Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class History Book Solutions Chapter 15 Invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali and Disintegration of Mughal Rule in the Punjab Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 15 Invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali and Disintegration of Mughal Rule in the Punjab
long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Who was Ahmad Shah Abdali? What were the reasons of his Punjab invasions?
Or
Write the main causes of invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab.
Answer:
1. Ambition of Abdali: Ahmad Shah Abdali was a very ambitious ruler. He did not feel contented with his small kingdom of Afghanistan. Hence, he wanted to expand his domain by capturing Punjab and other states of India. In order to fulfill his imperialistic ambition he, first of all, decided to invade Punjab.
2. Enormous wealth of India: In order to establish a powerful empire it was very necessary for Abdali to have great wealth. He could not obtain this wealth from his own kingdom of Afghanistan, as it was economically a very backward region. On the other hand, this wealth could be obtained from India, which was famous in the entire world for its enormous wealth.
3. To consolidate his position in Afghanistan: Ahmad Shah Abdali belonged to an ordinary family. He became the ruler of Afghanistan after killing Nadir Shah in 1747 A.D. Many chieftains opposed him due to this reason. Hence, Ahmad Shah Abdali, in order to, consolidate his position in Afghanistan wanted to invade foreign countries. Through these invasions, he wanted to enhance his honor and status and also win the loyalty of the Afghans.
4. Favourable Political condition of India: After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 A.D. the mighty Mughal empire was rapidly going towards its downfall. The successors of Aurangzeb began to spend most of their time in the company of wine and women. Hence, there was complete anarchy in all directions in his reign. In Punjab, the Sikhs were proving to be an uncontrollable menace for the Mughal subedars. Taking advantage of this situation, Ahmad Shah Abdali decided to invade Punjab.
5. Invitation of Shah Nawaz Khan: In 1745 A.D. after the death of Zakriya Khan, his eldest son Yahiya Khan became the new subedar of Lahore. Shah Nawaz Khan, his younger brother, could not tolerate this. For quite some time, he had been dreaming of becoming the subedar of Lahore. In this situation, Shah Nawaz Khan invited Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India. Abdali was in search of such a golden opportunity. Hence, he decided to attack India.
Question 2.
When and how many times did Ahmad Shad Abdali invade Punjab? Describe any five invasions.
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Punjab eight times between 1747 and 1767 A.D. On the invitation of Shah Nawaz Khan the Governor of Lahore, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Punjab in December 1747 A.D. for the first time. When he reached the Punjab, Shah Nawaz Khan refused to give him co-operation. Abdali defeated Shah Nawaz Khan who fled to Delhi. Muin-ul-Mulk (Mir-Mannu) gave Abdali a crushing defeat in a battle at Manipur. The Mughal emperor was pleased with it and he appointed Mir Mannu the Governor of Lahore. In order to take revenge, Abdali invaded the Punjab second time at the end of 1748 A.D. This time Mir Mannu got no assistance from Delhi, so he was defeated. He made a treaty with Abdali.
According to this treaty, Mannu accepted to pay Abdali 14 lakh annually. As Mannu could not pay the ransom in time, Abdali invaded Punjab for the third time in 1751-52 A.D. Abdali occupied Punjab during this invasion. During his fifth invasion in Punjab, Ahmad Shah Abdali gave a crushing defeat to the Marathas on 14th January, 1761 A.D. in the third battle of Panipat. The sixth invasion of Abdali on Punjab during 1761-62 A.D. was the most famous. During this invasion on February 5, 1762 A.D. Abdali massacred about 25,000 to 30,000 Sikhs at village Kup near Malerkotla. This event is known as the Great Holocaust. In spite of all his efforts, Abdali failed to crush the growing Sikh power.
Question 3.
What do you know about the first invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Or
Write a short note on the Abdali’s first invasion over Punjab.
Answer:
At the invitation of Shah Nawaz Khan, Ahmad Shah Abdali proceeded with his forces towards India in December 1747. Without any resistance he reached Shahdara near Lahore on 8th January 1748. Meanwhile Qamar-ud; Din compromised with Shah Nawaz Khan. As a result Shah Nawaz Khan refused to side with Abdali. This enraged Abdali. By defeating Shah Nawaz Khan on 10th January 1748, he took possession of Lahore. Shah Nawaz Khan fled away to Delhi. After taking possession of Lahore, Abdali plundered it at his will. Then he proceeded for Delhi.
Wazir Qamar-ud-Din advanced with his forces to resist him. In a battle near Sirhind, Qamar-ud-Din was killed. At Manupur on 11th March, 1748 .AD., in a fierce battle Muin-ul-Mulk, son of Qamar-ud-Din, inflicted a crushing defeat on Abdali. Mohammad Shah was pleased over the bravery of Muin-ul-Mulk and made him the Governor of Punjab. He was popularly known as Mir Mannu. Thus, the first invasion of Abdali proved a failure.
Question 4.
Briefly explain the second invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab.
Or
Give a brief account of the seconsd invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali wanted to avenge his defeat in the first invasion. Secondly, he was also aware of the facts that the new Wazir of Delhi, Safdar Jang was jealous of Mir Mannu. Because of this Mir Mannu’s position was unstable. Owing to these reasons Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Punjab for the second time in 1748 A.D. Mir Mannu too advanced to face Abdali. In the absence of any help from Delhi, Mir Mannu’s defeat seemed certain. So he signed a pact with Abdali. According to this pact Mir Mannu agreed to pay the annual tribute of Char Mahals (four districts) Sialkot, Pasrur, Gujarat and Aurangabad to Abdali.
The annual revenue of these districts was to the tune of Rs. 14 lakhs. When Mir Mannu was busy with Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Sikhs under the leadership of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia plundered Lahore.
Question 5.
Throw light on the third invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab.
Answer:
There was a great disturbance in Punjab owing to the rampages of the Sikhs and the revolt of Nassir Khan against Mir Mannu. As a result Mir Mannu could not send 14 lakh rupees as annual tribute to Ahmad Shah Abdali. So Abdali invaded Punjab for the third time in November 1751 A.D. Mir Mannu sent Abdali 8 lakh rupees and promised to pay the remaining amount of 6 lakh later on. However, this did not satisfy Abdali and he darted towards Lahore with his forces. When the people of Lahore heard this news, many of them ran away from Lahore in order to escape Abdali’s loot and cruelties. After reaching Lahore, Abdali looted for 3 months. It is said that, no lamp was lighted at night in any house.
All this while Mir Mannu had been waiting for any kind of help from Delhi. A fierce battle was fought between the forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali and Mir Mannu near Lahore on 6th March, 1752 A.D. In this battle Diwan Kaura Mai was killed and Mir Mannu was arrested. Abdali was so greatly impressed by the boldness of Mir Mannu that he appointed him the Governor of Punjab.
Question 6.
Explain the fourth invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
After the death of Mir Mannu in 1753 A.D., his widow Mughlani Begum became the Governor of Punjab. She was a lady with loose character. It caused disturbance in the whole Punjab. On the orders of new Mughal emperor Alamgir II, Mughlani Begum was arrested and brought to Delhi where she was thrown into the prison. Adina Beg was appointed the new Governor of Punjab. From the prison the Mughlani Begum revealed many important secrets through letters to Abdali. Besides, Abdali could not tolerate the appointment of any Mughal Governor over Punjab.
So Abdali invaded Punjab in November 1756 A.D. for the fourth time. On hearing the news of Abdali’s invasion Adina Beg fled to Delhi without putting up any resistance. Abdali made his son Taimur Shah the Governor of Punjab. A fierce battle was fought near Amritsar between the Afghans and the Sikhs. In this battle, the Sikh leader Baba Deep Singh Ji displayed unparalleled heroism but was ultimately martyred. To avenge his martyrdom the Sikhs plundered Lahore.
Question 7.
Write a note on the third battle of Panipat.
Answer:
The third battle of Panipat was fought between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali on January 14, 1761 A.D. The reason was that both the powers wanted to establish their foothold in North India. In 1758 A.D., the Marathas had defeated Taimur Shah, the son of Abdali and Governor of the Punjab and occupied the Punjab. It was a challenge to Ahmad Shah Abdali’s power. So he invaded in 1759 A.D. and seized Punjab. After that he advanced to Delhi.
A pitched battle took place between the Marathas and Abdali in Panipat. Sada Shiv Rao Bhau was leading the Marathas in this battle. The Marathas faced a crushing defeat and also suffered heavy loss of life and property in this battle. As a result of this battle, the Marathas suffered grievous blow while the Sikhs got a chance to consolidate their power in the Punjab.
