Lehal Library

168 The Agrarian Uprising Ahad Khan. A few months later, they crossed the Ganges into the territory of the Nawab Wazir and were with great difficulty expelled by the English. Najaf Khan realized that neither he nor the Marathas were strong enough to deal with the Sikhs. The astute Irani turned to diplomacy. He appealed to Zabita Khan to return to the Muslim fold; he flattered the Sikh Sardars as protectors of the empire; and be sowed the seeds of discord among the Malwais. He succeeded in doing all three at the same time. Zabita Khan deserted the Sikhs, went over to the Mughal camp, and cemented his new alliance by giving bis daughter in marriage to NajafKhan. The Sikhs spared the imperial domains and instead turned to plundering each other. Within a few months, the dissensions in the ranks of the Malwais had come to such a pass that the Mughals felt strong enough to take the offensive against them. In the autumn of 1779 a large Mughal army under the command of Prince Farkhunda Bak.ht and Abdul Ahad Khan set out from Deihl. Rai Singh of Buria, Bhanga Singh of Thanesar, Baghel Singh and Bhag Singh ofJind joined the imperial forces and encircled Pariala. Amar Singh and Tara Singh Gheba, who had come to his aid. withdrew their forces behind the city walls and sent an appeal for help to the Majhails. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia hurried to their rescue. The news of the progress of the Dal Khalsa caused large-scale desertions of Sikhs from the imperialist's army. Panic spread in the ranks of the Mughals and they decided to retw-n to Delhi The retreat was, according to Francklin, 'disgracefol and disorderly,' and in four days' march frqm Patiala to Panipat the Mughal army lost most of its equipment and a great many men. The road to Delhi was rolled out for the Sikhs like the proverbial red carpet. It needed one bold chieftain to lead his horsemen into the imperial city, take the Emperor under his protection, and with one stroke make the Sikhs the premier power in all Hindustan. But not one of the Malwai Sardars had the sagacity or the courage to take this step. They were little more than brigands to whom the victory at Patiala opened up new pastures to p lunder. They bypassed the capital and went