History of Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra

 (History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

                          

         (History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 211

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

               Tarai –Bhabhar Administration by Shiv Datt Joshi

                In past, at the rule of Doti Kalyan Chand, Shiv Datt Joshi worked hard in Kumaon Tarai-Bhabhar. Shiv Datt Joshi appointed his cousin brother Hari Ram Joshi as Hakim (administrator) of Kashipur Pargana. Hariram was wise, hard working, experienced administrator. However, Hari ram Joshi also opposed Shiv Datt Joshi. Hariram was administrator in Almora too.  In 1749-50, Hariram Joshi ignored or opposed Shiv Datt Joshi. Shiv Datt Joshi replaced Hariram and appointed Shiromani Das a Brahmin from Bajpur as administrator of Kashipur in place of Hariram Joshi. Hariram Joshi waited to take revenge for his dismissal as administrator of Kashipur.

                          Helping Rohilas  

    In 1745, Delhi Mugal captured Ruhelkhand and captured Rohila Sardar Ali Muhammad Khan. Delhi Empire appointed Ali Muhammad Khan as administrator of Chakla Sarhind. Ali Muhammad Khan started secret political relation with Amhmad Shah Abdali. On 21^st January 1748, Ahmad Shah Abdali entered into Lahore.  Ali Muhammad ran away from Sarhind and came back to Moradabad. Immediately he captured Ruhelkhand.

 Now, again, Kumaon was in danger from Ali Muhammad Khan’s future attack. However, Ali Muhammad Khan died in 1748 and Delhi Emperor Muhammad Shah too died in 1748.

  In 1750, Bangas (Pathan from Afghanistan link) attacked on Nabab Safdar Jung of Awadh.  Saddulla Khan the son of late Ali Muhammad Khan and Rahmat Khan helped Bangash. With the help of Maratha, Nabab Safdar Jung of Awadh defeated Bangash and Rohila army.  Rohila ran towards Tarai –Bhabhar of Kumaon. Rohila army reached in dense jungle in Kumaon foothills. Some historians call the place as Chilkiya and some describe it as Lal Dhang.

           At Thapli, in dense jungle, Rohilas established their army camp. The dug trenches and put guns. Awadh army and Maratha army also reached there and they put their gun opposite of Rohilas. Awadh army wanted to stop the food supply for Rohilas. However, Kumaon King helped Rohilas to get food supply. Kumaon King did not help Rohilas as obligation but Kumaon King was aware that after the battle is pacified the Rohilas would disturb Tarai-Bhabhar, Kumaon. Kumaon King was not sure of Awadh ruler helping Kumaon Kingdom in case, Rohila disturb Kumaon.

 Shiv Datt Joshi helped Rohilas. For two months the Rohila army and Awadh army aided by Maratha were standstill opposite of each other with a few flanking and guerilla fights from both the sides. Rohila Sardar Saddulla Khan requested his Afghan kin Ahmad Shah Abdali to help him. Ahmad Shah Abdali sent his army from Afghanistan. When the army of Ahmad Shah Abdali reached to Punjab, Maratha King mediated the treaty between Rohilas and Awadh ruler Nabab Safdar Jung.

                A historians as Irwin, Sarkar and Shrivastava as per  Gulistan described the place of shelter of Rohila as Chikliya. Hadiktulakalim described this place as Lal Dhang. There are three places as Chilkiya and two places as Lal Dhang in Garhwal and Kumaon Bhabhar Tarai. Therefore, it is difficult to know the exact place of tussle between Rohilas and Awadh army..  

       However, Chilkiya of Kumaon was near to Shiv Datt Joshi and possible to supply food to Rohilas. Chikliya of Garhwal is far from Rohilkhand.

        According to Ramayana Pradip, Rohila sent message to Garhwal King for help. Garhwali King Pradip Shah also sent a promising letter to Rohilas that they can use Garhwal land for shelter and crossing Ganga from Chandi Ghat.

       That shows that Kumaon King (under the guardianship of Shiv Datt Joshi) and Garhwal King helped Rohilas.

            Rohilas took shelter in Chilkiya or Lal Dhang in 1751. There was treaty between Rohilas and Awdh ruler in February 1752, in Lal Dhang or Chilkiya. By the treaty between Rohilas and Awadh, both the Kumaon and Garhwali Kings felt great relief.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 9/12/2013

                                      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

Aine-e Akbari

Akbari Darbar

Tareekh Badauni

Eraly Abraham, 2004 The Mogul Throne

The Tazuk-i-Jahangiri

Maularam- Gadh Rajvansh Kavya

Ramayan Pradeep

Annatdev’s Smriti-Kaustubh

Sarkar, History of Aurangzeb

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Sailendra Nath Sen, 2010, An Advanced History of Modern India

William Crooke, 1897, The North Western Provinces of India, page 116

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

                           

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -212  

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

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

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

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Notes on History of Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Kashipur, Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Jaspur, Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Chilkiya Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Laldhang Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Gadarpur Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Kicchha Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Bajpur, Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Barakhera Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Gularbhoj Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Sitarganj Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra; History of Udham Singh Nagar Tarai-Bhabhar Administration and Helping Rohilas by Kumaon King Deep Chandra;