Baghel Singh(c. 1730 – c. 1802) was a warrior leader in thePunjab regionin the northern part of theIndian subcontinentin the 18th century. He rose to prominence in the area aroundSutlejandYamuna.He joined theSingh Krora Misl,one of the Misls during Sikh Confederacy. In 1765, Singh became the leader of the Misl.[1]

Baghel Singh
Baghel Singh depicted in a Janamsakhi manuscript commissioned by him, circa 1793
Born1730
Died1802
Resting place1765 - 1802
Punjab
NationalitySikh
Known for
Spouses
  • Bibi Ram Kaur
  • Bibi Roop Kaur
  • Bibi Rattan Kaur
ChildrenBahadur Singh

Early life

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Gurdwara Baghel Singh

Baghel Singh was born in villageChabhal Kalan,Tarn Taran districtof Punjab around 1730s into a DhaliwalJatfamily.[2]After the death of Karora Singh, Baghel Singh succeeded him to the headship of the Misl.[3]

Military career

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Soon after the Sikhs won theBattle of Sirhandin 1764, Baghel Singh extended his rule beyondKarnaland occupied a number of villages, including Chhalaudi, which became Singh's new headquarters.[4]Singh further expanded his territory into theCis-Sutlej statesincludingMeerut,Saharanpur,Shahdra andAwadh.His actions were supported by Afghan allies includingZabita KhanandGhulam Kadir.[5]

In Ganga Doab

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In February 1764, an army of 30,000 Sikh soldiers underJassa Singh Ahluwalia,Baghel Singh,Sardar Tara Singh Ghaibaincluding other Sikh chiefs, crossed theYamunariver and plunderedSaharanpur,Shamli, Kandha, Ambli, Miranpur, Deobandi,Jawalapur,Chandausi,Muzaffarnagar,Najibabad,Khurja,Garhmukteshwar.They overran the territory ofNajib ud-Daulah,acquiring from him a tribute of elevenlakhof rupees (1,100,000).[citation needed]

In April 1775, Singh with two othersardars,Rai Singh Bhangi and Tara Singh Ghaiba, crossed theYamunariver to occupy land ruled byZabita Khan,the son and successor of Najib-Ud-Daulah. In desperation,Zabita Khanoffered Singh large sums of money and proposed an alliance to jointly plunder the crown lands.

Singh set up anOctroipost (taxation office) near Sabzi Mandi to collect tax on goods imported into the city. The money was used for the construction ofSikhGurdwaras.

In March 1776, the Sikhs defeated the forces of the Mughal emperorShah Alam IInearMuzaffarnagar.[6][7]

Battle of Ghanaur

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In 1778, Shah Alam II sent an army of about 10,000 soldiers in acounter-attackagainst the Sikhs. The Mughal force was led by theWazirMirza Najaf Khan(Nawab Majad-Ud-Daula) under the banner of the crown prince. The Mughal forces and the Sikh forces met in battle atGhanaur,nearPatiala.The Mughal army lost the battle and surrendered.

Battle of Delhi

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Baghel Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Jassa Singh Ramgharia marching through Delhi next to the Red fort.

In March 1783,Dal KhalsaunderJassa Singh Ahluwaliaand Baghel Singh was advancing uponDelhi,[8][9]Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was placed on the throne of Delhi as Badshah Singh of Delhi by Sikhs butJassa Singh Ramgarhiaobjected to it as it was the same throne where previous Mughal emperors sat and gave orders for execution of the Sikh Gurus, considering the throne evil and worthless. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia at once renounced the honour.[8][9] Mughals agreed to construct 7 Sikh Gurudwaras in Delhi for Sikh Gurus.[10][11][12][4]

Gurudwaras

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Sack of Chandausi

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In beginning of January 1785,Jassa Singh Ramgarhia,Baghel Singh, Gurdit Singh of Ladwa passed overJamuna river,They plundered the village and towns ofSadaat-e-Bara,Zabita Khan did not stir out of his fort of Ghausgarh, they crossed theGanga riverand enteredRohilakhand,On 13 January, the villages of Barsi and mahmudpur were laid waste, On 14 January, They sackedChandausithe great center of about 2000 bankers, rich merchants and jewellers was thoroughly squeezed and booty worth a crore of rupees was obtained in two days and nights,[17]

