The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c21.17

v3.c21.17

The early days of the reign were disturbed by the activity of Jasrat the Khokar, who, with the interests of the fugitive Tughān as a pretext and the throne of Delhi as a lure, crossed the Sutlej and attacked Rāi Kamāl-ud-dīn, a vassal of Delhi, at Talwandī. Rāi Fīrūz, a neighbouring fief-holder, fled towards the Jumna, and Jasrat occupied Lūdhiāna, ravaged the country eastwards as far as Rūpar, and, returning across the Sutlej, besieged Zīrak Khān in Jullundur, when a composition not very creditable to either party was effected. Zīrak Khān betrayed the interests of his master by the surrender of the fortress and Jasrat betrayed his guest by sending his son to Delhi as an hostage for his father’s good behaviour, and his former adversary, Zīrak, by seizing and imprisoning him. With Jullundur as a base Jasrat again crossed the Sutlej and on June 22 appeared before Sirhind, now held for Mubārak Shāh by Islām Khān Lodī. In July, although the rainy season was at its height, Mubārak Shāh marched to the relief of Sirhind, and as he approached Sāmāna Jasrat, after releasing Zīrak Khān, who rejoined his master, retreated to Lūdhiāna, whither Mubārak Shāh followed him. Jasrat, having collected all available boats, crossed the flooded river and encamped in security on the opposite bank. As the rains abated Mubārak Shāh retired, in real or feigned apprehension, along the bank of the river to Qabūlpūr, while Jasrat, who had failed to observe that a force had been dispatched up stream to search for a ford, followed him. The two armies were still facing one another when Jasrat learnt that this force had crossed the river and, fearing lest his retreat should be cut off, retreated precipitately towards Jullundur, but was unable to rest there owing to the vigour of Mubārak’s pursuit, during which the fugitives suffered heavy losses, and retired to the lower slopes of the Kashmīr highlands. Bhīm, raja of Jammū, guided the royal army to the principal stronghold of the Khokars, which was captured, with heavy loss to the defenders, and destroyed, but Jasrat escaped. From the hills Mubārak Shāh marched to Lahore, ruinous and deserted since its capture by Tīmūr’s troops and spent a month in replacing its once formidable defences by a mud fort. On returning to Delhi he left Malik Mahmūd Hasan, who had distinguished himself at the passage of the Sutlej and was henceforward the ablest and most active of his nobles, with a force of 2000 horse to hold the restored outpost of the kingdom. By May, 1422, Jasrat had reassembled his army, descended from the hills, and attempted to carry the new citadel by assault, but was repulsed and forced to retire. For more than a month he harassed Mahmūd Hasan by desultory skirmishes, but, finding his labour vain, retired to Kalānaur, his principal place of residence in the plains. Here he met Raja Bhīm of Jammū, who was marching to the assistance of Mahmūd Hasan, and after one battle made peace with him and retired towards the Beās. In the meantime Mubārak Shāh had dispatched to the aid of Mahmūd Hasan the minister, Sikandar Tuhfa, who crossed the Rāvī, once more drove Jasrat into the hills, and marched to Lahore, where he was welcomed by Mahmūd Hasan on September 28. Malik Rajab Nādira of Dīpālpur arrived at Lahore at the same time, and the three nobles marched to Kalānaur, where they were met by Rāja Bhīm, to punish Jasrat’s presumption. They invaded the Khokar country, but Jasrat had escaped into the higher ranges, and after plundering the homes of his tribesmen the three nobles returned to Lahore.