Charat Singh
| Charat Singh | |
|---|---|
| Sardar | |
_on_horseback_in_a_jungle_armed_with_a_lance_or_spear,_kattar_(Indic_push_dagger),_dhal_shield,_and_bow_and_arrow.jpg){kind=icon} | |
| Chief of Sukerchakia Misl | |
| Reign | 1752—1770 or 1752—1774 |
| Successor | Maha Singh |
| Born | 1721 or 1732 (Gujranwala, Pakistan) |
| Died | 1770 or 1774 (aged 41–42) Sukerchakia Misl, Gujranwala, Sikh Confederacy |
| Spouse | Desan Kaur (m.1756) |
| Issue | Mahan Singh Sahej Singh Raj Kaur Saher Kaur |
| Dynasty | Sandhawalia |
| Father | Naudh Singh[1] |
| Part of a series on |
| Sikhism |
|---|
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Sardar Charat Singh (1721–1770[2] or 1733–1774), also romanised as Charhat Singh, was the founder of Sukerchakia Misl, father of Mahan Singh, and the grandfather of Ranjit Singh, the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. He distinguished himself at an early age in campaigns against Ahmad Shah Abdali and along with 150 horsemen split from the Singhpuria Misl to establish the Sukerchakia Misl, a separate grouping with its distinct guerilla militia.[3]
Early life
[edit]Charat Singh was born to Chaudhary Naudh Singh (died 1752) and Lali Kaur in a Sandhawalia Jat Sikh family.[4] His grandfather was Budh Singh (1670 – 1718),[5] a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh.[2] In 1756 he married Desan Kaur Waraich, a daughter of Sikh ruler Amir Singh Waraich. The couple had four children, two sons, Maha Singh and Suhej Singh followed by two daughters, Bibi Raj Kaur (not to be confused with the wife of Mahan Singh) and Saher Kaur.[6]
Matrimonial alliances
[edit]"Charat Singh strengthened his position by matrimonial alliances.
- Charat's Singh's son Mahan Singh was married to the daughter of Jai Singh Mann of Mogalchak-Mananwala.
- Dal Singh Kalianwala of Alipur renamed Akālgarh was married to the sister of Charat Singh.
- Sohel Singh Bhangi was married to the daughter of Charat Singh.
- Sahib Singh Bhangi, son of Gujar Singh, was married to another daughter, Raj Kaur.
To establish a prominent place for himself among the Sikhs Charat Singh built a fort at Amritsar to the north of the city." – Hari Ram Gupta[7]
Military campaigns
[edit]
Following Nawab Kapur Singh's death, Charat Singh collaborated with Jai Singh Kanhaiya, showcasing his bold character. In January 1754, they led 500 horsemen in a daring nighttime raid on Lahore's Parimahal and Rangmahal, plundering wealthy merchants and jewelers within Shah Almi Gate. Charat Singh further solidified his presence by building a brick fortress in Gujranwala in 1758.
After the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmad Shah Durrani dispatched General Nur-ud-din to punish the Sikhs. In August 1761, Nur-ud-din crossed the Jhelum River at Khushab and ravaged the Doab's largest towns: Bhera, Miani, and Chak Sanu. While Bhera and Miani rebounded, Chak Sanu remained deserted. Charat Singh and other Sikh sardars countered Nur-ud-din's advance on the Chenab River's eastern bank. The 12,000-strong Afghan force fled to Sialkot, which Charat Singh promptly besieged. Nur-ud-din escaped disguised as a beggar after eight days and sought refuge in Jammu. His troops surrendered but were allowed safe passage. This victory propelled Charat Singh to prominence among Sikh leaders, and he seized valuable guns and arms[8]
Charat Singh's triumph over Nur-ud-din sent shockwaves to Khwajah Abed Khan, the Durrani governor of Lahore, prompting him to curb Charat Singh's growing influence. Abed Khan also sought to demonstrate his diligence to his master, the Durrani Emperor. In September 1761, he laid siege to Charat Singh's Gujranwala fort, but Charat Singh refused to back down, continuing to fight from within, as the standoff unfolded, other prominent Sikh sardars rallied around Charat Singh. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Bhangi chiefs Hari Singh Dhillon, Jhanda Singh, Lahna Singh, and Gujar Singh, Jai Singh Kanhaiya, and Sobha Singh converged six kilometers away from Gujranwala, ready to provide relief. Realizing he'd be encircled and vastly outnumbered, Abed Khan retreated under the cover of night without engaging in battle, The Sikhs emerged victorious, claiming a bounty of swivels, cannons, horses, and camels left behind by Abed Khan's fleeing forces. This decisive victory further solidified Charat Singh's reputation as a front-ranking leader among the Sikh sardars,[9]
Battle of Kup
[edit]In January 1762, Ahmad Shah Durrani launched a campaign to crush the Sikhs in Punjab, seeking a victory similar to his conquest of the Marathas the previous year. The Sikhs, led by Charat Singh, were encamped at Kup near Malerkotla when Ahmad Shah's forces suddenly attacked on February 5, 1762, resulting in the loss of approximately 25,000 Sikh lives. Despite this devastating blow, Charat Singh played a pivotal role in rallying his people and resisting the enemy.[10]
