History of the Jats:Dr Kanungo/Civil War
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By K. R. Qanungo. Edited by Vir Singh. Delhi, Originals, 2003, ISBN 81-7536-299-5.
Chapter XII. Civil War
(1182 A.H., May 1768-April 1769)
Raja Ratan Singh Jat
[p.129]: The glory of the Jats departed with Raja Jawahar Singh and confusion fell on their kingdom when his iron grip no longer held the tribe together. His younger brother Ratan Singh, an imbecile and profligate youth, succeeded him, and reigned, according to the author of Imad-us-Saadat, for ten months and thirteen days. The few months of his rule were uneventful and sent wholly in ignoble diversions. Four thousand dancing girls surrounded his person; with them he started, a few days after his accession, for Brindavan [Madec, 51] to enjoy the rainy season there in gay revelry. All the scenes of the mythic past were acted once again by this reputed descendant of the Divine Lover of Braj, perhaps in a more magnificent manner. He never returned to his capital; his life tragically ended there at the hand of a Gosain named Rupanand.
M. Madec, the French Captain, was also in the retinue of Raja Ratan Singh during this pilgrimage. He was impressed very much by his magifcent fetes on the Jamuna, and his extravagant piety. He says, "The Raja had another weakness [besides his passion for women]-namely that for magicians, enchanters, and alchemists. He had taken away one of these last [=alchemists] to the festivity at Brindaban. For a long time the alchemist kept the Raja deluded by pretending to nave made gold. Finally the Raja pressed him and threatened [to kill?] him in case he did not show it to him. The deceiver promised to the Raja to make it in his presence, if he should remain alone with him far from indiscreet people. When the Raja consented to it, the magician drew out a dagger and
[p.130]: opened the belly of his master." Before dying, the latter called the highest chief of the nation and motioned to him his minor son" [Madec, 51]. Abdul Karim Kashmiri, the author of the Bayan-o-Waqa, gives an almost identical description of this event, "Raja Ratan Singh went to him and pressed him hard saying, 'If you do not prepare the sample [lit. first fruits] of gold [lit. alchemy]. I shall kill you.' The darwesh declared 'The sample [namuna] is ready; it will be shown towards the latter part of the night.' Ratan Singh owing to his curiosity and eagerness kept himself awake throughout the night. The Bairagi sent word that the Raja should have privacy i.e., be alone, and that he was bringing the sample. Ratan Singh ordering his attendants to go out sent for the Bairagi. When he was found alone, the Bairagi despatched him with one blow of a dagger" [Bayan MS., p. 302]. Harcharan's details about this affair are rather confusing, but he gives the date of the incident correctly,uiz., lst Zihijja, 1182 A.H., 8th April, 1769 , which is borne out by a more accurate authority, the Waqa-i-Shah Alam II (Waqa, 245).
The regency and civil war
After the sudden death of Raja Ratan Singh at Brindaban, a great assembly of the chiefs was convoked at Deeg, by Dan Sahi, who had been entrusted with the person of the infant heir. The child, Kheri Singh, was seated on the masnad and Dan Sahi assumed the regency, with their approval. But as
1. We learn from a letter, entered under the date, the 1st of August, 1769, sent by one Raja Parsudh Ray: "Ratan Singh Jat has been assassinated by the hand of an alchemist, and has been succeeded by his son Kheri Singh, an infant of a year and a half. Dan Sahi has been appointed Regent." [pers. Cor. ii. 386]. This corroborates the notice in the French Memoirs. Ratan Singh died perhaps in April, 1769; because the wazir informed the Government about his death in a letter entered under the date 11th May, 1769 (Pers, Cor. ii. 357). The Waqa says: "On the 5th Zihijja 1182 A.H., [April 12, 1769), news reached that Raja Ratan Singh Jat, has been killed at his camp in Sri Brindaban by Gosain Rupanand with the blow of "Katar". Sada Sukh and Khushhal Ray cut off the head of the Gosain" [Waqa, 225]. We thus find the calculation of 10 months and eleven days of the Imad to be fairly accurate.
