Ramki Chahar(died 15 July 1688) was a revolutionary warrior who had a major role in ending Mughal rule in Agra Subah.He was the ‘Sardar’ of Chaharwati a collection of villages of Chahar Jat near Fatehpur Sikri(the once imperial capital of Mughal’s).Chaharwati also contain villages of other Jat clans(Kaharwar,Indaulia etc) and castes.After the execution of .Gokula Singh of Tilpat in 1670,Aurangjeb ordered the Fauzdars of Agra Subah to get rid of Jat strongholds.Jat’s were also stubborn to get rid of Mughals from Braj.In the turmoil that followed Gokula Singh’s death 3 Jat leaders emerged Balram Singh Dagur of Sherpur,Raja Ram Sinsinwar of Sinsini and Ramki Chahar of Akola.

Balram Singh was active in Ranthambore,Hindaun,Toda Bhim region.He extracted Chauth from the Fauzdar of Ranthambore and runned a parallel government in his area.Raja Ram Sinsinwar rose  to prominence after capturing Au Paragana and killing the lustfull beast Lal Bheg.He regained Sinsini and emerged as the successsor of Gokula Singh.Other important Jat leaders that emerged were Rai Ramchechra(Ram Charan?) Singh Sogaria of Sogar,Rao Amar Singh Nauhwar of Khair and Sukhpal Singh of Sonkh(father of Raja Hathi Singh of Sonkh).Let us look at the event’s associated with Ramki Chahar’s life

 

Choosen as ‘Rai’ and Seige of Fatehpur Sikri

All the Jat clan near Fatehpur Sikri Chahar,Solanki,Khinwar, Indaulia,Juriel, Kaharwar,Chonnkar,Rawat,etc declared Ramki Chahar as there ‘Rai(Chief).Now Ramki Chahar was not just the Sardar of Chaharwati but ‘Rai’ of whole Sidgiri region.He recruited soldier’s,decided not to gave tax to Mughals and established his Thanas over Mughal Thana.In 1680 With 8 thousand soldiers he then attacked the imperial fortress of Fathepur Sikri.Jat won the Fort of Fatehpur Sikri and killed the Governer.Ramki made Fatehpur Sikri his headquarter.

Ibrahmin Khan’s campaign against Ramki Chahar-

Aurangzeb appointed Ibrahim Khan(titled Mulatfad Khan) as the leader of campaign against Ramki Chahar.Ibrahmin Khan reached Agra In May,1680.He started his campaign against Jat and soon realised diplomacy is better then war.He proposed a treaty to Sardar ‘Rai’ Ramki Chahar which was denied.He then in an night attack captured the Fort of Akola and Bad.He had to soon escape from the Forts as Jat soon reconquered these fortresses.Ibrahim Khan however took with him as captive the Chaudharies(headmen) of Akola and Bad.Ramki Chahar and his follower attacked Ibrahim Khan and made him captive.Ramki Chahar braught Ibrahim Khan to Akola Fort were Ibrahim pleaded for mercy.Ibrahim was released in exchanged for Jat warriors.Aurangjeb through his officer sent a letter and poison to Ibrahim Khan.the letter wrote,’Either get Ramki or take this poison as last gift from Alamgir’.He failed many time against Ramki and finally on 6 July,1681 frustrated and humiliated he drank posion(this is recorded by Upendra Nath Sharma).Ramki Chahar now established himself in Fatehpur Sikri,Rupbas,Bayana,Dholpur and large part of Agra region.

Alliance with Raja Ram Sinsinwar and burning of Akbar’s corpse-

Raja Ram Sinsinwar with the help of Ramki Chahar and other Jat’s ended Mughal rule in Agra Subah.The Subahdar of Agra Saista Khan was biesiged in Agra Fort.On 3rd May 1686, Aurangjeb appointed Khan-i-Jahan Bahadur Zafarjang Kokaltash in order to punish the rebels.Despite his strenuous efforts, however, Khan-i-Jahan failed to capture any of the Jat strongholds or to punish the people. Therefore, he ordered his son, Muhammad Azam to proceed against the Jats. But he had only reached Burhanpur (July, 1687) when more pressing needs of Golconda compelled Aurangzeb to recall the Prince. Thereafter Bidar Bakht was sent (December, 1687) to assume supreme command in the Jat war, while Khan-i-Jahan was to act as his deputy.However Jat Confredacy defeated Bidar Bakht.Raja Ram wanted to attack Sikandara (being tomb of Badshah Akbar,it was a symbol of Imperial Mughal’s) and take revenge of demolision of Keshav Rai Temple (which was symbol of culture of Braj).One time he already failed in doing so.This time Raja Ram with Ramki Chahar again attacked and plundered Sikandra.Raja Ram Sinsinwar only wanted to plunder the tomb but Ramki Chahar dugged the tomb dragged Akbar’s corpse and put them on fire.On asking he replied,’Alamgir cut Gokla into pieces in front of whole Akbarabad(Agra) to send a strong message to the people. I am burning his great grandfather’s corpse and sending a stronger message’.

Battle of Bijal

One of the most mourned battle.During these days the existing feud between the Chauhans and the Shekhawat Rajputs over disputed land in Bagtharia (22 miles north-east of Alwar) and some other parganas had erupted into an open war. The Chauhans appealed to Raja Ram Sinsinwar and other Jats for help, while the Shekhawats implored the help of Murtaza Khan, the Mughal faujdar of Mewat.Bidar Bakht, Rao Raja Anirudh Singh of Bundi and Maharao Kishor Singh Hada joined the faujdar and the Shekhawats. A severe battle was fought near Bijal. Opposite Raja Ram was the Hada Chief upon whom he inflicted a crushing defeat.Anirudh Singh himself could not stand before the Jat onset. He became nervous and fled along with his troops. When the battle was in its full fury the gallant Raja Ram led a fierce charge against the centre, consisting of the Mughals. Meanwhile, a Mughal musketeer, who had hidden himself in a tree, fired Raja Ram at his chest. He fell down from his horse and died immediately on Wednesday 4th July 1688. His fall signaled the defeat of the Chauhans head was severed from the body and later on presented to Aurangzeb in the Deccan (5th September, 1688, 19th Zi-Qada, 1099 A.H.). Ramki Chahar was captured alive in the battle.Rai Ramchechra Singh Sogaria also died in this war.

 

Execution.-

Ramki Chahar was brought to Agra.On the gate of Agra Fort his head was chopped in front of whole Agra.

Reference :-

  • Raj Pal Singh, Rise of The Jat Power, Chapter II, 1988, New Delhi
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