Wikipedia

Baghel Singh

Baghel Singh (c. 1730 – c. 1802) was a warrior leader in the Punjab region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. He rose to prominence in the area around Sutlej and Yamuna. He joined the Singh Krora Misl, one of the Misls during Sikh Confederacy. In 1765, Singh became the leader of the Misl.[1]

Sardar
Baba
Baghel Singh
Baghel Singh depicted in a Janamsakhi manuscript commissioned by him, circa 1793
Born1730
Chabhal Kalan, Punjab, Mughal Empire
(present-day Tarn Taran district, Punjab, India)
Died1802
Hariana, Singh Krora Misl, Sikh Confederacy
(present-day Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, India)
Resting place1765 - 1802
Punjab
NationalitySikh
Known for
Spouses
  • Bibi Ram Kaur
  • Bibi Roop Kaur
  • Bibi Rattan Kaur
ChildrenBahadur Singh

Early life

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Gurdwara Baghel Singh

Baghel Singh was born in village Chabhal Kalan, Tarn Taran district of Punjab around 1730s into a Dhaliwal Jat family.[2] After the death of Karora Singh, Baghel Singh succeeded him to the headship of the Misl.[3]

Military career

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Soon after the Sikhs won the Battle of Sirhand in 1764, Baghel Singh extended his rule beyond Karnal and occupied a number of villages, including Chhalaudi, which became Singh's new headquarters.[4] Singh further expanded his territory into the Cis-Sutlej states including Meerut, Saharanpur, Shahdra and Awadh. His actions were supported by Afghan allies including Zabita Khan and Ghulam Kadir.[5]

In Ganga Doab

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In February 1764, an army of 30,000 Sikh soldiers under Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Baghel Singh, Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba including other Sikh chiefs, crossed the Yamuna river and plundered Saharanpur, Shamli, Kandha, Ambli, Miranpur, Deobandi, Jawalapur, Chandausi, Muzaffarnagar, Najibabad, Khurja, Garhmukteshwar. They overran the territory of Najib ud-Daulah, acquiring from him a tribute of eleven lakh of rupees (₹ 1,100,000).[citation needed]

In April 1775, Singh with two other sardars, Rai Singh Bhangi and Tara Singh Ghaiba, crossed the Yamuna river to occupy land ruled by Zabita Khan, the son and successor of Najib-Ud-Daulah. In desperation, Zabita Khan offered Singh large sums of money and proposed an alliance to jointly plunder the crown lands.

Singh set up an Octroi post (taxation office) near Sabzi Mandi to collect tax on goods imported into the city. The money was used for the construction of Sikh Gurdwaras.

In March 1776, the Sikhs defeated the forces of the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II near Muzaffarnagar.[6][7]

Battle of Ghanaur

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In 1778, Shah Alam II sent an army of about 10,000 soldiers in a counter-attack against the Sikhs. The Mughal force was led by the Wazir Mirza Najaf Khan (Nawab Majad-Ud-Daula) under the banner of the crown prince. The Mughal forces and the Sikh forces met in battle at Ghanaur, near Patiala. The Mughal army lost the battle and surrendered.

Battle of Delhi

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Main article: Battle of Delhi (1783)
 
Baghel Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Jassa Singh Ramgharia marching through Delhi next to the Red fort.

In March 1783, Dal Khalsa under Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Baghel Singh was advancing upon Delhi,[8][9] Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was placed on the throne of Delhi as Badshah Singh of Delhi by Sikhs but Jassa Singh Ramgarhia objected to it as it was the same throne where previous Mughal emperors sat and gave orders for execution of the Sikh Gurus, considering the throne evil and worthless. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia at once renounced the honour.[8][9] Mughals agreed to construct 7 Sikh Gurudwaras in Delhi for Sikh Gurus.[10][11][12][4]

