Battle of Nadaun

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict = Battle of Nadaun
partof =


caption =
place = Nadaun
result = Bhim Chand's victory
combatant1 = Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur, aided by: • Guru Gobind Singh's disciples (Sikhs), • Prithi Chand of Dadhwal, • Other hill chiefs opposed to the Mughals
combatant2 = Mughals, aided by: • Raja of Kangra • Raja Dayal of Bijarwal
commander1 = Bhim Chand • Guru Gobind Singh • Other Rajas
commander2 = • Alif Khan • Kirpal Chand • Raja DayalThe Battle of Nadaun was fought at Nadaun, between Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur (Kahlur) and the Mughals under Alif Khan. Raja Bhim Chand was supported by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh Guru) and other hill chieftains, who had refused to pay tribute to the Mughal emperor. The Mughals were supported by Raja of Kangra and Raja Dayal of Bijarwal. [cite book
last = Singh
first = Kartar
title = Guru Gobind Singh and the Mughals
publisher = Guru Gobind Singh Foundation
location = Chandigarh
year = 1967
oclc = 49259
pages = 55] The battle resulted in the victory of Bhim Chand and his aides.

Different authors give the deate of the battle variously as 1687 [cite book
last = Malik
first = Arjan Dass
title = An Indian guerilla war : the Sikh peoples war, 1699-1768
publisher = Wiley
location = New York
year = 1975
isbn = 978-0470565766
oclc = 1339733
pages = 22] [cite book
last = Johar
first = Srinder Singh
title = The Sikh gurus and their shrines
year = 1976
publisher = Vivek Pub. Co.
oclc = 164789879
quote = A fierce battle was fought at Nadaun in 1687.
pages = 87] , 1689 [cite book
last = Mansukhani
first = Gobind Singh
title = The Quintessence of Sikhism
publisher = Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
location = Amritsar
year = 1965
oclc = 2654849
pages = 46] [cite book
last = Seetal
first = Sohan Singh
title = Prophet of Man, Guru Gobind Singh
publisher = Seetal Pustak Bhandar
location = Ludhiana
year = 1968
oclc = 115772
pages = 179
quote = This battle of Nadaun was fought in November, 1689.] , 1690 [cite book
last = Singh
first = Gopal
title = A History of the Sikh People, 1469-1978
publisher = World Sikh University Press
location = New Delhi
year = 1979
oclc = 6330455
pages = 275
quote = This is known as the battle of Nadaun and was fought probably late in 1690] 20 March 1691.cite news
url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99nov07/sunday/head5.htm
title = Little-known gurdwara of Nadaun
author = Avinash Dani
work = Sunday Reading
publisher = The Tribune
date = 7 November 1999
accessdate = 2007-12-06] , and 4 April 1691. [cite web
url = http://hphamirpur.gov.in/temple.htm#n10
title = Temples in the District: Gurudwara sahib Nadaun
publisher = NIC Hamirpur
accessdate = 2007-12-06]

"Bichitra Natak", considered to be the autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh, is one of the major sources for the information about the battle. However, its authorship is disputed by some scholars.

Cause

The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's Deccan campaigns against Bijapur and Golconda had put considerable strain on the Mughal exchequer. To meet these expenses, Aurangazeb ordered the Governor of Punjab, Azim Khan, to recover annual tributes from the rulers of hill states, who had been defaulting on the payment for three consecutive years.

Azim Khan assigned the duty of collecting tributes to Mian Khan, the viceroy of Jammu. The duty of collecting tributes from Kangra and adjoining principalities was assigned to Alif Khan (or Alaf Khan).cite book
last = Singh
first = Prithi Pal
title = The History of Sikh Gurus
publisher = Lotus Books
year = 2007
isbn = 978-8183820752
page = 138]

Alif Khan first approached Raja Kirpal Chand (or Bhim Chand Katoch) of Kangra. The Raja told him that Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur (Kahlur) was the most powerful king in the region; if he pays tribute, the others will follow. Raja Dayal of Bijarwal (or Bijharwal) was persuaded by Kirpal to meet Alif Khan's demands. At Raja Kirpal's suggestion, Alif Khan proceeded towards Bhim Chand's capital. He halted at Nadaun and sent his envoy to Bhim Chand of Bilaspur with his demands. However, Bhim Chand refused to pay the tribute.

Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur formed an alliance with the rest of the hill Rajas, and also sought the support of Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru, who was against the idea of paying tributes to the Mughals, decided to support Bhim Chand.

Description in Bichitra Natak

The author of "Bichitra Natak" states that Bhim Chand was aided by Raj Singh, Ram Singh, Sukhdev Gaji of Jasrot, and Prithi Chand of Dadhwal, among others. ["Bichitra Natak". [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=150 Chapter 9, Chaupai 3-4] ] He also states that the Rajputs of the Nanglua and Panglu tribes, and the soldiers of Jaswar and Guler, also participated in the battle. ["Bichitra Natak". [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=152 Chapter 9, Chaupai 16] ]

Initially, the forces of Kirpal Chand overpowered Bhim Chand's forces. ["Bichitra Natak". [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=150 Chapter 9, Chaupai 4-5] ] Then, Bhim Chand recited Hanuman mantras, and called all his allies, including the Guru. ["Bichitra Natak". [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=150 Chapter 9, Chaupai 6] ] As the combined forces launched an attack, the enemy forces of Raja Dayal of Bijharwal and Raja Kirpal also advanced. ["Bichitra Natak". [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=151 Chapter 9, Chaupai 7] ] In the ensuing battle, the forces of Mughals and Kirpal Chand were driven out into the river. ["Bichitra Natak". [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=152 Chapter 9, Chaupai 19] ] Alif Khan and his warriors fled away."Bichitra Natak". [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=152 Chapter 9, Chaupai 22] ]

Aftermath

According to "Bichitra Natak", Guru Gobind Singh remained at Nadaun, on the banks of the River Beas, for eight more days, and visited the places of all the chiefs. Later, both the parties made an agreement and peace was established. ["Bichitra Natak". [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=153 Chapter 9, Chaupai 23] ]

Later, Maharaja Ranjit Singh built a gurdwara on the spot where the Guru had pitched his tent. The Gurdwara was affiliated to Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in 1935. It is known as Gurudwara Dasvin Patshahi or Gurdwara Nadaun Sahib.

References

External links

* [http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=150 Description of the Battle of Bhangani] in "Bichitra Natak" (Chapter 9).