Chand King Bhishma Chandra who was killed by Khasa revolutionists

  (History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

         (History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 165

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

                               Ruling Period of Chand King Bhishma Chandra

        There are differences for ruling period of Bhishma Chandra a Chand king of Medieval Age. However, the logical argument of Dr. Dabral seems to be correct that Bhishma Chandra ruled from 1511-1559 AD. His name was also Vishnu Chandra.

 There are inscriptions of Bhishma Chandra available for 1511, 1512, 1519 and 1533.

                              Shelter to Khawaskhan

                    Sher Shah Suri (1486-1545) defeated Mogul King Humaun in 1540 AD. However, when his younger son Islam Shah was crowned in 1545, there were resistances and rebels from the supporter of his elder brother Adilkhan who was denied crown by Sher Shah Suri.

       Islam Khan defeated Adil Shah and Adil Shah ran away from the battle field forever. Islam Khan sent his huge army of 45000 soldiers in the leadership of Ajam Humaun to defeat Khawaskhan the stern supporter of Adil Shah in Sarhind region. However, Ajam Humaun did conspiracy against Islam Khan and paved way for Khawaskhan and Khawaskhan ran to Katehar via Shivalik hill zones. Khawaskhan resided near Tarai region of Kumaon and started looting Islam Khan Territory that was adjacent to Kumaon and Garhwal Tarai region.

 Khawaskhan reached Ambala to suppress Niyazis the rebellions of Ismail Khan. Niyazi were defeated. Khawaskhan returned to Tarai of Kumaon.  Khawaskhan reached Kumaoni Tarai region from Ambala via Sirmaur, Dehradun, Salan Bhabhar of Garhwal.

            The Champawat Kumaon king provided land as Jagir (land for gaining revenues) to Khawaskhan and also fixed daily allowances.

Delhi Sultan Islam Khan sent his commander Tejkhan Kirani to capture Khawaskhan. Tejkhan sent messages to Khawaskhan but Khawaskhan did not come into trap. Tejkhan Kirani sent messages to Champawat Kumaoni king to hand over Khawaskhan to Sultan.  Champawat Kumauni King answered that he could not hand over the person who was under Champawat shelter. It was just difficult for Sultan army to win Kumaoni king due to hill region.

    Islam Khan sent letter to Khawaskhan and created trust in the mind of Khawaskhan. Khawaskhan started his journey to meet Sultan at Delhi. Khawaskhan reached Sirsa via Bhabhar Garhwal, Dehradun, Sirmaur. At Sirsa, Tejkhan Kirani killed Khawaskhan and filled straw into dead body of Khawaskhan.

               Disturbance in Doti

                    Doti king family member Hari Sahi married his daughter with Prince Balo Kalyan Chandra. There was some disturbance in Doti and Katyuri king was unable to suppress the disturbance. Bhishma Chandra sent prince e Balo Kalyan Chandra to help Doti King to suppress the disturbances. Prince Balo Kalyan Chandra reached to Doti.

                        Revolt in Champawat Kingdom

  Due to cruel suppression of Kirati Chandra, Pali and Syunara were under Chand kingdom. However, the Khasa people were against Chand King ruling on them

  As soon as Prince Balo Kalyan Chandra reached to doti, the Khasa people of Pali and Syunara revolted against Chand king. Bhishma Chandra reached to Khagmara. Gajua Thinga was leading rebellion people. Gajua Thinga killed Bhishma Chandra and his supporters.

  Balo Kalyan Chandra heard the news and had a confluence with Doti kingdom. Balo Kalyan Chandra reached to Khagmara.  Cruelly, Balo Kalayn Chandra killed Khasa people of Khagmara. People still sing folk song for the sinful cruelty of Balo Kalyan Chandra.  

 By logical means and study of inscriptions, it might be said that Bhishma Chandra was killed in 1559 and Balo Kalyan Chandra got crown in 1559 AD. It seems Bhishma Chandra died at the age of 74.

 Bhishma Chandra had a desire to shift his capital from Champawatkot to Khagmara and he discussed the same with his courtiers.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 9/10/2013

                                      References

Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 10, Kumaon ka Itihas 1000-1790

Badri Datt Pande, 1937, Kumaon ka Itihas, Shri Almora Book Depo Almora

Devidas Kaysth, Itihas Kumaon Pradesh

Katyur ka Itihas, Pundit Ram Datt Tiwari

Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

Atkinson, History of District Gazette

Menhadi Husain, Tuglak Dynasty

Malfujat- E Timuri

Tarikh -e-Mubarakshahi vol 4

Kumar Suresh Singh2005, People of India

Justin Marozzi, 2006, Tamerlane: Sword of Islam

Bakshsingh Nijar, 1968, Punjab under Sultans 1000-1526 

The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 13 page 52 

Bhakt Darshan, Gadhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

Mahajan V.D.1991, History of Medieval India

Majumdar R.C. (edited) 2006, The Sultanate

Rizvi, Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat

Tarikhe Daudi

Vishweshara nand , Bharat Bharti lekhmala

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

                           

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -166

History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….

 Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…

  (Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)