Raja Sakhi Daler Khan was born in the village of Sarsawa, Kotli Mangrallan and was one of the greatest and most celebrated hero's of the war to liberate Kashmir from Dogra rule. The village of Sarsawa was subsequently renamed Sakhi Daler Abad in his honour.

In recognition of his contribution to the freedom struggle the War Council awarded General Raja Sakhi Daler Khan the following honours:

• General
• Fath-e-Kotli (Liberator of Kotli).
• Fakhr-e-Kashmir
• Ghazi-e-Kashmir
• Commander in Chief Tehreek-e-Azaadi
• Chief Convenor Jammu & Kashmir Historical Committee
• Khadam-e-Din

He joined the Indian National Army and was promoted to the rank of Major General. However, sensing his duty for the Liberation of Jammu and Kashmir, he resigned from his post with the Army and joined The Muslim League on June 6, 1946. Following a meeting with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah he went to visit the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Ram Chandra Kak and Maharaja Hari Singh to get their views on Kashmir joining with Pakistan in accordance with the wishes of the people as laid out in the British proposal for post-Independence India and Pakistan. Reporting back to Quaid-e-Azam at his residence at Aurang Zaib Road, Delhi in 1946 it was clear that an alternative plan was needed to liberate Kashmir. Raja Sakhi Daler Khan therefore joined other ex-army officers and established a War Council on September 5, 1947. Following this Raja Sakhi Daler led many battles against the Dogra forces, particularly in Kotli and Rajouri.

Under the leadership of Raja Sakhi Daler Khan the muslims of Rajouri rose against the Dogra rulers and liberated Rajouri.(PakDef Mag Vol 1 Issue 3).^[8] Unfortunately Rajouri was subsequently subject to a heavily armed assault lasting several days by the Fiftieth Parachute Brigade, the Eightieth Brigade and the 19th Brigade of the Indian Army supported by Tanks of the Central Indian Horse. Under such overwhelminglingly superior firepower Rajouri fell on 12th April 1948 and is now part of the Indian Administered Sate of Jammu & Kashmir.

General Raja Sakhi Daler Khan exhibited all of the classical qualities and attributes which Mangrals take pride in. During the 1947 war of liberation some of the fiercest fighting took place in Sehnsa district. In one particular encounter Raja Sakhi Daler came across a Dogra soldier who had been critically injured by artillery fire from the muslim forces. It was clear that the man could not be saved and did not have long to live. Raja Sakhi Daler asked the man what his dying wish was. He replied: "Sir I have only one wish. To die in the comfort of my own people, knowing that they will take care of my body, ensure my funeral rights according to my religous requirements and let my family know the place and circumstances of my death so they can at least grieve me." Raja Sakhi Daler wrapped the man in a blanket and personally carried him into the camp of the enemy forces. The Dogra commander was amazed to see his own soldier being carried in by one of the enemy. Realising that the man he was facing was no simple soldier he asked Raja Sakhi Daler what his name was. "Raja Sakhi Daler Khan a Mangral Rajput from the village of Sarsawa" came back the reply. The Dogra commander (who was also a rajput) then said: "Sir, today I bear witness in front of all my men that you have indeed lived up to the name your honourable mother has chosen for you. You carry the title of "Raja" meaning that you are of noble descent, from the long and honourable lineage of the Sons of Kings that have ruled our beloved Rajastan since time immemorial. Many a man has been born with this title and yet many more falsely adopt it, purely through their association in the service of true rajputs. Yet few will live even a single day when they can truthfully claim that they have done something in this world to deserve such a title. You are "Sakhi" as you are indeed a true friend and a compassionate helper to the poor and needy. You are "Daler" because you are truelly a brave and fearless fighter. You are "Khan" because you are undoubtedly a true leader of men."