Dulla Bhatti
Encyclopedia
Rai Abdullah Khan Bhatti Rajput, popularly known as Dulla Bhatti , was a famous legendary Rajput
hero of the Punjab
, who led a rebellion against the Mughal
emperor Akbar. Such was the level of resistance put up by Rai Abdullah Khan that Akbar had to shift his capital from Delhi
to Lahore
for nearly 20 years, making the Lahore Fort
his headquarters, and renovating its basic structure. There is an epic
in the Punjabi language
called Dulle Di Vaar
(Ballad
), which narrates the battle events of Dulla Bhatti, and a region in the Pakistani Punjab
called Dulle Di Bar meaning the forest of Dulla Bhatti. This legendary Rajput hero is said to be buried at Miani Sahib Qabristan (Graveyard) in Lahore
, Punjab
, Pakistan
. The town Dullewala
(Bhakkar District
) is named after him, being the place where Dulla Bhatti where was sheltered by with his allies. According to one version of events, recounted in the twentieth century by Ghulam Mohammad Rulia of Taran Taran in the Faisalabad district after independence, and compiled by Ahmad Saleem for the National Council of the Arts and the Folklore Research Centre, Islamabad, Dulla's rebellion was sparked when Akbar had his father and grandfather hanged. Dulla himself was hanged, and the site of his execution is still remembered as the "Itwar Bazaar"(Sunday Market).
in "SandalWal", in modern day Pindi Bhattian
, now in Pakistan (Sandal Bar
). The people of this area were known to provide stiff opposition to marauders. Mahmud of Ghazni
had carried out one special campaign to subdue the warrior Bhatti Rajputs of Sandal Bar
. His grandfather Rai Sandal Khan was a tribal chief and head of all the rajputs of the area, and held nearly all the tract of that bar stretching from modern day Hafizabad
up to Multan
border. His family was directly descended from Rawal Jaisal Singh who founded "The Golden City" of Jaisalmer
. Even Babur makes a mention of the resistance offered to him by these chivalrous tribals in his autobiography Baburnama
. In due course of time, the Mughals had consolidated their hold over the entire country but dominance of the region lying between the Chenab and Ravi eluded them. Many people of this area refused paid any taxes, openly defied the authorities and indulged in looting the royal caravans and treasures. A chief protagonist of such activities was Rai Sandal Khan Bhatti, e Raja and tribal chief of the area. Dulla's family ruled the area of "Sandal Bar" from 1332 A.D, like their ancestors Dulla also continued to do the same and even extended up his state to modern day Bhakkar
district,he had complete control over the territory and it was ruled by Bhatti Rajputs under him. He(Dulla) following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, waged a guerrilla warfare against the Mughal Empire
.According to his mother Laddhi, Dulla was a Lion .He refused to accept the legitimacy of Mughal King Akbar and refused to pay any tax. When Akbar came to Lahore
, he ordered the execution of the rebels.Legend has it that to instill fear into the hearts of the common man, Akbar got their skins stuffed with wheat husk (ਤੂੜੀ, توڑی) and hung the dead-bodies on the main door.
Dulla wasn’t even born yet. For some reason, he was never told of the cause of his father’s and grandfather’s death until he was a young man.
The story of Dulla has been poetically treated by many, and has been written in style known as Saddaan (similar to Mirza
by Peelu and Bhagwan Singh
). The above incident is thus narrated:
Tera sandal dada maareya, ditta bhore vich paa,
Mughlaan puthhiyaan khallaan laah ke bhariyaan naal hawaa.
In the Chardah (East) Punjab-now India-during the Lohri bonfires that mark the end of the deep winter and the start of spring (Capricorn Constellation-Makar appears over the horizon) all the Sikh and Hindu families mark Dulla Bhatti's social and humanitarian contribution made to rescue and then reintegrate the abducted children and girls from the Mughal forces. The Lohri Song is sung upon the birth of a baby boy- for the agricultural community this marks continuation of the family land occupation.
Salim instigated Dulla further to achieve his own motive as well. With Salim’s support, Dulla built up a small army which made loots from the imperial treasure and merchants in the area of Sandal Bar
. The famous loots among them being stealing horses from a merchant who was supposed to be working for the Akbar, then robbing Akbar’s gifts sent from the Middle East. His loots were distributed among the poor and this made him a popular and a heroic rebel. His compassion for the poor and his help in getting poor girls married is still remembered, especially during the times of celebrating the festival of Lohri (mostly falls on 13 January).
Seeing so much support for his nephew, Dulla’s uncle Jalaludin, got envious and complained to Akbar against the mischievous Dulla.Legendary stories are associated with the brave Dulla Bhatti. He used to rob rich to help the poor and needy. It is believed that Dulla had restored the prestige of an innocent girl whose modesty was outraged by a Mughal general. There are various versions of the actual story. Some traditions say that Dulla had adopted this girl as his daughter and arranged her marriage in the Jungles of Sandal Bar
.
Shah Hussein responded, “You will be nailed before causing any trouble to me.”
