1336 AD Ksatriya Kings Victory over Muslims

[Guest guest]

A page from history

Battle of Singoli, 1336; and its significance in the annals of Hindu

India

By Dr Ganeshi Lal Verma

 

[beginning this issue we are starting a regular column where we

discuss inspiring tales from Indian history. We were a nation of

great conquerors, perseverant fighters, dignified in defeat,

magnanimous in victory and generous to our enemy. This is the story

of our glorious past, courageous resistance and standing up against

odds in trying times.—Ed.]

 

IN a.d. 1335 Mohammad Tughlaq (a.d. 1325-1351) got the stunning news

that the fort of Chittod was captured by Rana Hammir, the scion of

the old ruling family. The Sultan therefore set out for its recovery.

Distrusting the Rajputs, he avoided the usual Ajmer route and

proceeded from the side of Malwa, i.e. the route followed by

Jalaluddin Khilji, nearly forty years before. The physiography of the

region, which lies enroute was marked by two steppes from the first

ascent of the plains of Mewar to the descent of Chambal. Mohammad

Tughlaq crossed the first and camped near Singoli. Rana Hammir, who

was well acquainted with the intricacies of the land and had kept

himself posted with the movement of Mohammad Tughlaq, surprised and

forced him to fight there.

 

In the action, the Rajputs gained complete victory. The Sultan's army

was slaughtered, a number of Muslim nobles were killed and the Sultan

himself was captured. For months together Mohammad Tughlaq remained

as a state prisoner of Mewar subsequently a treaty was concluded.

Mohammad Tughlaq accordingly surrendered Ajmer, Ranthambhore, Nagor,

Shivapuri, etc. to the Rana. Nearly 50 lakh tankas and 100 elephants

were given to Rana Hammir as war-indemnity (Annals and Antiquities of

Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 319). By this treaty all the territories of Rai

Pithora were liberated. As a fact, a process of unification of

Rajasthan began under the leadership of Gehlots of Mewar.

 

Rajputs gained complete victory. The Sultan's army was slaughtered, a

number of Muslim nobles were killed and the Sultan himself was

captured. For months together Mohammad Tughlaq remained as a state

prisoner of Mewar

 

The impact of Sangoli victory of Rana Hammir was instantaneous. A

thrill was felt and the Hindu movements were greatly strengthened.

The Hindus of Doab were reduced to poverty as Maulana Shamsuddin

wrote to Mohammad Tughlaq in the earlier part of his reign: "You have

degraded the Hindus to an extent that their wives and children beg

for their bread at the doors of Muslims. You are, in doing so,

rendering a great service to Islam" (Zia-ul-Barni in Tarikh-i-

Phirojshahi, p. 297). They refused to pay taxes and took to arms. The

Hindus in Punjab joined hands with the Mongols to throw out the Turks.

 

In south came into existence a Hindu empire, which brightens the

pages of Indian History. The inscription of Hampi dates the

foundation of the bright half of Baisakh, Wednesday, Saka 1258 (a.d.

1336). Firista admits: "The combined forces of Rajas recovered from

the Mohammadans the countries of Mabar and Dwarasamundra—on all sides

the flames of war and rebellion were kindled and of distant province

nothing was left to the Sultan (Mohammad Tughlaq), except Gujarat and

Deogir, (Firista in Lucknow Text, p. 138)

 

Confusion and Revolts in Mohammad Tughlaq's Sultanate

 

After securing his liberty, it seems Mohammad Tughlaq proceeded to

Malwa which was still loyal to him. There he received the news of the

firm support of Wazir Khane-e-Jehan and the Governor, Ainul-Mulk of

Oudh and Jaffarabad. It seems Mohammad Tughlaq was able to recover

Delhi with the support of Wazir and Ainul-Mulk. For Masud, who was

crowned in Delhi in his absence, was executed that very year, i.e.

a.d. 1336. Still Mohammad Tughlaq sensed danger; hence, he moved to

Swargadwari (modern Shamshabad) near Kannauj. From there he tried to

conquer Sambhal (Muradabad), Kumaon. In Kumaon, his army was defeated

because of heavy rains, epidemics and guerilla warfare by the

Garhwalis.

 

As a result of defeat in Kumaon, Mohammad Tughlaq was compelled to

transfer his capital to Devagiri which he renamed Daulatabad and

instructed all the families of nobles and Sayyads to move there. Even

that was not helpful. Therefore, he continued to fight the rebels

till his death in March a.d. 1351.

 

Authenticity of the Account

 

Mahant Nainsi recorded the fact of Rana Hammir's victory over

Mohammad Tughlaq in his famous Khyat. About the credibility of this

narrator, Ishwari Prasad says, "Nainsi does not exaggerate nor

minimise. He is a truthful recorder of events and therefore his work

has much historical value. While the Mohammadan historians write

vaguely about Rajputana and extol the deeds of valour of their

patrons, Nainsi presents the other side and his observations have a

freshness and charm, which seldom strike us (Ishwari Prasad in The

History of Qurana Turks (Allahabad, 1936, p. 358).

 

An inscription of Rana Kumbha dated a.d. 1438 extols Rana Hammir as

having defeated Sultan Mohammad Tughlaq of Delhi. The sequence of

events after the Rajput victory at Singoli shows the undoubted

probability of the pact. In 1336, the Governors of Sultan, including

those of Hansi, Sirsa, Kera, Gulburga, Bidar, Samana, etc. assumed

independence. In Delhi, Masud Khan, the son of Alauddin Khilji's

daughter and Ghazi Tughlak, being the most legitimate rulers to the

Sultanate of Delhi assumed Sultanship. He was also supported by

Bahauddin Gustasp, the son of Gazi Tughlak's sister.

 

(Contact author at 4423, Arya Pura, Subzi Mandi, Delhi-110 007.)

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?

name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=86&page=25