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ravichaudhary
November 23rd, 2002, 02:11 AM
Timur and India I

To the list

I am posting an Indian account of how the wars with Timur went.

Our Histories just tell us of the mayhem and rapine that he created,
but here is a different account, not generally given much publicity
in our histories.

Readers will note the detail in the account names, places, dates.

I am posting this without editing; hoping it will become the basis
for further research and a record of our people's resistance

Apart from this, there is a persistent oral tradition in Western UP
of how Timur came, and was driven out, and not allowed reaching
Haridwar.

Comments welcome.



Ravi




TIMUR AND INDIA

Translated from: Jat Viron ka Ithihas (Hindi) (The History of the
Jats) (1992)

Captain Dalip Singh Ahlawat, Acharya Printing Press, Dayanand Mut,
Rohtak, India.
.

PP 376- 383, 578.


TIMUR AND INDIA

Timur was born in 1336 AD in Kesh, in Mavraunhar which is 50 miles
from, Samarkhand.

His father Amir Turgeh (Turangi) was a leader of the Gurkhan Clan of
the Turks. When he was 33 years old he became the leader of the
Chagtai Turks. He made Samarkhand his capital. As he child he went
lame in one leg, and was known as Timur Lung or Timur the Lame. (The
author comments: Chagtai is a Jat Clan, the name having evolved from
Chatta or Chagtah).

In Central Asia, at this time, the Jats were in great strength and
Timur made war on them. According to the History of Persia Vol II,
(Percy Sykes) - "At that time Mongolia or Jatah was ruled by Tuglak
Khan of the Oghlan Clan of the Jats, and he was a follower of the
Buddhist religion. He learned that Haji Barlas had acquired
Samarkhand and he determined to take it for himself. Towards this
objective he appeared in the province of Kesh in AD 1369(A.H 761).
Timur's paternal uncle (Chacha) Haji Barlas, in fear of the invasion
ran away to Khurasan and was later killed there by brigands. Tuglak
Khan established his authority at Samarkhand. Some time later Timur
appealed to Tuglak Kahn to allow him to serve him. Tuglak Kahn
appointed his son Khoja Oghlan as the Governor of Transoxiana
(Samarkhand) and Timur was appointed his counselor.

Timur developed his military strength by stealth, and established his
authority on the kingdom of Samarkhand.

He was a heroic warrior, brake and skilled in warfare. Using the
strength of his military force he started to attack the neighboring
kingdoms.

The Jats inflicted a great defeat upon his, and an account of that is
given in the book" The Conquests of Timur Lung". The account is like
this:

' Under the leadership, of the Jat general Vikijuk, the Jats
inflicted a great defeat on Timur, and he escaped with his life. The
Chief Maulvi of Samarkhand, Zainuddin said to Timur ' Even I the
Chief Mulla have to live in hiding in fear for my life, where you
(Timur) have found me. Woeful days are upon us. It is the same state
of affairs in Bokhara, Khojhand, and Karshi… everywhere. There in not
a single Tatar prince who can lead us? You the only Prince who dared
… to come near the Jat strongholds. Zainuddin studied me shrewdly. I
(Timur) had once accepted Allah's mantle - I want to wear it no
more. In the name of Allah I have fought once with the Jats, I do
not wish to face such a calamity again. 'Pray for a scourge on the
Jats', I said derisively, and then in a moment of inspiration, I add,
seriously,' Pray for a scourge on their horses. Without horses the
Jats are powerless.'(Autobiography of Timur, Eng. Translation, by
Major Stewart (1830) from Persian Malfuzat- I- Timuri by Abu Talib
Husaini- quoted in 'Jats the ancient rulers - author B. S. Dahiya.'
Pp61, Sterling Books, New Delhi

For some reason, a virulent disease spread among the horses of the
Jats, and they had to fight the war carrying their weapons and
belongings on their heads. In the end Timur won the victory. After
defeating the Jats of Central Asia, Timur was able to come upto India
and ransack Delhi.

In the Jat country of Turuska (Turkistan), at the time of the war
with Changez Khan, there were many larger cites. At this time in
Central Asia (Turkistan) the Jat civilization was at its prime.
Colonel Todd, says of these Jats" If we test the effect of the empire
of the great Getic (Jat) people kingly At the time Cyrus, six hundred
years prior to Christ, the achievements were not less than the high
achievements of Timur. Even though 20 centuries had passed.


After defeating the Jats, Timur established his capital at
Samarkhand. With his strong army he won Turkistan, Fars, Afghanistan
and other nations, and then decided to attack Bharat, which at time
was not in a good condition. The last Badshah of the Tuglaks, ruling
at the Delhi Sultanate was a weak ruler. He was unsuccessful in
subduing the many rebellions in India. Taking advantage of this
situation Timur attacked Bharat. He first made is grandson Pir
Muhammad the general of the advance army. He crossed Sindu and
conquered Kutch. He advanced further and conquered Multan, Dipalpur,
and Pak Patan. He the reached the Sutlej river, where he awaited his
grandfather. On September 24, 1398 AD, Timur, with 92000 horsemen,
acme over the Hindukush and crossed Sind. He came to Multan via
Peshawar. On his advance from there he had a big clash with the
Khokkar Jats, and after defeating them he reached the Sutlej and met
up with his grandson. In the battle of Multan, and on his advancing
path, the Jats resisted him with great valor. He then attacked
Bhatnair, for there was a fear of an attack on him by the Jats.
Bhatnair is the on the road from Bhatinda to Bikaner. (A brief
History of Medieval India- pp161-163- author - Ishwari Prasad.)