Question 8.
What were the results of the third battle of Panipat?
Answer:
The Third Battle of Panipat is considered as an important and decisive one in the History of India.
1. Great tragedy for the Marathas : The Third Battle of Panipat proved to be a big disaster for the Marathas. In this battle 28,000 Maratha soldiers were killed and a large number were wounded. It is said that there was no house in Maharashtra from which’a family member had not been killed in this war. Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao could not bear this insulting defeat and soon bade farewell to this world.
2. Severe blow to the Maratha Power and Prestige : Prior to the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas were considered as ope of the primary powers of India. But the defeat in this battle dealt a severe blow to their power and prestige. As a consequence, the Maratha dream of establishing a Hindu empire in India, vanished.
3. End of Maratha Unity : The Third Battle of Panipat dealt a severe blow to the Maratha prestige and led to the end of the Maratha unity. As a result,„ they got entangled in petty differences and fights amongst themselves. Besides, in this battle nearly all the important Maratha leaders had been killed. As a result, selfish and wicked leaders like Ragoba got a chance to put his wicked plans in operation.
4. Rise of the Sikh Power in Punjab : Ahmad Shah Abdali had ended the Mughal rule in Punjab in 1752 A.D. In the Third Battle of Panipat, he crushed the power of the Marathas. As a result, Punjab was lost for ever to the Marathas. Now only two powers were left in Punjab Afghans and the Sikhs to establish their sovereignty. This is how, the rise of the Sikhs in Punjab was facilitated. They defeated the Afghans and established their own rule in Punjab.
5. Rise of the British Power in India : In order to establish their empire in India, the British faced the greatest challenge from the Marathas. The defeat of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat cleared the way for the establishment of the British authority in India. Slowly, the British became the main power in India.
Question 9.
Write a short note on Wada Ghallughara (Second Bloody Carnage).
Or
Explain the sixth invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
The Wada Ghallughara was a very tragic event of Sikh history. The Sikhs had many regions of the Punjab under their control in 1761 A.D. Besides, they had started plundering many other areas also. The Sikhs had also defeated the Governor of Punjab Khwaja Ubaid Khan, appointed by Ahmad Shah Abdali. Abdali could never tolerate the growing influence of the Sikhs, so he invaded the Punjab for the 6th time at the end of 1761 A.D. He easily took control of Lahore. After that Abdali suddenly surrounded the Sikhs at village Kup near Malerkotla on February 5, 1762 A.D.
In this surprise attack 25 to 30 thousand Sikhs were killed. This event is known in Sikh history as Wada Ghallughara. Abdali became very happy over the heavy loss of life of the Sikhs. He thought that it would break the backbone of the Sikh power, but his assessment proved wrong. The Sikhs with redoubled vigour attacked the forces of Abdali. The Sikhs captured Sirhind in 1764 A.D., Lahore in 1765 A.D. and declared their independence.
Question 10.
How did the Sikhs organise their power in their battles against the Afghans?
Answer:
In their battles against the Afghans, the Sikhs had organised themselves in Jathas (regiments). Their unflinching faith in Guru Granth Sahib and Sikh Panth helped in uniting them. Gurmatas were passed through Sarbat Khalsa in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib. All the Sikhs’obeyed these Gurmatas with great respect. A Commander-in-Chief of these Jathas was appointed through Gurmata and all the Sikhs fought against their-enemy under his command. ‘Raj v Karega Khalsa’ had become a belief with every Sikh. Ahmad Shah Abdali could not pay attention to the Sikhs for many years. The Governors appointed by him also could not suppress the Sikhs. In this way, the Sikhs organised themselves as a force against the Afghans.
Question 11.
What were the causes of failure of Ahmad Shah Abdali against the Sikhs? Write any five main reasons.
Or
What were the five causes of failure of Ahmad Shah Abdali against the Sikhs?
Answer:
1. Tenacity of the Sikhs : One of the significant causes of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s failure was the strong determination of the Sikhs. They had unflinching faith in Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s proclamation, ‘Raj Karega Khalsa.’ (The ‘Chalsa will rule). In the Great Holocaust 25,000 to 30,000 Sikhs were massacred. Despite this, the Sikhs remained in high spirits. It was not an easy task to defe r community.
2. Guerilla tactics of War : The guerilla tactics of war adopted was one of the n,ain causes responsible for their success and Ahmad She failure. Whenever Ahmad Shah Abdali proceeded against the Sikhs with his huge army, the Sikhs immediately took shelter in forests and hills and finding a suitable opportunity, the Sikhs would strike Abdali’s soldiers, inflict heavy losses on them and then escape to their hiding places. Abdali could not cope with the guerilla tactics of the Sikhs.
3. Non-Cooperation of the people of the Punjab : Another significant cause of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s defeat was that he could not secure the support of the people of the Punjab. Due to his repeated invasions and plundering, an atmosphere of anarchy and lawlessness prevailed in the Punjab. Abdali not only robbed the people of their wealth, but also killed thousands of innocent persons. Their houses and fields were set on fire and their women were maltreated and dishonoured. As a result, the Punjabis had no sympathy for this ruthless invader.
4. Character of the Sikhs : The character of the Sikhs also proved to be an important factor for the failure of Ahmad Shah Abdali. They never attacked any unarmed or fleeing soldier in the battlefield. They gave full respect to women and children, even if they belonged to their enemy. Because of these qualities, the Sikhs became popular with the Punjabis. So, the success of the Sikhs under these circumstances, was no wonder.
5. Capable leaders of the Sikhs : Another significant cause of the victory of the Sikhs against Ahmad Shah Abdali was their able leaders. These leaders led the Sikhs ably and wisely in difficult times. Prominent among these leaders were Nawab Kapoor Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Charat Singh Sukarchakia, Ala Singh and Lehna Singh Bhangi.
Question 12.
Describe any five important effects of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions over Punjab.
Answer:
1. End of the Mughal Rule in the Punjab : The first great impact of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasion on Punjab was that the Mughalrule in the Punjab came to an end. Mir Mannu was the last Mughal Governor of Punjab. Abdali took possession of the Punjab and annexed it to his Afghan empire. Abdali too had nominated Mir Mannu as the Governor of Punjab on his behalf. The Mughals tried to recapture Punjab but Abdali frustrated their efforts.
2. Rise of the Sikh Power : In the 18th century a struggle for supremacy was going on among four powers namely Mughals, Afghans, Marathas and the Sikhs. As a result of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions, the Mughal and the Maratha powers in the Punjab came to an end. Now this tussle for the possession of the Punjab was left between the two powers i.e. the Afghans and the Sikhs. The Sikhs had got on the nerves of the Afghans by their guerilla warfare. In the Great Holocaust of 1762 A.D., Abdali massacred thousands of Sikhs but could not dampen their spirits. The Sikhs onquered Sirhind in 1764 A.I). and Lahore in 1765 A.D. The Sikhs proclaimed their independence by circulating their own coins.
3. People of Punjab became Brave : As a result of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions, the people of the Punjab became brave and bold because they had to wield weapons for their defence against the invasions and lootings of Ahmad Shah Abdali. They set up glorious examples of bravery in the long-drawn struggle with the AfghAnswer: The Sikhs finally emerged victorious in this struggle.
4. Enmity between the Sikhs and Muslims increased : The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali increased the enmity between the Sikhs and the Muslims. It was because the Afghans always raised the slogan of Jihad (religious war) while fighting against the Sikhs. They committed many atrocities on the Sikhs in the name of Islam. Secondly, by demolishing the most sacred place, Harimandir Sahib of the Sikhs, Abdali turned the Sikhs into his bitter enemies. Owing to these reasons, the gulf between the Sikhs and the Afghans widened.
5. Economic Loss of the Punjab : The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali inflicted great loss on the economy of the Punjab. He robbed Punjab of gold, silver, diamonds and pearls of lakhs and croses of rupees. In fact, almost the whole wealth ‘ of the Punjab was drained off to Afghanistan. Due to the repeated invasions agricultural production was adversely affected. Abdali’s soldiers, while marching, badly damaged the crops of thousands of acres of land. Commerce and industries also felt the pinch of the Afghan invasions.
Question 13.
What were ,the effects of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions on the Sikh struggle for power?
Or
What were the political effects of Abdali’s invasions?
