Sikh attacks on Delhi

Sikh attacks on Delhi were common in the second half of the 18th century.[1] The Sikhs attacked Delhi 19 times between 1766 and 1788.[2][3][4]

Sikh attacks on Delhi
Part of Mughal–Sikh Wars
DateNovember 1764 – 12 March 1788
Location
Delhi, Mughal Empire
Result Sikh victory
Belligerents
Sikh Confederacy Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Baghel Singh
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Jassa Singh Ramgarhia		 Shah Alam II
Prince Mirza Shikoh

Background

Sikhs were very scornful towards Delhi due to the following reasons.

Prelude

In November 1764, Sikhs helped Jats of Bharatpur, under the command of Jawahir Singh, to capture Delhi after the Battle of Delhi (1764).[6][7][8]

First attack

After defeating Mughals in the Battle of Sirhind (1764),[9] Sikhs plundered jagir of Najib-ud-daula. Najib appointed Afzal Khan to take care of Delhi. Sikhs raided the Paharganj region of the city.[5] After this attack, the Sikhs reached the outskirts of Delhi in 1766 after fighting Najib-ud-duala in Sonepat and Panipat, collecting large amounts of booty in the process.[4] In December 1767, the Sikhs again fought and defeated Najib-ud-duala in Karnal but missed an opportunity to become emperor makers of Delhi due to disagreements amongst their leaders.[4]

Second attack

Sikhs attacked Delhi in January 1770.[4] They sacked Panipat and Karnal in the Raid of Panipat (1770) and entered the territories of Najib-ud-daula and attacked Delhi. Zabita Khan was sent to stop Sikhs.[5] The Sikhs demanded a large amount of money for friendship, but the demand was declined by Zabita.[10]

Third attack

In 1770, Najib-ud-daula passed away and Zabita Khan became the chief of Rohilla. The Sikhs again came to Delhi and attacked Zabita Khan's territory. Details of Sikh invasion have been noted by French Missionary, Father Peere.[10]

Sikhs defeat Mughals

Nasir ul Mulk in 1772, he was appointed as the Governor of Sirhind. He had an army of 19,000 soldiers which consisted of Mughals, Afghans and Marathas. At the Battle of Kunjpura (1772), he was attacked by Sikh sardars Sahib Singh, Dyal Singh and Laja Singh with 6,000 soldiers. 500 men were lost on both sides. Nasir ul Mulk along with Daler Khan went to Kunjpura fort but Sikhs besieged fort for 13 days. On 14th day, the Mughals were defeated.[10]

Fourth attack

On 18 January 1774, the Sikhs invaded Delhi for the fourth time. They plundered Shahdara and the Mughal nobility.[5][11]

Fifth attack

In October 1774, the Sikhs attacked and ravaged Delhi.[5]

Sixth attack

One 15 July 1775, the Sikhs attacked and set fire to Paharganj and Jaisinghpur. Mughals failed to stop the Sikh advances.[5][12]

Seventh attack

The seventh attack happened in November 1776. The prime minister of the Mughal empire, Najaf Khan, was taken by surprise.[5]

Eighth attack

The eighth raid happened in September 1778. Sahib Singh encamped near the Shalimar garden. The Mughals invited the Sikhs to a feast.[5]

Ninth attack

On 1 October 1778, which was Dushera day the Sikh attacked Delhi and all the way to Rakabganj. They destroyed a Mosque which was created on the site of a previously destroyed Gurdwara.[5] The Sikh remained in Delhi for one month after capture.

Tenth attack

On 12 April 1781, after attacks by the Mughals to the Sikh, the Sikh marched toward Delhi. They sacked Baghpat and laid waste to Khekra. The Sikhs managed to intercept letters of Najaf Khan, thus an alarm was raised in Delhi. On the 13th they stormed Sardhana and Mawana. They pillaged Muradnagar. Manu Lal, the vaki of Begam Samru, sought immediate aid. Najaf Khan ordered Afrasiyab Khan to march on the Sikh, but they refused unless they were paid. Najaf had no money.[13]

On the 16th, the Sikh attacked Patparganj and Shahdara which were the suburbs of Delhi. People over 50 miles South of Delhi were terrified. Other Sikh armies conquered Sheikhpura and Barnawa. The amil of the place was wounded and fled. On the 17th, Najaf Khan marched to Karinana to protect his own estate. Najaf Khan marched with many generals against the Sikh as they continued to conquer the area around Delhi. Murtaza Khan and Gazi Khan had 4,100 troops ready to march against the Sikh.[13]

On the 20th, the Sikh crossed the Yamuna back into their own territory and started selling looted property and goods. On the 24th, 500 more Sikh crossed the river with 300 of them carrying booty. A skirmish occurred when Mir Mansu attacked the Sikh, eventually dying in battle.[13]

Eleventh attack

On March 28, 1782, Najaf Khan ordered Shafi to march against the Sikh with an army of 10,000. Najaf Khan would die soon after giving the orders. Shafi attacked the Sikh for two months before being summoned in Delhi and making negotiations with the Sikhs. As September began and the rainy season over the Sikh raided and looted everything from Delhi to Hardwar.[14]

