Hem Chandra Vikramaditya
Encyclopedia
Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, Hemu Vikramaditya or simply Hemu (1501–1556) was a Hindu Emperor
of India during the sixteenth century, in medieval times. This was one of the crucial periods in Indian history, when the Mughals and Afghans were desperately vying for power.
The son of a Hindu priest, who later became a food seller, and a vendor of salt petre
at Rewari
, Hemu rose to become Chief of Army and Prime Minister
of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri Dynasty. He fought Afghan rebels across North India from the Punjab
to Bengal
and the Mughal forces of Akbar and Humayun
in Agra
and Delhi
, winning 22 battles continuously, without a single setback.
Hem Chandra acceded to the throne of Delhi
on 7 October 1556, assuming the title of "Vikramaditya" that had been earlier adopted by many Hindu kings since the Vedic times. His Rajyabhishek (coronation) as Samrat was held at Purana Quila in Delhi
. Hemu re-established the Hindu rule (albeit for a short duration) in North India, after over 350 years of Muslim rule. Some historians say that this rule was on the pattern of a strong Hindu state prevailing in South India for more than three centuries, known as 'Vijaynagar Empire'. Hemu struck coins bearing his title.
in the year 1501. His father Rai Puran Das, a Brahmin
, was involved in the profession of Purohiti, the performing of Hindu religious ceremonies as a profession. However, due to persecution of Hindus, who performed religious ceremonies, by Mughals, Rai Puran Das could not make both ends meet as a Purohit (priest). Therefore he gave up Purohiti (priesthood) and moved to Qutabpur village near Rewari
city (now Qutabpur village lies within Rewari city). Hemu's father started trading in various types of salts in Qutabpur, and Hemu was brought up and educated there.
Apart from learning Sanskrit and Hindi, he was educated in Persian, Arabic and Arithmetic. During his childhood, he was fond of exercise and wrestling and while crushing salt in an iron pot, he would monitor his strength. He trained in horse-riding at his friend Sehdev's village. His friend Sehdev was a Rajput
and he participated in all the battles that Hemu later fought except the Second Battle of Panipat
. Hemu was brought up in a religious environment; his father was a member of Vallabh Sampradai of Vrindavan and visited various Teerth (religious sites) as far as Sindh
where he converted the then Governor of Sind, Parmanand in to Vallabh Sampradai.
Hemu's sister was married into a clan of Rajpurohits, to Gun Chandra Bhargava. Gun Chandra and his ancestors had lived at Qutabpur, Rewari
, in present day Haryana
and his children were: Ram Chandra (known as 'General Rammaiya' in Panipat war), Shyam Chandra, Krishna Chandra, Mohan Chandra, Hanu Chandra and Ravi Chandra - most of whom died in the Second Battle of Panipat
in the year 1556 .
Gun Chandra was a descendant of Sri Chandra (grandson of Indra Chandra), who was Rajpurohit (Chief Priest) for Tomara King Kumarpala in 970 A.D., Sri Chandra's descendants continued to be the Rajpurhohits of the state of Indraprastha (Delhi
) - Budh Chandra, Mahi Chandra, Arvind Chandra, Dheen Chandra all were Rajpurohits till the times of Prithviraj Chauhan, and the year 1192 A.D.. Because of this influential family, Hemu's family migrated to Qutabpur in Rewari.
. The Mughals were then, still considered a foreign force. Babur's barbaric invasion of North India in 1526, resulted in the destruction, looting and demolition of most important Hindu temples in North India, like the 'Ram Temple' at Ayodhya, the Krishna Temple
at Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Benares. Not only were these revered Hindu temples destroyed by the invaders, but mosques (the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, the Jama Masjid
at Mathura and the Gyanvapi Mosque
at Benares) constructed over the ruins leading to widespread disaffection among local people. For instance, Guru Nanak, a contemporary and an eye witness to Babur's invasion in the Punjab
has given vivid accounts of Babur's vandalism terming him a butcher.
Growing up in a devout family of Hindu priests in such an atmosphere, Hem Chandra yearned to annihilate the foreigners. He got his first opportunity to crush the ruling invaders of that time and rule North India from Delhi after victory over Akbar's forces, in the Battle for Delhi
in October 1556.
