History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s3.t2: § 16. Chhatra Sal aims at independence.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s3.t2
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§ 16. Chhatra Sal aims at independence.
v5.c84.s3.t2.1
Young Chhatra Sal with his wife left the Mughal army under the pretext of hunting, and made a perilous journey to the Court of Shivaji, under whom he begged employment. But the Maratha king advised him to return to his own country and use his local influence to promote risings against Aurangzib, so as to distract the Mughal forces. Meeting with disappointment at the Maratha Court, Chhatra Sal next paid a visit to Subh-karn Bundela, a loyal officer and favourite of the Emperor, then serving in the Deccan at the head of a large contingent of his clansmen. This general held Chhatra Sal's plan of a national rising against the Mughals to be a wild and futile dream; his own loyalty could not be shaken, he was contented with Mughal service, and merely offered to beg the Emperor for a high command for Chhatra Sal. The latter refused it and returned home.
v5.c84.s3.t2.2
It seemed to all that Chhatra Sal, without troops treasure stronghold or even country, could not attack the mighty Mughal empire with success. But just at this time Aurangzib's blind fanaticism played into the hands of the young Bundela patriot. The policy of temple destruction on which Aurangzib launched in 1670, created an opening which Chhatra Sal at once improved. The Hindu population of Bundelkhand and the adjoining province of Malwa took up arms in defence of the altars of their gods. An attempt of Fidai Khan, the governor of Gwalior (1670) to demolish the famous temple of Urchha led to his defeat and repulse by the Bundelas under Dharmangad. The feelings of the entire clan were outraged by this wanton attack on their religion, and even those Bundela chiefs who had been so long loyally serving the ungrateful Mughal Government, now gave their secret sympathies to their rebel brethren, and could not be ordered out against them.
v5.c84.s3.t2.3
The people in Bundelkhand sighed for a bold leader who would repeat Champat's spirited defiance of the Mughal Emperor and protect their religion. Chhatra Sal was, therefore, hailed as the champion of the Hindu faith and Kshatriya honour. Even Sujan Singh, the loyal Bundela Rajah of Urchha, sent him a secret message of praise and good wishes.
v5.c84.s3.t2.4
But an attack on the great Mughal power required long and careful preparation. And therefore Chhatra Sal next set about to find allies. He first visited Baldev (called in the poem, the diwan) at Aurangabad, and induced him to be his partner in the projected war with the Mughals. Baldev agreed and held himself ready to join the movement when the time for action would come.