Draft:Raja Salar Singh
Raja Salar Singh (Salarsi / Peepaji)
[edit]Raja Salar Singh | |
|---|---|
| Raja of Dasna | |
| Reign | 14th century |
| Predecessor | Unknown |
| Successor | Descendants (13 sons) |
| Known for | Founding Dasna |
| Born | 1300s (estimated) Rajasthan |
| Died | Unknown |
Raja Salar Singh (also known as Salarsi or Peepaji) was a 14th-century Rajput noble from Rajasthan, historically credited with founding the town of Dasna in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. According to British civil servant and historian David Ross in his 1883 book The Land of the Five Rivers and Sindh, Dasna was founded during the time of Mahmud of Ghazni by a Rajput named Raja Salarsi.Ross, David (1883). The Land of the Five Rivers and Sindh. London: Chapman & Hall. p. 282. Retrieved 25 June 2025.Ross, David (1883). The Land of the Five Rivers and Sindh. London: Chapman & Hall. p. 282. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
Early Life and Healing
[edit]According to oral tradition preserved by families in Dasna, Raja Salar Singh was a Rajput noble from Rajasthan who suffered from chronic leprosy. He traveled eastward to bathe in the Ganges at Garhmukteshwar, seeking spiritual healing. His recovery was said to have been completed after an encounter with a wandering Sufi saint who performed a spiritual act by reciting a dua over his wounds. This healing reportedly led him to embrace Islam and settle in the region permanently.
Foundation of Dasna
[edit]Impressed by the land’s serenity and strategic location near the Ganges canal, Salar Singh established a fortified settlement. During the construction, a laborer was reportedly bitten by a snake, which gave rise to the town’s name "Dasna," derived from the Hindi word dasna (to bite).
Ross’s historical account also confirms that the fort at Dasna was a very ancient structure, later destroyed in 1760 during the invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali.Ross, David (1883). The Land of the Five Rivers and Sindh. London: Chapman & Hall. p. 282. Retrieved 25 June 2025.Ross, David (1883). The Land of the Five Rivers and Sindh. London: Chapman & Hall. p. 282. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
Multi-Faith Legacy
[edit]Salar Singh reportedly had thirteen sons, some of whom retained their Hindu faith while others embraced Islam. This gave rise to a multi-faith lineage that survives among local families in Dasna to this day. This rare coexistence is seen by locals as a legacy of Rajput-Muslim syncretism rooted in spiritual transformation.
Legacy and Descendants
[edit]Among Salar Singh’s known descendants is Lala Matol Chand, believed to have assisted the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb by sending camels laden with gold coins during one of his military campaigns. While this claim originates from oral tradition, it supports the notion that the family retained regional prominence for generations.
Cultural Significance
[edit]The life of Raja Salar Singh is preserved in both historical accounts and local storytelling. While limited in major historical texts, he holds cultural importance in the Ghaziabad region. His story exemplifies spiritual healing, religious coexistence, and medieval Rajput valor.