Saving The Bharatpur Royal House From Annihilation
In July 1778, Mirza Najaf Khan was constrained to make peace with the Rao Raja, recognising his title to Alwar and other territories conquered from the Jats. He sent back Hamdani against Maharaja Ranjit Singh and himself started for Agra. In September 1778, he appeared before Kumher with a large army, to finish the affairs of Jats.
The siege of Kumher was prosecuted with great vigour but the garrison, in hopes of the Emperor's arrival, put up a stiff resistance. Mirza Najaf Khan grew impatient as the siege seemed to drag on an interminable length of time. The Amir-ul-umra, out of the considerations of policy and for the general good, sent a letter full of admonitions... reminding Ranjit Singh that there was yet time to secure pardon through submission, and to atone for his past error by loyal service, without dragging several thousand men to their destruction.
This advice failed to find any place in Ranjit Singh's heart - he remained as haughty and obstinate as before.
The besieging army redoubled their efforts and soon rendered the fort untenable. In their hour of supreme peril they remembered the old Maharani Kishori, who had outlived the glory of house of Bharatpur, and been pining in neglect and retirement after the death of Maharaja Jawahar Singh. Ranjit Singh's well-wishers advised him to send the old Rani Kishori to the Mughal camp, because she enjoyed the respect and good-will of the high officers of Amir-ul-umra and might possibly by her intercession procure pardon for his past offenses.
But Ranjit Singh hesitated to act upon their advice, lest the Mirza should compel him to surrender unconditionally, by detaining her in Mughal camp. One night he escaped with a few friends, leaving Kumher to its fate. Next morning the Muslim troops scaled the walls of the fort and overpowered the defenders. Rani Kishori fell prisoner into their hands and was taken with all honour to the camp of Nawab. In obedience to his orders his officers erected lofty and secluded tents for her residence and well trained servants were appointed to wait upon her, in hopes that after a few days her grief might subdue.
It was not with the suspicious and timid steps of a prisoner that she went to meet the conqueror when summoned by him, but rather in the hope and confidence of a mother in distress who goes to see her foster child. On reaching the presence of Nawab she, like an affectionate nurse, walked around the person of Amir-ul-umra, and with sincerity took upon herself all his woes. With tearful in her eyes she narrated the pitiful tale of her misery.
When Nawab Amir-ul-umra learnt the distress of her heart, his own overflowed with kindness: he very graciously set her up as his own mother, giving her the fort of Kumher for her residence and the mahals (palaces) around it for her support.
For her sake he also pardoned Ranjit Singh his crimes and left him the fort of Bharatpur, with territories worth seven lakhs (seven hundred thousand) rupees as jagir (his district). Where the barbarous ferocity of the Abdali had failed, the magnanimity of Amir-ul-umra succeeded.
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