Battle of Saharanpur

The Battle of Saharanpur was fought between the Sikh and Gujjar forces led by Banda Singh Bahadur and the Mughal forces of Saharanpur

Battle of Saharanpur
Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars
DateJuly 1710
Location
Saharanpur
Result Sikh-Gujjar alliance victory
Belligerents

First Sikh State

 Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Banda Singh Bahadur Unknown
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown High

Background and Battle

Banda Singh was deeply angered when he learnt that Jalal Khan and Ali Hamid Khan, the faujdars of Jalalabad and Saharanpur were harassing Sikhs in the area.[1] He sent some Sikhs to Uttar Pradesh to punish the faujdars. The Khalsa Fauj marched upon Saharanpur on their way to Jalalabad.[2][3] The local faujdar Ali Hamid Khan and all those who could, fled to Delhi.[4][5] The Sikhs had spread so much terror that most of the inhabitants fled even before the Sikhs attacked.[6] When the Sikhs learnt about this, they made all haste to the spot and overcame the minimal resistance of the remaining inhabitants.[7] The place was plundered like Sirhind previously. Many noble men and respectable families fell fighting.[8] The Sikhs seized the entirety of the city.[9] The Sikhs punished and plundered the people of Behat and Nanauta as well for atrocities against Sikhs and others.[10]

Aftermath

The Sikhs addressed a letter to Shamas Khan, the Faujdar of Jalandhar, ordering him to hand over his treasury to the Khalsa or meet a similar fate.[1] Jihad was declared soon after and thousands of Muslims gathered to crush the Sikh revolt.[10]

References
  1. Singha,Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India:Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
  2. Sagoo, Harbans Kaur (2001). Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 168. ISBN 9788176293006.
  3. Singh, Ganda (1999). Life of Banda Singh Bahadur (PDF). Publication Bureau. p. 168. ISBN 9788176293006.
  4. Ifran Habib (2001). Sikh History from Persian Sources (PDF). Tulika. p. 134. ISBN 9788185229171.
  5. Surjit Singh Gandhi (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 37. ISBN 9788172052171.
  6. Zahiruddin Malik (1977). The reign of Muhammad Shah, 1719-1748. Asia Publishing House. p. 52. ISBN 9780210405987.
  7. Willian Irvine (1971). Later Mughal. Atlantic Publishers. p. 101.
  8. Singh, Khushwant (2004). A History Of The Sikhs, Vol. 1, 1469-1839. Oxford University Press. p. 134.
  9. Harajindara Siṅgha Dilagīra (1997). The Sikh reference book. Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark. p. 287. ISBN 978-0-9695964-2-4.
  10. Gupta, Hari Ram (1978). History Of The Sikhs Vol. II Evolution Of Sikh Confederacies (1707-69). p. 16.

See also


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