Twilight of the Sultanate c10.s1: Jasrat Khokhar

Twilight of the Sultanate c10.s1

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Jasrat Khokhar

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Mubārak Shāh inherited all the problems his father had left unsolved, and no sooner had he donned the royal robes⁴ than he was called upon to deal with Jasrat Khokhar's rebellion in the Punjab.

⁴ Mubārak Shāh did not effect many changes of portfolios at the time of accession. He only transferred Malik Rajjab Nādira, son of Malik Sadhū Nādira, from the districts of Hisār Fīrōzā and Hansi to that of Deopalpur. Hisār Fīrōzā and Hansi were conferred upon Malik Badr, nephew of Sadhū Nādira. T.M.S., 193; Ferishta, I, 163.

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According to Badaonī Jasrat Khokhar was the son⁵ of Shaikha Khokhar, chief of the Khokhar tribe,⁶ and master of the countryside around Sialkot. When Amīr Tīmūr was marching through the Southern Punjab, on his way to Delhi, Jasrat Khokhar was courageous enough to oppose him between Tulamba and Deopalpur, but he was worsted and with great difficulty escaped to his father.⁷ Later on, taking advantage of the confusion created by Tīmūr's invasion, he and his father reoccupied Lahore. When Shaikha was killed by the conqueror's orders on account of his "treachery", Jasrat was carried a prisoner to Samarqand. On the conqueror's death he effected his escape,⁸ returned to his homeland, resumed the leadership of his tribe and entrenched himself in the Khokhar stronghold of Sialkot.⁹ Taking advantage of the weakness of the Delhi Sultanate, he made minor additions to his independent principality whenever an opportunity presented itself. He took an active part in the Civil War in Kashmir which broke out between two royal brothers 'Alī Shāh and Shāhī Khan and gained from it immensely. It so happened that Sultan 'Alī Shāh of Kashmir, successor of Sikandar the Iconoclast, while going to pay a visit to his father-in-law, the Raja of Jammu, had left the administration of his kingdom in the hands of his brother Shāhī Khān. When he returned after some time, Shāhī Khān refused to acknowledge him. Thereupon 'Alī Shāh with the help of the Rajas of Jammu and Rajourī defeated his brother and drove him out of Srinagar. Shāhī Khān sought the help of Jasrat Khokhar, and the two together defeated 'Alī Shāh at Thanna¹⁰ in May-June, 1420 (Jamadiul Avval, 823 H),¹¹ and Shāhī Khān ascended the throne at Srinagar as Sultan Zainul Ābidīn. Jasrat's gain too was considerable. He had seized a large booty in the recent war, besides winning the friendship of the new Kashmir king. Thus strengthened, he began to dream of the throne of Delhi.¹² Zainul Ābidīn in his gratitude actively helped Jasrat in his plans with men and money.¹³ It was about this time that Tughān Raīs, after his defeat at the hands of Khizr Khān's general Zīrak Khān, also joined the standard of Jasrat Khokhar.¹⁴

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⁵ Badaonī, I, 289 and Sharafuddin Yazdī, Z.N., II, 169 call him son of Shaikha Khokhar. Ferishta, I, 156 calls Jasrat 'brother' of Shaikha Khokar. Yahyā in T.M.S., 193, has "Jasrat Shaikha Khokhar".

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⁶ Ferishta, I, 156 ff. makes the mistake of calling Jasrat Gakkhar. The Khokhars, the Gakkhars and the Kākars are generally confounded with one another, but these are three different tribes. The Khokhars are of indigenous origin and belong to the race of foreign invaders who came to India prior to Muslim conquest. They live on both sides of the Jhelum, from Mianwali to Jhang-Maghiana, and chiefly in the Shahpur district of the Punjab. In the fifteenth century they were in great strength in the region between the Ravi and the Chenab in northern Punjab extending up to Kashmir hill tracts. The Khokhars are split up into Muslim, Rajput and Jāt sections. The Gakkhars, who claim a Persian origin, belong to one of the invading races of India. They live in Attock, Jhelum and Rawalpindi districts in the Punjab, Hazara district in the N.W.F. Province, and Jammu region west of the Chenab. The Kākars are Afghans and inhabit northern Baluchistan. The Gakkhars and Kākars are Muhammedans. Āīn., I, 456, 486; Gakkhars in *Encyclopaedia of Islam*; Punjab Census Report, 1881, 149; Punjab District Gazetteers on Attock, Shahpur and Rawalpindi; I.H.Q., XV, 1939, 49 n; J.A.S.B., XL, 1871, Pt. I, 67; Indian Antiquary, XXXVI, 1-8.

