5. Advent of Rohilla Rajputs in India:
In the Sixth Century A.D. there was born in Arabia a remarkable man, Prophet Muhammad, who is considered by some as the greatest nation-maker that ever lived. The new religion that he founded and preached, created a national consciousness and a war-like spirit in his countrymen. The enthusiastic and energetic nature of the Arabs was so thoroughly awakened that they started on a career of military conquest all over the world, which was matched by their religious zeal. No wonder that in a short time after the Prophet’s death, the Muslim empire extendedfrom the banks of Laire in the centre of France to the Oxus and Kabul Rivers.
Such was the formidable nation which had approached the frontiers of India, the untold wealth, fair plains and rich cities of which had attracted their longing eyes. In the beginning of the Seventh Century there was an Arab invasion of Sindh and its conquest. But why the conquerors of the world stopped at the gates of India has been fully explained. Moreover, it is not also true to say that the Arabs had no desire to extend their dominion into the interiors of India, because they continued to lead expeditions after expeditions for the purpose. The most formidable was the one which was led against the Kathiawar Peninsula, northern Gujrat and Southern Rajputana. But the Northern India was saved by the Prither Chief, and the Deccan were successfully defended by the Chalukya King of Badami. Moreover, as already refered to in a previous chapter, the Muslims advanced againse Chitor, the Mori ruler of which could not stand the on-slaught and Bappa Rawal, the famous progenitor of Udaipur house, not only hurled back the invaders, but also carried war into their country and retrieved the honour of India and saved it from disaster, and preserved its independence.
Later on, the Muslims in the Ninth Century again invaded India and this time they did it under the command of A E Mamun, the son of Caliph Harun Rashid. This time also the Rajputs rose to the occasion and under the leadership of Khuman Rawal of Chitor, faced the Muslims, assisted by other Rajput clans which had included among them Gehlots of Gazni and taks of Asirgarh, and succeeded in beating them off. The leader of the Gehlots of Gazni, as already stated, was a military genius, Kupat ‘Rawal’ whose descendants, later on, true to the traditions of their race, took part in the wars of Prithvi Raj Chohan against the Ghori invader.
General Govind Rai and Mahas Karan:
We now turn to give an account of that clan of the Rohillas which claims descent from Bharat, the brother of Shri Rama. An outline has already been given of how the descendants of Bharat and Shatrughan had settled down in Roh Desh and came to be known as Rohali or Rahakwal. Their Gotra was Kasab. In the Hoshiarpur District are found Rajputs of this gotra and are known as Purkham Rahkwal.
According to Bhim Raj, the descendants of Bharat were called Rahakwals and they were the founders of Rawalpindi. To this clan be longed that mighty warrior Govind Rai who had attacked Mohammad Ghori at the battle of Tarawari and would have made an end of him if the Ghori warrior had not miraculously escaped death through the Providential help rendered to him by a Muslim soldier. The descendants of this hero are found among the Rohillas with Kasab as there gotra.
Bhim Raj has also referred to another hero Mahas Karan, who held a very high military rank under Prithvi Raj Chohan. His title was Rahakwal Rawal Ghani Samral Chhand. It is said that his clan had migrated to the interior of India when the north-western frontier fell into the Muslim hands. Mahas Karan, along with his followers, sacrified his life at the alter of Mother India to the eternal glory of his race in his struggle against the Muslim invaders. The Rohillas bearing Kasab Gotra were said to have kingdoms with their capitals at Ram Nagar, Nawab Ganj, Malapur, Rampur and Haripur; but they lost their all in their struggle against the Muslims.
(1) THE ADVENT OF RADHEL OR RAHAIL CLAN INTO THE BAREILLY DISTRICT OF UTTAR PRADESH.
In the Rohilkhand Division of Uttar Pradesh there lived people who were known by the clan name Randhel or Rahail. They apparently came from Roh Desh. In his “Hindu Medieval India” page 79-Mr C.V. Vaidya writes: “It will not be out of place to consider how far the conclusions about every clan arrived at by Mohan Lal in his Edition of “ Prithvi Raj Rasay” are correct. According to him the same as Chandel. In “Rasau”, the word Chhind bears the same meanings”. According to both Mohan Lal and Bhim Raj, Randhels or Chhinds are of one and the same clan. We have ready mentioned that a Chief named Mahas Karan had borne the same title.
In the descriptive lists of incriptions in the Central provinces & Berar (now Madhya Bharat), we find an inscription on page 150- No; 207 – which states: “ In this plate it is given that on Wednedsday, 5th October 1065, there was Madhu Rantik Dev, Nag Vansh Chhindaks were Nags. These people have also been called “Taks” by Sardar Jhanda Singh, the author of “The History of Tak Kshatriyas”.
On page 250 of the book “Kshatriya Vartman” by Thakur Ajit Singh, it is started: “The ancient home of Rudra-Randhel or Rohail is Bans Bareilly. It is sub-branch of Katehartyas of the Nikumbh Vans descended from Bharat”.
Bhim Raj describes the Rohillas as migrating to this tract and founding the State of Rampur, where they held their sway for eleven generations. During the reign of Naurang Dev, the country was invaded by the Muslims. At first the attempt failed, but later on during the reign of Ranvir Singh the Muslims appeared again. The Army of Ranvir Singh faced the attack successfully and the Muslims leader was captured and taken as a prisoner. He was however, set at liberty after he had made rich presents to the Raja. After some time the Muslims made another attack and took the Raja by surprise at a time when he and his men were long engaged in festivities. The Raja called his brave soldiers to arms, but the wily Muslim General outwitted the Raja and was allowed to escape unscathed. Unfortunately, the Rohilla Raja Ranvir Singh was betrayed and the Muslims again attacked the Fort when the Raja and his men were busy with their celebration of festivities once again. The fighting was heavy and the heroic Rohilla soldiers fought to the last. Rampur, however fell and after the terrible jauhar (burning alive) the city was reduced to ashes. Even now can be seen the ruins of the Fort and the Temple raised in honour of the Rani and her womenfolk who performed the terrible rite of jauhar to safeguard their honour.
After their defeat Ranvir Singh’s brother Surat Singh and his Rohilla Kinsmen left Rampur for good. They were accompanied by a family priest, who had all along stood by them even in those dark hours when some of these heroes had to face the enmity of Jai Chand of Kanauj. These refugees from Rampure at first came over at Charkhi Dadri (now in the Jind State) from where they dispersed and spread themselves in various parts of the country. The Kathora clan of these Rohilla Rajputs is proud of their fore-father who had lost their all in the defence of their country and religion, and even after their ruin preferred a life of obscurity and poverty to that of gilded slavery.
Also to the fate of the descendants of Raja Ranvir Singh, an article by Dr. Sant Singh Chohan appeared in the “Rajput Gazette” of Lahore dated the 4th June 1940. He wrote “ A few days ago I wrote to Shri Kishan Datt Purohit, Hardwar, for further information in the matter. The Pandit supplied me the following details. After the defeat of Raja Ranvir Singh, his clan separated itself from the Rajput brotherhood. The Raja had two Ranis. One of them was Sondha Devi of the Yadu Clan. Her descendants came to be divided into 34 gotras like arval, Lond, etc. The second Rani was Dhil Masti belonging to the Tanwar Clan and her descendants came to be known as Bekani, Laderya, etc. All of them later on came together and became known as Chohans”.