, an important stopover in mediaeval times for traders from Iran
and Iraq
on the way to Delhi. He started his career as a supplier of cereals to Sher Shah Suri
's army, moving on to more critical supplies like saltpetre (for gunpowder) later. Sher Shah had defeated Humayun
in the year 1540 and had forced him to withdraw to Kabul
. He also developed a cannon
foundry in Rewari
, laying the foundation of an industry in brass, copper sheets and utensils manufacture. Hemu obtained technical assistance for casting cannons, and for producing saltpetre, from the Portuguese
in Goa, who were also helping the Hindu Vijayanagar Empire against the Deccan Sultanates
in South India, by supplying cannons, gun-powder and Arabian horses.
After Sher Shah Suri
's death in 1545, his son Islam Shah became ruler of North India. Islam Shah recognised the calibre, and administrative skills of Hem Chandra and made him his personal adviser. He consulted Hem Chandra in matters relating not only to trade and commerce, but also pertaining to statesmanship, diplomacy and general politics. Islam Shah initially appointed Hem Chandra Shahang-i-Bazar, meaning 'Market superintendent' in Persian, to manage commerce throughout the empire. This post gave Hem Chandra the opportunity to frequently interact with the king, having to apprise him of the trade and commercial situation of the kingdom. Abul Fazal says that Islam Shah held Hemu in great esteem. In 1550, Hemu accompanied Islam Shah to the Punjab where he was deputed along with other high officers to receive Mirza Kamran in the fort of Rohtas. Islam Shah consulted Hemu on a variety of matters. After serving as Shahang-i-Bazar,for some time, Hemu rose to become Chief of Intelligence or Daroga-i-Chowki (Superintendent of Post). Islam Shah's health deteriorated in 1552 and he shifted his base from Delhi
to Gwalior, which was considered safer. Hem Chandra was deputed as Governor to the Punjab
to safeguard the region against a Mughal invasion. Hem Chandra held this position till October 30, 1553, when Islam Shah died.
Islam Shah was succeeded by his 12 year old son Firoz Khan who was killed within three days by Adil Shah Suri. The new king Adil was an indolent pleasure-seeker and a drunkard who faced revolts all around. Adil Shah took Hem Chandra as his Chief Advisor and entrusted all his work to him. appointing him the prime minister and chief of his army. After some time, Adil Shah went mad and Hem Chandra became the de facto king.
Many Afghan governors rebelled against the weak King Adil Shah and refused to pay the taxes, but Hem Chandra quelled them. Ibrahim Khan, Sultan Muhhamad Khan, Taj Karrani, Rukh Khan Nurani and several other Afghan rebels were defeated and killed. At the battle of Chhapparghatta in December 1555, Hemu routed the Bengal forces under Muhammad Shah, who was killed in the battle.
At the time the Afghans considered themselves natives of the country (and were considered as such by the Hindus), while the Mughals, writes Vincent Arthur Smith
, were considered foreigners. Writer K.K.Bhardwaj in his book "Hemu-Napoleon of medieval India" claimed that Hemu was a native ruler leading a native Afghan army to victory, in battle after battle. Thus, Hem Chandra became popular among the Hindus as well as Afghans. Another writer, K.R.Qanungo, writes that, this indicates that the rule which Hemu established, commanding Afghan army was secular and nationalistic.
ruler Humayun
over Adil Shah's brother Sikander Suri, on 23 July 1555 the Mughals regained the Punjab, Delhi and Agra after a gap of 15 years. Hemu was in Bengal
when Humayun died on 26 January 1556. Humayun's death gave Hemu an ideal opportunity to defeat the Mughals. He started a rapid march from Bengal
through present day Bihar
, Eastern UP and Madhya Pradesh
. The Mughal fauzdars abandoned their positions and fled in panic before him. In Agra
, an important Mughal stronghold, the commander of Mughal forces Iskander Khan Uzbeg fled after hearing about Hemu's invasion, without a fight. Etawah
, Kalpi
and Bayana
all in present day central and western UP, fell to Hemu.
In the words of K.K.Bhardwaj, "His triumphant march from Bihar to Dilli (Delhi) can be equated to the Italian campaign of Napoleon: "He came, he saw, he conquered"." Hemu never saw defeat in battle and went from victory to victory throughout his life (he died in the only battle he lost). Hemu won the loyalty of his soldiers by his ready distribution of the spoils of war among his soldiers.