Answer:
The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali had a deep effect on the polity of the Punjab. First of all, the Mughal rule came to an end in Punjab, Abdali annexed the Punjab to Afghanistan in 1752. Secondly, Abdali gave the Marathas a crushing defeat in the third battle of Panipat as result of which the influence of Mafathas ended in Punjab for ever. Thirdly, as a result of continuous attacks of Ahmad Shah Abdali, lawlessness and chaos prevailed in the Punjab. Life and property of the people was not safe.
The government officials exploited the people and justice was to be found nowhere. Fourthly, with the end of Maratha power in Punjab, the Sikhs got an opportunity to consolidate their power. They defeated the forces of Abdali at many places through guerilla warfare. The Sikhs got control over Lahore in 1765 A.D. and declared their independence.
Question 14.
What were the Social effects of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Answer:
1. Increase in the Social Evils : The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali encouraged many evils in the Punjab. The people became selfish and characterless. Theft, robbery, murder, looting, cheating and corruption were the order of the day.
2. People of Punjab became Brave : As a result of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions the people of the Punjab became brave and bold. The reason being that they had to wield weapons for their defence against the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali. They set up glorious examples of bravery in the long drawn struggle with the Afghans.
3. Punjabis became spendthrift: Punjabis’ character underwent a significant change as a result of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions. They became spendthrift. The reason was that Abdali invariably carried money to Afghanistan which he looted from the people during his invasions. This adage became very common at that time :
“Khadha Pita lahe da, Rehnda Ahmad Shahe da.” Whatever you eat and drink is yours, the rest belongs to Ahmad Shah Abdali.
4. Enmity between the Sikhs and Muslims increased : The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali increased the enmity between the Sikhs and the Muslims. It’ was because the Afghans always raised the slogan of Jihad (religious war) while fighting against the Sikhs. Secondly, by demolishing the most sacred place, the Sri Harmandir Sahib of the Sikhs, Abdali turned the Sikhs into his bitter enemies. Owing to these reasons the gulf between the Sikhs and the Afghans widened.
Question 15.
What were the economic consequences of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Answer:
The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali inflicted great loss on the economy of the Punjab. He robbed Punjab of gold, silver, diamonds and pearls worth crores of rupees. In fact, almost the whole wealth of the Punjab was drained off to Afghanistan. Due to the repeated invasions agricultural production was adversely effected. Abdali’s soldiers while marching badly damaged the crops of thousands of acres of land. Commerce and industries also felt the pinch of the Afghan invasions. The sense of insecurity and anarchical conditions impeded the growth of trade in terms of quantum and quality.
Travelling was difficult and unsafe. Therefore, Punjab couldn’t expect much external trade. Moreover, many industrial centres were destroyed by the Afghan forces. It all resulted in the poverty of the people.
Essay Type Questions:
Causes Of Abdali’S Invasions:
Question 1.
What were the causes of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Or
Explain the causes of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Or
What were the causes of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab?
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali was the ruler of Afghanistan. He invaded Punjab eight times from 1747 to 1767 A.D. The following causes were responsible for these invasions:
1. Ambition of Abdali : Ahmad Shah Abdali was a very ambitious ruler. He did not feel contented with his small kingdom of Afghanistan. Hence, he wanted to expand his domain by capturing Punjab and other states of India. In order to fulfil his imperialistic ambition he first of all decided to invade Punjab.
2. Enormous wealth of India: In order to establish a powerful empire it was very necessary for Abdali to have great weatlh. He could not obtain this wealth from his own kingdom of Afghanistan, as economically it was a very backward region. On the other hand, this wealth could be obtained from lndia, which was famous in the entire world for its enormous wealth. In 1739 A.D. when he had come to India with Nadir Shah, he was amazed to see India’s enormous wealth. Nadir Shah While returning from India had taken with him unlimited precious gems, gold and silver etc. Abdali also wanted to invade India and loot its enormous wealth.
3. To consolidate his position in Afghanistan: Ahmad Shah Abdali belonged to an ordinary family. He became the ruler of Afghanistan after killing Nadir Shah in 1747 A.D. Many chieftains opposed him due to this reason. Hence, Ahmad Shah Abdali, in order to, consolidate his position in Afghanistan wanted to invade foreign countries. Through these invasions he wanted to enhance his honour and status and also win the loyalty of the Afghans.
4. Favourable Political condition of India: After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 A.D. the mighty Mughal empire was rapidly going towards its downfall. After Mohammad Shah sat on the throne in 1719 A.D. the situation became even more sombre. Most of his time was spent in the company of wine and women. Hence he became famous by the name ‘Rangeela’ (the colourful). During his reign (1719-48 AD.), the actual reins of his government were in the hands of his ministers, who were always busy plotting against one another. Hence, there was complete anarchy in all directions in his reign. In Punjab, the Sikhs were proving to be an uncontrollable menace for the Mughal subedars. Taking advantage of this situation, Ahmad Shah Abdali decided to invade Punjab.
5. Past Experience of Abdali in India: In 1739 A.D. when Nadir Shah invaded India, Ahmad Shah Abdali was his commander-in-chief. Abdali had at that time made a close study of the political situation of Punjab and Delhi and also of the fighting capability of the Indian Army. He had realised that the Mughal empire was like a castle of sand which could not withstand a strong storm. Hence, after becoming an indepedent ruler, Abdali decided to take advantage of this situation.
6. Invitation of Shah Nawaz Khan : In 1745 A.D. after the death of Zakriya Khan, his eldest son Yahiya Khan became the new subedar of Lahore. Shah Nawaz Khan, his younger brother, could not tolerate this. For quite some time, he had been dreaming of becoming the subedar of Lahore. At the end of the year 1746 A.D. he declared war against Yahiya Khan. This war between the two brothers continued for four months. Shah Nawaz Khan won this battle.
He imprisoned Yahiya Khan and himself became the subedar of Lahore. The Wazir (minister) of Delhi, Qamar- ud-din who was the father-in-law of Yahiya Khan could not toleratq this. At his instigation, Muhammad Shah Rangeela refused to accept Shah Nawaz Khan as the subedar of Lahore. In this situation, Shah Nawaz Khan invited Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India. Abdali was in search of such a golden opportunity. Hence, he decided to attack India.
Invasions Of Abdall:
Question 2.
Give a brief account of Ahmad Shah Abdalf s invasions over Punjab.
Answer:
Ahmad Shah was the ruler of Afghanistan. He invaded Punjab eight times during his rule from 1747 to 1767 A.D. A brief description of these invasions is given below :
1. First Invasion of Abdali 1747-48 A.D.: On the invitation of Shah Nawaz, Khan Ahmad Shah Abdali proceeded with his forces towards India in December 1747 A.D. Without any resistance, he reached Shahdara near Lahore on 8th January 1748 A.D.. Meanwhile Qamar-ud-Din compromised with Shah Nawaz Khan. As a result, Shah Nawaz Khan refused to side with Abdali. This enraged Abdali. By defeating Shah Nawaz Khan on 10th January 1748 A.D., he tpok possession of Lahore. Shah Nawaz Khan fled to Delhi. After taking possession of Lahore, Abdali plundered it at his will. Then, he proceeded for Delhi.
Wazir Qamar-ud-Din advanced with his forces to resist him. In a battle near Sirhind, Qamar-ud-Din was killed. At Manupur on 11th March, 1748 A.D. in a fierce battle Muin-ul- Mulk, son of Qamar-ud-Din, inflicted a crushing defeat on Abdali. Mohammad Shah was pleased over the bravery of Muin-ul-Mulk and made him the Governor of Punjab. He was popularly known as Mir Mannu. Taking advantage of the anarchy prevalent in the country, the Sikhs of Punjab had begun to consolidate their power.
2. Second Invasion of Abdali 1748-49 A.D.: Ahmad Shah Abdali wanted to avenge his defeat in the first invasion. So, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Punjab for the second time in 1748 A.D. Mir Mannu too, advanced to face Abdali. In the absence
of any help from Delhi, Mir Mannu’s defeat seemed certain. So, he signed a pact with Abdali. According to this pact, Mir Mannu agreed to pay the annual tribute of Char Mahals (four districts) Sialkot, Pasrur, Gujarat and Aurangabad to Abdali. The annual revenue of these districts was to the tune of Rs. 14 lakhs.
3. Third Invasion of Abdali 1751-52 A.D.: There was a great disturbance in Punjab owing to the rampages of the Sikhs and the revolt of Nassir Khan against Mir Mannu. As a result Mir Mannu could not send 14 lakh rupees, the annual revenue to Ahmad Shah Abdali. So, Abdali invaded Punjab for the third time in November 1751 A.D. Mir Mannu sent Abdali 8 lakh rupees and promised to pay the remaining amount of 6 lakh later on. However, this did not satisfy Abdali and he darted towards Lahore with his forces. When the people of Lahore heard this news, many of them ran away from Lahore, in order to escape Abdali’s loot and cruelties.