Sirhind Conquest, 1764
[edit]Two years later, in January 1764, the Dal Khalsa marched upon Sirhind. Charat Singh strategically positioned his troops along the road to Sirhind to prevent reinforcements from arriving. He then joined forces with other Sikh leaders to battle Zain Khan, the governor of Sirhind, ultimately emerging victorious. However, Charat Singh chose not to claim the territory, opting instead to focus on expanding his influence in northwest Punjab,[11]
Ahmed Shah Durrani Seventh Invasion
[edit]In January 1765, Ahmad Shah Durrani launched his seventh invasion of India, joining forces with Nasir Khan Baluch and his 12,000 Baluchi troops. This invasion was marked by significant opposition from the Sikhs, particularly Charat Singh Sukarchakia. According to Qazi Nur Muhammad, who accompanied Ahmad Shah to document his conquests, Charat Singh confronted Nasir Khan in a battle at Lahore, resulting in Nasir Khan's horse being killed by a bullet. The fighting ceased at nightfall, with both sides retiring to rest and regroup[12]
However, the conflict didn't end there. As Ahmad Shah began his retreat, the Sikhs launched a surprise attack on the Durrani forces near the river Satluj. Charat Singh once again faced off against Nasir Khan, who formed a solid square defensive position. In a clever tactical move, Charat Singh feigned retreat, luring Nasir Khan into pursuit. As Nasir Khan distanced himself from his main army, the Sikhs turned back and launched a counterattack, forcing Nasir Khan to retreat slowly back to the Durrani camp [10]
Charat Singh and Bhangi Misl Alliance (1765)
[edit]In 1765, Charat Singh sought to expand his territory in a north-westerly direction, but he knew he couldn't do it alone. The region was inhabited by fierce Muslim tribes, and he needed allies. He turned to the Bhangi misl, the strongest of all, and formed an alliance with them. This partnership proved fruitful when the Bhangi sardars conquered Lahore, and Charat Singh managed to secure the famous Zamzama gun as his share of the spoils..[10]
Charat Singh's alliance with Gujar Singh Bhangi, one of the triumvirate chiefs of Lahore, marked a significant turning point. The two leaders divided the territory, with Charat Singh gaining control of Gujranwala, Shaikhupura, Jehlam, and Shahpur. Gujar Singh, on the other hand, secured Sialkot, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Hazara. Fatahjang, a strategic location on the road to Kohat, fell under Charat Singh's control, while Gujar Singh's domain extended to the northern hill states, including Kashmir. To solidify their partnership, Charat Singh and Gujar Singh forged a family bond. Charat Singh married his daughter, Raj Kaur, to Gujar Singh's second son, Sahib Singh, with a lavish dowry: 100 fine horses, gold utensils, jewelry, and 1,000 suits of clothes. This union ensured their cooperation in facing the warlike tribes and foreign invaders[10]
Ahmed Shah Durrani Eighth Invasion
[edit]In 1766, Ahmad Shah Durrani launched his eighth invasion of India, seeking to crush the rising power of the Sikhs. By December 28, he had set up camp at Fatah-abad, 32 kilometers southeast of Amritsar and 8 kilometers west of the River Beas. Meanwhile, Sikh chiefs, including Charat Singh, who was stationed in Amritsar, kept a safe distance of 20 to 30 kilometers from the invading forces.[10]
Charat Singh devised a bold plan to attack the Shah's baggage train near Lahore, which was guarded by the Shah's brother-in-law and 4,000 troops. Alongside other Sikh sardars, Charat Singh launched a surprise attack, plundering the bankers, merchants, and baggage. This sudden strike alarmed the Shah's brother-in-law, who requested reinforcements to protect the royal harem,[13]
In response, Ahmad Shah Durrani swiftly returned to Lahore, only to find that the Sikhs had retreated 30 kilometers, continuing to harass his forces and pillage any available baggage. The Sikhs remained relentless, rejecting all offers of peace and constantly nipping at the Shah's heels. This marked a significant turning point, as the Sikhs began to assert their dominance against the Durrani Empire's waning influence[14]
The Strategic Conquest of Jhelum Town (May 1767)
[edit]In May 1767, Charat Singh and Gujar Singh led a successful campaign against Jhelum town, situated on the right bank of the river Jhelum. This strategic location controlled the flow of timber from the upper regions of the river. Jhelum town was nestled between the river's high right bank and low, flat left bank, prone to flooding during rainy seasons.