After winning Agra, Hemu moved for the final assault on Delhi
. Tardi Beg Khan, who was Governor of Delhi
, for Akbar, wrote to Akbar and, his regent, Bairam Khan that Hemu had captured Agra and intended to attack the capital Delhi, which could not be defended without reinforcements. Bairam Khan realising the gravity of the situation, sent his ablest lieutenant Pir Muhammad Sharwani to Tardi Beg. Tardi Beg Khan summoned all the Mughal commanders in the vicinity to a war council for the defence of Delhi. It was decided to stand and fight Hemu and plans were made accordingly.
Sir Jadunath Sarkar writes in detail about the "Battle for Delhi
" at Tughlaqabad:
"The Mughal army was thus drawn up. Abdullah Uzbeg commanded the Van, Haider Muhammad the right wing, Iskander Beg the left and Tardi Beg himself the centre. The choice Turki Cavalry in the van and left wing attacked and drove back the enemy forces before them and followed far in pursuit. In this assault the victors captured 400 elephants and slew 3000 men of the Afghan army. Imagining victory already gained, many of Tardi Beg followers dispersed to plunder the enemy camp and he was left in the field thinly guarded. All this time Hemu had been holding 300 choice elephants and a force of select horsemen as a reserve in the centre. He promptly seized the opportunity and made a sudden charge upon Tardi Beg with this reserve."
Confusion ensued resulting in a defeat for the Mughals. Hemu was helped by reinforcements from Alwar with a contingent commanded by Hazi Khan. The desertion of various Mughal commanders with Pir Muhhammad Khan who fled the battle field, to Tardi Beg chagrin and surprise, forced the Mughal commander to withdraw.
Hem Chandra won Delhi
after a day's battle on 6 October 1556. Some 3000 soldiers died in this battle. However, Mughal forces led by Tardi Beg Khan vacated Delhi after a day's fight and Hem Chandra entered Delhi
victorious under a royal canopy.
Vincent A. Smith who names Hem Chandra the third claimant to the sovereignty of Hindustan at the time, the other two being the Suris and Akbar, affirms that Hemu after his occupation of Delhi came to the conclusion that he had a better claim to the throne for himself rather than on behalf of Adil Shah and ventured to assume the royal state under the style of Raja Vikramaditya or Vikramaditya, a title borne by several renowned Hindu Kings in ancient times. Hemu assumed the royal robes and declared himself the Emperor of India under the title of Vikramaditya.
His Afghan officers were reconciled to the ascendancy of an infidel
by a liberal distribution of plunder, and probably also by the fact that Hem Chandra had proved to be a successful general.
Hem Chandra had his formal Rajyabhishek or coronation following all Hindu religious ceremonies in Delhi and became the ruler under the title 'Raja Vikramaditya'. Hem Chandra was crowned at Purana Qila, on 7 October 1556, in the presence of all the Afghan Sardars and Hindu Senapatis (military commanders). The picture above shows a painting of the occasion of Hem Chandra's coronation, where he is flanked by his Afghan and Hindu military commanders. K.K.Bhardwaj writes, thousands of guests were invited, along with various Rajput chiefs and Afghan governors and numerous scholars and Pandits. The festivities continued for three or four days. "Essential parts of a Hindu King's coronation are" writes, Sir Jadunath Sarkar, "washing him (abbhishake) and holding the royal umbrella over his head (Chhatra-Dharam)" and Hem Chandra must have followed these ancient traditions, accompanied by costly gifts and robes to priests. He made various appointments on the occasion, appointing his brother Jujharu Rai, governor of Ajmer and his nephew Rammayya, a general in his army. He also appointed his various supporters as Chhaudhuris and Muqqudams based on their merit so that they continued to maintain their respective positions in the reign of Akbar.
Thus Hem Chandra became the last Hindu Emperor of North India after 350 years of rule by various Muslim invaders and rulers. According to Abul Fazl, in the Akbarnama, Hem Chandra after winning Delhi planned to attack and win Kabul. He made several changes in his Army, including the recruitment of many Hindus, but without the dismissal of any Afghan.
lost heart and many commanders refused to fight Hemu. Most of his commanders advised Akbar to retreat to Kabul
which would serve better as a strong-hold. However, Bairam Khan, Akbar's guardian and chief strategist, insisted on fighting Hemu in an effort to gain control of Delhi.
On 5 November 1556, the Mughal army met Hem Chandra's army at the historic battle field of Panipat
. Bairam Khan exhorted his army in a speech with religious overtones and ordered them into battle. Akbar and Bairam Khan stayed in the rear, eight miles from the battle ground, while Hemu led his army himself into battle, atop an elephant. He was on the cusp of victory, when he was wounded in the eye by an arrow, and collapsed unconscious. This led to confusion amongst the soldiers, with no supreme commander to coordinate decisions.
