Battle of Sipra was fought in 1769 A.D. between the forces of Maharana Arsi of Mewar and Mahadaji Sindhia a Maratha General.
Shipra river is known as Kshipra also. This river rises in the north of Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh and flows north across the Malwa Plateau to join the Chambal River at Madhya Pradesh – Rajasthan border in Mandsaur district. Its nominal source being on the Kakri Bardi hill, 12 miles south-east of Indore. After flowing 54 miles from its source it winds past the ancient city of Ujjain.
Background of Battle Of Sipra
The Tussle Starts
Maharana Raj Singh II (1756-1761 AD.) of Mewar died on 3rd April, 1761. Being issueless he was succeeded to the throne of Mewar by his uncle Ari Singh, better known as Maharana Arsi. His succession provoked civil war in Mewar. The new Maharana being of wild temper and foul tongue estranged many of his nobles who began to conspire for his dethronement.[1]
At the same time a posthumous son was born to the late Maharana Raj Singh, and he was placed under the charge of Rawat Jaswant Singh, of Gogunda, who took the lad to his estate.[2]
The news of birth of prince was heartening to the people but the nobles conspiracy to Rana Arsi, it came like a bolt from the blue crowned with the birth of an heir apparent, presaged his dethronement. Haunted by the evil fears, the Maharana resorted to the policy of the Rajput nobility.[3]
In order to secure his throne the Maharana contrived the murder of Nathji of Bagore and he himself offered poisoned betel to Rawat Jodh Singh of Salumber.[4] As the Maharana had lost the confidence of the army so he took the dangerous step of recruiting Sindhi soldiers. This added to the earlier insults and even the loyalists felt offended. Some nobles then boycotted the royal court.[5]
The dissatisfaction soon become infectious and a group of nobles came forward propagating the cult of revolt. They were bent upon dethroning the occupant of the throne of Mewar. As a first step Ratan Singh, the posthumous prince was taken to Kumbhal Garh from Gogunda in early 1764 and was proclaimed Maharana. Orders were issued in his name by the rebel leader Rawat Jaswant Singh. Basant Pal Dapura was appointed the chief.[6]
By and large more prominent thikanas such as Sadri, Gogunda, Bengun, Kothariya and Bhinder also joined to support the cause of Rana Ratan Singh.
Entry of Jhala Zalim Singh
With this the race of winning over friends by both the groups, Maharana Arsi Singh brought Raja of Banera to his fold.[7] He also won over the Raja of Shapura by giving him the paragana of Kachola and gained an un-expected ally in Jhala Zalim Singh who came to Udaipur because of his personal conflict with Maharao Guman Singh of Kota. Maharana Arsi accorded him a warm reception and received him with open arms, conferring on him the Jagir of Chitakhera and the title of Raj Rana.[8]
Entry of Martha Officers
Thus the balance of power shifted in Arsi’s favour. When the rebels realised the the strength of the Maharana, they persuaded the Maratha Officers posted in Mewar to intervene and succeeded in gaining the support of Yaswant Rao Bable and Sadashiva Gangadhar by the promise of three lacs of rupees.[9] Simultaneously Yaswant Rao Bbale also wrote to the Peshwa advising him to espouse the cause of Ratan Singh for an amount of thirty six lace of rupees.[10]
Entry of Maharaja Vijai Singh
Besides, the Marathas, the Rathore ruler Vijai Singh of Jodhpur also came forward to extend support to Ratan Singh for the promise of fifteen lace of rupees.[11] Their combined forces marched to Bhilwara and after plundering it advanced towards Udaipur.
