Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c15.s2.8

v1.c15.s2.8

The complete suppression of the false Guru Banda and his band of ferocious fanatics (1713) had effectually crushed the Sikhs as a rebellious and fighting force for one generation. Then the manifest impotence of the Delhi empire revealed by Nadir Shah’s easy and complete triumph over it, tempted these people to raise their heads once more. While Zakariya Khan’s strong and vigilant rule kept peace in the trans-Satlaj region (belonging to his subah of Lahor) up to his death (1745), the cis-Satlaj region, forming part of the subah of Delhi, began to see a revival of disorder and rapine. In 1740 a large body of Jats and Sikhs gathered together, chose a leader whom they styled Daranat Shah, and marched through the Sarhind district, causing a great disturbance and seizing many villages. It was only a force sent from Delhi under Azimullah Khan that could defeat and disperse them. (*Chahar Gulzar*, 373 *a.*)