Suraj Mal
Suraj Mal | |
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Maharaja of Bharatpur | |
Religion | Hinduism |
Suraj Mal (13 February 1707 – 25 December 1763) was a
A contemporary historian had described him as "the Plato of the Jat tribe" and by a modern writer as the "Jat Ulysses", because of his "political sagacity, steady intellect and clear vision."[7] The people, under Suraj Mal, overran the Mughal garrison at Agra.[8] In addition to the troops stationed at his forts, he had an army of more than 75,000 infantry and more than 38,000 cavalry.[8]
Deeg Palace is a Palace in Deeg & 32 km from city of Bharatpur in Deeg District in Rajasthan, India. It was built in 1730 [11] by Maharaja Suraj Mal as a luxurious summer resort for the rulers of Bharatpur State.
Early life
Maharaja Surajmal was born on 13 February 1707, to
Military career
Chandaus War
The Chandaus War, a significant event in Maharaja Surajmal's career, took place in 1745 when Delhi Mughal Badshah Muhammad Shah angered Nawab Fateh Ali Khan of Koil (Aligarh). To punish him, Badsah sent an Afghan Chieftain, Asad Khan. Fateh Ali Khan sought Suraj Mal's help, and in November 1745, he took his first independent decision in external political and army affairs. Surajmal assured Fateh Ali Khan to help and sent an army under his son's command. The war at Chandaus resulted in the death of Asad Khan and the defeat of the royal army, thereby increasing the power of Bharatpur Kingdom.[13][14]
Battle of Bagru (August, 1748)
Maharaja Surajmal had a good relationship with Jai Singh of Jaipur. After Jaisingh's death, his sons Ishwari Singh and Madho Singh began fighting over the throne. Maharaja Surajmal wanted to make Ishwari Singh the next heir, while Maharana Jagat Singh wanted Madho Singh the King. The fight lasted until Ishwari Singh won in March 1747. Madho Singh returned with the Marathas, Rathores, and Sisodia Kings of Udaipur, and king Surajmal supported Ishwari Singh with 10,000 soldiers. Ishwari Singh won the battle and obtained the royal text of Jaipur.[15][16][17]
Plunder of old Delhi
The Mughal Emperor had taken back the domain of
Battle of Kumher
Mughal Emperor
Suraj Mal and Abdali
After his victory over Dattaji on 10 January 1760, Durrani came to Delhi, and called upon Suraj Mal to pay him tribute and join his camp. On such occasions Suraj Mal invariably played a humble role, pleading that he was a petty zamindar. He informed the Shah that he would readily pay his share to the lawful ruler of Delhi at a fixed time. If Durrani stayed in India and assumed sovereignty, he would obey him as his legal master. At the time of the demand he possessed no money as his country had been ruined by the constant movements and pillage of the Marathas and Afghans. It was not in Durrani's nature to tolerate such defiance. He besieged Suraj Mal's fort of Dig on 6 February 1760. Later, he realized that it would require a long time to reduce the strongly fortified, largely garrisoned and heavily provisioned fortress. In such cases he did not make it a matter of prestige. He quietly raised the siege, and marched in pursuit of Malhar Rao Holkar.
Having routed the Maratha chief at
Capture of Alwar Fort
Madho Singh of Jaipur had occupied Alwar Fort by paying Rupees 50 thousand as bribe to its custodian and sending 500 men. When Suraj Mal heard of it, he despatched a strong force of 5,000 under Rup Ram Katari and the siege of the fort was taken up. Soon after Jawahar Singh also joined him. In the ensuing fight there, the Jats easily gained the day and thus wrested the fort from the Rajputs (c. 23 March 1756). The Jaipur ruler, though visibly mortified by the reverse, held back as he felt himself powerless in ejecting the Jats."[22]
Capture of Agra Fort
Suraj Mal decided to capture Agra Fort (which was closeby to the rich town of Agra) to re-establish his influence in Doaba region. On 3 May 1761 the army of Suraj Mal with 4,000 soldiers reached Agra under the command of Balram and gave the message of Suraj Mal to the kiledar (in charge) of Agra Fort that the army wanted to cross the Yamuna and required a place to camp, which the kiledar gave his sanction. Meanwhile, the army entered the fort, but was resisted by the guards, this resulted in 200 lives lost. The army started war from the Jama Masjid. During this period, Suraj Mal stayed at Mathura to observe the situation. On 24 May 1761 Suraj Mal along with Imād and Gangadhar Tantya moved from Mathura, crossed the Yamuna and reached Aligarh. From Aligarh his army moved and captured the areas of the ruler of Koīl and Jalesar. They reached Agra to help his army at Agra in the first week of June. Suraj Mal arrested the family members of the guards staying in Agra town and pressured the guards of the fort to surrender. At last the kiledar agreed to surrender by receiving a bribe of Rs 1 lakh and a jagir of five villages. Thus after a siege of one month, Suraj Mal captured Agra Fort on 12 June 1761.[23]
Conquest of Haryana (1762)
The battle of Panipat in 1761 marked a significant turning point in the history of Northern India, as it disrupted the Marathas' ambitions and brought no permanent peace to Islam. The Jat, however, challenged the Marathas, who were exhausted and weary, and the Jat's courage revived Hindu confidence, putting Islam on the defensive. Maharaj Surajmal aimed to seize this opportunity to establish a Jat confederacy between the Abdali and the Rohillas, expel Najib-ud-daula from Delhi, restore his protégé Ghazi-ud-din, and control the empire's policy. He chose to cover Delhi during his campaign, focusing on expanding his dominion in Haryana and surrounding districts. Maharaj Mal's sons Jawahar Singh and Nahar Singh were sent to conquer Haryana and establish authority in Doab, while monitoring the movement of eastern Rohila chiefs.[24]
Battle of Farrukhnagar
In 1763, a conflict between the Jats and the Baloch arose due to the former's expansionist ambitions and the latter's unfriendly policy towards the Jats. Jawahar Singh attacked Farrukhnagar, held by Musavi Khan, but failed. Suraj Mal, with his forces, laid siege to the fort in October 1763. Musavi Khan surrendered after two months, but the Jat used the Ganges water for their own gain. The Baloch chief was captured and sent to Bharatpur. Farrukhnagar and its effects were taken by the Jats on December 12, 1763. Surajmal then attacked Bahadurgarh, a stronghold of another Baloch chief, Bahadur Khan. Najib-ud-daula, in distress, urged a war with Surajmal before the arrival of the Abdali. By 1763, Jat power had reached a glorious height, with a vast kingdom, richest treasury, and formidable troops.[25][26]
Death
The
Legacy
His
Notable institutes named after him include
In popular culture
- In 2019 Hindi film Panipat, Suraj Mal's character was portrayed by Manoj Bakshi.