Rise of Sikh power

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In 1783, Singh enteredDelhi.[10][18][19][13]

Singh and the Mughal Emperor contracted that 12.5% of the "octroi" (trade tax) of Delhi would be sent to Singh. In return, he would ensure that the Sikhs did not attack the capital again.[20]

Sikh Gurdwaras in Delhi

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Singh is credited with establishing severalGurudwaras(Sikh Gurdwara's) in Delhi, including:[citation needed]

Death

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Singh died in about 1802 inHarianainHoshiarpur districtofPunjab, India.[citation needed][21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Baba Baghel Singh Museum's paintings and their brief history ON 26 JANUARY 2K21 SINGH'S LIKE BAGHEL SINGH WON ONE MORE TIME DELHI.(NOT WON BUT SHOW KHALSA CAN DO ANYTHING. WITHOUT ANY MORDEN WEAPONS SIKH'S YOUTH MOVE TO DELHI AGAINST INDIAN GOVERNMENT, WHEN HOEL INDIA was protesting against GOVERNMENT FOR 3 FARMERS LAW.) The sikh youth move to RED FORT and hosted SIKH FLAG (NISHAN SAHIB) on the RED FORT. - Page 53
  2. ^Major Nahar Singh Jawandha (2010).Glimpses of Sikhism.Sanbun Publishers. p. 239.ISBN9789380213255.
  3. ^Hari Ram Gupta (October 2001).The Sikhs Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Sikh Misls.Munshilal Manoharlal Pvt.Ltd.ISBN81-215-0165-2.
  4. ^abBhagata, Siṅgha (1993).A History of the Sikh Misals.Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. pp. 271–282.Baghel Singh, Baghel Singh took the leadership of karorisingha misl.
  5. ^N. G. Rathod (1994).The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia.pp. 31–32.ISBN9788185431529.
  6. ^Gupta, Hari Ram, History of the Sikhs, vol. III. Delhi, 1979
  7. ^Sital, Sohan Singh, Sikh Mislan. Ludhiana, 1952
  8. ^abSingh, Pashaura; Barrier, Norman Gerald (1999).Sikh Identity: Continuity and Change.Manohar. p. 264.ISBN978-81-7304-236-2.
  9. ^abhttp://sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?id=2532&cat=14[bare URL]
  10. ^abSethi, Jasbir Singh.Views and Reviews.ISBN9788190825986.
  11. ^Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (2014).Historical Dictionary of Sikhism.Rowman & Littlefield. p. 54.ISBN978-1-4422-3601-1.
  12. ^Singha 2000.
  13. ^abRandhir, G.S (1990).Sikh Shrines in India.ISBN9788123022604.
  14. ^H. S. Singha (2000).The encyclopedia of Sikhism.Hemkunt Press. p. 187.ISBN81-7010-301-0.
  15. ^"A Gurdwara steeped in history".The Times of India.25 March 2012.
  16. ^"Majnu ka Tila and the romance of sepak takraw".Indian Express. 28 July 2011.
  17. ^Singh, Khushwant (11 October 2004).A History of the Sikhs: 1469–1838(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-567308-1.Retrieved2 January2023.
  18. ^Hari Ram Gupta,History of the Sikhs: Sikh Domination of the Mughal Empire, 1764–1803,second ed., Munshiram Manoharlal (2000)ISBN978-8-12150-213-9
  19. ^Ram Gupta,History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of the Misls,rev. ed., Munshiram Manoharlal (2001)ISBN978-8-12150-165-1
  20. ^Harbans Singh, The Heritage of the Sikhs. Delhi, 1983
  21. ^Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (11 June 2014).Historical Dictionary of Sikhism.Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 54–.ISBN978-1-4422-3601-1.

Works cited

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Further reading

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  • Gian Singh, Giani,Panth Prakash[Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
  • Bhahgu, Ratan Singh,Prachin Panth Prakash[Reprint], Amritsar, 1962
  • Sital, Sohan Singh,Sikh Mislan.Ludhiana, 1952
  • Harbans Singh,The Heritage of the Sikhs.Delhi, 1983
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