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⁷ Z.N., II, 57, 171; M.T.,E and D., III, 416; R.S., VI, 105; Ferishta, I, 159.

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⁸ J.A.S.B., XL, 1871, Pt. I, 80.

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⁹ Ferishta, I, 163; II, 364.

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¹⁰ Mohibbul Hasan, *Kashmir Under the Sultans*, 69.

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¹¹ T.M.S., 194; T.A., I, 271; Badaonī, Ranking, I, 381-82; Ferishta, I, 163.

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¹² T.M.S., 193-94; Ferishta, I, 163; T.A., I, 271.

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¹³ Ferishta, II, 342.

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¹⁴ T.M.S., 191.

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Khizr Khān's death provided a golden opportunity to Jasrat to raise his head, and in the very month of Mubārak Shāh's accession he descended on the Punjab like lightning. Starting from Sialkot and crossing the rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, he attacked Rai Fīrōz Maīn,¹⁵ governor of Ludhiana, at Talwandi¹⁶ and drove him towards the east. Jasrat ravaged the country along the southern bank of the Sutlej as far as Rūpar and then recrossing the river laid siege to Jalandhar. Jalandhar had been taken by Khizr Khan from Tughān Raīs during his last rebellion and was placed in the charge of Zīrak Khan. Invested and hard pressed, Zīrak agreed to the terms offered by Jasrat Khokhar,¹⁷ but when he came out of the fort he was treacherously imprisoned by the Khokhar chief and carried off to Ludhiana. Marching from Ludhiana, Jasrat arrived at Sarhind,¹⁸ which was held by Sultan Shāh Lodī on behalf of the Sultan of Delhi. He laid siege to the fort but because of the rainy season failed to take it. This gave Sultan Shāh time to appeal to Delhi.

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¹⁵ Yahyā followed by all other chroniclers says that Kamāluddīn Maīn was attacked at Talwandī and in the next sentence writes, "Rai Fīrōz Zamindar of the place" fled towards the east. T.M.S., 194; Ferishta, I, 163; T.A., I, 271; Badaonī, Ranking, I, 382. Jasrat did not attack Rai Kamāluddīn himself (for he was not alive at this time) but Talwandī of Rai Kamāluddīn, that is, Talwandi bearing his name probably because it had been founded by him. The person attacked was Rai Fīrōz, Kamāluddīn's son or successor. Perhaps Rai Fīrōz, after the custom in certain regions of India, had his name joined with that of his father. His full name therefore was Rai Fīrōz Kamāluddīn Maīn, as is clear from a statement a few pages later where we find Rai Kamāluddīn Fīrōz Maīn joining Sikandar Tuhfā at Lahore. T.M.S., 199; Ferishta, I, 164; T.A., I, 273. For a discussion on the name also see Hodivala, II, 159.

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¹⁶ Talwandi is situated 20 miles S.W. of Ludhiana. It seems to be a corrupted form of village Tulum on the northern bank of the Sutlej. Rennel's map facing p. 65; also Badaoni, Ranking, I, 382 n.

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¹⁷ T.M.S., 194-95.

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¹⁸ T.M.S., 195. Sarhind or Fatehgarh is situated in Himachal Pradesh in 30° 88′ N. and 76° 27′ E. The spelling Sarhind is modern. Sarhind means Lion-Forest, but one tradition assigns it foundation to Sahir Rao, a ruler of Lahore. Imp. Gaz., Punjab, II, 309.

