Intense battle ensued in the Thaeri Hills. Pathans held the high ground while a small force of brave Akali soldiers, under the command of and advancing against the enemy Singh Akali, was advancing uphill. Akalis were at the bottom of the hill while Pathans were on top. Every effort of Akalis seems to be unsuccessful against the enemy force. The enemy forces heavily outnumbered the Sikhs. Nevertheless, the brave sons of Guru Gobind Singh did not lose faith. Working against all odds and facing the rain of enemy bullets, stones, and arrows, the brave Akalis persistently attempted to climb the hill.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was to participate in the battle along with the Sikhs, had not reach from Lahore so far. Meanwhile, the Pathans had distributed pamphlets, declaring Jihad (holy war against the Sikhs), and successfully turned the sentiments of the local population against the Sikhs. As a result, the locals sided with the Pathans in large numbers. On the other hand, the Sikhs bravely faced the enemy. Huge numbers among the enemy forces did not scare the small force of Sikhs. Whereas the Pathans understood this to be a battle for their life or death, it was not any less significant for the Sikhs. The fate of entire Sikh Raaj was in balance. Therefore the Sikhs, even in small numbers, were advancing against the enemy while clutching their lives in their palms. However, it seems that even fate had betrayed them today and would not side with them.
Brave Akali Phoola Singh is right in front leading and encouraging his Sikhs with jaekaras - 'Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal.' Such bold moves of their Jathedar are quite encouraging and constantly rejuvenating their spirits to face the enemy. Suddenly, the Sikhs advanced and the Pathans started running in all directions. It seems the Sikhs have captured the battlefield.
Unfortunately, it took only a flick of an eye lid to change the battle status. Pathans, hidden in the hill caves, were raining bullets and arrows on the advancing Sikhs. Suddenly, the enemy surrounded the Sikhs from all directions and they found themselves under seize. The enemy bullets and arrows were death messages destined for the Sikhs. All of a sudden, a bullet hit the Sikh Jathedar in his chest and the lion fell. Another bullet hit Cornell Karnail Singh Bania. He too fell wounded by the bullet.
The Sikhs, shocked by their leader's serious condition, started leaving the battlefield under frustration. The Pathans came out of the hill caves and chased the Sikhs down to the foothills.
About a mile from the battlefield, the Sikhs had organized a camp and a hospital for treating the wounded. A few young girls from Majha region were busy nursing the wounded at the hospital. Next to the hospital was an ammunition and alcohol depot.
The sad news of battle reached the hospital - Pathans are chasing the running Sikhs, escaping the battlefield. The young girls looked at the hill. The enemy forces were fast advancing towards them. Such situations are not uncommon in battles. Some win and some loose. At some moment, one party has the upper hand, while at another moment the opposing party has the upper hand. Hence, all contingency plans must be in place before beginning the battle. As the potential of enemy advance toward the hospital became evident, the camp members gathered the wounded and started retreating to a safer location.
It seemed that the enemy had knowledge of the alcohol and ammunition depot. Their movements were self- evident of this. However, by now the depot security had run away, leaving it undefended. Such are the retreat of battles. Pathans were visibly proud of their potential victory. The large quantity of ammunition and alcohol in the now undefended depot was enough to ensure their victory. In comparison to the Sikhs, the enemy force had large numbers, but little ammunition. Now the depot could provide them with all the ammunition they need.
Pathans entered the Sikh camp with echoes of 'Allah Hu Akbar, 'an Islamic religious slogan. They immediately focused towards the depot. The very sight of ammunition made them insane with happiness. Thousands of guns were there for their taking. The skies reverberated with the sounds of their happiness and war cries.
They quickly advanced to seize the ammunition but could not find the bullets. What use are guns without bullets? They frantically searched for and located the place of bullet's storage. There was so much ammunition that the Pathans now wanted to take control of the depot instead. Yet, they could not. The whole depot went up in flames right before their eyes. Suddenly there was a huge explosion that simultaneously shocks the earth and sky together. The enemy immediately lost their foothold as their bodies were flying in the sky like cardboard pieces. Not a single Pathan survived.
By now, the lion of Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, crossed the Attock river and arrived with a heavy force. The Khalsa forces, under the command of Hari Singh Naluya, attack the Pathans. Their attack was so hard hitting that the Pathans no longer wanted to stay even a minute and ran for their lives leaving the battlefield to the Khalsa forces. The Khalsa forces were in complete control of the battlefield as the skies' echoes with the Jaekara "Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal."
Shere Punjab and Sardar Hari Singh Nalua accompanied by other sardars advanced to examine the blown-up depot. They had assumed and understood this blast to a divine help. Since had this ammunition fallen in the enemy hands, the victory for the Sikhs would certainly have been impossible. Dead bodies of Pathans littered the whole area.
Yes, Maharaja had his doubts though. He asked, "But this fire cannot be spontaneous?" Sardar Hari Singh Nalua nodded in agreement. With that the Maharaja started careful examination of the dead bodies. Suddenly, he saw the body of a fair, innocent, young girl hugging the ground. Her body was less than 50 feet from the depot. He walked briskly towards the body and carefully scrutinized it. She was the lead nurse, Prem Kaur, who was still clutching a torch in her hand. This suddenly clarified the whole situation. This brave Bibi had given up her life to save the Sikh forces from a humiliating defeat. No wonder, the blast had separated her body from the dead Pathans, as if to protect her innocence and honor her sacrifice.
This scene deeply moved Maharaja Ranjit Singh flooding his eyes with tears. Addressing her as his daughter, Maharaja picked her head and placed it in his lap. He used his handkerchief to carefully wash her face.
As the Sikhs soldiers witnessed these scenes, they were in tears as well. They immediately initiated preparations for her funeral. The Sikh army band played on and the canyon fired in continuous salute as Shere Punjab and other Sardars picked her body and carried her for a royal funeral. Every Sikh soldier was talking of Prem Kaur, her exemplary sacrifice and expressing their personal thanks. For she had single-handedly, had overturned a sure defeat of Sikh forces into their victory.
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