Gohad - History

History

According to Alexander Cunningham and William Crooke, people of the Jat caste from village Bamrauli (near Agra) settled the town of Gohad in 1505 and constructed the Gohad Fort. This later developed into an important Jat stronghold. The Jat rulers of Gohad were awarded the title of rana. The chronology of Jat overlords of Gohad has 17 names including Singhandev I:

• Singhandev II, 1505–1524
• Devi Singh, 1524–1535
• Udyaut Singh, 1535–1546
• Anup Singh, 1546 -
• Sambhu Singh,
• Abhay Chander, 1604–1628
• Ram Chander,1628–1647
• Ratan Singh, 1647–1664
• Uday Singh, 1664–1685
• Bagh Raj, 1685–1699
• Gaj Singh, 1699–1704
• Jaswant Singh, 1704–1707
• Bhim Singh, 1707–1756
• Girdhar Pratap, 1756–1757
• Chhatar Singh, 1757–1785
• Kirat Singh, 1803 - 1805 (moved to Dholpur from 1805)

The historically important rulers among the above were Bhim Singh (1707–1756) and Chhatar Singh (1757–1785). They occupied the Gwalior fort twice; Bhim Singh from 1740 to 1756 and Chhatra Singh from 1780 to 1783. During this period, they constructed several monuments within Gwalior fort, including the Cenotaph of Bhim Singh.

After the death of Rana Chhatar Singh in 1785 entire Gohad area became a symbol of anarchy, plundering and killing for 18 years. The Jat rebels could be controlled neither by the Marathas nor by British troops. In 1789 Daulat Rao Scindia attempted to capture Gohad but could not do so. The revolutionary Jats unanimously declared Kirat Singh son of samant Tarachand of village Neerpur in 1803. Samant Tarachand was cousin brother of Rana Chhatar Singh. The coronation ceremony of Kirat Singh took place at ‘Bagathara fortress’, situated at a distance of 12 miles from Gohad, as Gohad and Gwalior were in possession of Sindhia.

In Second Anglo-Maratha War between Britishers and Marathas at Laswari on 1 November 1803, Lord Lake defeated Sindhia and vanished his reputation. In this war the Jats helped Britishers. The British army officers had affection for Jats.

Later the British concluded a treaty with Jats and with their help defeated Marathas and won back Gwalior and Gohad from them. The British kept Gwalior with them and handed over Gohad to Jats in 1804.

Gohad was handed over to Marathas under a revised treaty dated 22 November 1805 between Marathas and Britishers. Under this treaty Gohad ruler Rana Kirat Singh was given Dhaulpur, Badi and Rajakheda in exchange with Gohad. Rana Kirat Singh moved to Dhaulpur in December 1805. Sindhias could take over Gohad on 27 February 1806 with the help of Britishers. Thus the Rana Jat rulers of Bamraulia gotra ruled Gohad for 300 years from 1505-1805.