After reaching Lahore, Abdali looted Lahore for 3 months. It is said that no lamp was lighted at night in any house. All this, while Mir Mannu had been waiting for some kind of help from Delhi.
A fierce battle was fought between the forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali and Mir Mannu near Lahore on 6th March, 1752 A.D. In this battle Diwan Kaura Mai was killed and Mir Mannu was arrested. Next day Mir Mannu was brought before Ahmad Shah Abdali. Abdali was greatly impressed by the boldness of Mir Mannu. So, he not only forgave Mir Mannu but also made him the Governor of Punjab. In this way, Abdali annexed Punjab to his empire in 1752 A.D.
4. Fourth Invasion of Abdali 1756-57 A.D.: After the death of Mir Mannu in 1753 A.D., his widow Mughlani Begum became the Governor of Punjab. On the orders of new Mughal emperor, Alamgir II, Mughlani Begum was arrested and thrown into prison. Adina Beg was appointed the new Governor of Punjab. Abdali could not tolerate the appointment of any Mughal Governor over Punjab. So, Abdali invaded Punjab in November 1756 A.D. for the fourth time. On hearing the news of Abdali’s invasion Adina Beg fled to Delhi without putting up any resistance. Then, Abdali planned to attack Delhi. In the meanwhile the Sikhs had grown in strength in Punjab. They raided the forces of Abdali and looted much of his booty. Abdali decided to settle his scores with the Sikhs on his return from Delhi.
Ahmad Shah Abdali reached Delhi in January 1757 A.D. and caused great havoc. Afterwards, he looted Mathura and Brindaban. On reaching Punjab, he made his son Timur Shah, the Governor of Punjab. He ordered Timur Shah to teach the Sikhs a lesson for their activities. In order to crush the power of the Sikhs, he sent an army to Amritsar under the command of Jahan Khan. A fierce battle was fought near Amritsar between the Afghans and the Sikhs. In this battle, the Sikh leader Baba Deep Singh Ji displayed unparalleled heroism. As tradition goes, he continued to fight the enemy even after his head was severed. He breathed his las after reaching Harimandir Sahib on November 11, 1757 A.D. The lom of Baba Deep Singh Ji infused a new spirit among the Sikhs. In the 1 Gurbaksh Singh,
“The martyrdom of Baba Deep Singh Ji and his associates shocked the whole Sikh nation. They determined to retaliate with vengeance.”
5. Fifth Invasion of Abdali 1759-61 A.D. : In 1758 A D., the Sikhs in collaboration with the Marathas drove out Taimur Shah from the Punjab. So Abdali wanted to teach a lesson to the Sikhs and the Marathas. With this objective, Abdali invaded Punjab in October 1759 A.D. Abdali, defeated a famous Maratha leader, Duttaji, at Taraori near Ambala. Swiftly he captured Delhi. Here Abdali stayed for a year. When the news of Maratha’s consecutive defeats reached their Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, he sent a large army under the command of Sada Shiv Rao Bha’u to resist Ahmad Shah Abdali. A fierce battle known as Third Battle of Panipat was fought on 14th January, 1761 A.D. between the two armies.
In this battle Abdali caused much havoc to the Maratha army. Consequently, the power of the Marathas suffered a heavy set-back in the Punjab. Ahmad Shah Abdali could do no harm to the Sikh power. At night when Abdalih soldiers were resting, the Sikhs would suddenly attack them and make away with their treasures. This time Abdali was taking away with him a large number of women from India. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia made a sudden attack and got many women released from Abdali’s captivity and sent them to their homes. In this way Jassa Singh Ahluwalia gave proof of his bravery.
6. Sixth Invasion of Abdali 1762 A.D.: After Ahmad Shah Abdali had returned to Afghanistan, the Sikhs intensified their activities. In order to teach a lesson to the Sikhs he invaded for the sixth time in 1762 A.D. He made a surprise attack on the Sikhs at village Kup on 5th February, 1762 A.D. At that time the Sikhs were taking their families to some safe place. Their arms and rations were lying at village Garma, which was at a distance of 6 kilometres from there. The Sikhs while forming a safety circle around their women and children started resisting Abdali’s soldiers. The Sikhs suffered heavy losses in the battle for want of arms. In this battle 25,000 to 30,000 Sikhs were massacred. This loss was too jnuch for the Sikhs. That is why this incident is known as Wadda Ghallughara (Great Holocaust) in the Sikh history.
Though the Sikhs had suffered a great loss they had not lost their courage. The Sikhs attacked Kasur in 1763 A.D., and ransacked it. A fierce battle was fpught between the forces of the Sikhs and of Zain Khan, the Governor of Sirhind, on 14th January, 1764 A.D. In this battle Zain Khan was killed.-After this the Sikhs plundered Sirhind and thoroughly destroyed it.
7. Other Invasions of Abdali 1764-67 AD. : Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Punjab for the seventh times in 1764-65 A.D. and the eighth times in 1766-67 A.D. These invasions of Abdali were of no significance. Infact, he failed to crush the power of the Sikhs. During this time the Sikhs had occupied Lahore in 1765 A.D. The Sikhs issued their coins and declared their independence.
The Third Battle of Panipat:
Question 3.
Discuss the causes, events and results of the Third Battle of Panipat.
Or
Discuss the causes, events and results of the Third Battle of Panipat.
Or
What were the causes of the Third Battle of Panipat? Briefly describe the consequences of this battle.
Or
Describe the causes and consequences of the Third Battle of Panipat.
Or
Discuss the causes and events of the Third Battle of Panipat.
Answer:
On 14 January, 1761 A.D. the Third Battle of Panipat took place between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali. It had far reaching consequences on the history of Punjab.
(A) Causes of the Third Battle of Panipat
A brief description of the causes responsible for the Third Battle of Panipat is given below:
1. Plunder of Ruhelkhand by the Marathas: The Ruhelas ruled Ruhelkhand. The Marathas defeated them and forced them to flee from Ruhelkhand. Then Marathas indulged in plunder and loot. The Ruhelas were Afghans and hence were clans of Ahmad Shah. Consequently, they invited Ahmad Shah to avenge this insult to the Afghan race. Abdali immediately accepted the invitation.
2. Policy of establishing Hindu Kingdom by the Marathas: The Marathas were consistently increasing their power. Encouraged by this, the Peshwas declared the establishment of a Hindu empire in India. Then the Muslim Kingdom in India was in grave danger. Hence these kingdoms encouraged Abdali to suppress the Marathas.
3. Lack of unity among the Hindus : The Jjits and the Rajputs who were Hindus, were jealous of growth of the Maratha power in India. The main reason for this was that they themselves wanted to establish their own supremacy in India. Abdali considered this disunity among the Hindus as a golden opportunity to. gain control over India.
4. Occupation of Delhi and Punjab by Marathas : During his previous invasions of India, Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1752 A.D. had established his supremacy over Punjab and in 1756 A.D. over Delhi. In Punjab, he had appointed his son Taimur Shah and in Delhi the Ruhela leader Najib-ud-Daula as his representatives. The Marathas occupied Delhi in 1757 A.D. and Punjab in 1758 A.D. Both these victories of the Marathas were a challenge to the power of Ahmed Shah Abdali. Hence, to establish his honour and supremacy, it became important for him to fight with the Marathas.
(B) Events of the Third Battle of Panipat
At the end of 1759 A.D. Abdali attacked India. First of all, he established control over Punjab. He, then, advanced towards Delhi. The Marathas tried to stop him on the way, but they were unsuccessful. When Balaji Baji Rao got the news of these events, he sent a huge army towards north India. The actual reins of control of this army were in the hands of Sadashiv Eao Bhau. The Peshwa even sent his son Vishwas Rao to help him. The command of the artillery of this army was given to Ibrahim Gardi. Due to Marathas’ improper policies, the Rajputs and the Sikhs of Punjab were already angry with them. That is why at this moment of crisis they did not lend them their support.
The Jat leader, Surajmal advised Sadashiv Rao Bhau to use guerilla warfare methods against Abdali. But he did not accept this wise advice. Surajmal along with his 10,000 soldiers declined to support the Marathas. As a result the Marathas were left with only 45,000 soldiers. On the other hand Ahmad Shah Abdali had 60,000 soldiers under him. Out of these nearly half the soldiers had been sent by the Nawab of Oudh, Shiyaud-Daula and by the Ruhela sardar Najib-ud-daula to support Abdali. Both these armies reached the region of Panipat in November 1760 A.D. For nearly two and a half months neither of these two had the courage to attack.