Unconscious and at death's door, Hemu was captured by Shah Qulin Khan and carried to the Mughal camp for execution. He was first struck by Akbar himself, so that Akbar could earn the title of "Ghazi" (holy warrior). He was then beheaded by Bairam Khan. His head was sent to Kabul
, where it was hanged outside the Delhi Darwaza, while his body was placed in a gibbet
outside Purana Quila in Delhi
.
After Hemu's death, a massacre of Hemu's followers was ordered by Bairam Khan
. Thousands were beheaded and towers of skulls built with their heads, to instil terror among the Hindus. At least one painting of such minarets is displayed in the "Panipat Wars Museum" at Panipat in Haryana. These towers were still in existence about 60 years later as described by Peter Mundy, a British traveler who visited India during the time of Jahangir.
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of India during the sixteenth century, in medieval times. This was one of the crucial periods in Indian history, when the Mughals and Afghans were desperately vying for power.
The son of a Hindu priest, who later became a food seller, and a vendor of salt petre
Potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...
at Rewari
Rewari
Rewari is a city and a municipal council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is located in south-west Haryana around from Delhi and from Gurgaon.- Etymology :...
, Hemu rose to become Chief of Army and Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri Dynasty. He fought Afghan rebels across North India from the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
to Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and the Mughal forces of Akbar and Humayun
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
in Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
and Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, winning 22 battles continuously, without a single setback.
Hem Chandra acceded to the throne of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
on 7 October 1556, assuming the title of "Vikramaditya" that had been earlier adopted by many Hindu kings since the Vedic times. His Rajyabhishek (coronation) as Samrat was held at Purana Quila in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. Hemu re-established the Hindu rule (albeit for a short duration) in North India, after over 350 years of Muslim rule. Some historians say that this rule was on the pattern of a strong Hindu state prevailing in South India for more than three centuries, known as 'Vijaynagar Empire'. Hemu struck coins bearing his title.
Early life
Hem Chandra was born at Deviti-Machheri village of Alwar District in RajasthanRajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
in the year 1501. His father Rai Puran Das, a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, was involved in the profession of Purohiti, the performing of Hindu religious ceremonies as a profession. However, due to persecution of Hindus, who performed religious ceremonies, by Mughals, Rai Puran Das could not make both ends meet as a Purohit (priest). Therefore he gave up Purohiti (priesthood) and moved to Qutabpur village near Rewari
Rewari
Rewari is a city and a municipal council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is located in south-west Haryana around from Delhi and from Gurgaon.- Etymology :...
city (now Qutabpur village lies within Rewari city). Hemu's father started trading in various types of salts in Qutabpur, and Hemu was brought up and educated there.
Apart from learning Sanskrit and Hindi, he was educated in Persian, Arabic and Arithmetic. During his childhood, he was fond of exercise and wrestling and while crushing salt in an iron pot, he would monitor his strength. He trained in horse-riding at his friend Sehdev's village. His friend Sehdev was a Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
and he participated in all the battles that Hemu later fought except the Second Battle of Panipat
Second battle of Panipat
The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between the forces of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, popularly called Hemu, the Hindu king who was ruling North India from Delhi, and the army of Jalal ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, on November 5, 1556...
. Hemu was brought up in a religious environment; his father was a member of Vallabh Sampradai of Vrindavan and visited various Teerth (religious sites) as far as Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
where he converted the then Governor of Sind, Parmanand in to Vallabh Sampradai.
Family
Hem Chandra was born to a priest Purandas, formerly Rai Puranmal, and belonged to Dhusar Bhargava community, on Ashwin Shukla Vijaidashmi, 1558 Vikrami Era or 1501 CE.Hemu's sister was married into a clan of Rajpurohits, to Gun Chandra Bhargava. Gun Chandra and his ancestors had lived at Qutabpur, Rewari
Rewari
Rewari is a city and a municipal council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is located in south-west Haryana around from Delhi and from Gurgaon.- Etymology :...
, in present day Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
and his children were: Ram Chandra (known as 'General Rammaiya' in Panipat war), Shyam Chandra, Krishna Chandra, Mohan Chandra, Hanu Chandra and Ravi Chandra - most of whom died in the Second Battle of Panipat
Second battle of Panipat
The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between the forces of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, popularly called Hemu, the Hindu king who was ruling North India from Delhi, and the army of Jalal ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, on November 5, 1556...
in the year 1556 .
