Unsung legacy of a hero and inspiring Journey of Swasti Shri 1008 Badrish Charya Prayana Garh-Rajya Mahi Mahendra Dharam, Vaibhav Dharam Rakshah Shiromani Shri 108 Maharaja Prithvi Pat Shah Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Garhwal. b. at Srinagar, 1624, son of Swasti Shri 1008 Badrish Charya Prayana Garh-Rajya Mahi Mahendra Dharam, Vaibhav Dharam Rakshah Shiromani Shri 108 Maharaja Mahipat Shah "Garva Bhanjan", Maharaja of Garhwal, by his wife, Maharani Karnavati, http://lifeispreciousnotrace.blogspot.com/2020/08/garhwal-rani-karnawati-parmar-immortal.html?m=1
Succeeded on the death of his father, July 1631. Reigned under the regency of his mother, until he came of age and assumed full ruling powers, ca. 1642. He invited the Jesuit padres in 1648, allotting them some land to cultivate orchards.
The interaction of Garhwal king Prithvi Pati Shah with the Mughals occurred continuously throughout his rule but one major altercation occured after Shah Jahan was taken ill in 1657. Shah Jahan declared Dara Shikoh as his heir but other sons, namely Shah Suja, Murad and Aurangzeb, who all wanted to sit on the throne of Delhi, did not like it. Aurangzeb put his father and brother Murad in prison and declared himself the emperor of India. He sent a battalion to Lahore to capture Dara Shikoh. Aurangzeb wanted all claimants to the throne to be eliminated, He ordered Mirza Raja Jai Singh Kachwaha to bring Sulaiman Shikoh, Son of Prince Dara Shikoh.
But Raja Jai Singh went against Aurangzeb's orders and told Sulaiman Shikoh to take refuge in "Garhwal". Suleman Shikoh, son of Dara Shikoh, who was in Allahabad, came to know about Aurangzeb’s intentions and on the advice of King Jai Singh, who was his local guardian, marched towards Srinagar in Parui Garhwal. Though King Jai Singh deceived him on the way, Suleman still made it to Srinagar. Aurangzeb on learning about Suleman’s whereabouts threatened the Garhwal king to hand over him or he would capture Pataldun or Bhabhar.
The history of Garhwali Rajputs is always under- discussed, they were the ONLY INDEPENDENT HOUSE when the rest were conquered, Rulers of Garhwal were Parmar/Pal Clan of Rajputs. Perhaps the only Unconquered Rajput clan of North India. Kingdom of Garhwal was never under Mughals, thus making it sovereign hence the rule of the Emperor was halted on the borders of Garhwal. After that Unchallenged Rule of Parmar Rajputs began.
Perhaps this might be the reason why Raja Jai Singh recommended Garhwal, not any other kingdom. When Sulaiman Shikoh took refuge, the king was Prithivipat Shah, he assured Sulaiman Shikoh of his safety and was ready to take even face the brutal "Shahi" army of Aurangzeb. He granted refuge to Prince Sulaiman Shikoh in 1659 and refused to give him up, until his son did so
Aurangzeb provided all assistance of army and cannons to Raja Rajswaroop of Jammu and ordered him to attack Garhwal from the North and he also conspired with Chand King of Kumaon to attack Garhwal from the south.
One reason why he chose the Rajputs of Jammu and Kumaon over the Rajputs of Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, Punjab, Gujrat, and Rajasthan can be that Garhwalis unlike them were Pahadi Rajputs, people of the plains would fail miserably against them. So choosing Pahadi Rajputs against other Pahadi Rajputs was a good plan. But despite all of this he failed.
Accounts vary, but apparently, Jai Singh convinced a minister to poison Sulaiman. However, the plot was discovered and the minister was executed.
Later frustrated Aurangzeb, forced Raja Jai Singh to write a letter to Prithivipati Shah a "Farman".
In that Farman Raja Jai Singh advised Prithivipati Shah to hand over Sulaiman to Aurangzeb, otherwise, he would face the wrath of the emperor. In response to this "Threatful" letter which was then written on the order of the most dangerous man of the Indian Subcontinent,
The King of Garhwal "Laughed" and said, "let him (Aurangzeb) know that he who could cut off noses could equally cut off heads." Later Jai Singh sent his son and the heir Kunwar Ram Singh to convince the King of Garhwal, Kunwar Ram Singh was welcomed by the king with great warmth.
But when Kunwar Ram Singh asked about Sulaiman, MahaRaja Prthivipati Shah Replied "Son, I will protect my refugee until my dying breath". But Unfortunately, Where Gates of Garhwal were too strong, but those within it were disloyal.
Now, Prince Medini Shah of Garhwal began plotting against Sulaiman; perhaps Jai Singh got to him or he desired to end Garhwal’s tribulations. In late 1660, Jai Singh sent his son Ram Singh to Garhwal, bearing the Emperor’s dire threats. These new developments, and the emerging alliance of Ram Singh and Medini Shah, forced Sulaiman to attempt escaping to Ladakh. However, he was captured by Medini Shah’s men and handed over to the Mughals. while Maharaja Prithvi Shah was fighting against the Kumaonis. The enraged king now recouped power and Anguished King Prithivipatishah BANISHED his only son out of Garhwal, Kunwar Medini Shah — he soon died a refugee in Mughal land and the Kingdom of Garhwal was passed to Swasti Shri 1008 Badrish Charya Prayana Garh-Rajya Mahi Mahendra Dharam, Vaibhav Dharam Rakshah Shiromani Shri 108 Maharaja Fateh Shah Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Garhwal. b. at Srinagar, 1632, son of Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Tikka Medni Shah Sahib Bahadur.
But Garhwal never bowed to Turk Luteras, and "Garud Dhwaj" never flew under Mughal Sigil And this "Veer Gaatha" will never be recited by the Left because Garhwal was never under Turk Lutere Mughals nor by the Right because the Garhwal was never under the so-called Great Maratha Empire.
But what sort of "Kshatriya Dharam" which Prithvi PatiShah was following? He fought Hindus to protect a Muslim. This was never his fight, yet he fought like his own. This is something which .....
Source:
Garhwal Ka Ithihas by Dr. Yashwant Singh Katoch/ Harikishan Raturi
Garhwal Himalayas: A Study in Historical Perspective by Ajay Singh Rawat
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