Battle of Saharanpur
The Battle of Saharanpur was fought between the Sikh forces led by Banda Singh Bahadur and the Mughal forces of Saharanpur
| Battle of Saharanpur | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Khalsa (Sikhs)Gujjar peasants |
 Mughal Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Banda Singh Bahadur | Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Background and Battle
Banda Singh learnt that Jalal Khan and Ali Hamid Khan, the faujdars of Jalalabad and Saharanpur were harassing Sikh converts in the area.[1] He sent some Sikhs to Uttar Pradesh.[2] The Khalsa Fauj marched upon Saharanpur on their way to Jalalabad as Saharanpur.[3][4] The local faujdar Ali Hamid Khan and all those who could get away, fled to Delhi.[5][6] The Sikhs had spread so much terror that its inhabitants fled even before the Sikhs attacked.[7] When the Sikhs learnt about this, they made all haste to the spot and overcame the resistance of the remaining inhabitants.[8][9] The place was plundered like Sirhind previously. Many noble men and respectable families fell fighting bravely and embraced martyrdom.[10] They seized the entirety of the city.[11] The Sikhs punished and plundered the people of Behat and Nanauta as well.[12]
Aftermath
The Sikhs addressed a letter to Shamas Khan, the faujdar of Jullundur, calling upon him to personally hand over his treasury to the Khalsa.[1] Jihad was declared soon after and thousands of Muslims gathered to crush the Sikh revolt.[12]
References
- Singha,Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Patiala, India:Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
- Singh, Gurbaksh (1927). The Khalsa Generals. Canadian Sikh Study & Teaching Society. p. 9. ISBN 0969409249.
- Sagoo, Harbans Kaur (2001). Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 168. ISBN 9788176293006.
- Singh, Ganda (1999). Life of Banda Singh Bahadur (PDF). Publication Bureau. p. 168. ISBN 9788176293006.
- Ifran Habib (2001). Sikh History from Persian Sources (PDF). p. 134. ISBN 9788185229171.
- Surjit Singh Gandhi (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 37. ISBN 9788172052171.
- Zahiruddin Malik (1977). The reign of Muhammad Shah, 1719-1748. Asia Publishing House. p. 52. ISBN 9780210405987.
- Royal Asiactic Society of Bengal (1895). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Volume 63. Bishop's College Pass. p. 127.
- Willian Irvine (1971). Later Mughal. Atlantic Publishers. p. 101.
- Singh, Khushwant (2004). A History Of The Sikhs, Vol. 1, 1469-1839. Oxford University Press. p. 134.
- Harajindara Siṅgha Dilagīra (1997). The Sikh reference book. p. 287.
- Gupta, Hari Ram (1978). History Of The Sikhs Vol. II Evolution Of Sikh Confederacies (1707-69). p. 16.