Q on R'jsthan history: Aurangzeb & Rajput kings.

[chhoraharyanada]

RAM RAM.

Many hindutvadis propagate the view that:

' Following the death of the great Rajput Kings, Jai Singh and Jaswant Singh in 1680 the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb attempted to destroy and convert the Rajputs, It lead to a war erupting with the Rajputs rushing to the defence of ‘the temples of our Gods and the ashes of our fathers’ under Durga Dass and Ajit Singh resulting in eventual victory in 1708 at Lake Pushkar. '

I have a question for Dr Birbal Singh Ji, or anybody else ...

These Rajput kings - Jai Singh & Jaswant Singh, they gave their daughters to muslims right?

I think Dr Birbal Singh put up a post before the jatland.com server crashed and some info was lost.
If you could re-post/rewrite that part out again, I'd be grateful.

I'd like to learn about some truth behind "Rajputs are great" myths.

Thanks in advance,

Regards, and RAM RAM.

[birbal]

Ramandeep,

I did write a post in response to a post by someone pretending to be a Jat. I do not keep my write ups but the facts are fairly straightforward.

Both Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur and Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur spent their life in service of Aurangzeb. In fact, they both died (at different times) fighting on behalf of Aurangzeb.

It was Raja Jai Singh who essentially arrested Shivaji (though it was a sort of forced agreement) and brought him to the Mogul court to be humiliated.

You might have read about one of the most daring raid ever by Shivaji on Poona fort when he entered the fort pretending to be a member of a wedding party and in the night he attacked the inside of the palace of Shaist Khan (maternal uncle of Aurangzeb and nephew of Noor Jehan). Shivaji killed one of the sons of Shaist Khan and while Shaist Khan was jumping over the wall, Shivaji's sword chopped part of his fingers. The Poona fort at that time was guarded by Jaswant Singh and his 10,000 Rajput soldiers.

Another great story you might have read when Tanaji Malsure (Shivaji's General) climbed the straight up hill of the Singh Gadh Fort using the lizard (we call Ghera in Rajasthan) and succeded in taking the fort from the Moguls with just a small group of fighters although Tanaji himself was killed during the fight. Do you know who were the Mogul soldiers and who was the Mogul General? They were 5,000 Jaipur Rajputs under the command of Raja Udaibhan Singh (brother of Raja Jai Singh).

In fact, the army of the most well known Mogul General, Mahabat Khan, consisted of mostly Rajputs.

Of course, all Rajputs, except the Mewar Ranas, married their daughter to Muslims. In one of the post by Hindutva people, Ajit Singh (Son of Jaswant Singh) was portrayed as saviour of Hindu religion. But he married his daughter to one of the weakest Mogul emperors, Farouq Siyar, who was totally controlled by Sayyad brothers and finally murdered by them in the most brutal fashion. After the killing of Farouq Siyar, Ajit Singh's daughter went back to Jodhpur and supposedly had "Suddhi" (purification) performed on herself and lived as a Hindu widow. What a farce?

There is ample evidence in history that except Rana Pratap Singh and his grandfather, Rana Sangram Singh, the Rajputs were a bunch of cowards who worked as soldiers first for the Muslims and then for the British, and committed atrocities on their behalf.

In the third battle of Panipat, where the Maratha General Sadashiv Rao Bhau, assembled a huge army (mostly Hindus but few Muslims too) including 25,000 Jats against Ahmad Shah Abdali, there was not a single Rajput supporting Sadashiv Rao. When facing certain defeat and death, Sadashiv Rao had told his subordinates to kill his wife Parvati Bai to prevent her capture by Muslims, but the Jats not only saved her but managed to send her safely back to her home where she lived life with great dignity until her death due to old age.

When the British power rose, not a single Rajput fought even for a day against the British. In one of the most shameful chapters in Indian history, Col. Todd was carried by Palaki from one place to other by Rajputs, each signing treaty of subordination to the British. In Rajasthan, the only one who fought against the British was the Bharatpur's Jat Maharaja.

For the Hindutva people who are attempting to write history as fiction, let me quote a part of a letter written by Robert Clive in 1760s back home to England.

Cilve wrote "I can assert with some degree of confidence that this rich and flourishing Kingdom may be totally subdued by so small a force as two thosand Europeans... The Indians [Rajas and Nawabs] are indolent, luxrious, ignorant, and cowardly beyond all conception... [They] attempt everything by treachery rather than force..."