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The appeal for succour lashed Mubārak Shāh into action, and in spite of heavy rains he left for Sarhind in July, 1421 (Rajjab, 824 H.).¹⁹ As he reached Kohila²⁰ near Samana, Jasrat raised the siege of Sarhind and hurriedly fell back on Ludhiana. During this precipitate retreat Zīrak Khan contrived to escape,²¹ and joined the Sultan at Samana. Mubārak Shāh started in pursuit of the enemy, but on arrival at Ludhiana he learnt that Jasrat had crossed the Sutlej with all available boats. As the river was in spate, and all the boats had fallen into the hands of the enemy, the Sultan could not cross it. But he continued to march along the bank keeping pace with the enemy on the other side. On Tuesday, 9 October (11 Shawwāl),²² when the rains had abated, the Sultan ordered Sikandar Tuhfā, Zīrak Khan, Mahmūd Hasan and Malik Kālū to march ahead and deliver a surprise attack on the enemy. They marched throughout the night and early in the morning forded the river at Rūpar. The sudden appearance of the royal contingent took Jasrat by complete surprise. While he made hurried preparations to encounter it, he found to his consternation that the Sultan himself had crossed the river unnoticed and was advancing from behind. To save himself from being sandwiched between the two royal forces, Jasrat took to flight without even making a show of resistance.²³ The royal army killed many of his men and captured his equipage. Jasrat fled to Jalandhar and then crossing the Beas, the Ravi and the Chenāb,²⁴ entered Tilhar or Talwara²⁵ situated in the lower slopes of the Kashmir highlands. Raja Bhīm of Jammu,²⁶ an old enemy of Jasrat Khokhar, led the Sultan to Talwara, "Jasrat's strongest place", which was captured and destroyed, but the rebel had escaped. Convinced of the futility of pursuing the fugitive any more, the Sultan returned to Lahore early in January, 1422 (Muharram, 825 H). This important outpost on the west had been lying in a deserted state since Tīmūr's invasion. Mubārak Shāh stayed there for a month to strengthen its defences, built a mud wall around it, renamed the city as Mubārakābād, and then leaving it in charge of Mahmūd Hasan with a garrison of 2,000 men, returned to Delhi.²⁷

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¹⁹ T.M.S., 195.

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²⁰ Kohila may be identified with modern Koi or Khoi, a village 48 miles south of Ludhiana. Samana is 17 miles S.W. of Patiala town and about 170 miles west of Delhi.

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²¹ T.M.S., 196 and Badaonī, Ranking, I, 382, say that he was released. Ferishta, I, 163, says that he escaped. T.A. only says that he joined the Sultan.

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²² T.M.S., 196; Ferishta, I, 164.

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²³ T.M.S., 196; Ferishta, I, 164; T.A., I, 272.

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²⁴ T.M.S., 197, has جانپ but obviously Chenāb is meant. Ranking (Badaoni, I, 383) correctly translates it, "Crossed the river Chīnāb".

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²⁵ See Appendix B.

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²⁶ T.M.S., 197 has Bhīlam but T.A., I, 272 has the correct name Bhīm.

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²⁷ T.M.S., 197; T.A., I, 273; Ferishta, I, 164.

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Jasrat Khokhar was enraged at the sack of Talwara. He collected a large force with the help of the local zamindars, descended from his hilly retreat and stood before Lahore in May, 1422 (Jamadiul Ākhir).²⁸ Establishing his base camp near the tomb of Shaikhul Mashāikh Shaikh Husāin Zanjānī,²⁹ he twice attacked the city, but on both the occasions he was worsted by Mahmūd Hasan.

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²⁸ T.M.S., 197.

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²⁹ T.M.S., 198; Ferishta, I, 164; Badaonī, 290; Ranking I, 383. T.A. mistakingly has Rehānī. Shaikh Husāin Zanjānī was a man of great learning. Shaikh Mu'inuddīn Chishtī used to attend his lectures at Lahore, where he lies buried. Shaikh Husāin Zanjānī's tomb is visited by a large number of people every year. Zanjān or Zinjān lies on the borders of Azarbaijān near Qazwīn. Jarret, Āīn., Trs., III, 362 and notes.

