Lehal Library

The Indus to the Ganges 173 were collecting rakhi across the Jumna. This was repeated the following year when Bhanga Singh of Thanesar, one of the most ruffianly of the Malwa Sardars, levied tribute on many towns, including Meerut and Hapur. In the monsoon season of 1787, another band of Sikhs under Baghel Singh joined Ghulam Qadir's Rohillas and plundered the imperial domains between Agra and Delhi. With the help of the Sikhs, Ghulam Qadir entered the imperial city and let loose a reign of terror culminating in the blinding of the Emperor, Shah Alam, on 10 August l 788. 1~ The struggle for the possession of the Jumna-Gangetic Doab went on for six years. The Sikhs crossed the Ganges on several occasions and clashed with English pickets. In January 1791, Bhanga Singh ofThanesar captured an English officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart, and extracted a ransom of Rs 60,000 from his government.•• With the death of Madhaji Sindhia in Febmary 1794, Sikh incursions became more extensive than ever before. 1~ Sikh expansion towards the east had reached its furthest limits by 1795. Thereafter the Marathas not only stemmed Sikh 13 This dastardly act disgusted the Sikhs, and they broke with Ghulam Qadir, who was captured by I.be Marathas and executed on 4 March 1789. His family sought asylum with the Sikhs. 14 The English could do little against Bhanga Singh except pretend that Stuart had been saved by the Sardar from bandits because of his affection for the English. Being unwilling Lo pay ransom, they kepl asking for Stuart's return in the friendliest of terms. Bhanga Singh replied: 'l trlli,'t that till the time of meeting you will comioue to fill the cup of desire with the effusions of your friendly pen.' PC 2 of 13.5.1791. 15 In the aurumn of 1794 the Sikhs exploited the situation Lha1 had arisen after a quarrel between the ruler of Rampur and the Nawab Wazir of Oudh. Both parties asked for Sikh help; both received promises from rival Sardars. The Rohillas coumed onjassa Singh Ramgarhia; I.be Nawab Wazir on Rai Singh and Sher Singh of Buria, and Bhanga Singh of Thanesar. Bhanga Singh stated his terms explicitly; 'Your Excellency knows the nature of the Sikhs without our describing it: that unless paid I.hey never exen: themselves for any one.' The Nawab Wazir did not pay; and he got nothing. The Rohillas paid a small sum, and got a small Sikh detachment on their side. The battle was fought on 26 October 1794. The Nawab Wazir's forces defeated the Rohillas. There were no Sikh casualties-nor were any Sikhs taken prisoner.