Mian Qutb Shah

Mian Qutb Shah or Qutb Khan was an Indian Muslim Sardar and formerly a collector of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.[1][2][3] He was best known as the slayer of Dattaji Rao Scindia.[4]

Conquest of Sirhind

Qutb Khan joined the Mughal emperor's troops in the battle between Ahmad Shah Bahadur and Safdar Jang. He was given the parganahs of Kairana, Barot, Sardhana, and Kandhla by way of pay. When the Wazir Imad-ul-Mulk afterwards gave these territories to the Marathas in a treaty, Qutb Khan felt exasperated and made up his mind to defy the Dehli Emperor.[5] He took to plunder and rape, ravaging Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Azimabad, and Thanesar. The imperial army attacked Qutb Khan at Karnal and were on the verge of victory due to their numbers, consisting of nearly 12,000 men against Qutb Khan's small army of 2,500.[6] The complete defeat of the imperial army, attributed to a freak sandstorm,[7] was followed by the seizure of their baggage and materials by Qutb Khan and the plundering of the surrounding regions.[8] Qutb Khan conquered the region of Sirhind from Sadiq Beg and ruled the city of Sirhind and its surrounding districts. He did not molest the poor, but repressed strong rebellious men, so that within his jurisdiction the roads became safe, and his followers were held back from practicing oppression.[9]

Afghan-Maratha Wars

Killing of Dattaji

Renko Anaji and other Maratha captains captured Saharanpur, driving Qutb Shah to the foot of the Himalayas.[10] Backed by Abdali, Qutb Khan expelled the Marathas from Saharanpur in 1757 and took possession of it.[11] Abdali found in Saharanpur the Rohilla sardars, Qutb Khan, Sadullah Khan, Hafiz Rahmat Khan, Inayet Khan, Dundi Khan, Faizullah Khan, Fath Khan, and Mullah Sardar Khan with 10,000 warriors.[12][13] Qutb Khan was not a Rohilla by caste, but came to be known as a Rohilla, as the preceptor and fighting ally of the Rohilla Dynasty,[14][15] In the ensuing battle at the Burari Ghat, Dattaji was defeated and his head was cut off by Mian Qutb Shah.[16] Rajam Chopdar had seen Qutb Shah on top of his elephant, and having known him for long, saluted him in his Muslim tongue, and asked Qutb Shah to save the Patil who was lying on the battlefield. Qutb Shah asked Dattaji whether he would fight him again, and when he heard his reply saying that he would continue to fight, he immediately pulled a dagger from his waist, kicking him, and severed his head from the body, despite the pleas of Chopdar.[17][18] He presented the head to Abdali.[19]

Death

The primary purpose for the Third Battle of Panipat for the Marathas was the avenging of the death of Dattaji Sindhia.[20] The Marathas first attacked Kunjpura, where Qutb Shah waited with 2,000 men along with Abdus Samad Khan.[21] Qutb Khan was captured alive, and insults were heaped on him.[22] Qutb Khan asked for water when he was being led to the block, but the Marathas refused, remembering what he had done with the dead body of Dattaji Sindhia.[23] He was subsequently beheaded and paraded around the camp. Qutb Shah's sons slaughtered 4,000 Maratha fugitives at the Third Battle of Panipat, in order to avenge their father's death.[24]

References
  1. Jos J. L. Gommans (1995). The Rise of the Indo-Afghan Empire, C.1710-1780. p. 118.
  2. Hari Ram Gupta (1961). Marathas and Panipat. the University of Michigan.
  3. Sir Jadunath Sarkar. Fall of the Mughal Empire: 1754-1771. (Panipat) 2d ed., rev. 1950. Indiana University. p. 150. formerly a collecetor of Saharanpur, who later usurped parts of Panipat and Karnal districts
  4. Jaywant Joglekar (2006). Decisive Battles India Lost (326 B. C. to 1803 A. D.). Lulu.com. ISBN 9781847283023.
  5. Hari Ram Gupta (1999). History of the Sikhs: Evolution of Sikh confederacies, 1708-69. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 339. ISBN 9788121502481.
  6. G. S. Cheema (2002). The Forgotten Mughals: A History of the Later Emperors of the House of Babar, 1707-1857. p. 277.
  7. H. A. Phadke (1990). Haryana, Ancient and Medieval. University of California. ISBN 9788185151342.
  8. A Comprehensive History of India: 1712-1772, edited by A. C. Banerjee and D. K. Ghase. the University of Michigan. 1978. p. 47.
  9. Sir Jadunath Sarkar (1966). Fall of the Mughal Empire: 1754-1771 (Panipat). University of California. p. 30. He did not molest the poor but repressed the strong refractory men, so that within his jurisdiction the roads became safe and his followers were held back from practising oppression
  10. Govind Sakharam Sardesai (1948). New History of the Marathas: The expansion of the Maratha power, 1707-1772. p. 397.
  11. Jadunath Sarkar (1964). Fall of the Mughal Empire: 1754-1771 (Panipat). p. 109.
  12. Ghulam Nabi Mubtakir (2002). Afghan True & Unique History(the Meeting Place of the East and West Cultures). Nabi Mubtakir. p. 135.
  13. Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society: Volume 39. Pakistan Historical Society. 1991.
  14. Hari Ram Gupta (1987). History of the Sikhs: Evolution of Sikh confederacies, 1708-1769. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 339.
  15. Sir Jadunath Sarkar (1964). 1754-1771 (Panipat). 3d ed. 1966, 1971 printing. Orient Longman.
  16. Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society: Volume 39. Pakistan Historical Society. 1991.
  17. Prof. A. R. Kulkarni (2008). The Marathas. Diamond Publications.
  18. Pratik gupta (2014). Maratha Generals and Personalities:A gist of great personalities of Marathas. p. 38.
  19. Sir Jadunath Sarkar (1964). 1754-1771 (Panipat). 3d ed. 1966, 1971 printing. Orient Longman.
  20. Sanish Nandakumar (2020). Rise and Fall of The Maratha Empire 1750-1818. Notion Press.
  21. A History of the Freedom Movement: 1707-1831. Renaissance Publishing House. 1984. p. 286.
  22. Tryambak Shankar Shejwalkar (1946). Panipat: 1761. S. M. Katre for Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute.
  23. Shripad Ramchandra Tikekar (1938). Sardesai Commemoration Volume. K.B. Dhawale. p. 126.
  24. Tryambak Shankar Shejwalkar (1946). Panipat: 1761. S. M. Katre for Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute.
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