The timber industry thrived in Jhelum, with logs floating downstream to nearby towns like Pind Dadan Khan, Miani, Bhera, and Khushab. From Khushab, timber was transported to Multan. Bamboos were also imported from Chowakan, 50 kilometers upstream. Charat Singh and Gujar Singh's conquest forced the Gakhar chief to flee to Rohtas Fort. Charat Singh appointed Dada Ram Singh to govern Jhelum town. To tap into the lucrative timber trade, Charat Singh imposed a 10% duty on local consumption. Under his rule, Jhelum district yielded significant revenue, including Rs. 10,000 from transit duties, Rs. 10,000 from village taxes, and Rs. 18,000 from the Sanguri jagir, totaling Rs. 38,000 annually.[10]
The conquest of Rohtas fort
[edit]Under Ahmad Shah Durrani's rule, Sarfaraz Khan governed the Rohtas fort, which was garrisoned by 3,000 Afghan soldiers. However, plans to capture Gujrat from Gujar Singh Bhangi were thwarted when the scheme was leaked. Charat Singh and Gujar Singh responded by sending Raja Himmat Khan and Diwan Shiv Nath to dissuade Sarfaraz Khan, but they were executed, and their companions imprisoned..[10]
Realizing the fort's strategic importance, Charat Singh and Gujar Singh launched a siege with 500 horsemen, 1,000 infantry, and additional support from local youth. Despite initial resistance, the five-month siege weakened the garrison, and supplies dwindled. Faced with inevitable defeat, Muslim chiefs Ali Muhammad and Sultan Khan Gakhar surrendered, allowing Sikh forces to enter the fort[10]
Sarfaraz Khan was taken prisoner and released after paying a ransom of Rs. 78,000. Raja Ghias-ud-din, son of Himmat Khan, succeeded as governor, followed by Nur Khan, who held the position for thirty years. Eventually, Maharaja Ranjit Singh entrusted the fort to a Sikh governor in 1808, granting Faizdad Khan's family a quarter of the revenues and later converting their share into a jagir worth Rs. 5,000 annually[15]
Other territories occupied by Charat Singh, 1767-73
[edit]Charat Singh's conquests didn't stop at Jehlum and Rohtas. He went on to seize Chakwal, Jalalpur, and Rasulpur, and even received a hefty nazarana from Sahib Khan Khokhar, the chief of Pind Dadan Khan. In this strategic location, Charat Singh built a fort and entrusted its protection to Budh Singh and Gaur Singh. His military campaigns continued, capturing the towns of Kot Sahib Khan and Raja Ka Kot[10]
As Charat Singh expanded his territory, he set his sights on the central parts of the Chaj and Sind Sagar Doab, located southwest of his current holdings. This region was already inhabited by powerful clans, particularly the Awans and Janjuas, who dominated the southern portions of the Cis-Indus-Salt Range. In fact, the Awans were the dominant race in the western and central parts of this region[10]
The Salt Range, where Charat Singh was expanding, was a significant geographical feature with a rich history. It was home to various clans, including the Khokhars, Gakhars, and Janjuas, who had engaged in endless battles for sovereignty over the range. The Janjuas, in particular, were known to be descendants of Raja Mal Dev Khan Janjua, who founded the first Muslim Rajput kingdom in the region[10]
Death
[edit]In 1774, he invaded Jammu with Jai Singh of the Kanheya Misl to aid the eldest son of Ranjit Deo, Brij Raj Deo, against his father.[16] The Bhangi Misl joined the side of Ranjit Deo against him. During the preparations for battle a matchlock exploded and killed him.[17] During a battle the next day Jandha Singh, the leader of the Bhangi Misl was killed and both Misls retreated from the fight.
