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Raja Ram Jat
Raja Ram Jat was the leader and the chieftain of Sinsini in princely state of Bharatpur in India.

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Raja Ram Jat, a Jat leader and organizer of rebellion for freedom against Aurangzeb was best known for his undaunted bravery in Indian history. Raja Ram Jat was born in 1670 to Bhajja Singh of Sinsini. He was also the chieftain of Sinsini in princely state of Bharatpur in India. After the death of Gokula (his predecessor) on 1 January 1670, Raja Ram Jat kept the rebellion against the Mughals alive.

Raja Ram Jat, Jat Leader Bhajja Singh along with his colleague Brajraj of Sinsini and their relatives gathered a small army of Sinsinwar and Kuntal gotra jats. Raja Ram Jat prepared Jat groups of different clans and brought them together under their guidance. Sogaria was a powerful Janpad of Bharatpur and its chieftain was Ramki Chahar. Sogaria Jats already had a castle at Sogar, located 4 miles southeast of Bharatpur. Raja Ram Jat took Ramki Chahar with him and also associated with the Jats of Sidgiri region (Bayana, Rupbasaia). He also allied with the Jats of Ranthambhor against the Amber ruler Ram Singh. On the basis of the present-day dispatches it can unambiguously be concluded that Raja Ram proved an enormous rallying point and a great number of the Jats who were united under his leadership. This way Raja Ram Jat completed a vital work of bringing together the scattered and unorganized Jat power.

Raja Ram Jat initiated to construct kuchha mud forts all around in the Jat-belt and trained the young farmers as able soldiers. The rebels received education to strictly obey the instructions of their chief. Next, he started to organize his followers from the military point of view and gave those military training and also equipped them with firearms. He skilled them in horse-riding and weapons. Raja Ram Jat started to collect guns and other weapons. Raja Ram Jat organized them into specific regiments that were placed under different captains. Similarly, he impressed upon Jats and the necessity of remaining disciplined and obeying their captains. Thus Raja Ram Jat conveyed to them the impression of a regular army. Raja Ram gave equal attention to the increase of his defenses, for he must have seen how Tilpat was easily stormed for lack of suitable struggle and thus sealed the fate of the Jat rising under Gokula. Raja Ram Jat thus built his forts in dense deep jungles and thus surrounded them with mud ramparts.

Raja Ram Jat began to organize raids in the countryside of the Suba of Agra. The Jats attacked on the roads and looted the caravans and the travelers. The Subadar of Agra, Safi Khan, was practically besieged in the Agra fort. Along with the other rebels the Narukas, the Panwars, the Gujars and the Mevs - they basically obstructed the roads for ordinary traffic between Dholpur and Delhi, and Agra and Ajmer via Hindaun and Bayana. In an important place like Mathura no site except Jama Mosque was kept safe and thus it is understood that the security was not enough. Raja Ram Jat also tried to loot Akbar`s mausoleum at Sikandara. But he failed because of the local faujdar, Mir Abul Fazl. He confronted the rebels at a place, 10 miles from Sikandara. The Faujdar succeeded in repulsing them, though in the process he was heavily wounded and a number of his troops also died. Raja Ram Jat also suffered heavy casualties and Aurangzeb rewarded the faujdar with the title of Iltitifat Khan, increasing his Mansab by 200 sawars. Unsuccessful at Sikandara Raja Ram then fell upon Shikarpur and grabbed rich booty from the place. There from, he moved towards Ratanpur.

The tortures and disturbances of Raja Ram Jat went increasing. On 3 May 1686 the emperor appointed Khan-i-Jahan Bahadur Zafarjang Kokaltash to punish the rebels. Despite his exhausting efforts, however, Khan-i-Jahan could not capture any of the Jat strongholds or could punish the people. Therefore, he ordered his son - Muhammad Azam to advance against the Jats. Meanwhile Raja Ram showed greater audacity and fell upon the Mughal commander Aghar Khan. The Khan with his entourage was traveling from Kabul to Bijapur when the Jats attacked him near Dholpur and fled away capturing many bullocks, carts, horses and women. The general gave them a long chase but was killed in the resulting fight along with his son-in-law and 80 other men. Two hundred Jats were killed and the psychological relief from this brave act was much more than the material one. Early in 1688, Raja Ram Jat attacked Mahabat Khan on his way to Lahore and after a fierce fight ensued, Raja Ram finally revolted after losing 400 men.

After a short while, Raja Ram Jat again reappeared at Sikandara and taking advantage of the delay in coming of Shaista Khan, the governor-designate of Agra, he attacked and looted Akbar`s mausoleum. The Jat leader not only plundered the house but also destroyed what he could not carry. The daring and impudence of the Jats alarmed Aurangzeb and he ordered Raja Ram Singh to chastise Raja Ram Jat. Again a failure to teach Raja Ram Jat the right path, he persisted with his disobedient activities. His strength and resources now began to draw the attention of others. In the battle of Bijal, Raja Ram Jat was opposing the Hada Chief upon whom he inflicted a crushing defeat.

On Wednesday 4 July 1688, when the battle of Bijal was in its full fury the gallant Raja Ram led a fierce charge against the centre, consisting of the Mughals. Meanwhile, a Mughal who had hidden himself in a tree shot at Raja Ram`s chest. He fell down from his horse and died immediately. The fall of Raja Ram Jat indicated the defeat of the Chauhans. His head was severed from the body and later on presented to Aurangzeb in the Deccan.


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