- In 1994 Hindi TV series The Great Maratha, Suraj Mal's character was portrayed by Arun Mathur.
See also
- Principality of Farrukhnagar
- Maharaja Surajmal Institute
- Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology
References
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7031-150-8.
... (i) Rani Kishori, the daughter of Chowdhari Kashi Ram of Hodal. She was issueless. ... (v) Rani Gauri, she originated from Gori Rajput clan of Amahand and was the mother of Jawahar and Ratan Singh.
- ^ Sarkar, Jadunath (1950). Fall of the Mughal Empire, volume 2. p. 43.
- OCLC 1067771105.
During his regime the Jāt State reached its highest extent. Besides the original Bharatpur principality, it embraced the districts of Āgra, Dholpur, Mainpuri, Hathras, Aligarh, Etawa, Mirat, Rohtak, Farrukhnagar, Mewāt, Rewari, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Mathurā.
- ISBN 978-81-7023-140-0. Archivedfrom the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ISBN 978-81-933914-2-6. Archivedfrom the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
- ISBN 0-333-90298-X, Page-535
- ^ OCLC 1067771105. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "Lohagarh Fort". 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Lohagarh Fort: कोई नहीं जीत पाया ये किला, 13 बार हमले के बाद अंग्रेज भी हो गए थे असफल". 5 February 2024.
- ^ History of Deeg Palace in Bharatpur
- ISBN 978-81-7031-150-8. Archivedfrom the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ISBN 978-81-7453-045-5.
- ^ Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1966). Fall of the Mughal Empire: 1754-1771 (Panipat). M. C. Sarkar.
- ^ Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1966). Fall of the Mughal Empire: 1754-1771 (Panipat). M. C. Sarkar. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ Meena, R. P. RPSC RAS Prelims: History of Rajasthan Complete Study Notes With MCQ. New Era Publication.
- ^ A Comprehensive History of India: 1712-1772, edited by A. C. Banerjee and D. K. Ghase. People's Publishing House. 1978.
- ISBN 978-8-174-3-50190. Archivedfrom the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813, by Jaswant Lal Mehta, pp606
- ^ Images of Women in Maharashtrian Literature and Religion, edited by Anne Feldhaus, pp185-186
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1961). Marathas And Panipat (in undetermined language).
- ISBN 9788170311508.
- ^ Sir Jadunath Sarkar (1966). Fall of the Mughal Empire: 1754-1771 (Panipat). M. C. Sarkar, 1966. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ Qanungo Kalikaranjan (1925). History Of Jats.
- ^ Punjab District Gazetteers: Ibbetson series, 1883-1884]. Compiled and published under the authority of the Punjab government. 1883.
- ^ Meena, R. P. RPSC RAS Prelims: History of Rajasthan Complete Study Notes With MCQ. New Era Publication.
- ^ Journal of Haryana Studies Volume 17. Kurukshetra University. 1985. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ Sir Jadunath Sarkar · (1966). Fall of the Mughal Empire: 1754-1771 (Panipat). Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Cenotaph of Raja Sooruj Mull, Govurdhun. 97140, British Library online collection". Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ a b D. Anand, 1992, Krishna: The Living God of Braj Archived 11 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine, Page 56.
Further reading
- K. Natwar-Singh, Maharaja Suraj Mal, 1707-1763. His Life and Times (George Allen & Unwin, 1981)
- K. Natwar Singh (June 2001). Maharaja Suraj Mal, 1707-1763: His Life and Times. Rupa & Company, 2001. ISBN 9788171675104.
- Dr. Mohan Lal Gupta. Maharaja Surajmal: युग निर्माता महाराजा सूरजमल. Shubhda Prakashan.
- Dr. Prakash Chandra Chandawat (1962). महाराजा सूरजमल और उनका युग. Jaypal Agency Dahtora, Agra.
External links
- Suraj Mal at Britannica