Battle of Jara

Battle of Jara
Part of the Sindhi invasion of Kutch
Tomb of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro
Date c. 1762 Location Jara, Kutch Result Kalhora victory
Belligerents
Kalhora dynasty	Maratha Empire Cutch State
Commanders and leaders
Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro	Godji II
Strength
~80,000 [1]	Unknown likely Larger
Casualties and losses
Unknown	60,000-100,000

The Battle of Jara was a military conflict fought around 1762 between the Kalhora dynasty of Sindh, under Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, and the Cutch State tributary of the Maratha Empire ^[2] , led by Godji II. The battle ended in a decisive Kalhora victory and the devastation of much of Kutch. ^[3]

Battle

Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro of Sindh led a large-scale campaign into Kutch, commanding around 80,000 soldiers. Following a brief yet fierce battle near Jara, his forces overcame the Cutch defenders the Maratha-aligned tributaries. The Sindhi army swept through the region, causing extensive destruction and seizing a considerable portion of its territory.After the defeat near Jara, Ghulam Shah Kalhoro advanced toward Tera, imposing heavy fines and ravaging the region. Alarmed, the Rao sought reconciliation through Punja, admitting past misjudgments and offering to appoint him as minister if he could negotiate the Sindhi army’s withdrawal. Punja, regaining influence at Bhuj, convinced Ghulam Shah to retreat by warning of strong fortifications ahead and promising to finalize a marriage alliance. Ghulam Shah agreed, departing with Punja’s son as a hostage. Punja returned to Bhuj, assumed office, and stabilized control by dismissing external forces and conducting campaigns in Vagad. However, the promised marriage was never fulfilled, straining relations between Punja and the Rao. Eventually, the Rao had Punja imprisoned, held in irons, and forced to drink poison, ending his service. ^{[4] [5]}

Aftermath

The victory greatly increased Kalhora influence over western India. Much of Kutch was laid waste, and a political marriage was arranged — the cousin of Godji II was given in marriage to Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro.

Sindhi forces also carried out two more raids into Kutch in the years following the battle. ^[6]

See also

• Kalhora dynasty
• History of Sindh
• History of Kutch

References

1. "The Kutch-Sind border question : A collection of documents with comments". 1965.
2. Roy, Tirthankar (18 July 2013). An Economic History of Early Modern India. Routledge. p. 36. ISBN   978-1-135-04787-0.
3. "BK 1223 -The Black Hills Kutch in History and Legend". June 1999.
4. "Kingdom of the Kalhora: A Glorious Past and Melancholic Present". 18 March 2024.
5. "The Kutch-Sind border question : A collection of documents with comments". 1965.
6. Mahesar, Asadullah (14 October 2024). "The Kalhora Dynasty: Rise, Rule, and Decline". International Journal of Social Sciences Bulletin. 2 (4): 208–215.