When I read that letter I feel the great power of History when it is true History. The British took time to understand the Indian situation thoroughly and implemented the action plan. What a shame for India that it produced 30% of world's GDP at that time (Read "Rise and Fall of Great Powers" by Paul Kenneddy, a Yale Professor), yet it could be taken over by 2,000 men!

The problem with Hindutva people is that they want to keep the Hindu population totally ignorant. In my opinion, one the best books from the time British were expading their influence rapidly, was "Seir-e Mutaqherin" (roughly tanslated - A Review of Modern Times) written in 1780 by Gholam Hossein Khan. He saw everything (divide and rule) clearly. You will never find his name mentioned by Hindutva people.

I should add that the greatest Indian of modern times, Swami Dayanand, did not try to downplay or disown the great accomplishments of ancient India, but he tried very hard to take us away from the corrupt "Sanatana Dharma". There are so many great accomplishments by Hindus that there is no need for us to rely on myths and lies. But the modern Hindutva people have absolutely no interest in the true Hindu religion.

[ndahiya]

Birbal Singh ji

A really well researched article!! Thanks much!

Nitin

[jagmohan]

Birbal Ji,

Thanks for a brief but very genuine account of the 'Rajput Bravery'.

There is no doubt that Hindustan became 'Gulam' mainly because of the Rajputs and remained 'Gulam' because of Rajputs & Sikhs, as most of their Maharajas were either 'Tattoos' of Mughals and/or British. And what is surprising is that these very people now claim to be the saviors of HIndustan. The 'Purohits' (Brahmins) & 'Chamchas' of conquerers (Rajputs & Sikhs) of the past now rule this country.

Let us all read and understand our history and work hard to regain the rightful place in society.

Regards,

JS Malik

[dharmpaltakhar]

thanx a lot Birbal uncleji. this information is certainly enlightening. though i have read most of it somewhere but it was nice to see it all composed so well here.
Jagmohanji I am not aware about the complicity of Sikhs in this meddle. could you please tell me more about it?

[jagmohan]

Dharampal Ji,

The story of India's First War of Independence has been well documented by many writers and historians. The story of peoples who rose against the British and those who supported the British crush the Nationalists is too well known to be repeated. I am sure even our archives must be having a lot of material on this issue.

I agree that in this thread the discussion is only about the Rajputs. Since there are others in this country who claim to be the saviors of our nation and consider themselves the only 'Patriots', I mentioned about the Sikhs. And this comment is not against all Sikhs but the rulers. But then 'Yatha Raja, Thatha Praja'.

Regards,

JS Malik

[ratananmol]

I strongly object to any casual reference to the Sikh role except perhaps when sikh society was under control of their corrupt kings.Esp.Dilip Singh onwards.
We should be proud of our neutral or defiant role in all this episode but let us not corner ourself into believing that resistance was a hallmark of hindu jats only.Sikhs(read jats who became sikhs) have a remarkable hostory of fighting against oppression by either Mughals or British.It was only after Ranjit Singh that British aspired to set foot on the brave land of Punjab of Ranjit which spanned from Hodal(near delhi) to Kabul.The systematic Brahmin politics is responsible for the fact that someone who rescued Indian treasures from as far as Iran is relegated to a few pages in our school textbooks and on the contrary the roads of our capital city are named after the very people(akbar,babar,humiyun,shah jahan and you name it) who raped our women and destroyed the scientific and cultural aspects of our society.
I do not want to sound like endorsing the BJP line here because they are nothing but the same "brahmins" under a different garb.
The lack of understanding of the sikh history(which is well documented) and our laziness in not displaying enough cognitive courage to do so yields a dark and sorry state from which we can not but only see the incomplete picture we like to see and believe.

[rkumar]

I strongly object to any casual reference to the Sikh role except perhaps when sikh society was under control of their corrupt kings.Esp.Dilip Singh onwards.
We should be proud of our neutral or defiant role in all this episode but let us not corner ourself into believing that resistance was a hallmark of hindu jats only.Sikhs(read jats who became sikhs) have a remerkable hostory of fighting against oppression by either Mughals or British.It was only after Ranjit Singh that British aspired to set foot on the brave land of Punjab of Ranjit which spanned from Hodal(near delhi) to Kabul.The systematic Brahmin politics is responsible for the fact that someone who rescued Indian treasures from as far as Iran is relegated to a few pages in our school textbooks and the roads of our capital city are named after the very people(akbar,babar,humiyun,shah jahan and you name it) who raped our women and destroyed the scientific and cultural aspects of our society.
I do not want to sound like endorsing the BJP line here because they are nothing but the same "brahmins" under a different garb.
The lack of understanding of the sikh history(which is well documented) and our laziness in not displaying enough cognitive courage to do so yields a dark and sorry state from which we can not but only see the incomplete picture we like to see and believe.