[p.131]: soon as they were back to their provinces, they refused to submit to the regent, who had no more right to rule than any other person among them. This discontent was fanned by the intrigues of Nawal Singh and Ranjit Singh, half- brothers of the late Raja. While M. Madec, who supported the regent Dan Sahi, was absent from Deeg trying to reduce the provinces to submission; a revolution was carried into effect by these two brorothers [Madec, See, 61], who overthrew his regency. But they quarreled over the coveted office of regent. Nawal Singh being the elder had a better claim, but the younger preferred the decision of the sword. The turbulent nobles, keen a aout securing their own independence, formed factions and kindled the flames of war [beginning of 1770, A.D.] Ranjit Singh, unable to contend against his brother, turned a traitor to his house and purchased the assistance of the Sikhs to crush him.
M. Madec took the side of the elder brother and led an army against Ranjit Singh, who had shut himself up in the fort of Kumher. He laid siege to it when 70,000 Sikhs, invited by Ranjit Singh, came to its succour [Madec, 52]. He raised the siege in order to go and encounter the Sikhs. One morning Madec went out with 500 men, 2 guns and one elephant on which he was mounted, to reconnoitre the enemy's position incautiously pushed too far ahead. He was hemmed in by the Sikhs [ibid 52] and was only saved by the arrival of Jat enforcements. Nawal Singh inflicted a defeat upon the Sikhs [Pers. Cor, iii. 43], but fearing the advent of Marathas bought them [Sikhs] off by the payment of a large sum of money. The Sikhs departed for their country, leaving the traitor to his fate (March, 1770).
The Maratha interference in the civil war
Within a decade from the third battle of Panipat the Marathas recovered from the shock of that great disaster. But they became none wiser by their late overthrow and drew no lessons from it. Towards the end of 1769, Visaji Pandit, Ramchander Ganesh, Tukoji Holkar, Mahadji Sindhia and others crossed the Narmada with a large army to reassert the dominion of their nation in Hindustan. The energy and enthusiasm of these chiefs like those of their predecessors
[p.132]: were more conspicuous in harassing the helpless Rana of Gohad and in tormenting the worn out and afflicted Rajput rulers than in fighting their sturdier opponents. Instead of playing the noble role of strong peace-makers among the warring peoples and princes of Hindustan, they chose to play the part of mischief-mongers, fomenters of treason and civil strife. While the sons of Suraj Mal were fighting out with swords their claims to the regency, the Marathas were watching the struggle with satisfaction from Karauli, the seat of their operations against the Raja of Jaipur. When Nawal Singh, the elder and more legitimate claimant to the regency, well nigh brought the civil war to an end by defeating the unjust pretensions of his younger brother Ranjit and appeasing the Sikhs, the Marathas entered the Jat country, began pillaging the neighbourhood of Bharatpur and instigated Ranjit Singh to re-open2 the fratricidal war (middle of March, 1770). They acted as if Maharashtra had sent them this time not to avenge the slaughter of her sons and the dishonour of her daughters led away into captivity from the field of Panipat, but to destroy those who risked their all to save and relieve the misery of her fleeing children. They sent an invitation to Najib-ud-daula- who was the author of all their misfortune and shame - to come and join them in crushing the Jats once for all. The Ruhela chief, who had retired to his safe retreat at Najibabad for fear of Maharaja Jawahar Singh and his Sikh allies, eagerly seized this opportunity of extracting one thorn with another, and with a powerful army reached as far as Sikandrabad in the Doab. The piety which Rani Kishori acquired by feeding the fugitive Maratha Brahmans with milk and sweets indeed brought a swift return.
The Marathas ravaged a considerable portion of the Jat territory and every where appointed officials in the name of Ranjit Singh. Unwilling to risk a pitched battle with the army of Nawal Singh, formidable on account of the presence of Somru and M. Madec, the Marathas concentrated their forces under the shelter of the fort of Kumher, 13 miles
2. "The Marathas ... entered into correspondence with [[Ranjit Singh]] .... Consequently he met them at a small distance from the fort of Kumher, his residence." [Pers, Cor. ill. p. 41].
