Raja Ram Jat
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Rajaram Jat (reign 1670–1688) was a
chieftain A tribal chief, chieftain, or headman is a leader of a tribe, tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies There is no definition for "tribe". The concept of tribe is a broadly applied concept, based on tribal concepts of societies of weste ...
of
Sinsini Sinsini is a historic village located in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, India, approximately 20 kilometers south of Deeg and 28 kilometers from Bharatpur. This village is known for its role in the Jat uprising against Mughal Empire durin ...
, who led organised rebellion against Mughal emperor
Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...
after
Gokula Jat Veer Gokula Jat (died 1 January 1670), also known as Gokul Dev, was a zamindar and chieftain who led a rebellion against the Mughal Empire during the reign of emperor Aurangzeb in the late 17th century. Gokula emerged as a symbol of resistanc ...
was executed in
Agra Agra ( ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is the ...
on 1 January 1670. Rajaram united the
Jats The Jat people (, ), also spelt Jaat and Jatt, are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, many Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in ...
, modernised their military capabilities, and employed
guerrilla Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...
tactics to disrupt Mughal authority in the regions around
Agra Agra ( ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is the ...
,
Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...
, and the
Yamuna river The Yamuna (; ) is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in List of major rivers of India, India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of about on the southwestern slopes of B ...
. To avenge the execution of Gokula in 1670, he plundered and destroyed Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra, burning the remains in 1688. Rajaram successfully resisted
Mughal Mughal or Moghul may refer to: Related to the Mughal Empire * Mughal Empire of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries * Mughal dynasty * Mughal emperors * Mughal people, a social group of Central and South Asia * Mughal architecture * Mug ...
forces, defeating
Nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...
Khan-i-Jahan Bahadur Zafar Jang Kokaltash in battle near
Sinsini Sinsini is a historic village located in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, India, approximately 20 kilometers south of Deeg and 28 kilometers from Bharatpur. This village is known for its role in the Jat uprising against Mughal Empire durin ...
, which allowed to gain control over
parganas Pargana or parganah, also spelt pergunnah, equivalent to Mohallah as a subunit of Subah (Suba), was a type of former administrative division in the Indian subcontinent during the time of the Delhi Sultanate, Mughal and British Colonial empires. ...
such as
Bhuma {{Infobox settlement , name = Bhuma , other_name = , nickname = , settlement_type = village , image_skyline = , image_alt = , image_caption = , p ...
,
Hodal Hodal is a town and a municipal council, located, on Palwal Road in Palwal district in the Haryana state of India.It is Part of Braj region. Its language is Braj bhasha & Haryanvi. It is located at and has an average elevation of . Hodal i ...
, Kuthumbar, and
Palwal Palwal is a city and a municipal council. It is the headquarters of Palwal district, the 21st district of Haryana state in northern India. It is a centre of the cotton trade in the area. It is part of Braj region. It is also a part of Na ...
. His leadership laid the foundation for the later establishment of the Kingdom of Bharatpur. After his death in 1688, his brother
Churaman Churaman (died 20 September 1721) was a chieftain from Sinsini, Rajasthan, who rose to prominence as a leader following the death of his brother Raja Ram. He established the rule mainly centred at Bharatpur, during the decline of the Mughal Em ...
and his son continued their resistance against Mughal Empire.


Early life

Rajaram was born in
Sinsini Sinsini is a historic village located in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, India, approximately 20 kilometers south of Deeg and 28 kilometers from Bharatpur. This village is known for its role in the Jat uprising against Mughal Empire durin ...
, in present-day
Bharatpur, Rajasthan Bharatpur is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, south of India's capital, New Delhi, from Rajasthan's capital Jaipur, west of Agra of Uttar Pradesh and from Mathura of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Bharatpur ...
, to Bhajja Singh, a
Sinsinwar Sinsinwar is an Indian clan of Jats mainly found in the state of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana. The name Sinsinwar is derived from the village Sinsini in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Rulers of the Bharatpur state belong to this clan ...
Jat The Jat people (, ), also spelt Jaat and Jatt, are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, many Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in l ...
zamindar A zamindar in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semi-autonomous feudal lord of a ''zamindari'' (feudal estate). The term itself came into use during the Mughal Empire, when Persian was the official language; ''zamindar'' is the ...
. He was the cousin of
Churaman Churaman (died 20 September 1721) was a chieftain from Sinsini, Rajasthan, who rose to prominence as a leader following the death of his brother Raja Ram. He established the rule mainly centred at Bharatpur, during the decline of the Mughal Em ...
, son of Bhajja’s brother Brij Raj. The Jats, an agrarian community with martial traditions, had faced
Mughal Mughal or Moghul may refer to: Related to the Mughal Empire * Mughal Empire of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries * Mughal dynasty * Mughal emperors * Mughal people, a social group of Central and South Asia * Mughal architecture * Mug ...
repression, notably after the execution of
Gokula Jat Veer Gokula Jat (died 1 January 1670), also known as Gokul Dev, was a zamindar and chieftain who led a rebellion against the Mughal Empire during the reign of emperor Aurangzeb in the late 17th century. Gokula emerged as a symbol of resistanc ...
. By 1685, with Mughal forces preoccupied in the Deccan, Rajaram, alongside Ramki Chahar (also known as Ramchehra) of Soghar, emerged as a leader to revive Jat resistance.


