Chepter-2
SIKARWAR RAJPUTS’
Some time
back in Aug 2014, I had in my blog, tried to put down a brief history of the
Sikarwars. Based on some more
information given by Indian historians like Dr. Devi Singh Mandawa in his
book “Rajput Shakhaon Ka Itihaas” and others ,I am continuing my article on Sikarwars further.
The battle
of Kanhua ( also spelled as Khanwa- a village between Agra & Vijaypur
Sikri) which was fought between Mughal invader Babur and confederation of Rajputs lead by Rana
Sanga on 17 March 1527,was a major turning point in the history of Rajputs. While the defeat of
Rana Sanga resulted in a major setback to the confederation in general, it particularly
proved disastrous to Sikarwars of Vijaypur Sikari.
Babur
destroyed the fort of Vijaypur Sikari and
re- named it as Fatehpur Sikari. Dham Dev who had participated in the battle with his
three sons, viz. Prithu, Ahaman and Ram Dhalku, had to escape from there to take shelter in to the forest of Dhaulpur. However,
soon Dham Dev was able to re-organise his
remaining force, captured the nearby fort of Sarsaini and handed it over to his
youngest son Ram Dhalku. In present day scenario it could be safely said that
most of the inhabitants of Chambal area are descendent of Ram Dhalku. Dham Dev
also captured Khairagarh and its adjoining areas which he gave to his eldest
son Prithu to rule. ( Some historians
have mentioned the name of Dham Dev as Dhandu Dev and as such should not
be confused)
With the aim
to take back Vijaypur, Dham Dev along with his second son Ahaman, again fought
with Babur near Agra. But luck did not favour him and he lost the battle. His
son Ahaman too got killed in this battle. A number of similar efforts to
establish its own kingdom continued by the Sikarwars but did not materialise.
Thus finding no alternative they further spread in other parts of India
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