Munshi Jawalasahai in his book Vankaya Rajputana, Vol I, writes"
Bhatnair, which is now a part of the kingdom of Bikaner, was in olden
times a capital of another group of Jats. These Jats were so capable,
that when rising they took issue with the Badshahs (Mughal kings),
and when defeated, managed their defeat. This area was called
Bhatnair because of the great population of Bhatti Jats.

The people, who would attack India from Central Asia, found Bhatnair
in their path, and because of this Bhatnair gained fame in history.
They resisted Timur's attack"

Timur conquered Bhatnair, and having established his Hakim Chigath
Khan as Governor advanced ahead. A few days after this attack, the
Jats took back their kingdom, and under the leadership of Sardar Vir
Singh and Verisaal, they advanced from Phulaera and Mahraut and
attacked Bhatnair. Upon achieving victory the reestablished
themselves in Bhatnair. (History of the Jats (Hindi) - Thakur Desraj)

The Jats fought Timur with great valor, and he said of them" the Jats
are a strong race. They look like demons, I numbers like ants, and
for an enemy great warriors."

Timur with 10,000 chosen horsemen, through the jungles around
Bhatnair reached the village of Tohana, In his annals of conquests, '
On reaching Tohana, I found that the residents of this place are
Vajra Corporal ***, and are known as Jats. They are Muslims only in
name. They have no equal in looting and banditry. These Jat gangs
loot passing caravans and have driven fear into the lives of
Mussalmans and other travelers."


In his first effort he was unable to defeat the Jats, and he had to
advance further using additional troops. He then writes" In fact my
objective for conquering Hindustan was to make a religious war on
this idol worshiping Hindus, and to follow the directions of Mohammed
and spread Islam. It was necessary that I wipe out every sign of
these Jats' Timur killed 2000 demon like Jats. The wives and children
were made captive. The animals and property were looted. After
repressing them, a sigh of relief was taken. (E and Dr, Tujuke
Temuri, part 3, Pp429, and Sharafdin Ali Yezdi Krta Zafarnama, Part
3, PP 492-493).


From Bhatnair Timur advanced towards the Sarasvati, and reached
Kaithal, where he made preparations to attack Delhi by the time he
reached Panipat, Mahmud Tuglak handed over all authority to his
minister Mallu Iqbal, and ran away to Gujarat. Timur after much
looting and oppressing arrived at Jahanpanaha', the seat of the
Kingdom. This place was constructed 6 miles from Delhi by Firoz
Tuglak. He ravaged the surrounding countryside. When he came near
Delhi, he massacred o100, 000 Hindus who were in his captivity. Now
Iqbal advanced with an army of 40,000-foot soldiers, 10,000 fine
horsemen, and 125 cannon for battle. Outside Delhi both armies fought
fiercely. The Indian troops fought bravely and determinedly but lost.
The general Mallu Iqbal fled from the battlefield. Timur unfurled his
flag on the fort of Delhi.

Timur in his anger, ordered general slaughter and looting. The Turk
army massacred lakhs of men and women. The massacre and looting went
on non-stop for five days. When due to the stench of the innumerable
corpses it was impossible to stay in Delhi, he orders the return via
Meerut. (History of Medieval India (Hindi) PP 161-163 Author -
Ishwari Prasad. Hidustan ka Ithihas (urdu) pp. 186- 189, The rise of
the Jats, (Hindi) PP 115 Yogendra Pal Shastri, History of the Jats
(Hindi) Thakur Desraj.)


Timur vanquished the governor of Meerut Alyas Afghan. There he
slaughtered 50,000 citizens and razed all the houses to the ground.
At that time Haridwar was a famous place. After looting much wealth
from there, Timur reached Jammu via the Sivaliks. He defeated the
king there and forced him to become a Muslim. Then he decided to
return to his land. Prior to his return he eliminated the rulers of
Lahore, Multan and Dipalpur Kijra Kha. Timur then left Hart and
arrived at Samarkhand. (History of Medieval India (Hindi) PP 163-163,
Ishwariprasad, Hindustan Ki Tarik (Urdu) pp. 189 0190,


************

chashokverma
November 23rd, 2002, 11:22 AM
good work plz keep it up

rajendersingh
November 23rd, 2002, 01:49 PM
ravi ji ,it is really that this site meant for.there has been long gap in history but it can be bridged if there is will. keep it up

urmiladuhan
November 25th, 2002, 04:14 AM
HELLO,
I REALISE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAFEGAURD OUR CULTURE AND PEOPLE FROM AGGRESIVE INVASION. IN THAT RESPECT, I THINK HISTORY TELLS US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KNOW WAR /DEFENSE TACTICS- WHICH IS WHAT JAT HISTORY IS REPLETE WITH. IT IS ONLY AFTER THE PEOPLE OF A COMMUNITY FEEL SECURE CAN THEY THINK ABOUT OTHER ISSUES LIKE DEVELOPING ART, CULTURE, EDUCATION ETC. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE THE CONCULSION FROM THESE POSTS THAT WILL HELP JATS HELP THEMSELVES IN CURRENT POLITICAL-SOCIAL SCENARIO.

akdabas
November 26th, 2002, 01:44 AM
Excellent !

Keep up the good work.

kharub
November 30th, 2002, 05:04 AM
Dear Bhai Sabah,

I am a very proud Jat and this article enlightned me with the ancient glory of the Jat Kingdoms and history.

Before this i was not aware of the fact that Jats were spread all over the Central Asia and The Middle East.
and they had vast empires, i was under the impression that Jats were present in small numbers in India, Pakistan and Iran.

Thanks alot for providing with this precious knowledge.