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Jawahar Singh
Maharaja Sawai of Bharatpur State
Bharatendra (Lord of the Bharatá) [1]
Prithvendra (The Lord of the World)
Prince of Victories
Portrait of Maharaja Jawahar Singh
Maharaja of Bharatpur State
Reign1763–68
Predecessor Maharaja Suraj Mal
Successor Maharaja Ratan Singh
HouseSinsinwar Dynasty
Father Maharaja Suraj Mal
MotherRani Gauri [2] [3]
Religion Hinduism

Maharaja Jawahar Singh ( r. 1763–1768) ( Hindi: महाराजा जवाहर सिंह) was a Jat ruler of the Bharatpur State. He succeeded to the throne when his father Suraj Mal died in 1763.

Early life

Maharaja Jawahar Singh was born to Maharaja Surajmal and Maharani Gauri in the Yaduvanshi Sinsinwar clan of Jats, he was later adopted by Maharani Kishori (Jat of Solanki clan) of Palwal. [4] He was the 22nd direct descendant of Chaudhary Sobha Singh of Bayana, who founded Sinsini in 12th century by defeating native Kalals. [5]

During Ahmed Shah Abdali's invasion of India in 1757, Abdali attacked Ballabhgarh. In a battle between Durranis and Prince Jawahar Singh, the Jats managed to captured 150 Durrani horses. [6] Jawahar Singh had to escape from the fort in the night as the defence of the fort was not possible in the face of heavy bombardments of Abdali's guns. After taking the city Abdali sent his generals Jahan Khan and Najib Khan with 20,000 men to attack the Jat territory and holy city of Mathura. According to historian Jadunath Sarkar, the Marathas fled from the north and not a single Maratha soldier fought for the holy city of Mathura which had the holiest of Vaishnav shrines, their "Hindupat-Padshahi" didn't involve any duty to protect it. But the Jats were determined to defend this sacred city. Maharaja Jawahar Singh and Raja Shyam Singh Kuntal of Sonkh with 6,000 men blocked the path of the Afghans. Jats faced Afghans in Chaumuhan, in the fight that followed the Jat cavalry charged the Afghan positions and almost seven to nine thousand men of Durranis were killed by Jat troops and the remnants of the Jat army had to retreat. Afghans subsequently carried out a general massacre in the unfortified city of Mathura. The people were looted, their property plundered and acts of iconoclasm followed. [7]

Jawahar Singh a Fanatic Hindu Prince

The Great Mosque of Agra was changed into a market: The grain merchants had order to expose their goods for sale there. The butchers shops were closed. The Jats made very severe prohibition of the slaughter of oxen, cows and also of kids. All public profession of the Mohammedan religion was interdicted under very harsh treatment. One man gave tha azaan but the Jat government of Agra cut his tongue. [8]

Military career

Main article: Battle of Delhi (1764)

In 1764, Jawahar Singh attacked Najib Khan and later bombarded Delhi. He enlisted the help of the Sikh chiefs for the campaign. He also asked for help from Malhar Rao Holkar. The Rohillas were sieged inside the fort and peace negotiations were being carried out. Jawahar Singh was also desperate for peace because he realized the Holkar were double dealing with him and were in secret negotiation with Najib Khan. The campaign was not much of a success as Jawahar Singh had spent more money than he received. [7]

Jawahar Singh also defeated the Marathas under Holkar with the help of the Sikhs sent by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia near Dholpur in 1766, when Holkar tried to help Jawahar's brother, Nahar Singh gain the throne of Bharatpur. Jawahar Singh had to retreat after some time when Raghunath Rao arrived in northern Malwa. In 1767, after his recent success against the Marathas, he surprised their garrisons in Kalpi and attacked Maratha territory, the Maratha local agent fled and the whole area came under the rule of Jawahar Singh. [7]

Campaign against Malhar Rao Holkar

Maharaja Jawahar Singh was annoyed with the treacherous behavior of Malhar Rao Holkar during the Siege of Delhi as Holkar wanted to gain money from both sides (Jats and Rohilas), and sources[ who?] also inform us that Holkar was secretly in-contact with Najib-ud-daula against Maharaja Jawahar Singh. Another reason to wage a war against Holkar was that Marathas and Holkar had tried to help his brother Raja Nahar Singh of Dholpur. This made Jawahar Singh to take actions against Marathas. [9]

