Yahya Khan (governor)

• Zakariyya Khan (father)

Yahya Khan
Subahdar of Lahore
In office c. 1745 –17 March 1747
Military service
Allegiance	Mughal Empire
Battles/wars	Mughal–Sikh Wars Chhota Ghallughara

Yahya Khan, also spelt Yaheea or Yahia, was an 18th century Mughal Subahdar of Lahore. ^[1]

Tenure

On the death of Zakariyya Khan, the Subahdar of Lahore was conferred on Mir Mumin Khan, but shortly after, Yahya Khan was appointed governor through the interest of his father-in-law Wazir Qamar al-Din Khan. ^[2] During the vigorous rule of his grandfather Abd al-Samad Khan and his father, Zakariyya Khan, the Sikhs behaved themselves as peaceful subjects and lived in harmony in their villages or lurked in woods and valleys with the view of obtaining a livelihood by robbery, but when Yahya Khan held the viceroyalty of Lahore, the distractions of the Mughal Empire at Delhi were favorable to them, and, assuming an organised martial appearance, they took to rapine and plunder. ^[3] An armed band of Sikhs proceeded to levy contributions at Eminabad and captured a large number of flocks in its vicinity. Yahya Khan sent out a small detachment of troops, under Jaspat Rai, brother of his Diwan or Prime Minister, Lakhpat Rai, to disperse the insurgents who were devastating the country, but the latter, falling upon the troops with fury, overpowered and repulsed them, killing Jaspat Rai. The end of this expedition exasperated Yahya Khan who now sent a large force against them under the command of Lakhpat Rai, who hastened from Lahore to avenge his brother's death, and the Sikhs retreated before him into the north eastern corner of Punjab, where he inflicted on them a severe defeat with great slaughter. To complete his revenge, he brought with him a thousand Sikhs in irons to Lahore, and having compelled them to ride on donkeys barebacked, paraded them in the bazars of the city. They were then taken to the nakhas khina or horse market, outside the Delhi Gate of the city, and there beheaded one after another. Yahya Khan, now issued a proclamation for a general massacre of all Sikhs, wherever they could be found. Death was to be the punishment of all persons who invoked the name of Guru Gobind Singh, and a reward was offered for the heads of Sikhs. Thousands were put to death daily and their heads brought before Yahya Khan for the reward. Many Sikhs had their long hair cut short, and their flowing beards clipped, to avoid detection and consequent death, while others concealed themselves in the jungle or fled across the Sutlej. About 10,000 Sikhs were destroyed in this campaign known as Chhota Ghallughara. ^{[4] [5]}

At this time, his younger brother Hayatullah Khan, to whom Nadir Shah had given the title of Shah Nawaz Khan, raised a large army against him and took him and Lakhpat Rai prisoners. Yahya Khan was able to escape trough a plot of his aunt, Sharf al-Nisa. ^{[6] [7]} He is buried at the Bagga Gumbaz in Lahore. ^[3]

References

1. Sikh Digital Library (1834-05-01). Origin Of The Sikh Power In The Punjab Henry T. Prinsep.
2. Gladwin, Francis (1788). Memoirs Of Khojeh Abdulkurreem. p. 172.
3. Latif, Syad Muhammad (1892). Lahore its History, architectural remains and antiquities. p. 137.
4. Latif, Syad Muhammad (1891). History of the Panjab from the remotest antiquity to the present time. Central press, Calcutta. p. 213.
5. Singh, Sangat (2001). The Sikhs in History: A Millenium Study, with New Afterwords. Uncommon Books. p. 108. ISBN   978-81-900650-2-3.
6. Malik, Zahir Uddin (1977). The Reign Of Muhammad Shah 1919-1748. p. 256.
7. Durrani, Ashiq Muhammad Khān (1981). Multān Under the Afg̲h̲āns, 1752-1818. Bazme Saqafat. p. 37.