Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana

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Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana (महाराजा भीमसिंह राणा) (1707-1756) was the most
Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana
Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana
powerful ruler of princely state Gohad in northwestern Madhya Pradesh, India. According to Cunningham and William Cook, Bamraulia gotra jats from village Bamrauli (near Agra) in 1505 founded the city Gohad near Gwalior.[1] [2]

Singhandev was the founder of Gohad state. Later it developed into an important Jat State. The Jat rulers of Gohad were awarded the title of Rana.

Contents

Alliance with Maharaja Suraj Mal

Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana played an important role in keeping a power balance in Malwa. Delhi Mughal ruler sent Jay Singh of Jaipur as satrap of Malwa in 1729. Malharrao Holkar, Udaji Panwar and Kanthaji Panwar encountered Jay Singh in Mandavgarh fort. Jay Singh succeeded in defeating Marathas with the help of Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur state. Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana helped Suraj Mal in this mission. This alliance made them the enemies of Marathas.


Even when Maharaja Suraj Mal was so busily engaged in the affairs to his north and east, he did not forget to respond to the frantic call of his tribesmen. Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana had built a fort at Gohad and enlarged his possessions[3] as a result of which Gohad grew into one of three power centres of the Jat rule (The other two being Bharatpur and Patiala). He had occupied the imperial fort of Gwalior when its commandant preferring him to the waiting Marathas capitulated that fort. This ran contrary to the Maratha ambitions and they besieged Gohad (about June 1755). [4] Now the local Jats knocked at the doors of their big brethren, the the Jats of Bharatpur, for help and Bhim Singh sent his emissary Fateh Singh to Suraj Mal. The later thus obliged and despatched with Fateh Singh a force of 500 horse and 2000 foot to Gohad. Encouraged by this support, the Jats initially worsted force of 15000 Marathas. But with the arrival of reinforcements, the Marathas ultimately overpowered the Jats. Those perished in the fighting include 125 Jat horsemen. [5], [6] It is relevant here to take note of an important reference in Marathi despatch. Speaking about the Gohad Jats, it refers at one place, that they lay banking upon the support of Suraj Mal. This shows that as in the case of Jat Rai of Ballamgarh, Suraj Mal all along displayed a patronizing attitude towards the Jat Ranas of Gohad as well. [7] This may account for the grateful Rana [8], [9] as also the Rai often marching in person under the Bharatpur banners. Suraj Mal also displayed similar attitude, among others, towards the Jat chieftains of Bajhor, Kajraura and Karauli [10]as well. Significantly Sudan also makes a casual hint in this direction. [11]

Captures Gwalior fort

Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana increased his powers and was planning to expand his territories. He marched to Malwa in 1736 but came back and targeted the Gwalior Fort. Marathas were also in race to win the Gwalior Fort. The weak and easy-going Mughal satrap Alikhan, looking to the power of Jats, surrendered the fort to Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana. Meanwhile there was a severe fight between Marathas and Jats to win the Gwalior Fort but Jats won and the Gwalior fort came under Jats. Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana occupied the Gwalior fort from 1740-1756.[12]

Chhatri of Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana at Gwalior fort
Chhatri of Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana at Gwalior fort

Death

In 1756 Marathas attacked the Gwalior Fort under the leadership of Mahadji Sheetole, Yammaji Rahalkar and Motiram Bani with a huge army. Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana was wounded and died in war on Chaitra sudi nawami (Ram nawami) in 1756. [13]

Constructed historical monuments

Maharaja Bhim Singh had constructed a historical monument Bhimtal in 1754 on the Gwalior fort. His successor Maharaja Chhatra Singh Rana constructed a grand Chhatri near Bhimtal in memory of Maharaja Bhim Singh on the Gwalior Fort. Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad Gwalior organizes a fair on Gwalior fort on Ram Navami every year in honour of Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana.[14]

Assessment by Maratha historian

The Maratha Historian Balwantrao Bhaiya Saheb Sindhia[15], though a historian and ancestor of Madhav Rao Sindhia four generations back appreciated the bravery of Rana Bhim Singh and has written about Bhim Singh Rana in his book “History of Gwalior fort” as under:

“They (Kishwar Ali Khan and his people) decided to surrender the fort to Rana Bhim singh. Accordingly some 300 men of Rana were allowed to enter the fortress by the way of Kabootar Khana. They were soon followed by Rana Bhim Singh himself, who accompanied with soldiers on foot and on horse back and took up a position at the village of Goorganwan.
...The people of Gwalior were well cared and more protected during the Rana’s regime.
One day, as the Rana came out of the fort and took his stand at the village of Saloo merely to take a view of the position, and to give battle, the forces on both sides took the initiative without any word of command from their respective leaders.
The Rana being armless in the midst of the field of battle performed prodigies of valour and receiving wounds retired to Citedal, where he expired and three days after was cremated near the great Tank built by him in accordance with Hindu rites.”[16]

His successor

Rana Bhim Singh had no son. Girdhar Pratap Singh became his successor in 1755. Girdhar Pratap Singh was son of Samant Rao Balju, a family friend of Rana Bhim Singh. Girdhar Pratap Singh could not rule Gohad for long as he died in 1757. His successor was Rana Chhatar Singh (1757-1785).[17]

References

  1. ↑ Dr. Ajay Kumar Agnihotri (1985) : Gohad ke jaton ka Itihas (Hindi), Nav sahitya Bhawan, New Delhi, p.14-15
  2. ↑ JN Sharma: Jaton ka navin Itihas,p.46
  3. ↑ Memoires des Jats, 4, f.n.]
  4. ↑ Hadiqat, 164-165
  5. ↑ S.P.D. II, 45, XXIX, 60 XXVII, 118, 113
  6. ↑ Hadiqat, 165
  7. ↑ S.P.D., II, 45
  8. ↑ S.P.D., XXI, 26
  9. ↑ William Irvines article, 'The Bangash Nawab of Farrukhabad' (in J.A.S.B.
  10. ↑ Hadiqat, 165, 169
  11. ↑ G.C.Dwivedi, The Jats, Their role in the Mughal Empire, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2003, p.110-112
  12. ↑ Dr Natthan Singh (2004) : Jat-Itihas, Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad, Gwalior,p.359
  13. ↑ Dr Natthan Singh (2004) : Jat-Itihas, Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad, Gwalior,p.359
  14. ↑ Dr Natthan Singh (2004) : Jat-Itihas, Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad, Gwalior,p.360
  15. ↑ Historian Balwantrao Bhaiya Saheb Sindhia,Gwalior ke Qile ka Itihas,Mumbai, 1890
  16. ↑ Jat Vir Smarika 2005,p.6
  17. ↑ Dr. Ajay Kumar Agnihotri (1985) : Gohad ke jaton ka Itihas (Hindi), Nav sahitya Bhawan, New Delhi,p.25

See also

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