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Twilight of the Sultanate c19.s2: Appendix B: Jasrat Khokhar’s Stronghold

Twilight of the Sultanate c19.s2

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English

Appendix B: Jasrat Khokhar’s Stronghold

c19.s2.2

THERE IS A most perplexing plethora of variants of the place-name of Jasrat Khokhar’s stronghold in the Kashmir hills. Yahyā calls it Tikhar (تیکھر) in one place,¹ and in another Tilhar.² Elliot’s MSS. also had Tikhar.³ Badaonī has Talhar, and Ranking in a note adds that it is “in the Kashmir hill tracts”.⁴ Nizāmuddīn⁵ has Thīkah while Ferishta calls it Bisal.⁶

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¹ T.M.S., 197

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² *Ibid.*, 199 and n.

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³ E and D, IV, 56-57.

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⁴ Badaonī, Ranking, I, 383.

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⁵ T.A., I, 272.

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⁶ Ferishta, I, 164.

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Hodivala writes a long note to show that the place was Palhārā or Parhālā lying about 12 miles east of Rawalpindi. But Parhālā and Dandgalī, situated about 40 miles east of Rawalpindi, which find mention by Bābur, Terry and De Laet, were strongholds of Gakkhars and not Khokhars. Hodivala realised it and was even prepared to concede that Jasrat was Gakkhar and not Khokhar.⁷

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⁷ Hodivala, 404.

c19.s2.11

But according to all chronicles Jasrat was Khokhar and not Gakkhar. Besides, the time-table of the campaign is far too short for Mubārak Shāh to go to Rawalpindi. On 9 October (11 Shawwāl) he is on the banks of the Sutlej. He sends his officers up the river and himself follows. They attack Jasrat who flees. The Sultan collects all his baggage and issues in his pursuit. Crossing the Beas and the Ravi he marches through Jammu territory whose Raja comes to pay respects.⁸ After crossing the Chenāb and ravaging Jasrat’s stronghold near Jammu, he marches back and arrives at Lahore early in January, 1422 (Muharram, 825=26 December, 1421 to 24 January, 1422).⁹ The time taken by Mubārak will not be sufficient for a distant campaign to Parhālā near Rawalpindi. Moreover, no chronicler mentions his crossing the Jhēlum.

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⁸ T. A., I, 272.

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⁹ T.M.S., 197.

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Similarly Bīsal or Basaulī mentioned by Ferishta is on the Ravi and not across the Chenāb, and is, therefore, incorrect.

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The place is, as Ranking locates in consultation with Stein, “the village Talwāra on the right bank of the Chenāb, just opposite to the town of Riasi (74° 51′ N. 33° 6′ E.)”.¹⁰ It lies in the hills about 50 miles north of Sialkot and would make an excellent hide-out for the chief of Sialkot. The mention of Jammu and its Raja here and in later campaigns against Jasrat is very significant. Tilwāra lies only 25 miles north-west of Jammu. Obviously the Raja of Jammu was familiar with the place and the countryside around it, and afraid of Jasrat’s strength, he helped Mubārak Shāh in its sack.

c19.s2.16

¹⁰ Badaonī, Ranking I, 384.

Cites (2)