Entry of Mahadji Sindhia
Maharana Arsi induced Mian Daula, an officer of Sindhia to desert him, Jhala Zalim Singh by tact and diplomacy obtained a letter from the Peshwa asking Raghu Ram and Babirji Takpir, officers of Mahadji to help Maharana Arsi.[12]
Both of them gave written undertaking to oust Ratan Singh from Kumbhal Garh on the payment of Twenty Lacs of rupees.[13] The Maharana tried to obtain more help from the Daccani Sardars through Vishnu Mahadeo and Shiva Kant Bhatt. In response to it Ram Chandra Ganesh a powerful sardar informed the Maharana that Ratan Singh’s offer of thirty six lacs had been rejected and that he would come to Mewar early to crush the rebels and establish the authority of Maharana.[14]
Ratan Singh visits to Mahadji
When the supporters of Ratan Singh found themselves in a precarious position they decided to take the young prince to Mahadji’s camp, Yaswant Rao Babale and five others sardars accompanied him. When they reached Ujjain, Sindhia came out one ‘kos’ from the city to receive Ratan Singh. In the shrine of Mahakaleshwar at Ujjain an agreement was reached whereby Sindhia would be paid thirty lacs of rupees if he succeeded in securing the throne of Mewar for Ratan Singh. Out of this sum one-third was to be paid at Mandsore and the remaining two-third after the object was achieved.[15]
In doing so Mahadji broke the agreement which his officers, Raghoba and Bahirji Takpir had made with Arsi. Ratan Singh and his Sardars then left Ujjain on 22nd Novembr, 1768.[16]
Mahadji commenced his war preparation. At that time there was hardly four or five thousand forces with him. He sent for re-inforcements from Mandu where nearly three thousand forces were already encamped. Mahadji also sent urgent letters to Maharaja of Jaipur asking him to send his forces immediately under Thakur Raj Singh.[17]
Hearing of these alarming developments, Arsi hastened to send Raja Ummed Singh of Shahpura, Raja Ragava Deo of Delwara and Rawat Pahar Singh of Salumber to Mahadji to win him over to his side. But the mission proved a complete failure, and Mahadji declared his firm intention to march into Mewar against Arsi. So the three emissaries returned to Udaipur empty handed.[18]
Mahadji decided to march towards Mewar on 21st December, 1768 so he left Ujjain on 14th December and encamped at Kaliadeha. inspite of his intense desire Mahadji could not move from that camp for a long time.[19]
Here in Mewar when Maharana Arsi was informed about the failure to parleys with Mahadji, he dispatched towards Ujjain a large force under Agarchand Mehta, Zalim Singh and many prominent sardars including Rawat Pahar Singh of Salumber, Raja Ummed Singh of Shahpura and Raja Rai Singh of Banera. It was accompanied by eight thousand Maratha troops under Raghoram at Daula Mian. They had instructions to do their best to persuade Mahadji to withdraw his support from Ratan Singh.
A large force was meant only to make a good impression. An appeal to arms was to be made only as the last resort. They encamped on the bank of river Sipra for necessary negotiations. But Sindhia was Adamant. He demanded the throne for Ratan Singh, whom he considered the rightful heir. The representatives of the Maharana tried to convince him that Ratan Singh was not the real son of Raj Singh. But all their efforts were in vain. Sindhia refused to be convinced, he did not believe their story and was determined to march against Mewar.[20]
Battle of Sipra
Armed action was the only alternative left when persuasion had failed. On the bank of Sipra, on the 13th January, 1769 began the battle between Sindhia and the forces of Arsi. For three days the battle continued without any decisive victory. No major attack was made.
Both the sides watching for the opportune moment to strike, when the saffron clad Rajputs made a furious attack on Sindhia’s army. They fought with stubborn courage and determination and in a short while dominated the field and cleared it off the Maratha forces completely. It seemed that victory had come to Mewar forces but it was a temporary triumph.
Entry of Nagas
Feeling elated by their evident victory the Rajputs began raveling in pleasure and plunder. At this very hour there came about fifteen thousand Nagas sent from Jaipur by Rawat Jaswant Singh to reinforce his son Raghava Dev.
This unexpected and timely reinforcement injected new enthusiasm in the disappointed Marathas and the rebel contingents, who now made a lightning attack on the Mewar forces, who were taken unawares and could not make organized effort to resist the onslaught.
Still the fight continued and causalities on both sides were heavy but Mewar’s heavier. Rawat Pahar Singh and Raja Umed Singh were slain. Ragho Ram and Daula Mian fell fighting on the battle field. Rai Singh Banera was severally wounded. Agar Chand Mehta, Zalim Singh and Rawat Man Singh were captured by the Marathas.[21]
Zalim Singh could arrange his release through the good offices of his friend Amba Ji Inglia. Thakur Shiva Singh of Rupaheli through a stratagem freed Agar Chand and Man Singh from the captivity.[22]
Defeat of Mahadji Sindhia
Sir Jadu Nath Sarkar is reluctant to give any credit to the Rajput tradition about securing the support of Raghu Ram and Mian Daula, the Maratha Sardars for twenty lacs of rupees by Maharana Arsi and the distance between Udaipur and Ujjain created doubts in his mind about the battle of Sipra itself. His contention is based on the fact that this story finds no support in recorded history.[23]
But the recorded facts are available now which set at rest all doubts regarding the authenticity of this story. According to the agreement published in Vir Vinod clearly proves that Maharana Arsi obtained the support of Bahirji Takpir and Ragho Ram for twenty lacs of rupees and also from the following two letters of Raja Rai Singh of Banera which are still preserved in Banera fort Archives, it is clearly discernible that Ragho Payaga and Daula Mian joined Maharana Arsi. The following is the text of the letter which Rai Singh wrote to the ladies of his harem from Udaipur on 13th September, 1768.
