Fateh Shah
Fateh Shah was the
Campaigns
H. G. Walton states that Fateh Shah led an attack from Dehradun on Saharanpur in 1692. Pundirs and Gurjars were expelled out of Dehradun and areas of Saharanpur.[2] According to research by G.R.C. Williams, Fateh Shah established a township called Fateh Pur in Haraura Pargana of Saharanpur.[3][4]
According to Rahul Sankrityayan and Fateh Prakash, Raja Fateh Shah also invaded Tibet, where his sword and armour were preserved in the monastery at Daba for a long time.[3] The ruler of Daba (Area of Tibet) refused to pay its taxes to the Fateh Shah so he again conquered Daba .Some areas of Tibet accepted dominance of Panwar kings of Uttarakhand.[5][4]
Battle of Bhangani
Dabral and
In 1688, the marriage of Fateh Shah's daughter was arranged with the son of Raja Bhim Chand of
Dr. Fauja Singh believes that the Battle of Bhangani should not be connected with the story of Fateh Shah's refusal of the wedding presents sent by the Guru.
According to the author of Bichitra Natak, and majority of historians, the battle resulted in the victory of the author's (i.e. the Guru's) forces, and the enemy forces fled from the battlefield. However, authors such as Pandit Harikrishna Raturi, Anil Chandra Banerjee and A. S. Rawat believe that the battle ended without any consequences, since the Guru's victory is not substantiated by any territorial annexations, and the Guru entered into an understanding with Bhim Chand soon after the battle.[3][7] Although, there is practically no evidence about the territorial ambitions of the Guru.
Battles with Kumaon
Fateh Shah also fought several battles against Kumaon, without any conclusive results.
Gyan Chand of Kumaon, who ascended the throne in 1698, raided Pindar valley in Garhwal after he was crowned. In 1699, he crossed Ramganga river and plundered Sabli, Khatli, and Sainchar. Fateh Shah replied by invading Chaukot and Giwar areas of Kumaon in 1701. In 1703, the Kumaonis defeated the Garhwalis in the battle of Duduli (near Melchauri in Garhwal). In 1707, the Kumaon forces annexed Juniyagarh in Bichla Chaukot, and razed the old fort at Chandpur.
Raja Jagat Chand of Kumaon plundered Lohba and garrisoned the fort of Lohbagarh. Next year, he proceeded as far as Srinagar in Garhwal. According to H. G. Walton, Raja of Kumaon occupied Srinagar, and Fateh Shah fled to Dehradun.[8] Fateh Shah appears to have returned very soon to Garhwal; in 1710, he mobilized his troops in Badhan.After this he conquered the areas of katyur valley (modern day Baijnath) and donated a village named Garsaar to the Badrinath temple.
Patronage to art and literature
The contemporary writings mention Garhwal as a very prosperous state during Fateh Shah's reign.[3] Fateh shah was a great patron of art and literature. Like Vikramaditya and Akbar, he is said to have nine illustrious figures (Navaratnas) in his court: Sureshanand Barthwal, Revatram Dhasmana, Rudridutt Kimothi, Hari Dutt Nautiyal, Vasvanand Bahuguna, Shashidhar Dangwal, Sahdev Chandola, Kirit Ram Khanthola, and Hari Dutt Thapliyal.[3]
Some of the encomiastic works from Ratan Shah's period include:
- Fateh Shah Karna Granth by Jatadhar (or Jatashankar)
- Fateh Prakash by Ratan Kavi (or Kshem Ram)
- Vrit Vichar by Kavi Raj Sukhdev Misra
- Vrit Kaumudi or Chhandsar Pingal by Mati Ram
Ratan Kavi's eulogies state that there was perfect law and order in Garhwal during Fateh Shah's reign, and people did not lock their houses as a result. Kavi Raj Sukhdev Misra praises the Raja's gallantry. Mati Ram's Vrit Kaumudi compares the Raja's generosity with that of the Maratha king Shivaji. Ananda Coomaraswamy mentions that two painters from the Mughal court, Shyam Dass and Har Dass, accompanied Suleiman Shikoh to Garhwal; it is possible that these painters got patronage during the reign of Fateh Shah, which resulted in the birth of the Garhwali school of painting.
Family
Fateh Shah had five children:[1]
- Upendra Shah (became the Raja after his father's death)
- Dalip Shah
- Madhukar Shah
- Pahar Shah
- A daughter who married Rajkumar (later Raja) Ajmer Chand, the son of Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur(Kahlur).
References
- ^ a b Garhwal (Princely state)
- OCLC 160247247.
- ^ OCLC 52088426.
- ^ a b "Gharwal Ruler Fateh Shah's Silver Rupee". Mintage World. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ISSN 0078-2696.
- ^ Gujral, Maninder S. (19 December 2000). "FATEH SHAH". The Sikh Encyclopedia. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- OCLC 7250188.
- OCLC 160247247.