Gun Chandra was a descendant of Sri Chandra (grandson of Indra Chandra), who was Rajpurohit (Chief Priest) for Tomara King Kumarpala in 970 A.D., Sri Chandra's descendants continued to be the Rajpurhohits of the state of Indraprastha (Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
) - Budh Chandra, Mahi Chandra, Arvind Chandra, Dheen Chandra all were Rajpurohits till the times of Prithviraj Chauhan, and the year 1192 A.D.. Because of this influential family, Hemu's family migrated to Qutabpur in Rewari.
Social environment
The social and political environment in India (North India especially) in early sixteenth century was very unstable. In North India, Mughals and Afghans were vying for power, though South India had a comparatively stable Hindu kingdom known as the 'Vijayanagar Empire', ruled at that time by KrishnadevarayaKrishnadevaraya
Śrī Kriṣhṇa Devarāya , , , and also known as Krishna Devarayulu in some inscriptions was the famed Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529 CE.He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians...
. The Mughals were then, still considered a foreign force. Babur's barbaric invasion of North India in 1526, resulted in the destruction, looting and demolition of most important Hindu temples in North India, like the 'Ram Temple' at Ayodhya, the Krishna Temple
Krishna Temple
-Krishna Temple:Vadakku ThamariKulam- Krishnan AlayamWith help the followers of lord krishna the temple has been built on 2005 May.The temple work has been completed on early May 2005. The kudamulakku performed on the same month.-Vadakku Thamari Kulam:...
at Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Benares. Not only were these revered Hindu temples destroyed by the invaders, but mosques (the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, the Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid also Jami Masjid, refers to the Friday Mosque, where Jummah or weekly Friday noon congregation prayers of Muslims take place...
at Mathura and the Gyanvapi Mosque
Gyanvapi Mosque
Gyanvapi Mosque is a mosque built by Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. It is located north of Dashaswamedh Ghat, near Lalita Ghat along the river Ganga in Varanasi at the original site of Kashi Vishwanath temple.- History :...
at Benares) constructed over the ruins leading to widespread disaffection among local people. For instance, Guru Nanak, a contemporary and an eye witness to Babur's invasion in the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
has given vivid accounts of Babur's vandalism terming him a butcher.
Growing up in a devout family of Hindu priests in such an atmosphere, Hem Chandra yearned to annihilate the foreigners. He got his first opportunity to crush the ruling invaders of that time and rule North India from Delhi after victory over Akbar's forces, in the Battle for Delhi
Battle for Delhi
Battle for Hindu Raj at DelhiBattle for Hindu Raj at Delhi had taken place at Tughlaqabad on 5-6 October between Hindu king known as Hemu or Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya and forces of Emperor Akbar, who were led by the governor of Delhi, Tardi Baig Khan. According to Vincent A...
in October 1556.
Rise to fame
Hem Chandra was based at RewariRewari
Rewari is a city and a municipal council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is located in south-west Haryana around from Delhi and from Gurgaon.- Etymology :...
, an important stopover in mediaeval times for traders from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
on the way to Delhi. He started his career as a supplier of cereals to Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
's army, moving on to more critical supplies like saltpetre (for gunpowder) later. Sher Shah had defeated Humayun
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
in the year 1540 and had forced him to withdraw to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
. He also developed a cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
foundry in Rewari
Rewari
Rewari is a city and a municipal council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is located in south-west Haryana around from Delhi and from Gurgaon.- Etymology :...
, laying the foundation of an industry in brass, copper sheets and utensils manufacture. Hemu obtained technical assistance for casting cannons, and for producing saltpetre, from the Portuguese
Portuguese India
The Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
in Goa, who were also helping the Hindu Vijayanagar Empire against the Deccan Sultanates
Deccan sultanates
The Deccan sultanates were five Muslim-ruled late medieval kingdoms—Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar—of south-central India. The Deccan sultanates were located on the Deccan Plateau, between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range. These kingdoms became independent during the breakup...
in South India, by supplying cannons, gun-powder and Arabian horses.
After Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
's death in 1545, his son Islam Shah became ruler of North India. Islam Shah recognised the calibre, and administrative skills of Hem Chandra and made him his personal adviser. He consulted Hem Chandra in matters relating not only to trade and commerce, but also pertaining to statesmanship, diplomacy and general politics. Islam Shah initially appointed Hem Chandra Shahang-i-Bazar, meaning 'Market superintendent' in Persian, to manage commerce throughout the empire. This post gave Hem Chandra the opportunity to frequently interact with the king, having to apprise him of the trade and commercial situation of the kingdom. Abul Fazal says that Islam Shah held Hemu in great esteem. In 1550, Hemu accompanied Islam Shah to the Punjab where he was deputed along with other high officers to receive Mirza Kamran in the fort of Rohtas. Islam Shah consulted Hemu on a variety of matters. After serving as Shahang-i-Bazar,for some time, Hemu rose to become Chief of Intelligence or Daroga-i-Chowki (Superintendent of Post). Islam Shah's health deteriorated in 1552 and he shifted his base from Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to Gwalior, which was considered safer. Hem Chandra was deputed as Governor to the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
to safeguard the region against a Mughal invasion. Hem Chandra held this position till October 30, 1553, when Islam Shah died.
Islam Shah was succeeded by his 12 year old son Firoz Khan who was killed within three days by Adil Shah Suri. The new king Adil was an indolent pleasure-seeker and a drunkard who faced revolts all around. Adil Shah took Hem Chandra as his Chief Advisor and entrusted all his work to him. appointing him the prime minister and chief of his army. After some time, Adil Shah went mad and Hem Chandra became the de facto king.
Many Afghan governors rebelled against the weak King Adil Shah and refused to pay the taxes, but Hem Chandra quelled them. Ibrahim Khan, Sultan Muhhamad Khan, Taj Karrani, Rukh Khan Nurani and several other Afghan rebels were defeated and killed. At the battle of Chhapparghatta in December 1555, Hemu routed the Bengal forces under Muhammad Shah, who was killed in the battle.
At the time the Afghans considered themselves natives of the country (and were considered as such by the Hindus), while the Mughals, writes Vincent Arthur Smith
Vincent Arthur Smith
Vincent Arthur Smith was born in 1843 in Dublin which was then part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He was an Indologist, historian and art historian who worked in the Indian Civil Service and retired early to devote himself to his writing.His Oxford History of India, covering...
, were considered foreigners. Writer K.K.Bhardwaj in his book "Hemu-Napoleon of medieval India" claimed that Hemu was a native ruler leading a native Afghan army to victory, in battle after battle. Thus, Hem Chandra became popular among the Hindus as well as Afghans. Another writer, K.R.Qanungo, writes that, this indicates that the rule which Hemu established, commanding Afghan army was secular and nationalistic.
Victories against the Mughals
After the victory of the MughalMughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
ruler Humayun
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
over Adil Shah's brother Sikander Suri, on 23 July 1555 the Mughals regained the Punjab, Delhi and Agra after a gap of 15 years. Hemu was in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
when Humayun died on 26 January 1556. Humayun's death gave Hemu an ideal opportunity to defeat the Mughals. He started a rapid march from Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
through present day Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, Eastern UP and 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....
. The Mughal fauzdars abandoned their positions and fled in panic before him. In Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, an important Mughal stronghold, the commander of Mughal forces Iskander Khan Uzbeg fled after hearing about Hemu's invasion, without a fight. Etawah
Etawah
Etawah is a city on the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Etawah District. The city was an important center for the Revolt of 1857 . Also is the place of sangam or confluence between Yamuna and Chambal...
, Kalpi
Kalpi
Kalpi is a city and a municipal board in Jalaun district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is on the right bank of the Yamuna.-History:...
and Bayana
Bayana
Bayana is a historical town in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan in India. It is a historical city founded by Banasur, who was an Asura. He lived during the time of Krishna...
all in present day central and western UP, fell to Hemu.
In the words of K.K.Bhardwaj, "His triumphant march from Bihar to Dilli (Delhi) can be equated to the Italian campaign of Napoleon: "He came, he saw, he conquered"." Hemu never saw defeat in battle and went from victory to victory throughout his life (he died in the only battle he lost). Hemu won the loyalty of his soldiers by his ready distribution of the spoils of war among his soldiers.
After winning Agra, Hemu moved for the final assault on Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. Tardi Beg Khan, who was Governor of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, for Akbar, wrote to Akbar and, his regent, Bairam Khan that Hemu had captured Agra and intended to attack the capital Delhi, which could not be defended without reinforcements. Bairam Khan realising the gravity of the situation, sent his ablest lieutenant Pir Muhammad Sharwani to Tardi Beg. Tardi Beg Khan summoned all the Mughal commanders in the vicinity to a war council for the defence of Delhi. It was decided to stand and fight Hemu and plans were made accordingly.
