Summary
Raja Ram (reign 1670–1688) was the first Jat leader, who organised a rebellion against Aurangzeb. He was the chieftain of Sinsini. Before Rajaram the Jats were organised by different village heads dotted around Agra, Mathura and the Yamuna river. To avenge the death of Gokula, Rajaram destroyed Akbar's tomb and dragged Akbar's bones and burned them with the help of the Jat Zamindars of Braj.[1] After his death, his brother Churaman and son Fateh Singh continued the struggle against Aurangzeb.[2]
| Rajaram of Sinsini | |
|---|---|
| Chieftain of Sinsini | |
| Reign | 1670–1688 |
| Predecessor | Gokula |
| Successor | Churaman |
| Dynasty | Sinsinwar Jat Dynasty |
| Father | Bhajja/Bhagwant Singh |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Mughal campaigns against Rajaram edit
In the first of the two military campaigns of Mughal Nawab Khan-i-Jahan Bahadur Zafar Jang Kokaltash against the Jats of Sinsini, the armies of the Amber state ruler and Mathura faujdar joined him. But the three combined forces were defeated by the Jats under the leadership of Rajaram. The parganas of Bhuma, Hodal, Kuthumbar, and Palwal came under the control of Jats after this defeat of the Mughals. Based on a contemporary arzdasht (petition), historian R. P. Rana states that this was the period when the Jats living around Agra and Delhi appear to have revolted. It was the active support of these Jats that made Rajaram victorious. The Jats also ousted imperial revenue officials and the jagirdars' agents from the parganas between Delhi and Agra. The Mughals lost control of the region, and after an unsuccessful campaign lasting a month, Khan-e-Jahan retreated to Mathura.[3][4]
In his second campaign against the Jats, Nawab Khan-e-Jahan besieged Ram Chahar's fortress in Sogar. The Nawab successfully captured the fortress and casualties on the Jat side included Ram Chahar. Nawab next targeted Sinsini, but he had to retreat to Mathura after Rajaram defeated him in a battle near Sinsini. This battle also resulted in the killing of many prominent Rajput Sardars from Amber who were fighting on the side of the Mughals. This victory made the Jats even more assertive, and they set up their thanas (police posts) after removing those of the Mughals in Ao, Bhusawar, Khohri, Sahar, and Sonkhar.[3]
Campaign Against Aghar Khan
Rajaram soon showed even greater audacity. The renowned Turanni warrior Aghar Khan was going from Kabul to the Emperor's camp at Bijapur. Near Dholpur, as his troops were marching carelessly and without order, a large party of Jats suddenly fell on his baggage and carried off some carts, horses and women. The Khan, without making any proper arrangement or concerted plan, impetuously galloped in pursuit of the raiders, at the head of a small force, and overtook them five miles off. Here the Jats turned at bay and killed Aghar Khan and his son-in-law with 80 of their followers.[5]
References edit
- ^ Hansen, Waldemar (1986-09-01). The Peacock Throne: The Drama of Mogul India. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 454. ISBN 978-8-12080-225-4.
- ^ Jadunath Sarkar, A History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938 pg.152
- ^ a b Rana, R. P. (2006). Rebels to Rulers: The Rise of Jat Power in Medieval India c. 1665–1735. Manohar. p. 145. ISBN 978-81-7304-605-6.
- ^ Rana, RP (31 December 2013). "Social and economic background of the rise of Bharatpur kingdom" (PDF). Shodhganga.
- ^ Sarkar, Jadunath. "History of Aurngjeb". p. 227.