Khan Fateh Khan Barech
Encyclopedia
Fateh Khan Barech
was the son of Aslam Khan, the ruler of Qila Bust, also known as Kalabus, in the modern Helmand Province of Afghanistan
. After political differences with his father, he started his journey toward India with sixty companions.
His first stay was at Shorawak (Qandahar Province). There he discovered the Pashtun
Tribe known as Tareen
engaged in a battle with their enemies. Fateh Khan joined the Tareens in Hernai via Balochistan
. Together they defeated the enemies. From there, Fateh Khan and his companions moved to Sibi
, and then marched towards Lahore
. They faced strong resistance from Sikhs near Lahore. They continued to Sialkot
.
During this time, King Akbar died and his son Jahangir
became the new King of the Mughal Empire
. Fateh Khan and his band proceeded to Mughal Kot near old Delhi
and captured Gawarian Fort. After capturing the fort, they began to plan the conquest of Delhi, the capital of India.
The Mughal regime intercepted their plans and immediately sent an army to surround the fort in the darkness of night. Early in the morning, Fateh Khan called his companions for advisement. They had 2 options, either to surrender or to fight. All of them opted to fight. After a twelve day siege, they exited the fort and fought the Mughal army. The Mughals failed to conquer the fort. Fateh Khan survived though he was heavily wounded. The next day he attacked the Mughal Army again. He and his remaining companions then met their end.
The Mughal force sustained heavy losses to wrest this fort from only sixty Barech Afghans.
King Jahangir, inspired by their bravery, renamed the town of 'Mughal Kot' as 'Fateh Pur'.
Fateh Khan and most of his companions are buried there.
Barech
Bareach are a Durrani Pashtun tribe found almost exclusively in the district of Shorawak in southern Kandahar province. There appears to be little ethnographic literature on the Bareach beyond the observations of some 19th and early 20th century British civil and military personnel...
was the son of Aslam Khan, the ruler of Qila Bust, also known as Kalabus, in the modern Helmand Province of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. After political differences with his father, he started his journey toward India with sixty companions.
His first stay was at Shorawak (Qandahar Province). There he discovered the Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
Tribe known as Tareen
Tareen
The Tareen are a prominent Sarbanri Pashtun tribe residing in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. They are one of the largest Pashtun tribes.-History:...
engaged in a battle with their enemies. Fateh Khan joined the Tareens in Hernai via Balochistan
Balochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
. Together they defeated the enemies. From there, Fateh Khan and his companions moved to Sibi
Sibi
Sibi is a city of Balochistan province of Pakistan. The city is located at 29°33'0N 67°52'60E at an altitude of 130 metres and is headquarters of the district and tehsil of the same name.. According to the 2001 census of Pakistan the population of Sibi is 52,100...
, and then marched towards 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...
. They faced strong resistance from Sikhs near Lahore. They continued to Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
.
During this time, King Akbar died and his son Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
became the new King of 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...
. Fateh Khan and his band proceeded to Mughal Kot near old 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...
and captured Gawarian Fort. After capturing the fort, they began to plan the conquest of Delhi, the capital of India.
The Mughal regime intercepted their plans and immediately sent an army to surround the fort in the darkness of night. Early in the morning, Fateh Khan called his companions for advisement. They had 2 options, either to surrender or to fight. All of them opted to fight. After a twelve day siege, they exited the fort and fought the Mughal army. The Mughals failed to conquer the fort. Fateh Khan survived though he was heavily wounded. The next day he attacked the Mughal Army again. He and his remaining companions then met their end.
The Mughal force sustained heavy losses to wrest this fort from only sixty Barech Afghans.
King Jahangir, inspired by their bravery, renamed the town of 'Mughal Kot' as 'Fateh Pur'.
Fateh Khan and most of his companions are buried there.