Battle of Achal
| Battle of Achal | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Sukerchakia Misl | Kanhaiya Misl | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Maha Singh Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Sansar Chand |
Jai Singh Kanhaiya (WIA) Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya † | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
The Battle of Achal , was a pivotal conflict between Kanhaiya Misl and Sukerchakia Misl, Jai Singh Kanhaiya, allied with Jaimal Singh and Tara Singh, clashed with Mahan Singh's forces, supported by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Raja Sansar Chand,[1]
Background
[edit]In 1778, a quarrel arose between Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Jai Singh Kanhaiya and Haqiqat Singh Kanhaiya. Supported by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Afghans attacked Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and exiled him to the desert of Hansi and Hisar. He set up his headquarters at Tosham.[2]: 119
Ranjit Dev, the ruler of Jammu, passed away in 1781, and Brij Raj Dev took over as the new ruler. However, his tyrannical ways quickly made him unpopular among his subjects and troops. This created an opportunity for Haqiqat Singh Kanhaiya and Mahan Singh to form an alliance to plunder Jammu jointly. But Mahan Singh had other plans and decided to carry out the plunder alone. In late January 1784, Mahan Singh led his forces to Jammu, prompting Brij Raj Dev to flee to the distant hills of Vaishno Devi.[3]
Upon arrival, Mahan Singh received a delegation of Jammu's leading citizens, who offered to pay tributes in exchange for mercy. Reassuring them that his intention was to establish authority, not plunder, Mahan Singh's words proved to be deceitful. Under the cover of night, he surrounded the town, sealing off all exits. What followed was a thorough and merciless sacking of Jammu, lasting three days and nights. No house or establishment was spared as Mahan Singh's forces dug up floors searching for hidden wealth and stripped women of their valuables and fine clothing.[4]
The plunder was staggering, with Mahan Singh amassing booty worth over a crore before returning to Gujranwala. Haqiqat Singh was so devastated by Mahan Singh's treachery that he died soon after.[5]
The death of Haqiqat Singh Kanhaiyawas a devastating blow to Jai Singh, and it sparked a chain of events that would change the course of their relationships and territories. Haqiqat Singh's son, Jaimal Singh, who had recently married Sahib Kaur, daughter of Maharaja Amar Singh, urged Jai Singh to demand a share of the loot from Mahan Singh's conquest of Jammu. Jai Singh wanted half of the booty for Jaimal Singh, intending to offer part of it to the revered Durbar Sahib. However, Mahan Singh refused, claiming the spoils as the fruit of his own labor. This refusal led Jai Singh and Jaimal Singh to launch a series of attacks on Mahan Singh's territories. They ravaged the parganahs of Mansurpur and Mandiala, then targeted Mahan Singh's allies, the Nakais, seizing Chunian, Dipalpur, and Raiwind. They also attacked Jandiala, whose chief was aligned with Mahan Singh. The tensions between Jai Singh and Mahan Singh continued to escalate.[6]
On Diwali day in 1784, all the Sikh sardars gathered at Amritsar. Mahan Singh, attempting to make amends, visited Jai Singh at his Katra, bearing sweets. However, Jai Singh humiliated Mahan Singh, calling him a "bhagatia" (dancing boy). Mahan Singh, the richest Sikh sardar at the time, took this insult to heart and retaliated by attacking Jai Singh's camp outside Amritsar. Jai Singh pursued him, and another engagement took place near Majitha, 20 km from Amritsar. Jai Singh was forced to seek shelter inside Amritsar, which was subsequently besieged. He managed to escape to the Jalandhar Doab, where he assembled a large army and stockpiled munitions. Realizing he couldn't face Jai Singh alone, Mahan Singh retreated to Gujranwala. This marked the beginning of a tumultuous period in their relationships, with shifting alliances and ongoing conflicts.[7]
Battle
[edit]Mahan Singh strategically formed alliances with Jai Singh's enemies,Raja Sansar Chand Katoch and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia swiftly responded, departing Tosham in early February 1785 and encamping at Jagraon. With his rival, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, deceased, and his successor Bhag Singh Ahluwalia declaring neutrality, Jai Singh attempted to halt Ramgarhia's advance. However, their forces clashed on the Satluj River's right bank, resulting in the Kanhiya force's defeat. Jassa Singh continued his momentum, effortlessly crossing the Heas River. Meanwhile, Raja Sansar Chand positioned himself at Dinanagar, 82 kilometers north of Amritsar. Mahan Singh and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia merged their forces near Amritsar. Amar Singh Bagga, Jai Singh's former attendant and a member of the Kanhiya misl, defected to Mahan Singh's side. The combined forces advanced on Batala.[8]
The decisive battle took place at Randpura village, near Achal, where Jai Singh confronted the allies. The intense six-hour clash claimed the life of Jai Singh's eldest son, Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya, struck by an arrow from Guru Sundar Das's soldier. Overwhelmed with grief, Jai Singh momentarily abandoned his arms, inviting his enemies to take his life. Tara Singh and Jaimal Singh intervened, escorting him to safety. Gurbaksh Singh's widow, Sada Kaur, bravely escaped the battlefield in disguise, fleeing barefoot to her fort of Sohian, [9][2]
Aftermath
[edit]Jai Singh, realizing his mistake, regrouped his forces to confront the enemy, but his brief resurgence was met with defeat at the hands of Mahan Singh in the battle of Naushahra. This clash resulted in significant losses on both sides, forcing Jai Singh to flee to Nurpur, accompanied by Tara Singh and Jaimal Singh. Mahan Singh pursued them, launching a fierce attack on the fort, but soon realized he was too far from his base and withdrew. Meanwhile, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Sansar Chand seized the opportunity to reclaim their lost territories, which had been occupied by Jai Singh. Sansar Chand sought Mahan Singh's help in capturing Kangra Fort, and the spoils of war were divided among four allies: Jassa Singh regained his territory, Sansar Chand claimed Hajipur, Mukerian, and surrounding areas, Amar Singh Bagga established himself at Sujanpur, and Mahan Singh took control of Kanhiya territory valued at three lakhs per year.[1][10]
Sada Kaur, the widow of Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya, found it in the interest of the Kanhaiya Misl to bring about reconciliation with the Sukerchakia Misl. She made up her mind to get her only child, Mehtab Kaur, brothered to Maha Singh's only son, Ranjit Singh. She prevailed upon Jai Singh to approve of her proposal. Then she deputed Amar Singh Kingra to Maha Singh to consider the overture. She learned that Maha Singh's wife Raj Kaur had gone to Jawalamukhi on a pilgrimage to pray for the recovery of Ranjit Singh from smallpox. She immediately went there and persuaded the lady to accept her proposal, In 1786 Mehtab Kaur was married to Ranjit Singh who was only six years old, when the Sukerchakia and Kanhaiya Misls were allied through that matrimony.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Singh, Khushwant (11 October 2004). A History of the Sikhs: 1469–1838 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-19-567308-1. Cite error: The named reference "Singh2004" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c Siṅgha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
- ^ Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001). The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. p. 265. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Siṅgha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 119.
- ^ Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001). The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. p. 310. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
- ^ Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001). The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. p. 261. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
- ^ Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001). The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. p. 310. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
- ^ Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001). The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls. Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd. p. 310. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
- ^ Siṅgha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 119.