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Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal
Nawab of Jhamra From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal[a] (c. 1776 – 21 September 1857),[2][3] also known as Baba Kharal, was a Punjabi Muslim chieftain of the Kharal jatt tribe who led a rebellion in the Bar region of Punjab against the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.[4][5] He is considered a martyr and folk hero in Punjabi literature.[6]
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Biography
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Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal was born in Jhamra into a landowning family of the Kharal[7] tribe which was prominent in the Sandal Bar region of Punjab. The Kharals had vied for dominance with Bar tribal groups such as the Baghela, Kathia, Wattoo, Fatayana and others. Ahmed Khan Kharal was able to briefly maintain influence over all of the Sandal Bar.[8]
Leopold Oliver Fitzhardinge Berkeley, better known as Lord Berkley, was the Assistant Commissioner of Gogera in 1857. He held a meeting with important personalities of Gogera including Ahmad Khan Kharal. Berkley demanded all the leaders to supply the British with men (soldiers) and horses to crush the ongoing revolt. To this, Ahmad Khan Kharal replied: "Kharals do not share women, horses and land with anyone" and left.[9]
Role in the Revolt of 1857
On July 8, the British arrested a large number of Joiya tribesmen, women and children after they refused to pay the heavy taxes (Lagan).[8] When Ahmed Khan Kharal received this news, he planned to break into the Gogera jail and rescue the innocent people imprisoned there. With help of his Baghela, Fatayana, Wattoo and Kathia allies, Ahmad Khan Kharal attacked the Gogera Jail around 26 July. According to British records, 17 prisoners were killed, 33 were injured and 18 fled.[10][11] But native accounts disagree suggesting that 145 prisoners died and 100+ East India Company troops were also killed.[12] The British arrested Ahmad Khan Kharal but released him due to pressure from local tribes and insufficient evidence available to charge him.[8] Kharal continued resisting against the British after being released.
In order to arrest Ahmad Khan Kharal, Berkley attacked Jhamra but was unsuccessful although he imprisoned 20 civilians including Ahmad Khan Kharal's youngest son Bala Khan Kharal. The British also took with them a large number of cattle.[8] Ahmad Khan Kharal with the help of Baghela, Kathia, Wattoo, Fatayana and Joiya tribesmen started a guerrilla campaign against the British. According to Punjab government records, the rebels numbered 20,000 to 30,000 men at their height.[11] John Cave-Browne writes that these rebels took refuge in thick jungles and grass and attacked in groups of 3,000-5,000 guerrillas. The sound of drum beating was the sign that they would attack.[13] The connection of Jhang to Lahore was completely cut on account of their actions. Ahmed Khan Kharal planned a major assault on Gogera with other tribal leaders in a secret meeting but the information was leaked by Sarfraz Kharal of Kamalia to the British. The British prepared themselves to face the upcoming assault and when the rebels attacked they were repulsed with heavy losses.[8]
Ahmad Khan Kharal with his companions fled to the jungles of Gashkori and continued the struggle. The British received news about Ahmad Khan Kharal's presence in the jungles of Gashkori and a force under Captain Black was sent there. The detachment succeeded in killing Ahmad Khan Kharal while he was offering afternoon prayers.[8][13] Many of his close companions, such as his deputy Sarang Khan Kharal, were also killed in this engagement.[13]
Murad Fatayana, a trusted associate of Ahmed Khan Kharal, took revenge of Ahmad Khan's killing and killed Lord Berkley alongside 50 British and Indian troops in a successful attack. The rebellion continued until it ended in 1858 as local tribes lost to British EIC reinforcements.[8][13][12]
Death
Ahmad Khan Kharal’s head was decapitated and put on display at Gogera Jail.[14] A few days later, one of his supporters stole the head and buried it in his ancestral graveyard in Jhamra.[14] The local dhola poems recited after his death describe Ahmad Khan's martyrdom as Britain lowering the head of Punjab:[15]
احمد خاں شہید ہویا تاں سِر پَنجاب دے نوُں جا گھَتیا اے ہَتھ
With Ahmad Khan's martyrdom, Britain has lowered the head of Punjab.
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Notes
- Punjabi: رائے احمد خاں کَھرل; Punjabi pronunciation: [ɾaːeː ɛɦməd̪ xãː kʰəˈɾəl]
References
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