Second Sikh Invasion of Rohilkhand
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| Second Sikh Invasion of Rohilkhand | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Sikh Invasions of Ganga-Yamuna | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Sikh Confederacy |
 Rohillas | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia |
Najib ad-Dawlah Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | 6,000 Men | ||||||
The Second Sikh Invasion of Rohilkhand took place in late 1764 while Najib ad-Dawlah was being besieged in Delhi by Jawahar Singh of Bharatpur, offering Sikhs to invade the unprotected Rohilla estates led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
Background[edit]
On December 25, 1763, Suraj Mal, the ruler of Bharatpur, lost his life in battle against Najib ad-Dawlah.[1] Along with the rest of the Jat Kingdom, his son Jawahar Singh pledged to take revenge for his father's passing.[2] Over the course of the next year, Jawahir Singh carefully planned his counteroffensive, recruiting the aid of the Marathas and the Sikhs. Realising the danger that lay ahead, Najib-ud-daulah sent his envoy Meghraj to Ahmad Shah Abdali in Kandahar, asking for help despite the challenging journey across Punjab.[3] Jawahar Singh was unimpressed by Najib's attempts to gain favour with him and continued to pursue punishment. Jawahir Singh began the Siege of Delhi, Najib's location, in November. This provided a chance of opportunity for the Sikhs, because it displayed Najib's territory. Seizing the opportunity to strengthen their power, the Budha Dal, led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, crossed the Yamuna River at Buriya Ghat and invaded the Doab.[4]
Rohilla Resistance[edit]
The majority of this fertile land was quickly seized by the Sikhs, and they moved fast to look for treasure, even reaching the most distant towns at the base of the hills. When Najib was under Siege of Delhi, Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech, with a 6,000-strong Battalion, offered the invaders barely any resistance before taking a flight.[5][6][7]
Aftermath[edit]
Jawahar Singh laid siege to Delhi in the beginning of November 1764. However, Jawahar's ally Malhar Rao, who leaned towards Najib's side, provided only weak help, which caused the siege to keep going on. As a result, Jawahar looked for assistance elsewhere. He made contact with and began talks with the Sikhs who were wreaking havoc in the Ganga Doab area. With the promise of a large payment, Jawahir recruited between 12 and 15 thousand Sikhs into his army.[8][9]
References[edit]
- ^ Journal of Haryana Studies Volume 17. Kurukshetra University. 1985.
- ^ Misra, S. C. (1981). Sindhia-Holkar Rivalry in Rajasthan. Sundeep Prakashan.
- ^ Prakash, Buddha (1967). Glimpses of Hariyana. India: University of Kurukshetra. p. 58.
- ^ Singh, Ganda (1968). The Punjab Past and Present, Volume 2. Punjab (India): Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. p. 285.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1999). History Of The Sikhs Vol. III Sikh Domination Of The Mughal Empire (1764-1803) (2, illustrated ed.). India: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 49. ISBN 9788121502139.
- ^ Williams, G.R.C (1875). Calcutta Review, Volume 60. India: University of Calcutta. p. 27.
- ^ Ḥāfiẓ Raḥmat Khān, Muḥammad Mustajāb ibn (1831). The Life of Hafiz Ool-Moolk, Hafiz Rehmut Khan, Volume 1. India: Oriental Translation Fund. p. 85.
- ^ Madra, Amandeep Singh; Singh, P. (2016). Sicques, Tigers or Thieves: Eyewitness Accounts of the Sikhs (1606-1810). Springer. p. 21. ISBN 9781137119988.
- ^ Kānūnago, Kālikā Rañjana (1925). History of the Jats: A Contribution to the History of Northern India. To the death of Mirza Najaf Kahn, 1782, Volume 1 (reprint ed.). Calcutta (India): M, C. SARKAR & SONS. p. 174. ISBN 9789351285144.