There is no doubt that Brahmans have always been manipulating the Indian masses right from the time of Lord Rama. But again there is nothing so strange about it. Brahmans were the one who were the depository of all education and knowledge.

Now coming to those who sided with Rulers ( Muslims or British or for that matter anyone), no single caste or community can be branded under that category. Sikhs had a very valid reason of siding with British as they were always anti- Muslims and did not want Bahadur Saha Zafar to take over the emperorship of India. Ahmed Sah Abdali was invited to attack Maratha by a Local Muslim Leader from Muzaffar Nagar and lots of Jats and Maraths were butured in Panipat. Armies of Afgans and Rohillas butured lots of Sikhs as well. How does one expect Sikhs or Jats or maraths to support Muslim rule in 1857 ? All those who were suppressed by Muslims, sided with British.

Once British entrenched themselves firmly in India, rulers of every possible caste and religion started shaking their tails. Muslim rulers of Hyderabad, Rampur, Jhoona garh, Rajputs of Rajesthan, even UP ( read VP Singh and his forefathers), Marathas ( read Scindhias) were all British stooge. And most of them joined hands once again with present day rulers after independence.. Scindhias have the dubious distinction of being in every party.

History books are not written for free. Being great is one thing and finding place in history books is another.

Conclusion: As I mentioned earlier also under some thread on Jatland, let us not get emotional about affiliations. Jats should side with any party who is willing to concede favours to them in terms of development and otherwise.. Our bargaining power can be highest only when we move in solid blocks..

Rajendra

[ravichaudhary]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JatHistory/message/2088

see also msg 2083


Rajastan is Jat dominated. It was and is a Jat state not a Rajput state.

It was a Jat state well into the 16th century. It was about that time that the Jats lost their ascendancy, to the Rajput power which existed only due to support from the Islamic rulers, (and later the British) for whom they were the military contractors, as ably pointed out by Dr. Birbal Singh.

The period from 1600 AD to 1950 AD, a period of some 400 years, has to be seen as the period of Jat resistance, eventually successful.

In fact the resistance is not only by the Jats but also by other communities, including some Rajput, who resented the monarchial dominance sought by the petty rajputs, who established small Zamindaris with Muslim and British help, and gave themselves grandiose names like Maharaja.

The atrocities committed on the population should make any Indian sick to the stomach. Sadly this lot is glorified as ‘saviours of Hindoostan’ in our textbooks, not reviled and persecuted for crimes against the indian people, as they should be.

In this resistance the Jats of Bharatpur Bayana, Agra, Mathura played a leading role. In the 20th century we have an increased tempo of struggle, which led to the establishment of education, and the elimination of Zamindari in Rajastan.

See also:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JatHistory/message/2055
The Jat awakening in Rajastan- 20th century CE

We need more work on these aspects of our history. Those wishing to help, please come forward.
You will be welcome

Best regards

Ravi Chaudhary

[ravichaudhary]

The raids of Abdalli into India around 1750 Ad are well known to every child in India. His atrocities, the want destruction need no retelling. The defeat of the Maharattas and the Jats in the 3rd battle of Panipat is said to be the turning point for the decline of the Maharatta power in India, and the rise of the British power.
What is not so commonly known is the role of the Rajput of Rajastan; that the Rajput states wee conniving with Abdalli , two years prior to the battle of Panipat in 1761, and had invited Abdalli into India.
Many have wondered why the Rajputs stayed aloof from these battles, which could have got rid of the foreign invaders. Or why they stood shoulder to shoulder with the Rohilla Mulsims.
The reasons though distasteful, are clear, they were instrumental in actively aiding Abdalli, as they had the Muslim invaders in the past.