।। श्री रामजी।।
श्री गणेशजी प्रस्दात श्री कलगजी प्रस्दात
।।।। सीधश्री राजपुर सुभसुथाने सरबवोपमा जोगी वीराजमान भवाजी श्रीमानजी भवजी श्री रूपजी भवाजी श्री नाथजी बहुजी श्री नरुकीजी बवजी श्रीमेडतणीजी बवजी श्री जोधपुरीजी बव श्री कमलजी जोगेश्री ऊदपुर की राजाजी की राईसीघजी लागइतु …… अत्ररा सरदार नव आआ छै। मीआ दौला न दखण सु फरा अर दरबार चाकरै राखो छ। लुणावड़ा रो ठाकुरै अबे प्राण दाखल हुव। सूमही कुमलमेर ती अबारक नाक बेगड़ती सी दीस छै। पाछतो ठाकुरजी करसी सो होसी ……..सं. 1825 भादवा सुद 2.[24]
Thus the above letter makes it absolutely clear that Maharana Arsi could succeed in inducing Mian Daula to desert Maratha forces who were helping Ratan Singh. This letter also makes it clear that Arsi sought his help against Kumbhal Garh i e. Ratan Singh who established his capital at Kumbhal Garh.
Rai Singh also expresses that by joining Daula Mian and others the balance of power has shifted in favour of Arsi. The second letter of Rai Singh, which is given below makes it absolutely clear that Ragho Ji Paiga also joined Maharana Arsi. This letter he wrote to his son Hammir Singh.
स्वस्ते श्री महाराजाधिराज महाराजाजी श्री राइसीघजी आदेसातु कवर हमीरसीघ कसे। अप्रच आसोज बुद 12 दन गुडली डेरा आण हुवा छ। पली कानी सु पाइगाजी आण भला हुव छे अर 25 पलारी फोज उटाला पड़ी छ…….सं. 1825 आसोज सुद 1.[25]
In the Ahadnama which was reached between the Maharana and Sindhia in the year 1769, after the latter’s withdrawal of the siege of Udaipur, it is clearly stipulated that money, gold, jewels which had been given to Payaga for his military support would not in any way reduce the amount to be given to Sindhia.[26]
Thus from the above facts it is clear that Maharana Arsi obtained the help of Ragho Ram and Daula Mian etc., Maratha generals by the promise of the payment of money. Similarly there are letters which prove that the battle between Mewar and Sindhia took place on 16th January on the bank of river Sipra near Ujjain in which the forces of the Mewar sustained a crushing defeat.
Maharana Arsi had sent a ‘Khas Rukka on Magh Krishna 4 V.S. 1825 to Shiv Singh, Thakur of Rupaheli, who had gone to Marwar to bring some Sardars with their forces to help the Maharana. This ‘Rukka’ was sent to him after the news of the defeat at Ujjain reached Udaipur.
The Mahrana informed him that on the night of Paush Shukla 8 the royal Sardars with high spirits attacked (Ratan Singh) Fituri’s’ camp situated two ‘Kos’ Away from Ujjain.
The losses on Ratan Singh side were sizeable. Several of his men were killed and many other were captured and the rest of them fled to Ujjain. This ‘Khas Rukka’ further described that when next morning Sindhia heard the news of defeat he attacked his (Maharana’s) forces.
A fierce battle ensued and many prominent sardars of Mewar lost there lives. He further added that now the enemies were coming to Udaipur in large numbers and so Rupaheli Thakur was Asked to reach there at once without was tingA single moment.[27]
The following ‘Khas Rukka’ of Maharana is another proof in support of this view. It described not only the battle but also the defeat of Mewar aad the arrest of Agarji.
स्वस्ति श्री भाई मेहता अगर। अप्रच।। उजीण रो झगड़ो बिगड़ गयो जीरी मारे पूरी अभूझणी है न था जसा सपूत चाकर मारे है सो या अमूझणी श्री एगलिंगजी मेटेगा……. थु पकड़ाय गयो और गनीम था नकासु जबान केवाय छोड़े जणी हेतु तू थारे नहीं या थाहें नहीं पावे। म्हारे तो आंधा लकड़ी तू है। थाँ की ही राज करा हां। अब वे केवावे जो कहेन जीव बचा हजूर हाजर होजे। अणी करवा में थारा साम धरम मे फरक जाणा तो श्री एकलिंगजी रा हजार हजार सोगन…….सं. 1825 रो बरस महा बुद 13.[28]
Detailed account of the financial settlement between Mewar and the Marathas from the V.S. 1826 to 1837 concluded through Munshi Chiman Lal and Pt. Govind Rao, throws a good deal of light on this battle. A transaction of four lacs of rupees was inserted in it. accordingly, a sum of four lacs of rupees was given, when Ragho Ram, Daula Mian and the forces of the ‘Darbar’ marched to Ujjain to crush the ‘fituri’ and other recalcitrant nobles, who had gone to Mahadji at Ujjain.
