The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.104

v4.c20.104

The greatest, most persistent and most successful enemy of the empire in this region was Chhatra Sāl Bundelā, a son of that Champat Rāi who had been hunted down by Aurangzīb in 1661. Through Mīrzā Rājā Jay Singh's kindness the poor young orphan Chhatra Sāl had entered the Mughul army as a petty captain and fought well in the Purandar campaign and the invasion of Deogarh in 1667. But he decided to take to a life of adventure and independence in imitation of Shivājī, whose service he next sought. The Marāthā king, however, advised him to return to his own country and promote risings there so as to distract the Mughul forces. The policy of temple destruction launched by Aurangzīb in 1670 roused the Hindu population of Bundelkhand and Mālwā in defence of their altars; they longed for a bold leader, and just at this opportune moment Chhatra Sāl appeared in their midst and was hailed as the champion of the Hindu faith and Bundelā liberty, who promised to repeat Champat's spirited defiance of the Mughul emperor. The rebels elected Chhatra Sāl as their king; the hope of plunder drew to his side vast numbers of recruits from this martial tribe and discontented Afghāns settled in central India. His earlier raids were directed against the Dhāmoni district and the city of Sironj, the Mughul commandants of which could not cope with him. Many petty chiefs now joined him, and he began to collect *chauth* like the Marāthās. Later, as Aurangzīb became more and more deeply entangled in the Deccan, Chhatra Sāl achieved more brilliant triumphs; the range of his raids extended over the whole of Mālwā, and he captured Kālinjar and Dhāmoni.