Chhatar Singh
Encyclopedia
Maharaja Chhatar Singh Rana was the ruler of Gohad
Jat state in Madhya Pradesh
, India
. He became the ruler of Gohad after the fall of Bhim Singh
Rana. Rana Bhim Singh had no son. Girdhar Pratap Singh
became his successor in 1755. Girdhar Pratap Singh was son of Samant Rao Balju, a family friend of Rana Bhim Singh. Girdhar Pratap Singh could not rule Gohad for long as he died in 1757. His successor was Rana Chhatar Singh (1757-1785). He was from Bamraulia
gotra of Jats. He ruled Gohad state till 1785.
He is considered to be the greatest ruler of Gohad. During his rule he occupied many neighbouring forts. His rule is considered to be the golden period of Rana rulers by historians. He was brave, tactful, visionary and strong administrator. The Marathas were strong enemies of Gohad rulers but Mahadji Sindhia always desired to have friendship with Chhatar Singh.
of Bhim Singh
in his memory near Bhim-tal on the Gwalior fort.
He handed over the administration of Gwalior fort to his younger queen and came back to Gohad.Alijah Srinath Mahadji Shinde attacked the Gohad
fort in the end of 1784. After a war of 2 months Alijah Srinath Mahadji occupied the Gohad fort on 27 February 1785. Rana chhatar Singh escaped to Karauli where his friend Nihal Singh Rana was a ruler. The elder brother of Nihal Singh Manikpal’s conspiracy lead to the arrest of Chhatar Singh. He was brought to Gwalior and killed here by Mahadji Sindhia through poisoning in 1785. Thus Gohad Jat kingdom was won by Marathas through conspiracy and not by bravery.
. After the death of Chhatar Singh in 1788 the entire Gohad
area became a symbol of anarchy, plundering and killing for 18 years. The revolutionary Jats unanimously declared Kirat Singh
son of samant Tarachand of village Neerpur in 1803. Samant Tarachand was cousin brother of Rana Chhatar Singh. The coronation ceremony of Kirat Singh took place at ‘Bagathara fortress’, situated at a distance of 12 miles from Gohad, as Gohad and Gwalior were in possession of Sindhias.
Gohad
Gohad , also Gohud, is a city and a municipality in Bhind district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. A town of historical importance it is situated close to the city of Gwalior.-History:...
Jat state in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He became the ruler of Gohad after the fall of Bhim Singh
Bhim Singh
Bhim Singh is an Indian politician and author, born August, 17 1941. He is the Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party, a political organisation based in India in state of Jammu and Kashmir.-World Tour:...
Rana. Rana Bhim Singh had no son. Girdhar Pratap Singh
Girdhar Pratap Singh
Girdhar Pratap Singh Rana was the ruler of Gohad Jat state in Madhya Pradesh, India. He became the ruler of Gohad after the fall of Bhim Singh Rana. Rana Bhim Singh had no son. Girdhar Pratap Singh became his successor in 1755. Girdhar Pratap Singh was son of Samant Rao Balju, a family friend of...
became his successor in 1755. Girdhar Pratap Singh was son of Samant Rao Balju, a family friend of Rana Bhim Singh. Girdhar Pratap Singh could not rule Gohad for long as he died in 1757. His successor was Rana Chhatar Singh (1757-1785). He was from Bamraulia
Bamraulia
Bamraulia is a clan or gotra of Jats found in Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in India. This gotra is based on village Bamrauli situated near Agra. The early history of Bamraulia gotra is not known. As per the books maintained by traditional Jagas, Jats in Yudhistir Samvat had...
gotra of Jats. He ruled Gohad state till 1785.
He is considered to be the greatest ruler of Gohad. During his rule he occupied many neighbouring forts. His rule is considered to be the golden period of Rana rulers by historians. He was brave, tactful, visionary and strong administrator. The Marathas were strong enemies of Gohad rulers but Mahadji Sindhia always desired to have friendship with Chhatar Singh.