Under this transaction it is also given that the battle at Ujjain was fought in the month of Paush and the forces of the Darbar were defeated. Ragho Ram and Daula Mian were slain and Rawat Man Singh of Bhansror Garh, Raj Rana Zalim Singh and Mehta Agarji were captured, whose release was obtained afterwards. [29]
Not only the records of Mewar, but also the Maratha records mention this episode though not in so many words. By a letter dated 30th January, 1769, Peshwa Madhav Rao ordered the confiscation of the house of Ragho Ram, situated at Begri near Islampura, since he, being the servant of Mahadji, had marched against him. Payaga suffered the death in the affray.[30]
Though this order of the Peshwa does not mention the place and time where and when this affray took place, we can very well guess that the place could be none other than Ujjain.
The letter is dated 30th January, and the encounter between Ragho Ram and Mahadji must have occurred just A few days before it i.e. the time taken in reaching the news to the Peshwa. This could not be more than fifteen days in any case. At that time Mahadji was at Ujjain so the battle between them must have taken place at Ujjain. This was the battle of Sipra. Both of them supported the rival claimants each against the other, for the throne of Mewar, Mahadji supported Ratan Singh where as Ragho Ram espoused the cause of Maharana Arsi.
Conclusion
We can conclude that the history regarding the battle of Sipra current in the Rajput traditions is correct and it can be said without hesitation and doubts that such a battle took place from 13th January to 16th January between the forces of Maharana Arsi and Mahadji resulting in the defeat of the former.
REFERENCES
[1] Shyamal Das, Vir Vinod Vol. II pp. 1543-44,
[2] Ibid.
[3] Dr. K. S. Gupta, The Battle Of Sipra (1769), Rajasthan History Congress Proceedings, pp. 117-123.
[4] Ibid pp. 1544-47.
[5] Ojha, Udaipur Rajya-Ka-Itihas, Vol. II, pp. 648-49.
[6] Shyamal Das, Vir Vinod, Vol. II p. 1550.
[7] Banera fort Archives, letters from Rawat Pahar Singh to Raja Rai Singh dated Baishakh Sudi 4 V. S. 1823 (2 May, 1767) and Asoj Budi 13 V. S. 1825 (8 Oct. 1768).
[8] (i) Sharma, M. L., Kota Rajaya Ka-Itihas, Vol. II p. 641.
(ii) Tod, Annals And Antiquities of Rajasthan Vol. I p, 501.
(iii) Ojha, Udaipur Rajaya-Ka-Itihas, Vol.. II p. 650.
(iv) Shyamaldas, Vir Vinod, Vol. II pp, 1540-41.
[9] Banera fort Archives letter from Rawat Magh Singh to Raja Rai Singh dated Sharv an Sudi 6, V. S. 1825 (20 July, 1768).
[10] Bharat Itihas Samsodhak Mandal Quarterly, July-Oct. 1952, p. 79.
[11] Jodhpur State Archives (File-Kharita-Bundle No. 3); File No. 1, Letter No. 7.
[12] Vad, Peshwa Diaries, No. 7 pp. 428-29; S. P. D. No. 38, letter 185.
[13] Shyamaldas, Vir Vinod, Vol. II pp. 1553-54.
[14] Bharat Itihas Samsodhak Mandal Quarterly July-October, 1952 p. 89.
[15] Banera fort Archives, File No. 1, Letter No. 4.
[16] Jaipur State Archives. (Kharita Section). From Mahadji to Sawai Pratap Singh, Dated Kartik Sudi 4, V. S. 1825.
[17] Ibid, dated Magsir sud 4, V. S. 1825 (13 Dec., 1768).
[18] Shyamal Das, Vir Vinod, pp. 1554-55.
[19] Parampara Vol. 23 p. 108.
[20] Shyamaldas, Vir Vinod, pp. 1555-57.
[21] (i) Ibid.; (ii) Tod. Vol I p. 500.According to him Man Singh was the ex-ruler of Marwar but in fact he was the son of Rawat Lal Singh of Bhansrorgarh.
[22] Chaturkul Chaitra Itihasa, pp. 145-46.
[23] Sarkar, J. N., F allof the Mughal Empire, Vol. II. p. 380.
[24] Banera Fort Archives, File No. 75 letter No. 18.
[25] Ibid, File No. 75.
[26] Shyamaldas, Vir Vinod, pp. 1564-65.
[27] Chatur Kul Charitra Itihasa, p. 144.
[28] Mandalgarh Collection, Maharana Arsi Singh to Agar Chand Mehta dated Magh Sudi, 13 V. S. 1825.
[29] Sangram Singh Mehta’s collection. Accounts of the Marathas from S, 1826 to Sm. 1837.
[30] Selections from Peshwa Daftar Vol. XXIX, No. 229.
