Baghel Singh
Baghel Singh | |
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 Baghel Singh depicted in a Janamsakhi manuscript commissioned by him, circa 1793 | |
| Born | 1730 |
| Died | 1802 |
| Resting place | 1765 - 1802 Punjab |
| Nationality | Sikh |
| Known for |
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| Spouses |
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| Children | Bahadur Singh |
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Baghel Singh (c. 1730 – c. 1802) was a warrior leader in the Punjab region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. He rose to prominence in the area around Sutlej and Yamuna. He joined the Singh Krora Misl, one of the Misls during Sikh Confederacy. In 1765, Singh became the leader of the Misl.[1]
Early life
[edit]
Baghel Singh was born in village Chabhal Kalan, Tarn Taran district of Punjab around 1730s into a Dhaliwal Jat family.[2] After the death of Karora Singh, Baghel Singh succeeded him to the headship of the Misl.[3]
Military career
[edit]Following Adina Beg Khan's death in September 1758, and during Ahmad Shah Durrani's invasion of the Marathas (1759-1761), Sikh sardars expanded their territories, establishing themselves as regional chieftains. Baghel Singh acquired a significant portion of Hoshiarpur district and nearly one-fourth of the Jalandhar Doab. He established his primary headquarters in Hariana, 12 kilometers west of Hoshiarpur, and entrusted administrative responsibilities to his wife, Rup Kanwar, who governed effectively.
After the partition of Sarhind province in January 1764, Baghel Singh expanded his territories to include Chhalondi, Jamaitgarh, Khurdin, and Kinori. He established a secondary headquarters in Chhalondi, 30 kilometers from Karnal on the Jagadhri road, with his second wife, Ram Kanwar, overseeing administration. His third wife, Ratan Kaur, managed Kalawar. While his wives handled regional governance, Baghel Singh focused on external affairs and military campaigns..[4] [5]
In Ganga Doab
[edit]Following the conquest of Sarhind province, the Taruna Dal returned to West Punjab, while the Budha Dal, a formidable force of 40,000, marched into the upper Ganga Doab under the leadership of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Baghel Singh Dhaliwal. In February 1764, they sacked the town of Saharanpur and ravaged the districts of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, and Meerut.,[6]
The Sikhs then crossed the Ganges River into Rohilkhand, plundering key towns such as Najibabad, Moradabad, and Anupshahar within a span of two months. Najib-ud-daulah, the de facto ruler of Delhi from 1761 to 1770, was unable to resist the Sikh onslaught. Opting for pragmatism, he chose to pay a substantial ransom of eleven lakhs of rupees to the Sikhs, thereby safeguarding his estates.
In 1775, the Sikhs congregated near Karnal, forming three divisions under the leadership of Rae Singh Bhangi, Tara Singh Ghaiba Dallewalia, and Baghel Singh Karorasinghia. On April 22, 1775, they crossed the Jamuna River near Kunjpura, embarking on a campaign that would see them capture several key towns and villages. Their conquests included Lakhnauti, Gangoh, Ambehta, Nanautah, and Deoband, which fell with little resistance. Zabita Khan, the ruler of Ghausgarh, managed to spare his capital by offering flattery and a bribe of 50,000 rupees, but was forced to accompany the Sikhs as they continued their campaign. The Sikhs also exacted tributes from the Barah Sadat villages, as well as Shamli, Kairanah, Kandhla, and Meerut. They advanced as far as Khurja before beginning their return journey, during which they destroyed Paharganj and Jaisinghpura in Delhi on July 15, 1775. Finally, they recrossed the Jamuna River in July 1775, returning home after a successful campaign.<,[6]
Singh set up an Octroi post (taxation office) near Sabzi Mandi to collect tax on goods imported into the city. The money was used for the construction of Sikh Gurdwaras.
In March 1776, the Sikhs defeated the forces of the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II near Muzaffarnagar.[7][8]
Battle of Ghanaur
[edit]In 1778, Shah Alam II sent an army of about 10,000 soldiers in a counter-attack against the Sikhs. The Mughal force was led by the Wazir Mirza Najaf Khan (Nawab Majad-Ud-Daula) under the banner of the crown prince. The Mughal forces and the Sikh forces met in battle at Ghanaur, near Patiala. The Mughal army lost the battle and surrendered.