On 14 January, 1761 A.D. the Marathas attacked the army of Abdali. This was a fearful battle. At the beginning of the battle the Marathas seemed to have the odds in their favour. But when Vishwas Rao was killed by a bullet the whole situation was easily reversed. Sadashiv Rao Bhau got down from his elephant to express sorrow. When the Maratha soldiers saw his palanquin empty on the elephant they thought he had also been killed. As a result panic spread amongst the Maratha soldiers. Abdali’s soldiers grabbed this golden opportunity and followed them and caused them heavy losses. Thus Ahmad Shah Abdali became victorious in the Third Battle of Panipat.
(C) Consequences of the Third Battle of Panipat
The Third Battle of Panipat is considered as an important and decisive one in the History of India. .
1. Great tragedy for the Marathas: The Third Battle of Panipat proved to be a big disaster for the Marathas. In this battle 28,000 Maratha soldiers were killed and a large number were wounded. It is said that there was no house in Maharashtra from which a family member had not been killed in this war. Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao could not bear this insulting defeat and soon bade farewell to this world.
2. Severe blow to the Maratha Power and Prestige: Prior to the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas were considered as one of the primary powers of India. But the defeat in this battle dealt a severe blow to their power and prestige. As a consequence, the Maratha dream of establishing a Hindu empire in India, vanished.
3. End of Maratha Unity : The Third Battle of Panipat dealt a severe blow to the Maratha prestige and led to the end of the Maratha unity. As a result, they got entangled in petty differences and fights amongst themselves. Besides, in this battle nearly all the important Maratha leaders had been killed. As a result, selfish and wicked leaders like Ragoba got a chance to put his wicked plans in operation.
4. Rise of the Sikh Power in Punjab : Ahmad Shah Abdali had ended the Mughal rule in Punjab in 1752 A.D. In the Third Battle of Panipat, he crushed the power of the Marathas. As a result, Punjab was lost for ever to the Marathas. Now only two powers were left in Punjab—Afghans and the Sikhs—to establish their
sovereignty. This is how, the rise of the Sikhs in Punjab was facilitated. They defeated the Afghans and established their own rule in Punjab.
5. Rise of the British: Power in India : In order to establish their empire in India, the British faced the greatest challenge from the Marathas. The defeat of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat cleared the way for the establishment of the British authority in India. Slowly, the British became the main power in India. Writing about the consequence of the Third Battle of Panipat, eminent historians P.N. Chopra, T. K. Ravindran and N. Subramanian have said, “The Third Battle of Panipat proved disastrous to the Marathas.”
Question 4.
What were the reasons of failure of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat?
Answer:
There were various causes responsible for the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat. A detailed account of these causes is as follows :
1. Powerful army of the Afghans : One of the principal causes of the defeat of the Marathas in this war was the powerful army of the AfghAnswer: This army was better trained, disciplined and united. Besides this, their artillery was also .very powerful. Hence, the Maratha army could not face them.
2. Able leadership’ of Ahmad Shah Abdali : Ahmad Shah Abdali was an extremely experienced commander. He was included amongst Asia’s greatest commanders. On the other hand, the Maratha commanders Sadashiv Rao Bhau and Vishwas Rao had no experience about the management of war. The defeat of such an army was a matter of no great surprise.
3. Policy of plunder of the Marathas’: Another major cause .of the defeat of the Marathas was that they indulged in terrible plundering of the regions captured by them. Due to this policy the kingdoms of Rajputana, Hyderabad, Awadh, Ruhelkhand and Mysore became their opponents. So, they offered no help to the Marathas, in this moment of crisis. Consequently, the Maratha defeat was a foregone conclusion.
4. Renounced the Guerilla method of warfare : The Marathas belonged to Maharashtra, which-has forests and a mountainous terrain. The Marathas were adept at the method of guerilla warfare. By which they had achieved many amazing victories. But in the Third Battle of Panipat, they discarded this method of guerilla warfare and committed the grave blunder of adopting the policy of direct ground warfare against Abdali. As a result, the Marathas had to face defeat.
5. Co-operation of Muslim States to Abdali : One of the major reasons for Abdali’s victory in this battle’was that he got the support of various Indian Muslim kingdoms like Ruhelkhand and Awadh. This boosted Abdali’s morale and he succeeded in defeating the Marathas.
6. Economic difficulties of the Marathas : The economic difficulties of the Marathas was another main reason for the defeat of the Marathas. Due to lack of funds the Marathas could neither provide their soldiers with appropriate weapons nor foodstuffs. So, the defeat of such an army was sure.
7. Blunder of Sadashiv Rao Bhau : During the Third Battle of Panipat, the Peshwa’s son Vishwas Rao was killed. When Sadashiv Rao Bhau got this news, he descended from his elephant to pay his last respect to the dead. On seeing his palanquin empty on the elephant, the Maratha soldiers thought that even he had been killed in the battle. As a result, panic spread amongst the Marathas and within no time the battle was lost.
Question 5.
Describe the causes, results and failure of Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat.
Answer:
For answer to this question students are requested to see the answers of Question Nos. 3 and 4.
Causes Of The Failure Of Ahmad Shah Abdali:
Question 6.
What were the causes of failure of Ahmad Shah Abdali in the struggle against the Sikhs?
Or
What were the reasons of failure of Ahmad, Shah Abdali against the Sikhs?
Or
Examine carefully the causes of Ahmad SEah Abdali’s ultimate failure to suppress the Sikh power.
Or
Discuss the causes of the success of the Sikhs against Ahmad Sha Abdali.
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali was one of the greatest warriors and generals of Asia. He vastly extended his empire by occupying several regions. He was a very brutal king. The enemies trembled at the very mention of his name. Despite all this, he failed to crush the power of the Sikhs. The following factors were responsible for the failure of Ahmad Shah Abdali or the victory of the Sikhs
1. Tenacity of the Sikhs: One of the significant causes of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s failure was the strong determination of the Sikhs. They had unflinching faith in Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s proclamation, “Raj Karega Khalsa.’ (The Khalsa will rule). That is why they resisted the attacks of Ahmad Shah Abdali tooth and nail. Though Abdali committed untold atrocities on the Sikhs yet they were not demoralised. They stood firm like a rock. In the Great Holocaust 25,000 to 30,000 Sikhs were massacred. Despite this, the Sikhs remained in high spirits. It was not an easy task to defeat such a community.
2. Guerilla tactics of War : The guerilla tactics of war adopted by the Sikhs was one of the main causes responsible for their success and Ahmad Shah Abdali’s failure. The Sikhs were convinced that they would not be able to square up with an experienced general like Ahmad Shah Abdali in the open because Sikhs had limited resources. Whenever Ahmad Shah, Abdali proceeded against the Sikhs with his huge army, the Sikhs immediately took shelter in forests and hills and finding a suitable opportunity, the Sikhs would strike Abdali’s soldiers, inflict heavy losses on them and then escape to their hiding places. Abdali could not cope with the guerilla tactics of the Sikhs. The famous writer Khushwant Singh aptly says, “Fighting the Sikhs was like trying to catch the wind in a net.”
3. Abdali left insufficient Soldiers : Another significant cause of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s failure to crush the Sikh powers was that he left insufficient number of soldiers in the Punjab for this purpose. He did leave some soldiers in the prominent towns of Punjab but their number was much smaller than the required ones. Consequently, they failed even to hold the ground on which they stood.
4. Incapable representatives of Abdali : Another reason of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s defeat was his incompetent representatives in Punjab. They lacked administrative skill. His son, Taimur Shah remained the Governor of Punjab for only one year. He proved.to be an inefficient ruler. His assistant, Jahan Khan lacked administrative skill. Zain Khan of Sirhind turned his soldiers against himself by refusing to pay them their salaries. Similarly the Governor of Lahore, Khwaja Ubaid Khan was unfit for his office. As a result of these incapable representatives of Abdali, the power of the Sikhs continued to rise rather than decline.
5. Non-Cooperation of the people of the Punjab r Another significant cause of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s defeat was that he could not secure the support of the people of the Punjab. Due to his repeated invasions and plundering, an atmosphere of anarchy and lawlessness prevailed in the Punjab. Abdali not only robbed the people of their wealth, but also killed thousands of innocent persons. Their houses and fields were set on fire and their women were maltreated and dishonoured: As a result, the Punjabis had no sympathy for this ruthless invader. Under such conditions, to think of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s conquest of Punjab was to think of something impossible.
