Mokhadaji Gohil

Ranoji, father of Mokhadaji Gohil

Mokhadaji Gohil (1309–1347) was a Rajput ruler of Ghogha, near Bhavnagar in Gujarat during the mid 14th century. He was a descendant of Sejakaji Gohil of Khergadh who migrated to Saurashtra during early 13th century. Mokhadaji Gohil was contemporary of Muhammad bin Tughluq, (1325–1351) of Tughluq dynasty in Delhi.

Background and birth

Mokhadaji Gohil was born to Gohil Rajput ruler Ranji Gohil of Ranpur, a small jagir near Dhandhuka in present day of Ahmedabad district. Ranji Gohil was son of Sejakaji Gohil of Khergadh in Rajasthan. Ranji Gohil was contemporary of last Hindu ruler Karan Vaghela of Patan. Alauddin Khilji had sent the army in 1297 under the generalship of Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan to attack on Patan and Somanath in Gujarat. They had defeated Karan Vaghela of Patan and sacked Somanath temple and broke the Shiva lingam that had been worshipped there. They were carrying the broken pieces back to Delhi. On their way, Ranji Gohil of Ranpur attacked Alauddin Khilji’s army after hearing that Alauddin’s army had captured queen of Karan Vaghela from Patan. Ranji Gohil died in the battle but could not release the Vaghela queen. Meanwhile, 16 wives of Ranji Gohil were waiting for their husband's return to Ranpur Fort but all of them committed jauhar in a well inside the fort after hearing about his death. New born Mokhadaji Gohil was carried away safely to Dholera after his father’s death. He was brought up by Dhanmer Thakor who had a strong naval influence in Gulf of Khambhat during that time.

Reigns

Dhanmer Thakor of Dholera due to his old age had given the throne of Dholera to Mokhadaji Gohil and decided to spend the rest of his life in Himalayas. Dhanmer Thakor went to Himalayas and young Mokhadaji accompanied him around 1320 AD. On his return from Himalayas, Mokhadaji visited Delhi to find out about the situation because at that time, it was the political center for most of India. He met Khusro Khan in Delhi. Khusro Khan encouraged him to fight against the Turks to save his motherland. He returned from Delhi and strengthened his navy to fight with the Delhi Sultanate. Meanwhile, Khusro Khan died in battle fighting against Ghiyas ud-Din Tughluq who founded the Tughluq dynasty in 1320 in Delhi.

Preparing to fight against Delhi sultanate

He captured Ghogha and founded his new capital on Piram Island near Ghogha. When he got information about moving of treasure by Delhi Sultanate through Khambhat port, his navy looted all wealth and captured the Khambhat port. At that time, Muhammad Bin Tughluq ruled in Delhi after his father’s death in 1325. Mokhadaji used all looted wealth to strengthen his navy. Soon after he captured Talaja from Jethava Rajput and married his daughter. He also married a princess of Rajpipala.

Now all of the sea territories of Saurashtra region from Khambhat to Somnath came under his rule. Some of the local rulers had supported him to strengthen his navy which was based at Piram and Chach Island near present Pipavav Port. Therefore all who rebelled against Delhi Sultanate under leadership of Mokhadaji Gohil were recognized as Chachiya, a word came after their presence in Chach island. Presently,the word Chachiya in Gujarati means sea pirates.

War with Mohammad Bin Tughlaq

It became very difficult for the Delhi sultanate to carry out its overseas trade through Khambhat and Bharuch ports due to the presence of Mokhadaji in Piram Island. The sultan decided to conquer Piram Island to free his ports from Mokhadaji’s threat, and sent his army to defeat Mokhadaji Gohil. The sultanate army decided to cordon Piram Island through the sea route from Khambhat, Bharuch and Ghogha but they were less experienced in naval war and were easily defeated by Mokhadaji Gohil’s experienced navy. This was the first unsuccessful assault of the sultan on Piram Island.

Thereafter, Muhammad bin Tughluq himself came to Gujarat to fight with Mokhadaji Gohil. He kept his base at Ghogha and decided not to move until Mokhadaji was killed. In the first few months, he didn’t succeed in his attempts to capture Piram Bet. If Mokhadaji came on shore to fight, he would have a chance to win the battle due to his larger army. Therefore he sent a rich vaishnav trader of Khambhat who was promised a trade benefit. The trader went to Piram and emotionally told Mokhadaji that local people are very harassed and uncomfortable with the presence of Sultan’s army which was trying to capture Piram and they will not move until they fight with you. Soon after, Mokhadaji decided to fight with Sultan on land. He ordered his army to fight on shore. Mokhadaji was wounded in the battle but continued to fight with sultan’s army. He was beheaded near Ghogha and he collapsed near Khadarpar Village. This happened in 1347. Muhammad bin Tughluq was so upset on seeing Mokhadaji horribly beheaded in the battle that he didn’t sleep for many nights. He died on his way to Thatta (Sindh) in 1351.

Character

During his military career and his many campaigns his strong religious and warrior code of ethics, exemplary character and deep seated and uncompromising spiritual values directed him to offer protection to houses of worship, non-combatants, women and children.

Succession

After the death of Mokhadaji Gohil, his descendants moved to Rajpipla near Bharuch, and ruled there till Indian independence from British in 1947.

References

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