Sultan Sarang Khan

Sultan Sarang Khan was a chief of the Gakhar tribe which resided in the Pothohar region in northern Punjab region, in modern-day Pakistan. He was born in Pharwala fort and his father was a Gakhar chief, named Tattar Khan. Due to his services to Mughal emperor Babur, Sarang Khan was bestowed the title of Sultan by the Mughals.

After the Mughal invasion of India, Gakhars like other tribes of Punjab became subservient to the Mughals, Sarang's father Tattar Khan came in the service of the Mughals. However, another chieftain Hathi Gakhar had assassinated Tattar in a late night raid on his camp, capturing his possessions. When Hathi Khan was defeated by Babur, he was later assassinated by an aged Sarang through poison. Sarang, later took the leadership of the Gakhar tribe, receiving also the courtesy title of Sultan from bestowed by the Mughals on his father.[1]

In the mid 16th century, the Afghan king, Sher Shah Suri usurped the Mughal dynasty under Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. Sarang resisted Sher Shah on the notion of loyalty to the ousted Mughals. Sultan Sarang was later captured by Sher Shah Suri and flayed alive.[2] His daughter was handed to Khawas Khan (one of the best generals of Sher Shah Suri) in accordance with the Imperial order of revenge upon Sarang for his refractory rebellion against the Suri Empire.[3]

Sultan Sarang died in 1546 CE and is buried in a tomb in Rawat Fort. His brother Adam Khan assumed leadership of the tribe upon his demise.


References

  1. ↑ The Panjab Chiefs: Historical and Biographical Notices of the Principal Families in the Lahore and Rawalpindi Divisions of the Panjab by Lepel Henry Griffin, Charles Francis Massy, Publ. Civil and Military Gazette press, 1890, p. 356
  2. ↑ The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The Muhammadan Period by Henry Miers Elliot, John Dowson - India - 1963, p. 278
  3. ↑ Tārīk̲h̲-i-Śēr Śāhī by ʻAbbās Khān Sarvānī, Brahmadeva Prasad Ambashthya, Publ K.P.Jayaswal Research Institute, 1974 p. 556
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