Sir Jadunath Sarkar writes in detail about the "Battle for Delhi
Battle for Delhi
Battle for Hindu Raj at DelhiBattle for Hindu Raj at Delhi had taken place at Tughlaqabad on 5-6 October between Hindu king known as Hemu or Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya and forces of Emperor Akbar, who were led by the governor of Delhi, Tardi Baig Khan. According to Vincent A...
" at Tughlaqabad:
"The Mughal army was thus drawn up. Abdullah Uzbeg commanded the Van, Haider Muhammad the right wing, Iskander Beg the left and Tardi Beg himself the centre. The choice Turki Cavalry in the van and left wing attacked and drove back the enemy forces before them and followed far in pursuit. In this assault the victors captured 400 elephants and slew 3000 men of the Afghan army. Imagining victory already gained, many of Tardi Beg followers dispersed to plunder the enemy camp and he was left in the field thinly guarded. All this time Hemu had been holding 300 choice elephants and a force of select horsemen as a reserve in the centre. He promptly seized the opportunity and made a sudden charge upon Tardi Beg with this reserve."
Confusion ensued resulting in a defeat for the Mughals. Hemu was helped by reinforcements from Alwar with a contingent commanded by Hazi Khan. The desertion of various Mughal commanders with Pir Muhhammad Khan who fled the battle field, to Tardi Beg chagrin and surprise, forced the Mughal commander to withdraw.
Hem Chandra won Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
after a day's battle on 6 October 1556. Some 3000 soldiers died in this battle. However, Mughal forces led by Tardi Beg Khan vacated Delhi after a day's fight and Hem Chandra entered Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
victorious under a royal canopy.
Hemu's coronation
Sir Wolsey Haig writes, "Hemu was so elated by the capture of Delhi as to believe that he had already reached the goal of his ambition."Vincent A. Smith who names Hem Chandra the third claimant to the sovereignty of Hindustan at the time, the other two being the Suris and Akbar, affirms that Hemu after his occupation of Delhi came to the conclusion that he had a better claim to the throne for himself rather than on behalf of Adil Shah and ventured to assume the royal state under the style of Raja Vikramaditya or Vikramaditya, a title borne by several renowned Hindu Kings in ancient times. Hemu assumed the royal robes and declared himself the Emperor of India under the title of Vikramaditya.
His Afghan officers were reconciled to the ascendancy of an infidel
Infidel
An infidel is one who has no religious beliefs, or who doubts or rejects the central tenets of a particular religion – especially in reference to Christianity or Islam....
by a liberal distribution of plunder, and probably also by the fact that Hem Chandra had proved to be a successful general.
Hem Chandra had his formal Rajyabhishek or coronation following all Hindu religious ceremonies in Delhi and became the ruler under the title 'Raja Vikramaditya'. Hem Chandra was crowned at Purana Qila, on 7 October 1556, in the presence of all the Afghan Sardars and Hindu Senapatis (military commanders). The picture above shows a painting of the occasion of Hem Chandra's coronation, where he is flanked by his Afghan and Hindu military commanders. K.K.Bhardwaj writes, thousands of guests were invited, along with various Rajput chiefs and Afghan governors and numerous scholars and Pandits. The festivities continued for three or four days. "Essential parts of a Hindu King's coronation are" writes, Sir Jadunath Sarkar, "washing him (abbhishake) and holding the royal umbrella over his head (Chhatra-Dharam)" and Hem Chandra must have followed these ancient traditions, accompanied by costly gifts and robes to priests. He made various appointments on the occasion, appointing his brother Jujharu Rai, governor of Ajmer and his nephew Rammayya, a general in his army. He also appointed his various supporters as Chhaudhuris and Muqqudams based on their merit so that they continued to maintain their respective positions in the reign of Akbar.
Thus Hem Chandra became the last Hindu Emperor of North India after 350 years of rule by various Muslim invaders and rulers. According to Abul Fazl, in the Akbarnama, Hem Chandra after winning Delhi planned to attack and win Kabul. He made several changes in his Army, including the recruitment of many Hindus, but without the dismissal of any Afghan.
