General Zorawar Singh: India's Napoleon, Who Forged Himalayan Borders

• General Zorawar Singh, born in 1786, was a Dogra general known as 'India's Napoleon' for his military prowess.
• He joined Maharaja Gulab Singh's army and conquered Ladakh in 1834, integrating it into the Dogra Empire despite extreme cold and difficult terrain.
• Following Ladakh, he expanded Dogra rule to Baltistan in 1840, securing strategic passes and control over the Silk Route.
• In 1841, he led a daring campaign into Tibet, but was killed in battle on November 12, 1841, fighting combined Tibetan and Qing forces.
• His conquests helped define the modern Ladakh-Tibet border, and he was honored as the 'Immortal General' by Maharaja Gulab Singh.

Why It Matters: General Zorawar Singh's conquests shaped India's modern Himalayan borders.