Both sides came infront of each other and a pitched battle was fought between the Sikh troops (hired by Jawahar Singh) and Marathas under Holkar on 13 and 14 March 1766 near Dholpur. In this battle Marathas was beaten back by Jat and Sikh troops. [10] The fleeing Maratha forces of Holkar were chased by Jat troops. The city of Dholpur was taken by the Jats and many Maratha generals were captured, the Maratha army of 14,000 scattered and many of the troops were killed. Malhar Rao Holkar was thus defeated by Maharaja Jawahar Singh in Battle of Dholpur (1766). [11] [12]

Bundelkhand Campaign

Maharaja Sawai Prithvendra Jawahar Singh Bahadur planned to expand his kingdom on the side of Bundelkhand and Northern Malwa.

Maharaja started his campaign in June 1767 by capturing Bhadarwar region from Marathas and Bhadoriya Rajputs. After setting his camp at Lahar, he sent his army to plunder Rampura (under Chundawat Rajputs who were tributaries to Marathas). The Jat army defeated the Maratha forces at Rampura and further moved to Ayaman fort, it's Maratha chief became frightened by the Jat invasion. He fled from there and went to the shelter of Gaur Rajput chief of Indurkhi. The fortress was captured and the nearby area was plundered by Jats. [13]

The enthusiasm of the young Maharaja increased greatly due to these victories. Therefore, during the days of heavy rains (July 11, 1767 AD), he attacked Bhind and Ater and captured them also by defeating combined Rajput-Maratha army. [14] The Rajput raja Himmat Singh Bhadoriya was taken prisoner to Bharatpur. [15] Till now these states used to pay Khandani (state tax) to the Marathas. Now they would pay to Maharaja Jawahar Singh. Now he marched towards Samthar via Muravali to take over other areas with great speed, but at the same time he got the news that the people of Rampura had revolted, then the conquest of Samthar was postponed and the Jats headed towards Javar Paravara village. On July 13, 1767, Jats went towards Rampura. It was surrounded. After some time, the people of Rampur agreed to accept the sovereignty of the Jats. [16]

Maharaja's army moved towards the Kalpi area, where it's Maratha officer Balaji Govind Khair wanted to prevent disturbance and plunder. He sent Krishnaji-pant to Maharaja Jawahar with an offer of Rs. 3 lakhs, if he would spare Maratha territory in Bundelkhand. But the Jats did not concede to his offer. Maharaja took control of the march and attacked Balaji Govind. All Maratha chiefs fled, and Govind's with his children fled to Raipur (Jalaun). Govind maratha then crossed the Betwa river and took refugee. Maharaja now, moved further and established his dominance in Jalaun. [17]

On August 14, 1767, Maharaja Jawahar Singh received a request from the Khichi Rajput chief of Raghogarh to help free his kingdom from the Marathas. However, he rejected the request and returned to the north. He, then won the Maratha police station of Jigani by defeating Gobind Sabharam and joined the Jat kings of Gohad and Pichorre. These victories of Maharaja led to a problem for the Peshwa in Poona, who wanted to maintain Maratha power in the north. In September 1767, the Maratha officers on the orders of Peshwa made a treaty with Jawahar Singh. After this treaty, Maharaja gained Jigani and Jatalwar parganas of Vitthalrao Tavardhar and parganas of Sikarwar which belonged to Mahadaji Kasi. Thereafter. Maharaja crossed Chambal and returned to Bharatpur. [18]

Thus, after taking the entire region of Kalpi- Jalaun under his control, Maharaja Jawahar Singh set out and reached Samthar from there. Gujjar chief of Samthar readily accepted the submission and promised to give him 20-25 thousand rupees to Maharaja Singh. [19] [20] Maharaja also collected taxes from the Bundela Rajput chiefs of Datia and Narwar. [21] Thereafter, around the first week of August, 1767 AD. he moved towards Narwar. Thus, in the words of a Maratha correspondent "every place in Kalpi province- Kachhavadhar. Bhadawar, Tanvardhar, Sikarwar, Dandroli, Khitoli and Shraddha areas was captured by the Jats (Jawahar Singh). And just Jhansi itself was the center of our (Marathas) and Gwalior have remained in reverence." [22]

War with Kingdom of Jaipur

Main article: Battle of Maonda and Mandholi and Battle of Kama

Relations between Bharatpur state and Kingdom of Jaipur were good until the time of Suraj Mal. He used to visit Jai Singh II every Dussehra and present gifts to him, and whenever Jai Singh passed through Bharatpur territory Surajmal would wait upon him and feed the Jaipur troops and then lay the keys of his forts before Jai Singh as Suraj Mal used to consider him, his Father. These good relations continued till Surajmal's death.

