Later Mughals v1.c6.s17.19

v1.c6.s17.19

Of the next part of Govind's life we know a little more, though not very much more, than of that which had gone before. Dr. Trumpp* seems to look on the evidence for the following facts as slightly doubtful; but I think there is partial confirmation of them from the official history of Bahadur Shah's reign, compiled at the time. It seems certain that Govind Singh joined Bahadur Shah at some point, when that Prince was on his march down country from Lahor to Agra, to contest the throne with his brother, Azam Shah. Govind Singh must have received some rank but what it was is not stated by the Muhammadans. A mansab of 5,000, as stated by the Sikhs, is preposterous, the greatest leaders, at the head of thousands of soldiers, having no higher rank, whereas Govind Singh is reported as having no more than two or three hundred men.† In the same way the Sikhs make the battle, fought at Jajau, between Agra and Dholpur, on the 18th Rabi I. 1119 (18th June, 1707), to be won solely by the marvellous feats of Govind Singh and his Sikhs. This is absurd, and may be summarily rejected. But there is, I think, evidence that Govind Singh was in the Emperor's army at Agra immediately after the battle. I think that he is to be identified in the entry of the *Bahadur-Shah-nama** of the 4th Jamadi I. 1119 (2nd August 1707), when "a jewelled scarf was presented to Govind Singh."