Ali Malik had to report to Akbar and tell him last words of Dulla Bhatti after it was over. “Dulla Bhatti kept calling names and abusing you,” Ali Malik reported to Akbar who was infuriated with Ali Malik on repeating every thing exactly. Akbar ordered Ali Malik to be nailed.
Order of the King was implemented the same evening.
Shah Hussain approved Dulla's revolt against Akbar as,
Kahay Hussain Faqeer Sain Da
Takht Na Milday Mungay.
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
hero of the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, who led a rebellion against the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
emperor Akbar. Such was the level of resistance put up by Rai Abdullah Khan that Akbar had to shift his capital from Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
for nearly 20 years, making the Lahore Fort
Lahore Fort
The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila is citadel of the city of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Walled City of Lahore...
his headquarters, and renovating its basic structure. There is an epic
Epic poetry
An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
in the Punjabi language
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
called Dulle Di Vaar
Vaar
The var, in Punjabi poetry, is a heroic ode or ballad which generally narrates legend such as stories of Punjabi folk heroes or a historical event. Examples of the former including ballads narrating the feats of Dulha Bhatti and Raja Rasalu, whereas examples of the latter might include Najabat's...
(Ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
), which narrates the battle events of Dulla Bhatti, and a region in the Pakistani Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
called Dulle Di Bar meaning the forest of Dulla Bhatti. This legendary Rajput hero is said to be buried at Miani Sahib Qabristan (Graveyard) in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The town Dullewala
Dullewala
Dullewala is an old town of Bhakkar District in Punjab, Pakistan. It has a population of over 50,000, most of whom are agri-dependent. Saraiki is the dominant language.-Education:*Govt. Degree College DulleWala*Govt. Degree College College for Women...
(Bhakkar District
Bhakkar District
Bhakkar is a District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The district was created in 1981 with Bhakkar city as the capital. It is located between 31° 10' and 32° 22' N. and 70° 47' and 72° E. with an area of , most of it lies in the desolate plain of the Thal, but the Kachhi or strip of...
) is named after him, being the place where Dulla Bhatti where was sheltered by with his allies. According to one version of events, recounted in the twentieth century by Ghulam Mohammad Rulia of Taran Taran in the Faisalabad district after independence, and compiled by Ahmad Saleem for the National Council of the Arts and the Folklore Research Centre, Islamabad, Dulla's rebellion was sparked when Akbar had his father and grandfather hanged. Dulla himself was hanged, and the site of his execution is still remembered as the "Itwar Bazaar"(Sunday Market).
Early days
Dulla Bhatti was born as Abdullah Khan Bhatti in a Muslim Rajput family to Ladhi and Rai Farid Khan Bhatti, and grandson of Rai Sandal Khan Bhatti in the area of Sandal BarSandal Bar
The Sandal Bar is a region between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the Rechna Doab. It spreads over almost 80 km in width and 40 km in length . "Bar", in the local language, means a forested area where there are no resources for cultivation, like water...
in "SandalWal", in modern day Pindi Bhattian
Pindi Bhattian
Pindi Bhattian is an administrative sub-division Pindi Bhattian Tehsil and an historic city of Hafizabad District. It is the city of Bhatti family. Dulla Bhatti was the famous person of Pindi Bhattian....
, now in Pakistan (Sandal Bar
Sandal Bar
The Sandal Bar is a region between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the Rechna Doab. It spreads over almost 80 km in width and 40 km in length . "Bar", in the local language, means a forested area where there are no resources for cultivation, like water...
). The people of this area were known to provide stiff opposition to marauders. Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud of Ghazni , actually ', was the most prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid dynasty who ruled from 997 until his death in 1030 in the eastern Iranian lands. Mahmud turned the former provincial city of Ghazni into the wealthy capital of an extensive empire which covered most of today's Iran,...
had carried out one special campaign to subdue the warrior Bhatti Rajputs of Sandal Bar
Sandal Bar
The Sandal Bar is a region between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the Rechna Doab. It spreads over almost 80 km in width and 40 km in length . "Bar", in the local language, means a forested area where there are no resources for cultivation, like water...
. His grandfather Rai Sandal Khan was a tribal chief and head of all the rajputs of the area, and held nearly all the tract of that bar stretching from modern day Hafizabad
Hafizabad
Hafizabad is a city and tehsil of Hafizabad District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is situated at 32° 4′ N. and 73° 41′ E.- History :...
up to Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
border. His family was directly descended from Rawal Jaisal Singh who founded "The Golden City" of Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
. Even Babur makes a mention of the resistance offered to him by these chivalrous tribals in his autobiography Baburnama
Baburnama
Bāburnāma is the name given to the memoirs of Ẓahīr ud-Dīn Muḥammad Bābur , founder of the Mughal Empire and a great-great-great-grandson of Timur...