Upon Suraj Mal's death, his successor, Jawahar Singh, was very proud of the wealth and soldiers that he had inherited from his father. Jawahar Singh's army was trained and led by Europeans like Madec and Samru and consisted of 15,000 cavalry, 25,000 infantry (excluding the garrisons) and 300 pieces of artillery.

Jawahar Singh, ruler of Bharatpur state, had earlier defeated his step brother Nahar Singh, who escaped to take refuge in Jaipur state. Nahar poisoned himself, leaving his widow behind in Jaipur. Jawahar demanded Nahar's widow, described by Jadunath Sarkar as one of the most beautiful women on earth. But the lady refused, fearing Jawahar's character as Jawahar Singh wanted to take her in his harem and Madho Singh could not forcibly expel an asylum seeker. This resulted in Jawahar becoming furious. Jawahar Singh along with his Sikh mercenaries had made several incursions into the Jaipur state and their unchecked aggression made Madho Singh intrigue against Jawahar and the Bharatpur state.

In 1767, Jawahar Singh marched through Jaipur territory with his whole army along with French trained battalions and artillery guns to reach Pushkar. There, he met with the ruler of Marwar state; Vijay Singh and an agreement was signed between them to oust the Marathas, who were raiding in Rajputana following their defeat at the hands of Ahmed Shah Abdali in 1761.

This meeting between the two was not liked by Madho Singh. According to Jadunath Sarkar, Madho Singh reprimanded Vijay Singh for sitting equally with Jawahar Singh, whom he considered a mere peasant and a servant of Jaipur.

Jawahar thus attacked and plundered the villages of Jaipur and molested its villagers in revenge while returning from Pushkar. The Kachwaha army followed and attacked forces of Bharatpur at Mandholi, which was the last station of the Jaipur state and was located near to the frontiers of Bharatpur state. The Jaipur artillery had lagged behind, causing their first attack to be repulsed by the Bharatpur army. Jats, hoping to escape from the battlefield, entered a narrow pass ahead of them. In the middle of the pass, the Kachwaha cavalry overtook them. Jaipur forces stood firmly against the guns of Bharatpur and finally threw themselves, with swords in hand, onto Jat army. The Jat army fled with the first shock of Jaipur cavalry abandoning their baggage and artillery which was captured by Jaipur forces. With the rest of Singh's army dispersed, the French sepoys of Samru and Madec saved Jawahar Singh and enabled him to retreat into his territory.

The Bharatpur army thus retreated into their territory after being defeated in the fierce battle which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, death toll supposedly reaching 5,000. The soldiers of Bharatpur abandoned their artillery and royal standards, including the royal umbrella of their king. According to Sarkar, the Jaipur army lost most of their important generals with death toll on their side reaching 2000–3000. This had happened due to the superior artillery of Bharatpur and the presence of French led sepoys of Samru and Madec, on the other hand Kachwaha artillery and infantry was lagging behind. According to some sources Jawahar Singh's defeat is ascribed to him insulting the Jaipur Raja by not intimating him about his motive while tresspasing through his territory. It is why the Rajputs attacked Jawahar Singh and defeated him. According to Rima Hooja, Pratap Singh Naruka led the Jaipur forces to victory against Jawahar Singh. [23]

The Battle of Kama was fought due to the consequences of Battle of Maonda, Madho Singh followed up his victory and advanced towards Bharatpur territory with 16,000 men.