Battle of Delhi
[edit]
In March 1783, Dal Khalsa under Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Baghel Singh was advancing upon Delhi,[9][10] Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was placed on the throne of Delhi as Badshah Singh of Delhi by Sikhs but Jassa Singh Ramgarhia objected to it as it was the same throne where previous Mughal emperors sat and gave orders for execution of the Sikh Gurus, considering the throne evil and worthless. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia at once renounced the honour.[9][10] Mughals agreed to construct 7 Sikh Gurudwaras in Delhi for Sikh Gurus.[11][12][13][4]
Gurudwaras
[edit]- Gurdwara Mata Sundri[14]
- Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
- Gurdwara Rakab Ganj
- Gurdwara Sis Ganj[15]
- Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla[16][17]
Sack of Chandausi
[edit]In beginning of January 1785, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Baghel Singh, Gurdit Singh of Ladwa passed over Jamuna river, They plundered the village and towns of Sadaat-e-Bara, Zabita Khan did not stir out of his fort of Ghausgarh, they crossed the Ganga river and entered Rohilakhand, On 13 January, the villages of Barsi and mahmudpur were laid waste, On 14 January, They sacked Chandausi the great center of about 2000 bankers, rich merchants and jewellers was thoroughly squeezed and booty worth a crore of rupees was obtained in two days and nights,[6]
Rise of Sikh power
[edit]In 1783, Singh entered Delhi.[11][18][19][14]
Singh and the Mughal Emperor contracted that 12.5% of the "octroi" (trade tax) of Delhi would be sent to Singh. In return, he would ensure that the Sikhs did not attack the capital again.[20]
Sikh Gurdwaras in Delhi
[edit]Singh is credited with establishing several Gurudwaras (Sikh Gurdwara's) in Delhi, including:[citation needed]
- Gurdwara Mata Sundri
- Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
- Gurdwara Rakab Ganj
- Gurdwara Sis Ganj
- Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla
Death
[edit]Singh died in about 1802 in Hariana in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, India.[citation needed][21]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Baba Baghel Singh Museum's paintings and their brief history ON 26 JANUARY 2K21 SINGH'S LIKE BAGHEL SINGH WON ONE MORE TIME DELHI.(NOT WON BUT SHOW KHALSA CAN DO ANYTHING . WITHOUT ANY MORDEN WEAPONS SIKH'S YOUTH MOVE TO DELHI AGAINST INDIAN GOVERNMENT, WHEN HOEL INDIA was protesting against GOVERNMENT FOR 3 FARMERS LAW.) The sikh youth move to RED FORT and hosted SIKH FLAG (NISHAN SAHIB) on the RED FORT . - Page 53
- ^ Major Nahar Singh Jawandha (2010). Glimpses of Sikhism. Sanbun Publishers. p. 239. ISBN 9789380213255.
- ^ Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001). The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
- ^ a b Bhagata, Siṅgha (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. pp. 271–282.
Baghel Singh, Baghel Singh took the leadership of karorisingha misl.
- ^ N. G. Rathod (1994). The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia. Sarup & Sons. pp. 31–32. ISBN 9788185431529.
- ^ a b c Singh, Khushwant (11 October 2004). A History of the Sikhs: 1469–1838 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-567308-1. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram, History of the Sikhs, vol. III. Delhi, 1979
- ^ Sital, Sohan Singh, Sikh Mislan. Ludhiana, 1952
- ^ a b Singh, Pashaura; Barrier, Norman Gerald (1999). Sikh Identity: Continuity and Change. Manohar. p. 264. ISBN 978-81-7304-236-2.
- ^ a b http://sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?id=2532&cat=14 [bare URL]
- ^ a b Sethi, Jasbir Singh. Views and Reviews. Sanbun Publishers. ISBN 9788190825986.
- ^ Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
- ^ Singha 2000.
- ^ a b Randhir, G.S (1990). Sikh Shrines in India. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 9788123022604.
- ^ H. S. Singha (2000). The encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 187. ISBN 81-7010-301-0.
- ^ "A Gurdwara steeped in history". The Times of India. 25 March 2012.
- ^ "Majnu ka Tila and the romance of sepak takraw". Indian Express. 28 July 2011.
- ^ Hari Ram Gupta, History of the Sikhs: Sikh Domination of the Mughal Empire, 1764–1803, second ed., Munshiram Manoharlal (2000) ISBN 978-8-12150-213-9
- ^ Ram Gupta, History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Misls, rev. ed., Munshiram Manoharlal (2001) ISBN 978-8-12150-165-1
- ^ Harbans Singh, The Heritage of the Sikhs. Delhi, 1983
- ^ Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (11 June 2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 54–. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
Works cited
[edit]- Singha, H. S, ed. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1.
Further reading
[edit]- Gian Singh, Giani, Panth Prakash [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
- Bhahgu, Ratan Singh, Prachin Panth Prakash [Reprint], Amritsar, 1962
- Sital, Sohan Singh, Sikh Mislan. Ludhiana, 1952
- Harbans Singh, The Heritage of the Sikhs. Delhi, 1983
External links
[edit]- News article on Baghel Singh
- The Fall of the Moghul Empire of Hindustan Archived 4 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
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