Captured Gwalior fort
Chhatar Singh planned to recapture the Gwalior fort. He sent his trusted satrap Brajraj Singh to attack Gwalior fort. There was a war between Brajraj Singh and Maratha army under the leadership of Raghunath Rao on the banks of the Swarn Rekha River. Brajraj Singh was killed in the war but Chhatar Singh succeeded in recapturing the Gwalior fort on 4 August 1780 after defeating Marathas. After winning over the Gwalior fort he performed Yajna and gifted 4000 cows. He took number of steps of welfare of people. He constructed ChhatriChhatri
Chhatris are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indian architecture. Chhatris are commonly used to depict the elements of of pride and honor in the Rajput architecture of Rajasthan. They are widely used, in palaces, in forts, or to demarcate funerary sites...
of Bhim Singh
Bhim Singh
Bhim Singh is an Indian politician and author, born August, 17 1941. He is the Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party, a political organisation based in India in state of Jammu and Kashmir.-World Tour:...
in his memory near Bhim-tal on the Gwalior fort.
He handed over the administration of Gwalior fort to his younger queen and came back to Gohad.Alijah Srinath Mahadji Shinde attacked the Gohad
Gohad
Gohad , also Gohud, is a city and a municipality in Bhind district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. A town of historical importance it is situated close to the city of Gwalior.-History:...
fort in the end of 1784. After a war of 2 months Alijah Srinath Mahadji occupied the Gohad fort on 27 February 1785. Rana chhatar Singh escaped to Karauli where his friend Nihal Singh Rana was a ruler. The elder brother of Nihal Singh Manikpal’s conspiracy lead to the arrest of Chhatar Singh. He was brought to Gwalior and killed here by Mahadji Sindhia through poisoning in 1785. Thus Gohad Jat kingdom was won by Marathas through conspiracy and not by bravery.
Assessment by Maratha historian
The Maratha Historian Balwantrao Bhaiya Saheb Sindhia has written about Chhatar Singh in his book "History of Gwalior fort" as under:- "The Raja Chhatar Singh of Gohad, a son of Kunwar Mulju, had kept up the struggle with the Marathas.
- He was a young man of great promise and well known for his martial exploits, not only in Hindustan but also in countries inhabited by Europeans. His influence was so great that the Zamindars of their own accord and others of adjoining acknowledged him as their Lord and Master. The protracted struggle between him and the Marathas however, reduced the people of Gwalior to such straits that many of them left the town and took their abode in villages at a distance from the seat of disturbances and war. When he became the master of fortress of Gwalior, performed several ritual rites on the fortress and completed the work of Chhatri of Rana Bhim Singh near the great Tank. He lost no time in proclaiming to the public by beat of drums that no one was to molested and disturbed in the pursuit of his peaceful avocationAvocationAn avocation is an activity that one engages in as a hobby outside one's main occupation. There are many examples of people whose professions were the ways that they made their livings, but for whom their activities outside of their workplaces were their true passions in life...
as long as he continued loyal and faithful to the state that protected him."
His successor
Successor of Chhatar Singh was Kirat SinghKirat Singh
Kirat Singh Rana or Rana Kirat Singh was the last Jat ruler of Gohad state in Madhya Pradesh, India. He was the first Jat Rana ruler of Dholpur...
. After the death of Chhatar Singh in 1788 the entire Gohad
Gohad
Gohad , also Gohud, is a city and a municipality in Bhind district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. A town of historical importance it is situated close to the city of Gwalior.-History:...
area became a symbol of anarchy, plundering and killing for 18 years. The revolutionary Jats unanimously declared Kirat Singh
Kirat Singh
Kirat Singh Rana or Rana Kirat Singh was the last Jat ruler of Gohad state in Madhya Pradesh, India. He was the first Jat Rana ruler of Dholpur...
son of samant Tarachand of village Neerpur in 1803. Samant Tarachand was cousin brother of Rana Chhatar Singh. The coronation ceremony of Kirat Singh took place at ‘Bagathara fortress’, situated at a distance of 12 miles from Gohad, as Gohad and Gwalior were in possession of Sindhias.
Further reading
- Dr. Ajay Kumar Agnihotri (1985) : Gohad ke jaton ka Itihas(Hindi)
- Dr. Natthan Singh (2004) : Jat-Itihas
- Jat Samaj, Agra: October-November 2004
- Dr. Natthan Singh (2005): Sujas Prabandh (Gohad ke Shasakon ki Veer gatha – by Poet Nathan), Jat Veer Prakashan Gwalior
- Jat Veer Smarika 2005, Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad Gwalior