Upon knowing of Madho's invasion Jawahar employed 10,000 Sikhs and increased Madecs pay in order to employ more Sepoys. On 29 February 1768, the two armies met outside Kama and a fight followed in which the Bharatpur army were beaten back and forced to retreat, with the loss of their general Dan Sahi. [24] He hired 20,000 Sikh mercenaries at a cost of seven lakhs a month, after which Madho Singh retreated to his own country. [25] [26]

Death

He was assassinated by one of his favourite soldiers in August 1768. [7] [27]

References

  1. ^ Bharatpur Upto 1826: A Social and Political History of the Jats by Ram Pande
  2. ^ Dwivedi, Girish Chandra; Prasad, Ishwari (1989). The Jats, their role in the Mughal Empire. Arnold Publishers. p. 238. ISBN  978-81-7031-150-8.
  3. ^ Sarkar, Jadunath (1950). Fall of the Mughal Empire, volume 2. p. 453.
  4. ^ Meena, R. P. RPSC RAS Prelims: History of Rajasthan Complete Study Notes With MCQ. New Era Publication.
  5. ^ Dwivedi, Girish Chandra; Prasad, Ishwari (1989). The Jats, Their Role in the Mughal Empire. Arnold Publishers. ISBN  978-81-7031-150-8.
  6. ^ Singh, Raj Pal (1988). Rise of the Jat Power. Harman Publishing House. ISBN  978-81-85151-05-2.
  7. ^ a b c d Sarkar, Jadunath (2007). The Fall of the Mughal Empire, Vol II. Delhi: Orient Black Swan. pp. 272–286. ISBN  9788125032458.
  8. ^ Qanungo Kalikaranjan (1925). History Of Jats. It was perhaps during the regime of Jawahir Singh, the strongest and most vindictive among the Jat Rajahs that "The Great Mosque of Agra was changed into a mtirket: the grain merchants had order to expose their goods for sale there.
  9. ^ Ranavat Manohar Singh Ji (1973). Bharatpur Maharaja Jawahar Singh Jat.
  10. ^ Ranavat Manohar Singh Ji (1973). Bharatpur Maharaja Jawahar Singh Jat.
  11. ^ Wendel, François Xavier (1991). Wendel's Memoirs on the Origin, Growth and Present State of Jat Power in Hindustan (1768). Institut français de Pondichery.
  12. ^ Ranavat Manohar Singh Ji (1973). Bharatpur Maharaja Jawahar Singh Jat.
  13. ^ Ranavat Manohar Singh Ji (1973). Bharatpur Maharaja Jawahar Singh Jat.
  14. ^ Singh, Raj Pal (1988). Rise of the Jat Power. Harman Publishing House. ISBN  978-81-85151-05-2.
  15. ^ Sahai, Jwala (1898). History of Bhurtpore. Patrika Press.
  16. ^ Ranavat Manohar Singh Ji (1973). Bharatpur Maharaja Jawahar Singh Jat.
  17. ^ Andhare, B. R. (1984). Bundelkhand Under the Marathas, 1720-1818 A.D.: A Study of Maratha-Bundela Relations. Vishwa Bharati Prakashan.
  18. ^ Ranavat Manohar Singh Ji (1973). Bharatpur Maharaja Jawahar Singh Jat.
  19. ^ Gupta, Bhagavānadāsa (1987). A History of the Rise and Fall of the Marathas in Bundelkhand, 1731-1804: Based on Original Sources. Neha Prakashan.
  20. ^ Ranavat Manohar Singh Ji (1973). Bharatpur Maharaja Jawahar Singh Jat.
  21. ^ Gupta, Bhagavānadāsa (1987). A History of the Rise and Fall of the Marathas in Bundelkhand, 1731-1804: Based on Original Sources. Neha Prakashan.
  22. ^ The Indian Historical Quarterly. Calcutta Oriental Press. 1941.
  23. ^ Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. New Delhi: Rupa Publication. p. 726. Pratap Singh quickly returned to serve it, and led the Jaipur forces to victory against Jawahar Singh of Bharatpur in the battle of Mawade in 1767. The battlefield is also called Maonda-Mandholi, and is located in the torawati hills
  24. ^ Fall of the Mughal Empire vol-2, page-286, by Jadunath Sarkar, publisher-Orient Black Swan, ISBN  978-81-250-3245-8
  25. ^ Fall of the Mughal Empire vol-2, page-286, by Jadunath Sarkar, publisher-Orient Black Swan, ISBN  978-81-250-3245-8
  26. ^ Rajasthan Through the Ages, page-208, by R.K. Gupta and S.R. Bakshi, publisher-Sarup and Sons, ISBN  978-81-7625-841-8 (set)
  27. ^ Rajasthan District Gazetteers Jaipur by Gupta Savitri [1] p.51
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