Leadership and military

After the failure of Gokula’s rebellion of 1669, which lacked proper training, equipment, and defenses, Rajaram introduced major reforms. He united various Jat clans, such as the
Sinsinwar Sinsinwar is an Indian clan of Jats mainly found in the state of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana. The name Sinsinwar is derived from the village Sinsini in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Rulers of the Bharatpur state belong to this clan ...
and Sogaria, and formed an alliance with Ramki Chahar (also called Ramchehara), who controlled Sogar castle, located four miles southeast of Bharatpur. Rajaram also built connections with Jats in Sidgiri (
Bayana Bayana is a historical town and the headquarters of Bayana tehsil in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, India. Hindaun City is the nearest city to Bayana at just away. Bayana is also known as the "City of Bansasur". It was the site of the ...
, Rupbasia) and Ranthambhor, opposing the Amber ruler Ram Singh. Rajaram trained
Jat The Jat people (, ), also spelt Jaat and Jatt, are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, many Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in l ...
farmers in using firearms, horse riding, and military discipline, organising them into
regiments A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service, or specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted in one ...
led by appointed captains to ensure discipline among the independent
Jats The Jat people (, ), also spelt Jaat and Jatt, are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, many Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in ...
. He built simple mud forts, known as kachha forts, in dense jungles, strengthened with mud walls, to serve as bases, safe havens, and storage for looted goods, addressing the defensive shortcomings seen at Tilpat in 1669. Rajaram adopted the Jat “Dhar” guerrilla warfare tactic, avoiding direct battles with larger Mughal forces and focusing on swift, surprise attacks.


Rebellion and Raids

From 1685, Rajaram forces disrupted Mughal trade routes between
Dholpur Dholpur is a city in the Dholpur district in Rajasthan state of India. It is situated on the left bank of the Chambal river. The city is the administrative headquarters of Dholpur district. Dholpur was established by King Dhaval Dev of the ...
-
Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
, and
Agra Agra ( ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is the ...
-
Ajmer Ajmer () is a city in the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ajmer district and Ajmer division. It lies at the centre of Rajasthan, earning it the ...
via
Hindaun Hindaun is a city and municipality, near city of Karauli in Karauli district, Rajasthan, India. It has a population of 105690 and is governed by a municipal council. In the vicinity are the Aravalli range, Aravalli and Vindhya Range, Vindhya ...
and
Bayana Bayana is a historical town and the headquarters of Bayana tehsil in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, India. Hindaun City is the nearest city to Bayana at just away. Bayana is also known as the "City of Bansasur". It was the site of the ...
, plundering caravans and villages alongside allied Narukas, Panwars, Gujars, and Mevs. The Mughal governor of Agra, Safi Khan, was largely confined to
Agra Fort The Agra Fort (''Qila Agra'') is a historical Mughal fort in the city of Agra, also known as Agra's Red Fort. Mughal emperor Humayun was crowned at this fort in 1530. It was later renovated by the Mughal emperor Akbar from 1565 and the presen ...
, and in
Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...
, only the Jama Mosque was considered safe from Jat raids. The
Jats The Jat people (, ), also spelt Jaat and Jatt, are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, many Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in ...
, supported by local communities around
Agra Agra ( ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is the ...
and
Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
, revolted against Mughal authority, expelling imperial revenue officials and jagirdars’ agents from the
parganas Pargana or parganah, also spelt pergunnah, equivalent to Mohallah as a subunit of Subah (Suba), was a type of former administrative division in the Indian subcontinent during the time of the Delhi Sultanate, Mughal and British Colonial empires. ...
between Delhi and
Agra Agra ( ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is the ...
, weakening Mughal control in the region. In 1686, Rajaram attempted to plunder Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra but was repelled by Mughal faujdar Mir Abul Fazl, who was wounded and later awarded the title Iltifat Khan with an increased rank of 200
cavalrymen Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mobile of the comb ...
. Rajaram then looted Shikarpur and Ratanpur. Near
Dholpur Dholpur is a city in the Dholpur district in Rajasthan state of India. It is situated on the left bank of the Chambal river. The city is the administrative headquarters of Dholpur district. Dholpur was established by King Dhaval Dev of the ...
, his forces ambushed the baggage train of Mughal commander Aghar Khan, a Turanni warrior traveling from
Kabul Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...
to the Emperor’s camp at Bijapur. The Jats attacked the disorganized Mughal troops, seizing carts, horses, and women. Aghar Khan impulsively pursued the raiders with a small force and was killed along with his son-in-law and 80 followers, though 200 Jats also died in the skirmish. In early 1688, Rajaram attacked Mir Ibrahim (Mahabat Khan) near Sikandra, losing 400 men but retreating to regroup. Exploiting the delayed arrival of Agra’s governor-designate
Shaista Khan Mirza Abu Talib (b. 22 November 1600 – d. 1694), better known as Shaista Khan, was a general and the Subahdar of Mughal Bengal. He was maternal uncle to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, and acted as a key figure during his reign. Shaista Khan ini ...
, Rajaram returned to Sikandra on 28 March 1688, plundering Akbar’s tomb and seizing gold, silver, carpets, and lamps. Reports by
Niccolao Manucci Niccolao Manucci (19 April 1638 – 1717) was a Venetian writer, a self-taught physician, and traveller, who wrote accounts of the Mughal Empire as a first-hand witness. His work is considered to be one of the most useful foreign sources for th ...
and Ishwardas Nagar suggest the Jats also burned Akbar’s bones. The inaction of Mughal deputy Muhammad Baqa led to his rank being reduced by 500 and Khan-i-Jahan’s by 1,000 cavalrymen. Jat forces further attacked villages supporting the Taj Mahal and captured Mughal officers at
Khurja Khurja is a city (and a municipal board) in Bulandshahr district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated around 20 km from Bulandshahr and 85 km from Delhi. Khurja supplies a large portion of th ...
and
Palwal Palwal is a city and a municipal council. It is the headquarters of Palwal district, the 21st district of Haryana state in northern India. It is a centre of the cotton trade in the area. It is part of Braj region. It is also a part of Na ...
.


