Suraj Mal
| Suraj Mal | |
|---|---|
|
Maharaja of Bharatpur Bahadur Jung | |
 Suraj Mal | |
| Reign | r. 1755 – 1763 AD |
| Coronation | Deeg, 22 May 1755 |
| Predecessor | Badan Singh |
| Successor | Jawahar Singh |
| Born | February 1707 |
| Died |
25 December 1763 (aged 56) near Delhi |
| Spouse | Maharani Kishori |
| Issue |
Jawahar Singh Nahar Singh Ratan Singh Nihal Singh Ranjit Singh |
| House | Sinsinwar Jat Dynasty |
| Father | Rup Singh |
| Mother | Devki (Deoki) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Maharaja Suraj Mal (February 1707 – 25 December 1763) or Sujan Singh was ruler of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. A contemporary historian has described him as "the Plato of the Jat people" and by a modern writer as the "Jat Odysseus", because of his political sagacity, steady intellect and clear vision.[1] The Jats, under Suraj Mal, overran the Mughal garrison at Agra and plundered the city taking with them the two great silver doors of the entrance of the famous Taj Mahal which were then melted down by Suraj Mal in 1763. Mughal commanders such as Sayyad Muhammad Khan Baloch vowed to avenge the ruins done on the Mughal Empire by the Jats, and during an ingenious counterattack, Suraj Mal was defeated and executed by the Mughal Army.
His large cenotaph is at Kusum Sarovar, Govardhan, Uttar Pradesh.[2][3]
Battle of Kumher
Mughal Emperor Alamgir II and his rebellious courtier Siraj ud-Daulah were having a factional feud. Suraj Mal had sided with Siraj. Alamgir sought the help of Holkar Marathas of Indore. Khanderao Holkar, son of Maharaja of Indore Malhar Rao Holkar, laid a siege of Kumher fort of Suraj Mal in 1754. While inspecting the troops on an open palanquin in the battle of Kumher, Khanderao was hit and killed by a cannonball from the Bharatpur army. The siege was lifted and a treaty was signed between Jats and Marathas, which later proved helpful for Suraj Mal in consolidating his rule.[4][5][6][7]
Commemoration
Notable institutes named after him include Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology and Maharaja Surajmal Brij University, Bharatpur.
References
- ↑ R.C.Majumdar, H.C.Raychaudhury, Kalikaranjan Datta: An Advanced History of India, fourth edition, 1978, ISBN 0-333-90298-X, Page-535
- ↑ Cenotaph of Raja Sooruj Mull, Govurdhun. 97140, British Library online collection
- ↑ Temple of Kishn Soraba, Gobardun [View across the Kusum Sarovar Tank towards Suraj Mal's Cenotaph, Gobardhan; a photo by William Henry Baker, 1860's*, Columbia university website online collection]
- ↑ Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813, by Jaswant Lal Mehta, pp606
- ↑ Images of Women in Maharashtrian Literature and Religion, edited by Anne Feldhaus, pp185-186
- ↑ Omkareshwar and Maheshwar: Travel Guide, p60
- ↑ Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey, by R. V. Solomon, J. W. Bond, p.72
| Suraj Mal Sinsiniwar Jat Dynasty Born: 1707 Died: 1763 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Badan Singh |
Maharaja of Bharatpur 1755–1763 AD |
Succeeded by Maharaja Jawahar Singh |