See: Maharata – rajput relations by Dr. K. A. Acharya.
http://www.maratharajputrelations.com/book.html
Dr. Acharya is retired Principal of Sitabai Arts College, Akola, Maharashtra (India)
Note:
footnote [38] S.P.D. 2-106. (4) Madhaosing-Abdali negetiations and his activities, are based on Persion manuscript of a collection of letters (1759 to 1761 A.D.), from the Records of the former Jaypur State, published in the ‘Pro. Of the Indian History - Congress’, 8th session 1945,
pp. 257 to 269, also Jaypur Draft Kharitans 5-168.
[ S.P.D -Selections from Peshwa Daftar, By Sardesai G.S.]


Extract – chapter 5
(v) The Rohilla Pathan and The Rajput Combination :


In 1759 A.D. it seemed that the Marathas had reached their goal of All-India supremacy. But they were not destined to attain it as their enemies were already active (38) against them.

Madhaosing had sent Har Jasrao to Taimur Shah and through him established his contacts with Abdali in December 1759 A.D. The Shah now informed him that taking advantage of his absence in Iran, where he had led his forces, the Marathas had thrown the whole of Hindusthan into disorder and hence he was forced to turn his attention to Hindusthan.

The Shah asked Madhaosing (of Jaipur) to join hands with Vijaysing and stop the passages of the Marathas towards Deccan and to keep him informed of everything. He was assured that, “Najibuddaula has impressed me of your sincerity, fidelity and devotion and God willing, you will attain pre-eminence and distinction greater than the days of preceding sovereigns of Hindusthan.”

Thus Madhaosing (39) began his active participation in the designs of Najib Khan and Abdali, for the downfall of the Marathas, and it continued throughout till the object was achieved on the fatal field of Panipat, in 1761 A.D.

For that, Madhaosing was kept well informed by Abdali and Najib Khan of all the developments during 1759 to 1761 A.D. and in return he kept the Durani fully acquainted with what was happening on his side. He was praised for his fidelity, encouraged over his successes and contantly asked to repel the Marathas from his dominion. For that he was asked to stop the ways and passages to the South, to be in close contact with Vijaysing and to cooperate fully in wiping out the traces of the Marathas from the North to prevent the possibility for them of raising their heads again.

Madhaosing was equally a firm ally of Rahilla-Pathans. He sent the copy of the letter sent by him to Pant Pradhan, to the Durani Chief for his knowledge, engaged Malharrao in Jaypur territory when his help was badly needed by Dattaji in December 1760 A.D. rejected the overtures of Gaziuddin and Jankoji Shinde and also the friendly had of the Peshwa (40), and did everything to promote the Durani cause excepting the actual participation against the Marathas.

The last act he did not do only because he was not sure of Abdali’s disposition (“If only his promise of safety could be relied upon, the Rajputs would certaily wait upon him” – Badrinath, son of Keshwada) when finally the plan succeeded at Panipat, Abdali himself in a long letter informed Madhaosing about his victory over the Marathas.

Vijaysing also was equally in sympathy with Abdali (41).

The Marathas were ignorant of these activities till last. They realized of the conspiracy against them when Abdali dashed into Punjab driving away Sabaji Shinde from Punjab and when the latter arrieved with his wornout soldiers in Doab in 1759, November A.D. Govind Ballal wrote from Ganga in Nowad conspired for the last two years to bring Abdali once more to uproot the Maratha rule (in the North). Thus the secret correspondence continued. Vakils were active in their reciprocal visits. We had no knowledge of all this till now we (recently) knew of it, when everything was clear (42).

[rkumar]

Ravi,

Glace at following article would also add some extra light on Abdali episode.

http://www.saag.org/papers7/paper629.html

Abdali was not the only one invited by Rajputs. Mohmad Ghori was also invited by another infamous Rajput Jaichand..Rajputs have never been great kings if one looks at history. At best they were local kings with dubious records.

Rajendra

[ratananmol]

Dear Rajinder Uncle:
Have you shifted your base from Delhi to UK?
Just wondering.
Anmol.

[rkumar]

Dear Rajinder Uncle:
Have you shifted your base from Delhi to UK?
Just wondering.
Anmol.

Bhai Jaan upna base kabhi fixed hua hi nahi...upaan to moble launcher hain....Jokes apart...I moved to UK only temporarily and would be moving back to India once again next year....I am leaving for Delhi tomorrow morning and will be back in UK by 10th April..Having this Cancer Hospital function on 3rd April in my village...Will report back after my return..

Regards
Rajendra