. In due course of time, the Mughals had consolidated their hold over the entire country but dominance of the region lying between the Chenab and Ravi eluded them. Many people of this area refused paid any taxes, openly defied the authorities and indulged in looting the royal caravans and treasures. A chief protagonist of such activities was Rai Sandal Khan Bhatti, e Raja and tribal chief of the area. Dulla's family ruled the area of "Sandal Bar" from 1332 A.D, like their ancestors Dulla also continued to do the same and even extended up his state to modern day Bhakkar
Bhakkar
Bhakkar is the principal city of Bhakkar District, Punjab, Pakistan. It lies on the left bank of the Indus river. It has a population of almost 300,000 and was given status of district in 1981.-Administration:...
district,he had complete control over the territory and it was ruled by Bhatti Rajputs under him. He(Dulla) following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, waged a guerrilla warfare against the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
.According to his mother Laddhi, Dulla was a Lion .He refused to accept the legitimacy of Mughal King Akbar and refused to pay any tax. When Akbar came to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, he ordered the execution of the rebels.Legend has it that to instill fear into the hearts of the common man, Akbar got their skins stuffed with wheat husk (ਤੂੜੀ, توڑی) and hung the dead-bodies on the main door.
Dulla wasn’t even born yet. For some reason, he was never told of the cause of his father’s and grandfather’s death until he was a young man.
The story of Dulla has been poetically treated by many, and has been written in style known as Saddaan (similar to Mirza
Mirza
Mirza , is of Persian origin, denoting the rank of a high nobleman or Prince. It is usually translated into English as a royal or imperial Prince of the Blood...
by Peelu and Bhagwan Singh
Bhagwan Singh
Captain Bhagwan Singh was an Indian diplomat, army officer, and administrator, who served as High Commissioner of India to Fiji, and subsequent to his retirement was prominent in Jat causes.- Childhood :...
). The above incident is thus narrated:
Tera sandal dada maareya, ditta bhore vich paa,
Mughlaan puthhiyaan khallaan laah ke bhariyaan naal hawaa.
In the Chardah (East) Punjab-now India-during the Lohri bonfires that mark the end of the deep winter and the start of spring (Capricorn Constellation-Makar appears over the horizon) all the Sikh and Hindu families mark Dulla Bhatti's social and humanitarian contribution made to rescue and then reintegrate the abducted children and girls from the Mughal forces. The Lohri Song is sung upon the birth of a baby boy- for the agricultural community this marks continuation of the family land occupation.
Rise of Dulla
As Dulla grew up he became a real fighter and warrior learning the art with his keen eye from here and there as he was the tribal chief and hereditary raja of the rajputs, unknowingly in the foot-steps of his father and grandfather. When he was young enough, his mother told him the about the past and from then on Dulla pledged that his only purpose in life was to defeat Akbar and kill him. In the meantime, Salim had a fall out with Akbar over Salim’s love affair with Anarkali. Salim rebelled and came up North-west and met up with Dulla.Salim instigated Dulla further to achieve his own motive as well. With Salim’s support, Dulla built up a small army which made loots from the imperial treasure and merchants in the area of Sandal Bar
Sandal Bar
The Sandal Bar is a region between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the Rechna Doab. It spreads over almost 80 km in width and 40 km in length . "Bar", in the local language, means a forested area where there are no resources for cultivation, like water...
. The famous loots among them being stealing horses from a merchant who was supposed to be working for the Akbar, then robbing Akbar’s gifts sent from the Middle East. His loots were distributed among the poor and this made him a popular and a heroic rebel. His compassion for the poor and his help in getting poor girls married is still remembered, especially during the times of celebrating the festival of Lohri (mostly falls on 13 January).
Seeing so much support for his nephew, Dulla’s uncle Jalaludin, got envious and complained to Akbar against the mischievous Dulla.Legendary stories are associated with the brave Dulla Bhatti. He used to rob rich to help the poor and needy. It is believed that Dulla had restored the prestige of an innocent girl whose modesty was outraged by a Mughal general. There are various versions of the actual story. Some traditions say that Dulla had adopted this girl as his daughter and arranged her marriage in the Jungles of Sandal Bar
Sandal Bar
The Sandal Bar is a region between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the Rechna Doab. It spreads over almost 80 km in width and 40 km in length . "Bar", in the local language, means a forested area where there are no resources for cultivation, like water...
.
Dulla Bhatti and Shah Hussain
Maulvi Noor Ahmad Chishti narrates an incident about Shah Hussein Lahori in his Tehqiqat-e-Chishtia. Dulla Bhatti never approved of Mughals and remained active against them. Mughal King Akbar got hold of him and ordered to death. Dulla Bhatti was to be hanged publicly near Nela Gumbad or some place around Landa Bazaar in Lahore. Lahore Kotwal (Police Chief) Ali Malik was supervising the execution where Lahorites had flocked in large number. Shah Hussein had affiliations with Dullah Bhatti and agued with the Police Chief. Ali Malik threatened Shah Hussein saying, “I will get you nailed before evening.”Shah Hussein responded, “You will be nailed before causing any trouble to me.”
Ali Malik had to report to Akbar and tell him last words of Dulla Bhatti after it was over. “Dulla Bhatti kept calling names and abusing you,” Ali Malik reported to Akbar who was infuriated with Ali Malik on repeating every thing exactly. Akbar ordered Ali Malik to be nailed.
Order of the King was implemented the same evening.
Shah Hussain approved Dulla's revolt against Akbar as,
Kahay Hussain Faqeer Sain Da
Takht Na Milday Mungay.