Twelfth attack

In 1783, a body of 40,000 Sikhs camped at Delhi. Prince Mirza Shikoh was defeated and fled. The Sikh soldiers were divided into 3 groups. Two groups of 5,000 Sikhs each deployed at Majnu-ka-Tilla and Ajmeri Gate; whereas 30,000 Sikhs under Baghel Singh, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia camped at a place known as Tees Hazari before attacking Red Fort. The Sikhs defeated the Mughals in the Battle of Delhi (1783) and captured Delhi.[15][16][17][18] Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was placed on the takht of Delhi as Badshah Singh of Delhi but Jassa Singh Ramgarhia objected that without Dal Khalsa meeting no one can be placed on the throne, and instead enchained the throne and brought it back to the Ramgarhia Bunga, where it still sits today.[19] Mughals agreed to construct 7 Sikh Gurudwaras in Delhi for Sikh Gurus.[15][16][20][18]

Gurudwaras

Photo of Mughal Slab

Mughal slab from Delhi was roped with horse and brought to Amritsar in Punjab[25][26]

  • Slab of Mughal throne placed in Bunga
    Slab of Mughal throne placed in Bunga[25][26]

Thirteenth attack

In December 1784, the Sikh raided and plundered the neighbourhoods of Delhi on instigation of Najaf Quli Khan. The Sikh quickly retreated before any counterattack.[27]

Fourteenth attack

In January 1786, the Sikh and Gujars raided the territory from Panipat to Delhi. Sikh numbering near 5,000 had plundered villages near Ghausgarh. The Sikh further ravaged Meerut, Hapur, and Gharmuktesar. Ravjoli Sindha marched to the Sikh with 7,000 calvary and 10 cannons. The Sikh marched back to their own territory.[28]

Fifteenth attack

On the 27th of July, 1787 500 Sikhs plundered everything from Agra to Delhi.[29]

Sixteenth attack

The sixteenth attack happened in August 1787. The Sikh once more attacked Shahdara. The Sikh fought with the imperial guards and defeated them. The Maratha General Madho Rao Phalke marched against the Sikh and fought them. In the fight, many men drowned in the river with a large number being killed or wounded. Shah Nizum-ud-Din and Deshmukh watched the violence and decided to join in. They attacked the Sikh with many bullets but retreated later on. Phalke surrendered while the rest of the generals fled.[5]

Seventeenth attack

The Sikh with Ghaulam Qadir attacked the Red Fort on October 30, 1787.[5]

Eighteenth attack

In early 1788, Ghulam Qadir's territory was unprotected. The Sikh attacked the territory which included Delhi.[30]

Nineteenth attack

On the night of March 12, 1788, the Sikhs with Najaf Quli Khan attacked the tent of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II and slaughtered his men. The emperor managed to save himself by fleeing to a heavily guarded tent.[5]

References
  1. McLeod, W. H.; Fenech, Louis E. (2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 97. ISBN 9781442236011.
  2. Syed, Muzaffar H. (2022). "Later Mughals: Sikh Raids". History of Indian Nation: Medieval India. History of Indian Nation. Vol. 2. K. K. Publications. p. 197. Trouble with the Sikhs was endless; they raided as far as Delhi practically every year for money and possessions. They entered Delhi three times in 11 years from 1772 to 1783–in 1772, 1778 and 1783 with underhand help from the then wazirs of Shah Alam Il There was ongoing warfare with the Sikhs who were marauding in eastern Punjab and plundering the Rohilla, Mewar (Rajput) and Jat lands. During Shah Alam's reign the Sikhs fought not just with the Mughals, but with the Marathas, Rajputs, and Rohillas.
  3. Dhavan, Purnima (2011). "Notes pp. [129–132]". When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799. U.S.A.: Oxford University Press. p. 216. ISBN 9780199756551. By the end of 1786, Sikh raids extended toward Delhi and the upper Gangetic plains, still nominally under Mughal protection, but also an area from which the Rohilla Afghans and Marathas collected periodic tribute.
  4. Mittal, Satish Chandra (1986). "The Ascendency of the Sikhs". Haryana, a Historical Perspective. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. pp. 5–7.
  5. Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. pp. 578–581.
  6. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Volume 2; Volume 34, Issue 2. 1973. p. 17.
  7. Chhabra, G. S. (1960). The Advanced Study in History of the Punjab: Guru and post-guru period upto Ranjit Singh. The Advanced Study in History of the Punjab. Vol. 1. Sharanjit. p. 451.
  8. Pande, Ram (1970). Bharatpur Upto 1826: A Social and Political History of the Jats. Rama Publishing House. p. 91.
  9. Lansford, Tom (16 February 2017). Afghanistan at War: From the 18th-Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598847604.
  10. Gupta, Hari Ram (1944). History of the Sikhs. Vol. II. The Minerva Bookshop.
  11. Mital, Sattish (1986). Harayana, A Historical Perspective. p. 7. ISBN 8171560830.
  12. Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii. p. 61.
  13. Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii. pp. 126–130.
  14. Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii. p. 137.
  15. Sethi, Jasbir Singh. Views and Reviews. ISBN 9788190825986.
  16. Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
  17. Singha, H. S, ed. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1.
  18. Bhagata, 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.
  19. Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. p. 475.
  20. Singha 2000.
  21. Randhir, G.S (1990). Sikh Shrines in India. ISBN 9788123022604.
  22. H. S. Singha (2000). The encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 187. ISBN 81-7010-301-0.
  23. "A Gurdwara steeped in history". The Times of India. 25 March 2012.
  24. "Majnu ka Tila and the romance of sepak takraw". Indian Express. 28 July 2011.
  25. "sikhchic.com | The Art and Culture of the Diaspora | Restoration of The Bunga Ramgharia". www.sikhchic.com. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  26. "Untitled Document". sikh-heritage.co.uk.
  27. Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii. p. 165.
  28. Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii. p. 194.
  29. Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii. p. 206.
  30. Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii. pp. 213–214.
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