The Jat Chronicles- Raja Ram of Sinsini

While Gokula began the Jat revolt against the Mughals, it was Raja Ram of Sinsini who would actually build the Jats up into a well organized, deadly fighting force,that harassed the Mughal army regularly with their lightning style guerilla attacks. He was the Jat zamindar of Sinsini, in Deeg district of Rajasthan and the son of Bhajja Singh.

He realized that mere valour would not be sufficient to win against the mighty Mughal army, and learning from the experiences of Gokula, he began to build up an organized armed force along with another Jat leader Ramki Chahar of Sogaria. He began to unite the Jats belonging to different clans and gotras, along with Chahar, he bought the Jats of Bayana, Rupbasia, Ranthambore under one umbrella. He recruited young peasants as soldiers, gave them proper training in usage of firearms, weapons and horse riding. Different regiments were organized, each under a commander, and discipline was instilled in the soldiers.

Also having seen how Tilpat fell under Mughal assault, he recognized the need for a strong defensive network of forts. He began to build mud forts in deep jungles, that would serve as a base for both operations and also offer shelter to the soldiers. He preferred the traditional guerilla warfare of Jats called Dhar, and avoided an open plains conflict, that would otherwise work to the advantage of the Mughals.

Raja Ram began with regular raids on Mughal caravans in the countryside around Arga, the subedar Safi Khan was virtually besieged in the fort, while the Narukas, Panwars, Gujjars, Meos completely blocked the roads between Dholpur and Delhi, as well as Agra and Ajmer. He made an assault on Akbar’s tomb at Sikandara but was repelled by the faujdar, Mir Abul Fazl. He however was succesful in capturing Shikarpur, looting the treasures from there.

A worried Aurangzeb, appointed Bahadur Zafarjang Kokaltash on May 3, 1686 to subdue the rebels, who however failed badly. Though he ordered his son Muhammad Azam to proceed against the Jats, he had to call him back for the campaign against Bijapur and Golkonda. Finally Bidar Bakht in December, 1687 was given complete command to act against the rebels with Kokaltash as his deputy.

Raja Ram in the meanwhile attacked the caravan of the Mughal commander Aghar Khan, near Dholpur, and carried off a lot of riches, horses, cattle. Aghar Khan tried to give chase to the rebels, but was drawn into a trap, cornered and killed, along with 80 other men of his. Aghar Khan was one of the more formidable commanders, known for his suppression of the Afghans, and this gave the Jats a morale booster. He tried to attack another commander Mahabat Khan near Sikandara, but was driven back, with heavy casualties to his army leaving around 400 dead.

Once again Raja Ram attacked Sikandara, and taking advantage of the delay in arrival of Shaista Khan, the governor designate of Agra, he attacked Akbar’s mausoleum, carrying away all the gold, silver and precious stones. He took revenge for the brutal execution of Gokula, by digging out Akbar’s bones and burning them. The Jats then fell upon the Mughal settlements at Khurja, Paliwal ransacking them, as they now began to take control of the countryside around Delhi, Agra and Mathura.

There was a long standing dispute between the Chauhans and Shekawati Rajputs over land in Bagtharia near Alwar, that soon led to a major battle at Bijal. While Raja Ram supported the Chauhans, the Shekawati Rajputs were in league with the Mughals. The faujdar of Mewat,Murtaza Khan, Bidar Bakht, Rao Anirudh Singh of Budi and Kishor Singh Hada clashed with Raja Ram and Chauhans at Bijal on July 4th, 1688. The Hada chieftain was defeated, while Anirudh Singh had to flee from the battle field.

Raja Ram now charged into the Mughal ranks, furiously, killing many in the ranks, before a stray bullet from a musketeer hit him in the chest.He fell immediately on the battlefield, as the Chauhans lost, his severed head was taken to Aurangzeb in the Deccan, while Ramki Chahar was captured and executed.

One of the great heroes of the Jat revolt was no more, but Raja Ram’s legacy in creating an organized army and harassing the Mughals would forever be remembered. His brother Churaman who succeded him and his son Fateh Singh would continue the struggle against the Mughals, and also go on to found the princely state of Bharatpur.