6. Help from Zamindars : In the Sikh-Afghan tussle, the Zamindars of the Punjab extended their full co-operation to the Sikhs. They knew very well that after a brief stay in the Punjab, Abdali would return to Afghanistan. But on the other hand their relations with the Sikhs were of a permanent nature. They did not want to run any risk by taking action against the Sikhs. Besides many Zamindars were actually fighting for freedom and were sympathetic towards the Sikhs. The co¬operation of the Zamindars proved very useful for the growth of the Sikh power.
7. Character of the Sikhs : The character of the Sikhs also proved to be an important factor for the failure of Ahmad Shah Abdali. The sterling qualities of the Sikhs of the 18th century were such as could not but impress even their enemies. Although the Sikhs had to face innumerable hardships, yet they remained happy under all circumstances. They never attacked any unarmed or fleeing soldier in the battlefield.
They gave full respect to women and children, even if they belonged to their enemy. Qazi Nur Mohammad who nursed strong feelings of malice against the Sikhs had also lavished praises on the Sikhs for these qualities in his book entitled ‘Jangnama’. Because of these qualities, the Sikhs became popular with the Punjabis. So, the success of the Sikhs under these circumstances, was no wonder.
8. Capable leaders of the Sikhs : Another significant cause of the victory of the Sikhs against Ahmad Shah Abdali was their able leaders. These leaders led the Sikhs ably and wisely in difficult times. Prominent among these leaders were Nawab Kapoor Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Charat Singh Sukarchakia, Ala Singh and Lehna Singh Bhangi. Under their leadership the Sikh Panth continued to march on the path of progress.
9. Contribution of Amritsar : In the Sikh-Afghan tussle, the contribution of Amritsar was remarkable. The Sikhs looked upon it as their Mecca. They took pride in being martyred for its sake. In the 18th century the Sikhs would first gather at Harimandir Sahib and take a bath in the holy tank, before attacking their enemy. They passed their Gurmatas at the Akal Takht Sahib. No Sikh would withdraw himself from the decisions taken by these ‘Gurmatas’. In fact, Amritsar had become a symbol of unity and freedom of the Sikhs. Ahmad Shah Abdali tried to finish off the Sikhs by demolishing Harimandir Sahib and filling up its holy tank with debris.
10. Revolts in Afghanistan : The Empire of Ahmad Shah Abdali was very vast. It was very difficult for him to keep it under his control. So, whenever Abdali invaded the Punjab, finding it a golden opportunity .someone or the other always raised a banner of revolt in Afghanistan. Owing to these recurring revolts, Abdali could not pay his undivided attention to the Punjab. Moreover, he had to return to Afghanistan without consolidation of his Conquests. The Sikhs took full advantage of this situation and recaptured all his conquered regions after Abdali’s return to Afghanistan. As a result Abdali failed to crush the power of the Sikhs.
Effects of Abdali’S Invasions On the Punjab:
Question 7.
Narrate the effects of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali on the Punjab.
Or
Study the political, social and econmic effects of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions on the Punjab.
Or
Examine the various effects of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Or
What were the effects of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab? Discuss in detail.
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded the Punjab eight times between 1747 A.D. to 1767 A.D. His invasions left deep impact on the political, social and economic sphere of the Punjab. A brief account of these effects are as follows :
Political Effects:
1. End of the Mughal Rule in the Punjab : The first great impact of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasion on Punjab was that the Mughal rule in the Punjab came to an end. Mir Mannu was the last Mughal Governor of Punjab. He did not get any help from Delhi. So, he was defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1752 A.D. Abdali took possession of the Punjab and annexed it to his Afghan empire. Abdali too had nominated Mir Mannu as the Governor of Punjab on his behalf. After the death of Mir Mannu in 1753 A.D., the Mughals tried to recapture Punjab but Abdali frustrated their efforts. As a result the Mughal rule in the Punjab came to an end for ever.
2. End of Maratha Power in the Punjab: Adina Beg, the Faujdar of Jalandhar Doab was dreaming of becoming the Governor of Punjab. So, he invited the Marathas to Punjab and entered into an alliance with the Sikhs. In 1758 A.D. the Marathas, after defeating Timur Shah took possession of the Punjab. They nominated Adina Beg as the Governor of Punjab, but he passed away soon. After him the Marathas nominated Sambhaji, the Governor of Punjab. Abdali defeated him in 1759 A.D. Abdali inflicted a crushing defeat on the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat on 14th January, 1761 A.D. As a result of this defeat the Maratha power in Punjab was eclipsed for ever. .
3. Rise of the Sikh Power: In the 18th century a struggle for supremacy was going on among four powers namely Mughals, Afghans, Marathas and the Sikhs. As a result of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions, the Mughal and the Maratha powers in the Punjab came to an end. Now this tussle for the possession of the Punjab was left between the two powers i.e. the Afghans and the Sikhs. The Sikhs had got on the nerves of the Afghans by their guerilla warfare. In the Great Holocaust of 1762 A.D., Abdali massacred thousands of Sikhs but could not dampen their spirits. The Sikhs conquered Sirhind in 1764 A.D. and Lahore in 1765 A.D. The Sikhs proclaimed their independence by circulating their own coins.
4. Anarchy in the Punjab : There was anarchy and lawlessness everywhere in Punjab due to the continuous invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali from 1747 to 1767 A.D. The government officials began to have their own ways. They started fleecing the people. There was no such thing as justice. Since the life and property of the people were insecure, it let to anarchy and chaos in the Punjab.
Social Effects:
5. Increase in the Social Evils : The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali encouraged many evils in the Punjab. The people became selfish and characterless. They were not afraid of committing any crime or sin. Theft, robbery, murder, looting,
cheating and corruption were the order of the day. These evils had eaten into the vitals of the society of the Punjab.
6. People of Punjab became Brave : As a result of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions, the people of the Punjab became brave and bold because they had to wield weapons for their defence against the invasions and lootings of Ahmad Shah Abdali. They set up glorious examples of bravery in the long-drawn struggle with the AfghAnswer: The Sikhs finally emerged victorious in this struggle.
7. Punjabis became spendthrift : Punjabis’ character underwent a significant change as a result of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions. They became spendthrift. The reason was that Abdali had carried away the money to Afghanistan which he looted from the people during his invasions. So the people began to eat, drink and make merry instead of hoarding money. This adage became very common at that time,
“Khada Peeta Lahe da,
Rehnda Ahmad Shahe da.”
Whatever, you eat and drink is yours, the rest belongs to Ahmad Shah Abdali.
8. Enmity between the Sikhs and Muslims increased : The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali increased the enmity between the Sikhs and the Muslims. It was because the Afghans always raised the slogan of Jihad (religious war) while, fighting against the Sikhs. They committed many atrocities on the Sikhs in the name of Islam. Secondly, by demolishing the most sacred place, Harimandir Sahib of the Sikhs, Abdali turned the Sikhs into his bitter enemies. Owing to these reasons, the gulf between the Sikhs and the Afghans widened.
Economic and Cultural Effects:
9. Economic Loss of the Punjab : The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali inflicted great loss on the economy of the Punjab. He robbed Punjab of gold, silver, diamonds and pearls of lakhs and croses of rupees. In fact, almost the whole wealth of the Punjab was drained off to Afghanistan. Due to the repeated invasions agricultural production was adversely affected. Abdali’s soldiers, while marching, badly damaged the crops of thousands of acres of land. Commerce and industries also felt the pinch of the Afghan invasions. It all resulted in the poverty of the people.
10. Great Blow to Art and Literature : Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions gave a great blow to the development of art and literature in the Punjab. During their invasions, the Afghan soldiers destroyed many rare art pieces and most of literature. Many historical buildings including gurdwaras and temples were razed to the ground. The atmosphere of anarchy and chaos was not conducive to the creation of new art and literary compositions. Thus, the bloody invasions of Abdali resulted in great historic and cultural loss. S.S. Gandhi aptly says, “The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali exercised manifold effects, covering almost all aspects of life.”
Short Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Who was Ahmad Shah Abdali? What were the reasons of his Punjab invasions?
Or
Write the main causes of invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab.
Or
What were three causes of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab?
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali was the emperor of Afghanistan. Many factors were responsible for his invasions,
- He wanted to expand his empire,
- He wanted to get wealth from Punjab to consolidate his position in Afghanistan.