Second Battle of Panipat
On hearing of Hem Chandra's serial victories and the fall of large territories like Agra and Delhi, the Mughal army at KalanaurKalanaur
Kalanaur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Gurdaspur district in the Indian state of Punjab.-Demographics:As per the 2001 census of India, Kalanaur has a population of 12,915. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Those under 6 years of age constitute 13% of the population. The...
lost heart and many commanders refused to fight Hemu. Most of his commanders advised Akbar to retreat to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
which would serve better as a strong-hold. However, Bairam Khan, Akbar's guardian and chief strategist, insisted on fighting Hemu in an effort to gain control of Delhi.
On 5 November 1556, the Mughal army met Hem Chandra's army at the historic battle field of Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
. Bairam Khan exhorted his army in a speech with religious overtones and ordered them into battle. Akbar and Bairam Khan stayed in the rear, eight miles from the battle ground, while Hemu led his army himself into battle, atop an elephant. He was on the cusp of victory, when he was wounded in the eye by an arrow, and collapsed unconscious. This led to confusion amongst the soldiers, with no supreme commander to coordinate decisions.
Unconscious and at death's door, Hemu was captured by Shah Qulin Khan and carried to the Mughal camp for execution. He was first struck by Akbar himself, so that Akbar could earn the title of "Ghazi" (holy warrior). He was then beheaded by Bairam Khan. His head was sent to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, where it was hanged outside the Delhi Darwaza, while his body was placed in a gibbet
Gibbet
A gibbet is a gallows-type structure from which the dead bodies of executed criminals were hung on public display to deter other existing or potential criminals. In earlier times, up to the late 17th century, live gibbeting also took place, in which the criminal was placed alive in a metal cage...
outside Purana Quila in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
.
After Hemu's death, a massacre of Hemu's followers was ordered by Bairam Khan
Bairam Khan
Bairam Khan also Bayram Khan was a important military commander, general of the Mughal army, a powerful statesman and regent at the court of the Mughal emperors Humayun and Akbar.-Background:...
. Thousands were beheaded and towers of skulls built with their heads, to instil terror among the Hindus. At least one painting of such minarets is displayed in the "Panipat Wars Museum" at Panipat in Haryana. These towers were still in existence about 60 years later as described by Peter Mundy, a British traveler who visited India during the time of Jahangir.
Administration under Hemu
Although he did not have much time to rule, Hem Chandra revitalised the administrative set-up which had flagged after the demise of Sher Shah Suri. With his knowledge of trade and commerce he gave fresh impetus to commerce throughout the country. He spared none indulging in black-marketing, hoarding, overcharging and under-weighing of goods. After his conquest of Agra and Delhi, he replaced all corrupt officers. He also introduced coinage bearing his image.See also
- Alwar
- RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
- DhusarDhusarDhusars is a Brahmin community that originated from the Dhosi hill region near Narnaul,in Haryana.Word Dhusar has come out of the word 'Vadhusar'....
- Dhosi
- RewariRewariRewari is a city and a municipal council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is located in south-west Haryana around from Delhi and from Gurgaon.- Etymology :...
- Gwalior
- BrahminBrahminBrahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
- AgraAgraAgra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
- DelhiDelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
- HaryanaHaryanaHaryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
- Medieval History of India
- Gwalior FortGwalior Fortċċċċċt̪--122.177.251.15 13:02, 20 November 2011 --122.177.251.15 13:02, 20 November 2011 --122.177.251.15 13:02, 20 November 2011 Gwalior Fort in Gwalior, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, stands on an isolated rock, overlooking the Gwalior town, and contains a number of historic...
- ChunarChunarChunar छुनर شُنَر, located in Mirzapur District of Uttar Pradesh state, India, is an ancient town. The railway tracks passing through Chunar leads to major destinations of India, including Howrah, Delhi, Tatanagar and Varanasi. National Highway number 7 also passes through Chunar...
- History of Punjab
- List of Indian warriors
- Battle of Panipat (1556)
- History of Medieval india
- History of BengalHistory of BengalThe history of Bengal includes modern day Bangladesh and West Bengal, dates back four millennia. To some extent, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers separated it from the mainland of India, though at times, Bengal has played an important role in the history of India.- Etymology :The exact origin...
- Battle for DelhiBattle for DelhiBattle for Hindu Raj at DelhiBattle for Hindu Raj at Delhi had taken place at Tughlaqabad on 5-6 October between Hindu king known as Hemu or Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya and forces of Emperor Akbar, who were led by the governor of Delhi, Tardi Baig Khan. According to Vincent A...
- Purana Quila
-