Chhatar Singh

Maharaja Chhatar Singh Rana (reign 1757-1804 CE) 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. Afterwards, for a short period, Girdhar Pratap Singh became his successor in 1755. Girdhar Pratap Singh could not rule Gohad for long as he died in 1757. His successor was Rana Chhatr Singh a brave Jat from Bamraulia dynasty a Suryavanshi lineage, claiming descent from Sun, the Hindu god. [4] He ruled Gohad state till 1804.^[1]

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.^[2]

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 Chhatri of Bhim Singh in his memory near Bhim-tal on the Gwalior fort.^[3]

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 was kept in Jail in 1785.^[4]

Assessment by Maratha historian

The Maratha Historian Balwantrao Bhaiya Saheb Sindhia ^[5] 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 avocation as long as he continued loyal and faithful to the state that protected him."^[6]

His successor

Successor of Chhatar Singh was Kirat Singh. 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.^[7]

References