Gurudwaras

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Sack of Chandausi

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In beginning of January 1785, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Baghel Singh, Gurdit Singh of Ladwa passed over Jamuna river, They plundered the village and towns of Sadaat-e-Bara, Zabita Khan did not stir out of his fort of Ghausgarh, they crossed the Ganga river and entered Rohilakhand, On 13 January, the villages of Barsi and mahmudpur were laid waste, On 14 January, They sacked Chandausi the great center of about 2000 bankers, rich merchants and jewellers was thoroughly squeezed and booty worth a crore of rupees was obtained in two days and nights,[17]

Rise of Sikh power

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In 1783, Singh entered Delhi.[10][18][19][13]

Singh and the Mughal Emperor contracted that 12.5% of the "octroi" (trade tax) of Delhi would be sent to Singh. In return, he would ensure that the Sikhs did not attack the capital again.[20]

Sikh Gurdwaras in Delhi

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Singh is credited with establishing several Gurudwaras (Sikh Gurdwara's) in Delhi, including:[citation needed]

Death

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Singh died in about 1802 in Hariana in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, India.[citation needed][21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Baba Baghel Singh Museum's paintings and their brief history ON 26 JANUARY 2K21 SINGH'S LIKE BAGHEL SINGH WON ONE MORE TIME DELHI.(NOT WON BUT SHOW KHALSA CAN DO ANYTHING . WITHOUT ANY MORDEN WEAPONS SIKH'S YOUTH MOVE TO DELHI AGAINST INDIAN GOVERNMENT, WHEN HOEL INDIA was protesting against GOVERNMENT FOR 3 FARMERS LAW.) The sikh youth move to RED FORT and hosted SIKH FLAG (NISHAN SAHIB) on the RED FORT . - Page 53
  2. ^ Major Nahar Singh Jawandha (2010). Glimpses of Sikhism. Sanbun Publishers. p. 239. ISBN 9789380213255.
  3. ^ Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001). The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
  4. ^ a b Bhagata, Siṅgha (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. pp. 271–282. Baghel Singh, Baghel Singh took the leadership of karorisingha misl.
  5. ^ N. G. Rathod (1994). The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia. Sarup & Sons. pp. 31–32. ISBN 9788185431529.
  6. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram, History of the Sikhs, vol. III. Delhi, 1979
  7. ^ Sital, Sohan Singh, Sikh Mislan. Ludhiana, 1952
  8. ^ a b Singh, Pashaura; Barrier, Norman Gerald (1999). Sikh Identity: Continuity and Change. Manohar. p. 264. ISBN 978-81-7304-236-2.
  9. ^ a b https://sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?id=2532&cat=14 [bare URL]
  10. ^ a b Sethi, Jasbir Singh. Views and Reviews. Sanbun Publishers. ISBN 9788190825986.
  11. ^ Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
  12. ^ Singha 2000.
  13. ^ a b Randhir, G.S (1990). Sikh Shrines in India. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 9788123022604.
  14. ^ H. S. Singha (2000). The encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 187. ISBN 81-7010-301-0.
  15. ^ "A Gurdwara steeped in history". The Times of India. 25 March 2012.
  16. ^ "Majnu ka Tila and the romance of sepak takraw". Indian Express. 28 July 2011.
  17. ^ Singh, Khushwant (11 October 2004). A History of the Sikhs: 1469–1838 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-567308-1. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  18. ^ Hari Ram Gupta, History of the Sikhs: Sikh Domination of the Mughal Empire, 1764–1803, second ed., Munshiram Manoharlal (2000) ISBN 978-8-12150-213-9
  19. ^ Ram Gupta, History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Misls, rev. ed., Munshiram Manoharlal (2001) ISBN 978-8-12150-165-1
  20. ^ Harbans Singh, The Heritage of the Sikhs. Delhi, 1983
  21. ^ Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (11 June 2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 54–. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.

Works cited

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Further reading

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  • Gian Singh, Giani, Panth Prakash [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
  • Bhahgu, Ratan Singh, Prachin Panth Prakash [Reprint], Amritsar, 1962
  • Sital, Sohan Singh, Sikh Mislan. Ludhiana, 1952
  • Harbans Singh, The Heritage of the Sikhs. Delhi, 1983
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