- There was anarchy in India. Ahmad Shah Abdali wanted to take advantage of this golden opportunity,
- By establishing his control over Punjab, he wanted to earn a name and fame.
Question 2.
What do you know about the first invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Or
Write a short note on the first Abdali invasion over Punjab.
Answer:
On the invitation of Shah Nawaz Khan, Ahmad Shah Abdali proceeded with his forces towards India in December 1747. By defeating Shah Nawaz Khan on 10th January 1748, he took possession of Lahore. Shah Nawaz Khan fled away to Delhi. At Manupur on 11th March, 1748’A. D. in a fierce battle Muin-ul-Mulk gave a crushing defeat to Abdali. Mohammad Shah was pleased , over the bravery of Muin-ul-Mulk and made him the Governor of Punjab. He* was popularly known as Mir Mannu. Thus, the first invasion of Abdali proved a failure.
Question 3.
Briefly explain the second invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab.
Or
Give a brief account of the second invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali wanted to avenge his defeat during the first invasion. Secondly, he was also aware that Mir Mannu’s position was unstable. Owing to these reasons Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Punjab for the second time in 1748 A.D. In the absence of any help from Delhi, Mir Mannu signed a pact with Abdali. According to this pact, Mir Mannu agreed to pay the annual tribute of Char Mahals (four districts) Sialkot, Pasrur, Gujarat, and Aurangabad to Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Question 4.
Throw light on the third invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Punjab.
Answer:
Abdali invaded Punjab for the third time in November 1751 A.D. After reaching Lahore, Abdali looted many towns and villages for three months. A fierce battle was fought between the forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali and Mir Mannu near Lahore on 6th March, 1752 A.D. Mir Mannu was defeated and was arrested. Abdali was so greatly impressed by the boldness of Mir Mannu that he appointed him the Governor of Punjab.
Question 5.
Explain the fourth invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
Abdali invaded Punjab in November 1756 A.D. for the fourth time. On hearing the news of Abdali’s invasion Adina Beg, the governor fled to Delhi without putting up any resistance. Abdali made his son Timur Shah the Governor of Punjab. A fierce battle was fought near Amritsar between the Afghans and the Sikhs. In this battle, the Sikh leader Baba Deep Singh Ji displayed unparalleled heroism but was ultimately martyred. The Sikhs sworn to avenge his martyrdom.
Question 6.
Who was Timur Shah?
Answer:
Timur Shah was the son and successor of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan. In 1757 A.D., he was appointed as the Subedar of Punjab by Ahmad Shah Abdali. Like his father he was a staunch enemy of the Sikhs. He had destroyed the famous Ramrauni fort of the Sikhs. Besides he had filled the sarovar of Harmandir Sahib with filth. Therefore, in 1758 A.D. the Sikhs along with Marathas and Adina Beg compelled Timur Shah to flee from the Punjab.
Question 7.
What were the three main causes of third battle of Panipat?
Answer:
- The Ruhelas got against the Marathas because of the plunger and. loot caused by the Marathas.
- The Marathas wanted to establish Hindu empire in r India. So Muslims got against them.
- The Jats and the Rajputs were jealous of growth of the Maratha power in India.
- Marathas had established their control over Delhi and Punjab which Abdali could not tolerate,
- To establish his honour and supremacy, it became important for him to fight with the Marathas.
Question 8.
Write a short note on the third battle of Panipat.
Answer:
The third battle of Panipat was fought between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali on January 14, 1761 A.D. A pitched battle took place between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali in Panipat. Sada Shiv Rao Bhau was leading the Marathas in this battle. The Marathas faced a crushing defeat and also suffered heavy loss of life and property in this battle. As a result of this battle, the Marathas suffered grievous blow while the Sikhs got a chance to consolidate their power in the Punjab.
Question 9.
What were the results of the third battle of Panipat?
Or
Write down any three results of the third battle of Panipat.
Answer:
The results of the third battle of Panipat were of far reaching. This battle resulted in huge loss of men and money of the Marathas. The Maratha Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao couldn’t tolerate this humiliating defeat and he passed away within a few months. Marathas received a severe jolt to their power. Conse¬quently their dream of establishing a Hindu empire in India dashed to the ground. After this defeat the Maratha leaders began to quarrel among themselves. It ended their unity.
Question 10.
Write a short note on Wadda Ghallughara (Second Bloody Carnage).
Or
Write a brief note on Wadda Ghallughara (Great Holocaust), sixth invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Or
Write a short note on Second Big Ghallughara.
Answer:
The Wadda Ghallughara was a very tragic event of Sikh History. Ahmad Shah Abdali could never tolerate the growing influence of the Sikhs. So he sieged the Sikhs at village Kup near Malerkotla on Feb 5, 1762 A.D. In this surprise attack 25 to 30 thousand Sikhs were killed. This event is known in Sikh history as Wadda Ghallughara. Ahmad Shah Abdali became very happy over the heavy loss of life oi the Sikhs. He thought that it would break the backbone of the Sikh power, but his assessment proved wrong.
Question 11.
How did the Sikhs organise their power in their battles against the Afghans?
Answer:
(a) In their battles against the Afghans, the Sikhs had organised themselves in Jathas (regiments),
(b) Gurmatas were passed through Sarbat Khalsa in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib. All the Sikhs obeyed these Gurmatas with great respect.
(Hi) Ahmad Shah Abdali could not pay attention to the Sikhs for many years,
(d) The landlords and common people gave their full co-operation to the Sikhs.
Question 12.
Why did Ahmad Shah Abadali fail in crushing the power of the Sikhs?
Or
What were the causes of victory of the Sikhs and defeat of Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Or
What were the causes of failure of Ahmad Shah Abdali against the Sikhs?
Or
Write any three causes of the failure of Ahmad Shah Abdali against the Sikhs.
Answer:
- The firm determination and self-confidence of the Sikhs,
- The Sikhs adopted guerilla system of warfare.
- Ahmad Shah Abdali could not pay his proper attention to the Punjab as revolts broke out in Afghanistan time and again,
- The leaders of the Sikhs were wise and worthy. They fought against the enemy unitedly.
Question 13.
What were the effects of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions on the Sikh struggle for power?
Or
What were the political effects of Abdali’s invasions?
Answer:
- Ahmad Shah Abdali annexed Punjab to Afghanistan in 1752 A.D.
- Ahmad Shah Abdali gave the Marathas a crushing defeat in the third battle of Panipat as result of which the influence of Marathas ended in Punjab for ever.
- As a – result of continuous attacks of Ahmad Shah Abdali, lawlesness and chaos prevailed in the Punjab,
- Life and property of the people was not safe. So instead of saving the Sikhs started spending lavishly.
Question 14.
Describe important effects of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions over Punjab.
Answer:
- Punjab was annexed to Afghanistan in’1752 A.D. Consequently, the Mughal rule ended in the Punjab for ever,
- Punjab had to face heavy economic losses due to the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
- Trade also suffered a set back due to the atmosphere of loot and chaos,
- These invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali gave a great blow to the art and literature of the Punjab,
- Punjabis now started spending money lavishly instead of saving it.
Question 15.
What were the social effects of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Answer:
- The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali encouraged many evils in the Punjab. The people became selfish,
- As a result of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions the people of the Punjab became brave and bold,
- Punjabi’s became spendthrift. The reason was that Ahmad Shah Abdali would take away the money,
- Many historical buildings and literature were damaged during Abdali’s invasions.
- His invasions caused heavy economic loss to Punjab.
Question 16.
What were the economic consequences of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Answer:
- The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali inflicted great loss on the economy of Punjab. He robbed Punjab of gold, silver, diamonds, and pearls of worth crores of rupees,
- Abdali’s soldiers badly damaged the crops of thousands of acres of land while marching,
- Commerce and industries also felt the pinch of the Afghan invasions.
- The sense of insecurity and anarchical conditions impeded the growth of trade.
- Travelling was difficult and unsafe.
Objective Type Questions:
Question 1.
Who was Ahmad Shah Abdali?
Answer:
The ruler of Afghanistan.
Question 2.
Where did Ahmad Shah Abdali rule?
Answer:
In Afghanistan.
Question 3.
For how many times Ahmed Shah Abdali invaded Punjab?
Answer:
Eight times.
Question 4.
Give the main cause of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions on Punjab.
Or
Give any one reason of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
He wanted to expand his empire.
Question 5.
When did Ahmad Shah Abdali invade Punjab?
Answer:
1747 to 1767 A.D.
Question 6.
