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Jasrat Khokhar (Punjabi : جسرت; Punjabi pronunciation: ) was a Punjabi Khokhar chieftain who reigned in northern Punjab and Jammu between 1405 and 1442. He is mostly known for leading periodic raids and invasions against the Delhi Sultanate during the 15th century.

Early life

Little information is available regarding early life of Jasrat Khokhar. He was probably born to a local Punjabi chieftain of Pothohar, Shaikha Khokhar in c. 1375, during a time when Delhi Sultanate was in decline due to civil war among members of Tughlaq dynasty. In historical accounts, names of both chieftains have been often confused. The Khokhars, who had already been converted to Islam by Sufi saint Baba Farid in the 13th century, grew powerful under Shaikha, and established their rule over the region stretching from Sirmur to Shivalik across river Jhelum. In 1394, Shiekha conquered Lahore from the Tughlaq sultans as well.

Timurid Invasion (1398)

The anarchy prevailing in the Delhi Sultanate drew the attentions of Timur, the founder of Timurid Empire. Timur invaded northern India with 90,000 warriors, crossing the Indus by 24 September, 1398. At river Sutlej between Tulamba and Dipalpur, he was confronted by a force of 2,000 under Jasrat. However, Jasrat was defeated and taken as captive to Samarkand. Timur sent another expedition to Lahore. The city was captured and Shaikha was killed. Timur then proceeded to sack Delhi, and brutally massacred its citizens.

Rise to power

Jasrat escaped from Samarkand and returned to Punjab after Timur's death. After his return, Jasrat resumed the leadership of his tribe, and established Sialkot as his capital. He sacked the city of Jammu during the reign of its Raja, Pala Deo (Pala Dev) in 1410, and spent next few years quietly, strengthening his position.

Civil war in Kashmir (1420)

Jasrat had much influence in the politics of Kashmir Sultanate. Already during the reign of Kashmiri sultan Sikandar Shah Miri, he had entered into an alliance with him. In 1420, a civil war erupted between Sultan Ali Shah and the claimant to throne, Shahi Khan. Ali Shah had left administration of Kashmir in the hands of Shahi Khan when he went to visit his father-in-law and Raja of Jammu, Bhim Dev. When he returned, Shahi Khan refused to hand him throne, and Ali Shah defeated him with the help of Raja of Jammu and expelled him from Kashmir. Shahi Khan went to Sialkot to ask Jasrat for help, who promised to support him. Hearing this, Ali Shah marched with his army to Sialkot. The two sides met at Thanna, and in the ensuing battle Ali Shah was defeated and slained by Jasrat. With the help of Jasrat, Shahi Khan was enthroned as sultan Zain-ul-Abidin. This battle greatly increased the prestige and wealth of Jasrat. His relation with sultan Zain-ul-Abidin remained friendly afterwards.

Campaigns against Delhi sultanate

The strongest opposition offered to Delhi sultanate in Punjab was by Jasrat. In 1414, the Tughlaq dynasty was replaced by dynasty of Khizr Khan. However, he could not stop the decline of the sultanate. After his death in May 1421, Jasrat crossed Ravi and successively conquered Ludhiana and Jalandhar, and besieged Sirhind. In October 1421, Sultan Mubarak Shah marched against Jasrat, who after a skirmish at Rupar, retreated to his state. Mubarak Shah was greatly aided by Raja of Jammu, Bhim during his march against Jasrat. Bhim, who was an arch-enemy of Jasrat, also destroyed Jasrat's stronghold of Tilhar in Kashmir in January 1422. In May 1422, Jasrat again invaded the sultanate and now besieged Lahore, but was unable to take it by storm. With the help of Raja Bhim, Delhi army invaded his domains, and Jasrat retreated once again in September 1422.

Invasion of Jammu (1423)

The Raja of Jammu Bhim Dev had provided much support to the Delhi sultanate against Jasrat. As a result, Jasrat invaded Jammu in April 1423 and devastated the region. He slained Bhim Dev and captured a large amount of wealth and arms belonging to Bhim Dev. He also married daughter of next ruler of Jammu, Manak Deo (Manik Dev). Another daughter of Manik Dev was married to Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin of Kashmir, and became mother of Haider Shah (r. 1470–1472) and Hasan Shah (r. 1472–1474).

Further invasions

In August 1428, Jasrat marched against Delhi sultanate once again. He besieged Kalanor, and totally sacked Jalandhar. However, he faced a defeat at the bank of river Beas after a severe engagement, and retreated to Tilhar, leaving the captured wealth back. In 1430, Shaikh Ali, the Timurid governor of Kabul invaded Punjab. Although he was joined by many Khokhar leaders, but Jasrat did not aid him. After Shaikh Ali was defeated in 1431, Jasrat once again captured Jalandhar and besieged Lahore. When Mubarak Shah marched against him, he returned to Tilhar with his spoils.

By then, Jasrat had grown old. He led only a few campaigns any further. In 1441, he fought against the Lodi chief Bahlol Khan Lodi, who had been appointed as governor of Sirhind, and achieved some success. But when Muhammad Shah left Delhi to invade his domains, he made peace with Bahlol and advised him to capture the throne of Delhi for himself. Nothing is known about him further, and he is assumed to have died afterwards shortly. A 15th century Dogri poem mentions his death across bank of a river. Towards the end of his reign, he had the region now known as Duggar completely under his control, which includes Jammu and northern Punjab, as well as parts of Himachal Pradesh.

References

1. ^ Singh 2023. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSingh2023 (help)
2. ^ Lal 1958.
3. Ayyappa Panikkar 1997, p. 72.
4. Jackson 2003, p. 309.
5. ^ Grousset 1970, p. 444.
6. Mahajan 2007, p. 228.
7. Hasan 2005, p. 75.
8. ^ Hasan 2005, p. 63.
9. Hasan 2005, p. 70.
10. Hasan 2005, p. 80.
11. ^ Hasan 2005, p. 88.
12. Madani 1993, p. 88.
13. Ayyappa Panikkar 1997, p. 851.
14. Ayyappa Panikkar 1997, p. 73.

Bibliography

1. Ayyappa Panikkar (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
2. Grousset, René (1970). The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-1304-1.
3. Hamadani, Agha Hussain (1992). The Frontier Policy of the Delhi Sultans. Atlantic Publishers & Distri.
4. Jackson, Peter (2003). The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-54329-3.
5. Mahajan, V. D. (2007). History of Medieval India. S. Chand Publishing. ISBN 978-81-219-0364-6.
6. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005). Kashmir Under the Sultans. Aakar Books. ISBN 978-81-87879-49-7.
7. Singh, Surinder; Gaur, Ishwar Dayal (2023). Sufism in Punjab: Mystics, Literature and Shrines. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-003-83414-4.
8. Madani, Mohsen Saeidi (1993). Impact of Hindu Culture on Muslims. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-85880-15-0.

Further reading

• Lal, K. S. (1958). "Jasrat Khokhar". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 21: 274–281. ISSN 2249-1937.

• 15th-century Indian monarchs
• 1440s deaths