Lehal Library

166 The Agraiian Uprising Sikh-Rohilla Alliance In December I 77~. Sikhs pillaged the territories of Zabita Khan Rohilla, including the towns of Nanauta and Jalalabad. A month later, Sikh horsemen looted the suburbs of Delhi. The Mughal coun was in a dilemma. The ablest man in the capital was Najaf Khan.r; His plans were, however. often thwaned by an upstart Abdul Ahad Khan. who bad the Emperor's ear. N~jaf Khan was a Shia from Iran. Abdul Ahad Khan, who was a Sunni from Kashmir, exploited these sectarian and racial differences to bis advantage. Najaf Khan wanted to take stem measures against I.be Sikhs and did his best to win o,·er the Rohillas co his side. Abdul Ahad Khan's chief interest was to pre,·ent the Irani from becoming too strong. and he was not wholly unwilling to see the Sikhs occasionally triumph over Najaf Khan. Because of these divided counsels, the Emperor first tried to buv off the Sikhs by offering them employment. When chis failed, he allowed Abdul Ahad Kha11 co <>ngage the setvices of Waltc.>r Reinhardt, a German paramour of Begam Sanm.t of Sardana. The Malwais made short work of Reinhardt, and returned Lo pillage the suburbs of Delhi. The next round against the Sikhs was fought by Najaf Khan. Mullah Rahim Dad Khan, who was the subedar of Panipat, was killed in an engagement against the comb1nerl fo1·ces of Amar Singh of Patiala and Gajpat Singh ofjiud. Later a compromise was brought about by Najaf Khan rc.>garding the territories to be occupied by each. but this was soon ignored by both parties. The Malwais turned Lheir attention to the Rohillas. In the spring of 1775, Ra:i Singh Bbangi, Baghel Singh Karora Singhia. and Tara Singh Gheba crossed the .Jumna with their hornemen and began a systematic conquest of the ten;wries of Zabita 6 Mirza Najnf Khan ZulfiqaH1cl-daulah was a memlX'I' of tlw Royal Safavid hom;c.- and was impii~oned by the uSLu·per Nadir Shah. Arter his release in 1746 he came to lnclia <111d served \\ith the Nawabs ol' 011dh and Bengal. Ll 17(>.:; ht· joined the senice of Shah Alam II and was the Emperor's right-hand man until his deatl, in Ap1il 1782. Ht· is buried near the to111b of S,lfda1 J,mi iu New Delhi. (T. G. P. Sptw·. Twili~//1 of lhe Mugliul~. pp. 19-20.)