[p.133]: south of Deeg. Nawal Singh who was encamped at a short distance from the town of Deeg, tried in vain to bring the enemy to an engagement. On the morning of the 9th Zihijja [April 5, 1770 A.D.], he "sent a challenge to the Marathas to quit their position under the walls of the fort and give him battle." At noon news reached him that "Tukoji Holkar, and Jai Ram were on their way to meet Najib-ud-daula." In the afternoon tents were ordered to be struck, baggages were sent ahead to Govardhan (about six kos east of Deeg), and Nawal Singh with his army started in that direction. The resolution was too sudden; scarcely any risala was ready and many soldiers went to Deeg to procure their necessaries.
Two high roads run almost parallel west to east from Deeg and Kumher, gradually diminishing the distance in between, till they meet at Mathura. The army of Nawal Singh was moving along the northern road, while the Marathas who also began to march eastward took the southern road. These two roads are joined by a cross path running from Govardhan to Sonkh, the distance being not more than 5 miles. Somewhere between these two places, the hostile armies came within a distance of two kos from each other. Till then Nawal Singh had no idea of giving battle on that day; but the proximity of the enemy tempted two of his chiefs to offer fight. One of these was Dan Sahi, brother-in-law of Nawal Singh and a dashing cavalry officer, very proud of his risala of horse composed of Rajputs and Bhadauriyas; the other was Gosain Balanand the brave leader of the impetuous Naga sannyasis. But Somru and M. Madec objected to this proposal on the score of the lateness of the hour. Nawal Singh was carried away by the rash exhortation of Dan Sahi and ordered an attack. The Marathas formed themselves near the fort of Sonkh to meet the onset. A fierce battle ensued which went on even after nightfall. Dan Sahi led a gallant charge at the head of 2,000 choice horse; but before he could be effectually supported the Marathas with their artillery and rockets forced him to fall back with heavy loss. After a short artillery duel both the parties came to a close fight with swords. Ganga Prasad and Jud Raj led the division under the personal command of the regent. But Nawal Singh lost his head as well as heart in the heat of
[p.134]: action. He alighted from his elephant, and mounting a horse retired behind the impenetrable lines of Somru's sepoys. Even there he trembled for his life, he threw away his insignia of royalty less he should be recognised by the enemy, and fled into the fort [Govardhan?]. The issue of the fight was still hanging in the balance; several sardars of rank immediately afterwards went in search of their faint-hearted chief into the fort and urged him in vain to show himself in the field, telling him that the fortunes of the battle might still be retrieved by their steadiness and courage. But no assurance could stimulate his carven heart. The true Jat fought well, but the Maratha fought better in the darkness of the night. The squares of Somru and M. Madec very bravely stood repeated and determined charges of the enemy. Worn out and exhausted, and deserted by their timid master, the army of Nawal Singh at last broke and fled. "Never was a greater, number of sardars killed and wounded in any battle. As to the rank and file it [was] computed that 5000 horse and foot were wounded and 2000 killed. All the artillery was left on the field except two light pieces which Somru [had] brought off. The army was so completely broken that numbers returned after wandering about seven kos, from the battle-field. Had it not been for the intrepid behaviour of Madec and Somru in covering the retreat, not a single man would have escaped the sword of the Marathas [Pers. Cor, iii. 52-53].3 Nawal Singh stood a siege, barricading the
3. Madec's division was almost annihilated. He alone lost 1400 men, and had not more than the wounded and the guard of the camp left at Deeg. [Madec. sec.: 56]. This shows that the number of the killed must have been greater than that reported by the English news-writers. The Waqa-i-Shah Alam Sani has an entry under the date 13th Zihijja, 1183, A.H. "News reached .... that on the 8th, a great battle was fought between Nawal Singh and the Marathas .... Nawal Singh at first fled to Garhi of Aring [5 miles east of [Govardhan]], eight miles north-east of Sonkh, in a contrary direction] after-wards to Deeg." [Waqa, 224]. Thus, we notice one day's difference between the dates given by the Waqa and the Pers. Cor. Harcharan gives an accurate and fairly detailed account of the civil war between the two Jat brothers. The author of the Bayan-o-Waqa, only notices it briefly (p. 305).
