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Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c16.s5: § 5. Maratha siege of Kumbher, death of Khande Rao Holkar

Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c16.s5

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§ 5. Maratha siege of Kumbher, death of Khande Rao Holkar

v1.c16.s5.1

The Marathas had imposed claims to *chauth* or contribution upon various Rājput States ever since Bāji Rāo's visit in 1736 and particularly in connection with the succession disputes in the three States of Bundi, Jaipur and Mārwār. At the end of September 1753, a powerful army under the Peshwa's younger brother Raghunāth Rāo crossed the Narmadā to realise these dues. Joined by Malhar Holkar, he entered Jaipur territory and spent over two months there (9 Nov. 1753-15 Jan. 1754), securing payment from Jaipur (12 lakhs) and several smaller States. Suraj Mal, who had formed a secret defensive understanding with Mādho Singh during their return from Delhi after making peace with the Emperor, had sent his envoy Ruprām Kothāri to the Maratha camp. Malhar had demanded two *krores* from him on the ground that Suraj Mal had gathered much more than that amount in his plunder of the suburbs of Delhi. The Jāt envoy offered four lakhs for buying the Marathas off, in addition to the Emperor's regular tribute; but Malhar would not accept it and invaded the Jāt country. Inspired by Suraj Mal, the heir and minister of the old king Badan Singh, the Jāt nobles decided on resisting this illegal demand and put their forts in a strong posture of defence, while their common soldiers were animated by a keen sense of brotherhood and the proud consciousness of never having been defeated.

v1.c16.s5.2

When the Maratha army approached the famous Jāt forts of Dig (16 Jan. 1754), Bharatpur and Kumbher, they were driven back by the fire of the artillery on the walls. One pitched battle was fought in the plain with heavy slaughter on both sides, after which Suraj Mal, overcome by the enemy's superior numbers, shut himself up in Kumbher. The Marathas sat down before it, but they had no siege guns, and merely plundered and occupied the country round. Raghunath Rao encamped at Pingaré (near Kumbher) on 20th January and removed to the plain before Kumbher on 28th February, where he continued to stay till 22nd May. Khandé Rāo Holkar was encamped at Hodal early in January, engaged in expelling the Jāt outposts in that district. He was now ordered by his father to march with his 4,000 horse and join in the siege of Kumbher, where he arrived after looting parts of Mewat on his way. Malhar, through his ally Imād-ul-mulk, begged the Emperor for the loan of siege-guns from the imperial arsenals in Delhi and Agra, but Ahmad Shah, tutored by his wazir, delayed compliance on the plea of lack of money to pay his artillerymen and replenish the munitions exhausted during the war with Safdar Jang.

v1.c16.s5.3

In March Imād at the call of Malhar marched from Mathura to Kumbher, where Aqibat joined him. But the daily efforts of the allies failed against the fort, because of their want of breaching artillery, while complete investment for stopping ingress and egress was impossible. Khandé Rāo having made covered lanes approached the walls. One day (c. 15 March 1754) he had gone in a *pālki* to inspect his trenches, in his usual tipsy condition, when the fort opened fire and he was killed by a *zamburak* shot. Nine of his wives burnt themselves on his pyre, the only survivor being the little girl Ahalyā Bāi, destined to rise to fame as one of India’s noblest queens and purest saints. Malhar was frantic with grief at the death of his beloved son and vowed to extirpate the Jāts in revenge. He first went to Mathura to perform the funeral rites of his son in that sacred city. Imād came to condole with him, remarking, "Henceforth look upon me as your son in the place of Khando." Suraj Mal, too, professed the deepest sorrow for this issue of war and sent mourning robes for Malhar and Khandé's son. The Emperor, on 9 April, presented robes to Malhar and ornaments to Malhar's wife, through Bāpu Rāo Hingané, in token of his sympathy.

v1.c16.s5.4

But the mud-walls of Kumbher laughed the Marātha siege to scorn, as those of Bharatpur did the British half a century later. Skirmishes took place between the rival foraging parties, in which many were slain. The siege dragged on for four months. At last in the middle of May, peace was made; Ruprām, on behalf of his master, gave a written bond to pay the Marāthas Rs. 30 *lakhs* by instalments in three years. In addition to this, the two *krores* which had been previously imposed by Imād as *peshkash* due from the Jāt Rājah to the Emperor, was now agreed to be paid to Imād and the Marāthas instead. So the siege ended; Imād left the place on 18th May and Raghunāth Rāo on the 22nd, and both came to Mathurā. [*TAh.* 108*b*-110*a*, 114*a*, 117*b*, 121*b*, 128*a*. *Sujān Charitra*, Jang vii. incomplete. *S.P.D.*, xxvii, 79, and p. 94.]

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