When did Ahmad Shah Abdali invade Punjab for the first time?
Answer:
1747-48 A.D.
Question 7.
When did Ahmad Shah Abdali invade Punjab for the second time?
Answer:
1748-49 A.D.
Question 8.
When did Mir Mannu become the Governor of Punjab?
Answer:
1748 A.D.
Question 9.
When did Ahmad Shah Abdali conquer Punjab?
Answer:
1752 A.D.
Question 10.
Who was appointed as Governor by Ahmad Shah Abdali after he conquered Punjab?
Answer:
Timur Shah.
Question 11.
Who was Timur Shah?
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali’s. son.
Question 12.
Who was Baba Deep Singh Ji?
Answer:
A famous leader of Shaheed Misl.
Question 13.
When was Baba Deep Singh Ji martyred?
Answer:
Nov. 11, 1757 A.D.
Question 14. When did the Marathas occupy Punjab?
Answer:
1758 A.D.
Question 15.
Who was the first Maratha Subedar of Punjab?
Answer:
Adina Beg.
Question 16.
When was the third battle of Panipat fought?
Answer:
January 14, 1761 A.D.
Question 17.
Between whom was the third battle of Panipat fought?
Answer:
Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Question 18.
When did Wadda Ghallughara take place?
Or
When did Second or Big Ghallughara take place?
Answer:
5th February, 1762 A.D.
Question 19.
Where did Second Ghallughara take place?
Or
Where did the Vadda ( big ) Ghallughara happen?
Answer:
At Kup.
Question 20.
When and where did Second (Wadda) Ghallughara take place?
Answer:
In 1762 A.D. at Kup.
Question 21.
Who was responsible for Wadda Ghallughara?
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Question 22.
When did the Sikhs occupy Sirhind?
Answer:
January 14, 1764 A.D.
Question 23.
Who was Zain Khan?
Answer:
Governor of Sirhind from 1761 A.D. to 1764 A.D.
Question 24.
When did the Sikhs take control of Lahore?
Answer:
1765 A.D.
Question 25.
Give any one reason of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s failure against the Sikhs.
Or
Explain any one cause of the success of the Sikhs against Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
The Sikhs adopted guerilla warfare against Abdali.
Question 26.
Give any one political consequence of Abdali’s invasions.
Or
Write any one effect of the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali occupied Punjab in 1752 A.D.
Question 27.
What were the two economic consequences of the invasions of Abdali?
Answer:
The Punjab had to suffer a great economic loss.
Fill in the blanks:
1. Ahmad Shah Abdali was the ruler of ……………
Answer:
Afghanistan
2. Ahmad Shah Abdali became the Emperor of …………… in 1747 A.D.
Answer:
Afghanistan
3. …………… became the ruler of Afghanistan after the killing of Nadar Shah.
Answer:
Ahmad Shah Abdali
4. Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked on Punjab …………… times.
Answer:
eight
5. Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India for the first time in ……………
Answer:
1747-48 A.D.
6. Ahmad Shah Abdali conquered Punjab in ……………..
Answer:
1752 A.D.
7. Ahmad Shah Abdali appointed ………………. as the Governor of Punjab in 1752 A.D.
Answer:
Mir Mannu
8. Ahmad Shah Abdali appointed ………………. as the Governor of Punjab in 1757 A.D.
Answer:
Timur Shah
9. Baba Deep Singh Ji became a martyr in ………………
Answer:
1757 A.D.
10. The third battle of Panipat was fought on ………………
Answer:
January 14, 1761 A.D.
11. …………….. was the JPeshwa of Marathas at the time .of- the third battle of Panipat.
Answer:
Balaji Baji Rao
12. ……………. was the General of Marathas in the third battle of Panipat.
Answer:
Sadashiv Rao Bhau
13. ……………. were defeated in the third battle of Panipat.
Answer:
Marathas
14. Wadda Ghallughara took place in …………….
Answer:
1762 A.D.
15. Wadda Ghallughara took place at village……………
Answer:
Kup
16. In 1764 A.D. Baba Ala Singh defeated severly the Subedar of Sirhind ………………
Answer:
Zain Khan
17. Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked Punjab …………… times.
Answer:
eight
18. ………….. rule came to an end in Punjab due to invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
Mughal
19. The main cause of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s failure against the Sikhs was ……………. policy of the Sikhs.
Answer:
Guerilla
True or False:
1. Ahmad Shah Abdali was the ruler of Afghanistan.
Answer:
True
2. Ahmad Shah Abdali was the ruler of Afghanistan in 1747 A.D.
Answer:
True
3. Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Punjab in 1749 A.D. for the first time.
Answer:
False
4. The main purpose of invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali on India was to obtain wealth.
Answer:
True
5. Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India for six times.
Answer:
False
6. Mir Mannu defeated Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1748 A.D. in the battle of Manupur.
Answer:
True
7. Ahmad Shah Abdali occupied Punjab in 1751 A.D. (
Answer:
False
8. Timur Shah was the son of Babur.
Answer:
False
9. Baba Deep Singh Ji became a martyr on November 10, 1757 A.D.
Answer:
False
10. The third battle of Panipat took place on January 14, 1761 A.D. between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
True
11. Vishwas Rao was the son of Balaji Baji Rao.
Answer:
True
12. The Sikhs occupied Lahore in 1761 A.D.
Answer:
True
13. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, was conferred the title of ‘Sultan-ul-Quam’ on occupation of Punjab in 1761 A.D.
Answer:
True
14. Wadda Ghallughara took place during the 6th attack of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
True
15. Wadda Ghallughara took place in 1762 A.D.
Answer:
True
16. The big Holocaust was held at Kahnuwal.
Answer:
False
17. The Sikhs occupied Sirhind in 1764 A.D.
Answer:
True
18. The Sikhs declared their independence after the occupation of Punjab in 1765 A.D.
Answer:
True
19. Nadir Shah became the ruler of Afganistan after the death of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Answer:
False
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Who was Ahmad Shah Abdali?
(a) Ruler of Afghanistan
(b) Ruler of Iran
(c) Ruler of China
(d) Ruler of India.
Answer:
(a) Ruler of Afghanistan
2. How many times Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Punjab?
(a) Four
(b) Five
(c) Seven
(d) Eight
Answer:
(d) Eight
3. When did Ahmad Shah Abdali invade Punjab for the first time?
(a) 1745 AD.
(b) 1746 A.D.
(c) 1747 A.D.
(d) 1752 A.D.
Answer:
(c) 1747 A.D.
4. In which battle, Ahmad Shah Abdali conquered Punjab?
(a) First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fourth
Answer:
(c) Third
5. When did Ahmad Shah Abdali conquer Punjab?
Or
When did Mughal rule come to an end in Punjab?
(a) 1748 A.D.
(b) 1751 A.D.
(c) 1752 A.D.
(d) 1761 A.D.
Answer:
(c) 1752 A.D.
6. When did Timur Shah become the Governor of Punjab?
(a) 1751 A.D.
(b) 1752 A.D.
(c) 1757 A.D.
(d) 1759 A.D.
Answer:
(c) 1757 A.D.
7. When was Baba Deep Singh Ji got martyred?
(a) 1752 A.D.
(b) 1755 A.D.
(c) 1756 A.D.
(d) 1757 A.D.
Answer:
(d) 1757 A.D.
8. When was the third battle of Panipat fought?
(a) 1758 A.D.
(b) 1759 A.D.
(c) 1760 A.D.
(d) 1761 A.D.
Answer:
(d) 1761 A.D.
9. Who defeated the Marathas in the third battle of Panipat?
(a) Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
(b) Jassa Singh Ramgarhia
(c) Ahmad Shah Abdali
(d) Mir Mannu.
Answer:
(c) Ahmad Shah Abdali
10. When did Wadda Gallughara take place?
(a) 1746 A.D.
(b) 1748 A.D.
(c) 1761 A.D.
(d) 1762 A.D.
Answer:
(d) 1762 A.D.
11. Where did Second Gallughara take place?
(a) Kanhunwan
(b) Kup
(c) Kartarpur
(d) Jalandhar.
Answer:
(b) Kup
12. When did the Sikhs occupy Sirhind?
(a) 1761 A.D.
(b) 1762 A.D.
(c) 1763 A.D.
(d) 1764 A.D.
Answer:
(d) 1764 A.D.
13. When did the Sikhs occupy Lahore?
(a) 1760 A.D.
(b) 1762 A.D.
(c) 1764 A.D.
(d) 1765 A.D.
Answer:
(d) 1765 A.D.
