NIZAM UD-DIN

NIZAM UDDIN (d. 1802), the Pathan chief of Kasur and a tributary of the Bharigi sarddrs, overthrew his allegiance to the Sikhs and submitted to Shah Zaman, the king of Afghanistan, when the latter invaded India in January 1797. Nizam udDin took possession of the forts evacuated by the Sikhs. During Shah Zaman`s next invasion in November 1798, he presented a nazar to him and entreated that he be appointed governor of the Punjab for a tribute of 5, 00, 000 rupees annually which proposition was not acceptable to the Shah. On the retirement of Shah Zaman in 1799, Nizam udDin tried in vain to persuade the Muslim citizens of Lahore to accept him as their ruler, but they rejected the proposal and invited Ranjit Singh instead to take possession of the city.

In 1800 Nizam udDin joined hands with the Bhangis. They jointly challenged Ranjit Singh at Bhasin, near Lahore, but were repulsed. Soon thereafter Ranjit Singh sent an expedition against Nizam udDin under Fateh Singh Kalianvala, who laid siege to the town of Kasur. In the florid Persian of the court diarist Sohan Lal Suri: “Like a moth, Nizam udDin fell upon the lamp of the glory of the armies, burnt his wings and having failed to carry on the open battle, became besieged.” Nizam udDin sued for peace, paid a heavy indemnity and agreed to become a tributary of Ranjit Singh. In 1802, he was assassinated by his own brother in law.

References :

1. Suri, Sohan Lal, `Umdat ut-Twarikh. Lahore, 1885-89
2. Griffin, Lepel and C.F. Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1940
3. Latif, Syad Muhammad, History of thePanjab. Lahore, 1891
4. Bhagat Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and His Times. Delhi, 1990
5. Khushwant Singh, Ranjit Singh, Maharajah of the Punjab. Bombay, 1973
6. Harbans Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Delhi, 1980