Mughal Campaigns Against the Jats

In the first of two Mughal campaigns led by Nawab Khan-i-Jahan Bahadur Zafar Jang Kokaltash against the Jats of
Sinsini Sinsini is a historic village located in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, India, approximately 20 kilometers south of Deeg and 28 kilometers from Bharatpur. This village is known for its role in the Jat uprising against Mughal Empire durin ...
, the armies of the Amber state ruler and Mathura’s faujdar joined him. Despite their combined strength, Rajaram’s Jat forces defeated them. This victory allowed the Jats to seize control of the parganas of Bhuma,
Hodal Hodal is a town and a municipal council, located, on Palwal Road in Palwal district in the Haryana state of India.It is Part of Braj region. Its language is Braj bhasha & Haryanvi. It is located at and has an average elevation of . Hodal i ...
, Kuthumbar, and
Palwal Palwal is a city and a municipal council. It is the headquarters of Palwal district, the 21st district of Haryana state in northern India. It is a centre of the cotton trade in the area. It is part of Braj region. It is also a part of Na ...
. Historian R. P. Rana, citing a contemporary petition, notes that the active support of Jats around Agra and Delhi was key to Rajaram’s success. After a month-long unsuccessful campaign, Khan-i-Jahan retreated to
Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...
. In the second campaign, Khan-i-Jahan besieged Ram Chahar’s fortress at Sogar, capturing it and killing Ram Chahar among other Jat casualties. However, when Khan-i-Jahan targeted
Sinsini Sinsini is a historic village located in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, India, approximately 20 kilometers south of Deeg and 28 kilometers from Bharatpur. This village is known for its role in the Jat uprising against Mughal Empire durin ...
, Rajaram defeated him in a battle nearby, forcing another retreat to
Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...
. This battle also saw the deaths of several prominent
Rajput Rājpūt (, from Sanskrit ''rājaputra'' meaning "son of a king"), also called Thākur (), is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating fro ...
Sardars from
Amber Amber is fossilized tree resin. Examples of it have been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since the Neolithic times, and worked as a gemstone since antiquity."Amber" (2004). In Maxine N. Lurie and Marc Mappen (eds.) ''Encyclopedia ...
fighting for the Mughals.


Death

In 1688, Rajaram allied with the Chauhan Rajputs in a land dispute against the Shekhawats, supported by Mughal faujdar Murtaza Khan,
Bidar Bakht Muhammad Bidar Bakht (; 4 August 1670 – 20 June 1707) was a Mughal Empire, Mughal prince. His father, Muhammad Azam Shah, briefly reigned as Mughal emperor in 1707. Bidar was noted for being a gallant, skilful and successful general and was ...
, Rao Raja Anirudh Singh of Bundi, and Maharao Kishor Singh Hada. On 4 July 1688, during a battle, Rajaram led a charge against the Mughal center, defeating the Hada chief and forcing Anirudh Singh to flee. A Mughal musketeer hidden in a tree shot Rajaram in the chest, killing him instantly. His death led to the Chauhans’ defeat, and his severed head was presented to
Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...
on 5 September 1688.


See also

*
Decline of the Mughal Empire The decline of the Mughal Empire was a period in History of India, Indian history roughly between the early 18th century and mid 19th century during which the Mughal Empire, which once dominated Indian subcontinent, the subcontinent, experienced a ...
*
Bharatpur State Bharatpur was a princely state under British suzerainty. It was ruled by the Sinsinwar clan of the Hindus, Hindu Jats. The state was founded by Badan Singh, Maharaja Badan Singh in 1722. Suraj Mal played an important role in the development a ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ram Jat, Raja Year of birth missing 1688 deaths Jat People from Bharatpur district Violent deaths in India Rebels from the Mughal Empire Indian Hindus 17th-century Indian people