However, while his threat of taking down half the world if Pakistan is going down is a bit too far-fetched, if Field Marshal Munir feels that he’s going down (and with the way events are unfolding, this is a distinct possibility), then he’ll definitely take down half of Pakistan with himself.

So, while security forces in J&K need to maintain an enhanced state of vigilance against terrorist attacks, New Delhi too needs to be ready to inflict exemplary punishment on Pakistan and its proxies should Rawalpindi dare to cross the red line.

Nilesh Kunwar is a retired Indian Army Officer who has served in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. He is a keen ‘Kashmir-Watcher,’ and after retirement is pursuing his favourite hobby of writing for newspapers, journals and think-tanks. Views expressed above are the author’s own