Legacy
[edit]
A samadhi (Indic cenotaph tomb) of Charat Singh is believed by some to be located at Gujranwala, near the Sheranwala Bagh. Jains dispute this and claim the structure is a Jain temple built in memory of a Jain scholar named Acharya Vijayanand Suri, whose father served in the military of Maharaja Ranjit Singh as an official.[18][19][20] This theory is further refuted by the Umdat-ut-Tawarikh, a chronicle on the reign of Ranjit Singh and his successors by Sohan Lal Suri, the court recorder of the Sikh Empire. The chronicle states that Ranjit Singh, after leaving a village named Halla, paid a visit to his grandfather's samadhi on 5 October 1838 located near a village named Jalal. It further states he made an ardas and a donation of 200 rupees. After the visit, he left for a village called Karala.[21] Therefore, the samadhi of Charat Singh is located near a village named Jalal, not Gujranwala.
Battles fought by Charat Singh
[edit]- Battle of Eminabad (1761)
- Battle of Sialkot (1761)
- Battle of Gujranwala (1761).[22][23]
- Sikh Occupation of Lahore.[24]
- Battle of Harnaulgarh (1762)[25]
- Battle of Kup
- Battle of Pipli Sahib
- Battle of Kasur (1763)
- Battle of Sialkot (1763).[22]
- Siege of Gujranwala (1763)
- Battle of Qarawal(1764)
- Battle of Sirhind (1764)[25]
- Battle of Rohtas (1764)
- Battle of Rohtas (1767)
- Battle of Jammu (1774)
In popular culture
[edit]- In the 2010 historical TV series Maharaja Ranjit Singh telecasted on DD National, the character of Charat Singh is portrayed by Jaspal Singh Sehgal.
References
[edit]- ^ Singh, Bhagat (1993). A History of Sikh Misls. Punjabi University, Patiala. p. 177. ISBN 813020181X.
- ^ a b Herrli, Hans. The Coins of the Sikhs. p. 7.
- ^ Bakshi & Pathak 2007, p. 14
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (October 2001). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh commonwealth or Rise and fall of Sikh misls. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 978-81-215-0165-1.
- ^ "Ancestors of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh". Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Griffin, Lepel Henry (1890). The Panjab Chiefs: Historical and Biographical Notices of the Principal Families in the Lahore and Rawalpindi Divisions of the Panjab. Civil and Military Gazette Press.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (October 2001). History of the Sikhs. Vol. IV: Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Misls. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 1982. p. 304. ISBN 978-8121501651.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History Of Sikhs Vol.2 Evolution of Sikh Confederacies. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 978-81-215-0248-1.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History Of Sikhs Vol.2 Evolution of Sikh Confederacies. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 978-81-215-0248-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gupta, Hari Ram (2001) [1982]. History of the Sikhs. Vol. IV: The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of Sikh Misls. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 978-81-215-0165-1.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History Of Sikhs Vol.2 Evolution of Sikh Confederacies. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 978-81-215-0248-1.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History Of Sikhs Vol.2 Evolution of Sikh Confederacies. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 978-81-215-0248-1.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History Of Sikhs Vol.2 Evolution of Sikh Confederacies. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 978-81-215-0248-1.
- ^ Singh, Khushwant (2004). History of the Sikhs. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195673081.
- ^ Singha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India:Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
- ^ Bakshi & Pathak 2007, p. 15–16
- ^ Bakshi & Pathak 2007, p. 16
- ^ Qureshi, Tania (11 December 2016). "City of Sikh heritage — Gujranwala". Pakistan Today. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Butt, Muhammad Azam (29 December 2019). "Historical places a picture of neglect in Gujranwala". The News International, Pakistan. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Omer, Shahab (27 May 2019). "Samadhi of Atmaram Ji declared as 'special premises'". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
They said that this place was also mentioned as the Samadhi of Charat Singh by some people and it got viral on social media which had ignited the Jain community. 'With the protection of the place we also feel that the true spirit and history of this place should be highlighted and it should be turned into a religious site for Jain followers,' said the sources.
- ^ Suri, Lala Sohan Lal (1961). Umdat-ut-Tawarikh - An Outstanding Original Source of Panjab History - Chronicle of the Reign of Maharaj Ranjit Singh, 1831-1839 A.D., by Lala Sohan Lal Suri - Vakil at the Court of Lahore - Translated from Persian by V.S. Suri. Translated by Suri, Vidya Sagar. S. Chand. p. 533.
- ^ a b Raj Pal Singh (2004). The Sikhs : Their Journey Of Five Hundred Years. Pentagon Press. p. 116. ISBN 9788186505465.
- ^ Jacques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood Press. p. 419. ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015.
- ^ Grewal, J.S. (1990). The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 0-521-63764-3. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ a b www.DiscoverSikhism.com. Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bakshi, S.R.; Pathak, Rashmi, eds. (2007). Punjab Through the Ages. New Delhi: Sarup and Son. ISBN 978-81-7625-738-1.