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Finding his position none the better, Jasrat retired to Kalanaur.³⁰ On hearing of Jasrat's activities Mubārak Shāh had ordered Raja of Jammu to intercept him and had despatched Malik Sikandar Tuhfā to Lahore to help in its defence. Raja Bhīm fought Jasrat at Kalanaur and drove him towards the Beas (August-September, 1422). Meanwhile, Malik Sikandar, marching towards Lahore, forded the Beas at Būhī³¹ and drove Jasrat across the Beas and the Ravi back into the hills of Talwara.³² Arriving in Lahore in 825 H Sikandar Tuhfā in company with Malik Rajjab Nādira governor of Deopalpur, Malik Sultan Shāh Lodī governor of Sarhind, Rai Fīrōz Maīn and Raja Bhīm combed the Talwara hills, but Jasrat again eluded their grasp. Thinking further pursuit in that difficult terrain to be fruitless, the royal nobles returned to Lahore.

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³⁰ Kalanaur is situated 17 miles west of Gurdaspur town. Akbar received the news of Humayūn's death here only, and ascended the throne at Kalanaur before marching to Agra, 1556.

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³¹ T.M.S., 199 and later on p. 230 has بوهی. Badaonī I, 297 has بوهی. Ferishta has Lohī لوهی, I, 164, l. 12. E and D, IV, 77 also has Pohi. According to Ranking "Puhi in the text is probably identical with Poni". Badaoni, Ranking, I, 384 n; also Hodivala, II, 161.

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³² T.M.S., 199.

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After ordering the aforementioned commanders to deal with Jasrat Khokhar, Mubārak Shāh marched to Katēhar to bring order in that problem tract. The details of his campaign would be studied later, suffice it here to say that the failure of the royal generals in the Punjab and the preoccupation of Mubārak Shāh in Katēhar encouraged Jasrat to attack Rai Bhīm at Jammu in April, 1423, ravage his country and kill him in battle. Large quantities of arms and treasures of the Raja fell into his hands, which added to his strength and ambition. With ten to twelve thousand foot and horse he sacked the districts of Deopalpur and Lahore, but could achieve little because of the timely action of Malik Sikandar Tuhfā, the newly appointed governor of Lahore. Unable to make much headway against the Delhi armies all by himself, Jasrat invited Amīr Shaikh 'Alī³³ of Kabul to help him in fighting the Sultanate. Luckily the latter was unable to come at that moment to Hindustan and the danger disappeared as quickly as it had dawned.

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³³ Shaikh 'Alī was the son of Danishmandchā, a descendant of Chaghtaī, son of Chingīz. He was Naīb or Deputy-governor of Kabul first under Suyurghtimish Mirza, son of Shāhrukh and later under Suyurghtimish's son Masa'ūd Mirza Kabuli. B.N. (B), I, 382; E and D, IV. 59 n. and 233. Also Brown, Trs. of *Tarīkh-i-Guzīda*, II, 134. Yahya probably did not know the name of Masa'ūd Mirza and calls him only "the son of Saratamish". T.M.S., 201 and n. .

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Unable to secure any help from abroad, Jasrat Khokhar kept comparatively quiet for the next five years. Now and then he would raise his head, especially whenever he found the Sultan busy in some region far away from the Punjab, but this plan did not help him much. In A. D. 1427, taking advantage of the preoccupation of the royal armies in Bayana and Mewāt, he laid siege to Kalanaur. The Sultan deputed Zirak Khan and Islam Khan to march against him, but even before their arrival he was chased out of Kalanaur and later defeated at Kangra by Sikandar Tuhfā and his deputy Ghālib Khan. Jasrat was convinced that he could not fight against the royal armies all alone; so he waited to join hands with any other adventurer. The opportunity did not come soon, but when it came in 1431-2, he once again threw himself into the whirlpool of rebellion.

Cites (2)

Tārīkh-i Firishta — Muḥammad Qāsim Hindū Shāh Firishta 1606, Persian
Tārīkh-i Mubārakshāhī — Yaḥyā b. Aḥmad Sirhindī