Amir Khan (Pindari)

Nawab Muhammad Amir Khan (1768 - 1834) was a leader, of Rohilla (Pashtun) origin belonging to its Salarzai branch and the first ruler of the princely state of Tonk (in the present day Rajasthan state of India). He was the son of Haiyat Khan and the grandson of Taleh Khan.

He allied himself most closely with the Maratha rulers, Scindia and Holkar, on whose behalf he would set out to attack their enemies each November, after the monsoon rains. While the Pindaris tended to concentrate on the east and south central Hindustan, Amir Khan and his Pathans concentrated on the north and Rajasthan. At the height of his power, he is said to have controlled a personal following of 8,000 cavalry, 10,000 infantry and up to 200 guns. The largest contingent amongst the Pindari chiefs, by far.

In return for their services, the Maratha rulers of Gwalior, Indore and Berar often conferred land grants on the Pindaris. By the early years of the nineteenth century, these yielded additional revenues of between Rs 800,000 and Rs 2 million per annum. Sometimes, they would 'refrain from plunder' on the payment of large financial indemnities from their intended prey.

After the defeat of the Rohillas in the Rohilla War of 1774-5 against the British, he fought against them. He had acquired the town and pargana of Tonk and the title of Nawab from Yeshwant Rao Holkar in 1798, and this area together with some other scattered parganas that he held, was combined with the pargana of Rampura (Aligarh) and erected into a new principality. Ultimately he established his rule in Tonk in 1806.

In 1817 the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, The Marquess of Hastings, resolved to extinguish the Pindari menace. The Treaty of Gwalior severed the link between them and Scindia. Moreover, the treaty required the latter to join forces with the British to eliminate the Pindaris and Pathans. Bowing to the inevitable, Amir Khan assiduously came to terms with the British, agreeing to disband his men in return for a large stipend and recognition as a hereditary ruler. Amir Khan was recognised as hereditary nawab, disbanded his forces and quietly settled down to consolidating his little state. He became a faithful friend to the British, earning high praise and consideration from successive pro-consuls.

Amir Khan died in 1834. He was succeeded by his son Muhammad Wazir Khan (r. 1834 - 1864).

ee also

* Tonk (princely state)
* Pindari

External links

* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/tonk.htm Tonk Genealogy]