Page 132 - Lohgarh

132 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

the Emperor Bahadur Shah. Bahadur Shah also dispatched Hamid Khan
to chase Banda Singh; he also commanded him to arrest the ruler of
Nahan in case Banda Singh is not captured by him (because Banda Singh
had entered the territory of Nahan State).
When Hamid Khan reached Nahan, the ruler did not meet him as
he knew about the wrath of the Emperor. At this Hamid Khan assured
them that Mahabat Khan has given word that nothing will happen to
Bhup Parkash (the ruler of Nahan).
On the 12 th of December 1710, Hamid Khan presented Bhup
Parkash, the minor king of Nahan, before Bahadur Shah. He was
accompanied by Khwaja Kutub-Ud-Din, Dianat Rao and Uma Pandit.
Bhup Parkash presented one hundred one mohars and several birds of
prey, including four falcons, five jurra, nine kitash and five hundred
69
jadwar to the Emperor. In return, the Emperor presented him a robe,
and ordered that he will remain in the custody of the royal court. 70
The next day he was offered release in case he could get Banda
Singh arrested. 71 The Emperor sent a message to his (minor ruler’s)
mother asking her to exchange her son by presenting Banda Singh. At
this Bhup Parkash’s mother arrested 35 Sikhs and dispatched them to
the Emperor. The Emperor ordered the killing of these Sikhs but refused
to release Bhup Parkash till Banda was arrested.
Khafi Khan reports that on the 13 th of March 1711, the Emperor
puts Bhup Parkash and Gulab Singh Bakhshi (a companion of Banda
Singh arrested from Lohgarh) in a big iron cage and dispatched them to
Delhi. On the 20 th Of March 1711 the Emperor ordered that both of
them should be interned in Qila Salimgarh (a Fort on the backside of
the Lal Qila, especially reserved for prominent prisoners) and a receipt
(of the arrival of the prisoners) given by the incharge of the Fort, be
also presented before him the (Emperor). (Later, the mother of the ruler
of Nahan approached the Rajput rulers of Jaipur and Jodhpur and
requested them to use their influence for the release of Bhup Parkash,
but they told her that they could not do anything and he would be
released only when Banda Singh was arrested).
On 17 March 1711, the Emperor sent command to Mahabat Khan