The Institutes of Akbar 319: 89. Ra’jah Ra’m Chand Baghelah.

319

A few MSS. read Bhagelah, which form Tod says is the correct one—Baghelah, however, is the usual spelling.
Ra’m Chand was Ra’jah of Bhat’h (or Bhattah, as the Ma’asir spells it). Among the three great Ra’jahs of Hindusta’n, whom Ba’bar mentions in his Memoirs, the Ra’jahs of Bhat’h are the third.
Ra’m Chand was the patron of the renowned musician and singer Ta’nsi’n, regarding whom vide the List of Musicians at the end of this book. His fame had reached Akbar; and in the 7th year, the emperor sent Jala’luddi’n Qu’rchi’ (No. 213) to Bhat’h, to induce Ta’nsi’n to come to Agrah. Ra’m Chand feeling himself powerless to refuse Akbar’s request, sent his favorite with his musical instruments and many presents to Agrah, and the first time that Ta’nsi’n performed at court, the Emperor made him a present of two lak’hs of Rupees. Ta’nsi’n remained with Akbar. Most of his compositions are written in Akbar’s name, and his melodies are even now-a-days every where repeated by the people of Hindusta’n.
When A’c̣af Kha’n (I) led his expedition to Gar’ha (p. 367), he came in contact with Ra’m Chand; but by timely submission the Ra’jah became ‘a servant’ of Akbar. In the 14th year, Ra’m Chand lost Fort Ka’linjar, as related on p. 369. He sent his son, Bi’r Bhadr, to Court, but from distrust would not pay his respects personally. In the 28th year, therefore, when Akbar was at Sha’ha’ba’d, he ordered a corps to march to Bhat’h; but Bi’r Bhadr, through the influence of several courtiers, prevailed upon the Emperor to send a grandee to his father and convey him to court. Ra’jah Bi’r Bar and Zain Kokah were selected for this office, and Ra’m Chand came at last to court, where he was well received.
R. Ch. died in the 37th year, and Bi’r Bhadr succeeded to the title of Ra’jah. But on his way from court to Bhat’h, he fell from his palanquin, and died soon after, in the 38th year (1001; vide p. 358). His sudden death led to disturbances in Bāndhū of which Bikramājit, a young relation of Rām Chand, had taken possession. Akbar therefore sent Rājah Patrdās (No. 196) with troops to Bāndhū, and the Mughuls, according to custom, erected throughout the district military stations (thānahs). At the request of the inhabitants, Akbar sent Ismā'īl Qulī Khān (No. 46) to Bāndhū, to convey Bikramājit to court (41st year), their intention being to prevent Bāndhū from being conquered. But Akbar would not yield; he dismissed Bikramājit, and after a siege of eight months and several days, Bāndhū was conquered (42nd year).
In the 47th year, Durjodhan, a grandson of Rām Chand, was made Rājah of Bāndhū. In the 21st year of Jahāngīr’s reign, Amr Singh, another grandson of Rām Chand, acknowledged himself a vassal of Dihlī. In the 8th year of Shāhjahān, when ’Abdullah Khān Bahādur marched against the refractory zamīndār of Ratanpūr, Amr Singh brought about a peaceful submission. Amr Singh was succeeded by his son Anūp Singh. In the 24th year, when Rājah Pahāṛ Singh Bundelah, Jāgīrdār of Chaurāgaḍh, attacked Anūp, because he had afforded shelter to Dairām, a zamīndār of Chaurāgaḍh, Anūp Singh, with his whole family, withdrew from Rewā (which after the destruction of Bāndhū had been the family seat) to the hills. In the 30th year, however, Sayyid Çalābat Khān, Governor of Ilāhābād (vide p. 392) conducted him to Court, where Anūp turned Muhammadan. He was made a Commander of Three Thousand, 2,000 horse, and was appointed to Bāndhū and the surrounding districts.