Churaman(1695–20 September 1721) was a chieftain ofSinsini,Rajasthan.He became leader of the zamindars afterRajaram's death.Bahadur Shah Imade him amansabdarafter he supported him againstMuhammad Azam Shahin becoming the emperor. He was also made thefaujdarofMathura,and theimperial highwayfromDelhitoAgrawas placed under his protection by theMughalEmperor.[1]
| Raja Churaman Singh | |
|---|---|
| Ruler ofBharatpur | |
 Portrait of Raja Churaman Singh | |
| Reign | 1695–20 September 1721 |
| Predecessor | Raja Ram Sinsinwar |
| Successor | Badan Singh |
| Died | 20 September 1721 |
| Issue | Muhkam Singh |
| House | Sinsinwar |
| Father | Bhajja/Bhagwant Singh |
| Religion | Hinduism |
He was the founder ofBharatpurdynasty. He also founded a city of the name of Bharatpur which subsequently was made the capital of the state in the beginning of the 17th century.[2]
Early life & Rise to power
editChuraman's ascent to prominence began after the death of his elder brother, Raja Ram Jat, during the war of Bijal between the Shekhawats and Chauhans on July 4, 1688. Following this event, his father, Bhajja Singh, assumed leadership of the Jats. However, Aurangzeb's appointment of Raja Bishan Singh of Amber as Faujdar of Mathura threatened the autonomy of the Jats, leading to a struggle for freedom from Mughal rule.[3][4]
Military campaigns and leadership
editIn 1702 after the death of his father Bhajja Singh, Raja Churaman Singh came to the fore. Within a short period Raja Churaman Singh gathered 500 horsemen and thousands of soldiers. Nand Ram, theZamindarofHathras,joined him along with 100 horsemen. Raja Churaman Singh recruited a well-known brigand of Mendoo and Mursan to his army. He constructed a fort at Thoon, 150 kilometres west of Agra, near Bharatpur in modern dayRajasthan,India.Within a short span there were 80 villages under the Thoon state and an army of 14 – 15 thousand.[5]
References
edit- ^Bhardwaj, Suraj Bhan (2016). "The Bhomias".Contestations and Accommodations: Mewat and Meos in Mughal India.Oxford University Press. p. 211.doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199462797.003.0006.ISBN978-0-19-946279-7.
- ^Pawar, Hukam Singh (1993).The Jats, Their Origin, Antiquity, and Migrations.Manthan Publications. p. 105.ISBN9788185235226.
- ^Dwivedi, Girish Chandra (1989).The Jats, Their Role in the Mughal Empire.Arnold Publishers.p. 41.ISBN9788170311508.
- ^Qanungo, K. R. "Some Sidelights on the Career of Raja Bishan Singh, Kachhwah of Amber".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress(XI): 170–71.
- ^Chandra, Satish(2002).Parties and Politics at the Mughal Court, 1707–1740(4th ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 162–164.ISBN978-0-19-565444-8.
Further reading
edit- Bhardwaj, Suraj Bhan (2020)."Churaman and the making of the Jat state in the late 17th and early eighteenth century".Studies in People's History.7(1).SAGE Publishing:30–52.doi:10.1177/2348448920908238.S2CID216320823.
- Rana, R. P. (2006).Rebels to Rulers: The Rise of Jat Power in Medieval India c. 1665–1735.Manohar. pp. 153–160.ISBN978-81-7304-605-6.
- Dwivedi, Girish Chandra (1989).The Jats: Their Role in the Mughal Empire.Arnold Publishers. pp. 27–28, 37–39, 45, 47–48, 51–53, 55, 57–68, 70–80, 84–88, 91–92, 94–97, 170.ISBN978-81-7031-150-8.
- Pande, Ram (1970).Bharatpur up to 1826: A Social and Political History of the Jats(1st ed.). Rama Publishing House. pp. 11–27.OCLC555482496.