[p.135]: gates of Deeg. The Marathas who had also lost a considerable number of men contented themselves with watching him from beyond the range of the fort guns.
A formidable coalition was now set on foot to crush the Jat power altogether. Najib-ud-daula joined the Marathas, and with their aid began to conquer the possessions of the Jats in the Doab. Ghazi-ud-din Khan4 hurried from his retreat at Farrukhabad and united with the Marathas. Repeated petitions were sent to Shah Alam II to repair to his capital; but he was restrained by the opposition of Waren Hastings.
Thus the Jats for the second time escaped utter annihilation from a combination of their relentless enemies through the silent and faithful services of their English allies. The Marathas made Mathura their head-quarters and began, in concert with the Ruhelas, a systematic conquest of the Jat country in the month of Muharram 1184 A.H. (May 1770, A.D.). Najib-ud-daula captured Shikohabad, Sadabad" and other parganas belonging to the Jats [Waqa, p. 229]. Next he proceeded to Koel [Aligarh] and took possession of the Jat territories there in the name of the Emperor. [ibid, p. 230]. Nawal Singh was saved from almost certain destruction by the disunion and jealousy which s rang up among his enemies after their first success. The Marathas themselves were divided into two parties, led respectively by Tukoji Holkar and Ramchander Ganesh on one side, and Visaji Pandit and Mahadji Sindhia on the other. Tukoji was in favour of an alliance with Najib-ud-daula, but Sindhia and others distrusted him. The appearance of Ghazi-ud-din in the Maratha camp and Sindhia's support of him created a distrust in the minds of the Emperor and Najib-ud-daula .[[Nawal Singh]] took ad vantage of this situation to send his vakils to the Ruhela chief, to negotiate a secret and separate peace with him. In the first week of Jamada I, 1184 A.H. (last week or August, 1770 A.D.), Nanib secretly made up his quarrel with the Jats [Waqa,232 . More fortunate for Nawal Smgh was the interception of a letter from Najib-ud-daula to Hafiz Rahamat Khan Ruhela, which contained some
4. Ghazi-ud-din had fled from Bharatpur disgusted with the conduct of Jawahar Singh (Wendel).
5. Shikohabad is a pargana in the Mainpuri district on E. 1. Ry. (lat. 27°10" long. 78°40"). Saadabad is a tehsil of Mathura, 28 miles east, south-east of Mathura (lat. 27° 30" long. 78° 5").
[p.136]: reflections on the Marathas. Consequently a coolness sprang up between Najib-ud-daula and Ramchander Ganesh. The Marathas under the cloak of friendship prevented him from leaving their camp, and sent for the vakil of Nawal Singh Jat to talk of a compromise. A treaty of peace was concluded [17th Jamada I, 1184 A.H.6-September 8, 1770], on the following terms: (i) Nawal Singh should pay 65 lakhs of rupees in all, exclusive of the revenues accruing from the provinces conquered by Najib and the Marathas, (ii) out of these 65 lakhs, he should pay down 10 lakhs in twenty days, 15 lakhs in two months, Rs. 7,50,000 in the month of Phagan, and the remaining half in three years, (iii) he should pay an annual nazarana of 11 lakhs to the Marathas, (iv) a jagir of 20 lakhs should be settled upon Ranjit Singh [Pers. Cor. iii. 97-98].
6. The Waqa-i-Shah Alam II says: "News reached that on the 17th jamada 1, 1184 A.H. [September 8, 1770] Najib-ud-daula holding darbars day and night settled the affairs of the Jats with the Maratha chiefs, gave khilats to the Maratha chiefs, and took leave of them leaving Nawab Zabita Khan at their camp." [Waqa, 232].
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