In the turbulent aftermath of Emperor Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, the Mughal Empire faced challenges that rippled across its vast territories, including the Carnatic in South India. Raja Swarup Singh Bundela, the commander of Gingee Fort, seized this moment of instability to assert a degree of independence, navigating a delicate balance between loyalty to the Mughal administration and defiance of its fiscal demands. His story, drawn from historical chronicles, English records, and local ballads, reveals a complex figure whose actions shaped the political landscape of the Carnatic. This blog post explores Swarup Singh’s growing independence, his conflicts with Nawab Sadatullah Khan, and his relations with the English, offering a glimpse into a pivotal chapter of 18th-century South Indian history.
Confirmation and Early Independence
After Nawab Daud Khan’s retirement, Swarup Singh was confirmed as the commander of Gingee Fort by Nawab Sadatullah Khan and his diwan, Roy Dakhiniray. Appointed in 1700 by Emperor Aurangzeb with a mansab of 2,500 and a jagir worth 12 lakhs of pagodas annually, Swarup Singh controlled eight parganahs, including Cuddalore, Tirupapuliyur, and Manjakuppam. This substantial grant, encompassing nine additional forts, gave him significant autonomy in the Carnatic.
The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 plunged the Mughal Empire into chaos, with Emperor Bahadur Shah facing Maratha, Rajput, Sikh, and Jat rebellions in Punjab and Agra. Seizing this opportunity, Swarup Singh adopted a truculent stance, evading the payment of customary tributes (peshkash or nazar). His defiance grew as he forcibly took possession of khalisa villages (crown lands) under the Mughal sarkar and openly disregarded the orders of the Carnatic’s faujdar, Sadatullah Khan.
Escalating Tensions with Sadatullah Khan
During the reign of Emperor Farrukh Siyar (1713–1719), when the Sayyid brothers held significant influence, the Mughal court felt the sting of Swarup Singh’s unpaid tributes. With an annual income of 12 lakhs of pagodas, he had the means to settle the arrears, estimated at a staggering 70 lakhs of rupees by Sadatullah Khan. Yet, Swarup Singh continued to evade payment, prompting the Nawab to report the default to the emperor. According to chronicler Narayanan, Sadatullah Khan submitted detailed accounts to the imperial diwani office, proving Swarup Singh’s persistent defiance.
The emperor, convinced by the evidence, ordered the arrest of Swarup Singh’s agent at court and directed him to write to his master, demanding immediate payment of the arrears to Sadatullah Khan. Tipudas, Sadatullah Khan’s agent, worked through the court darogah Kutbu’ddin, promising two lakhs of rupees to the imperial treasury via the Bukkansi Kasidas’ business house. A darkhast (petition) was filed, and the emperor issued a farman ordering Swarup Singh to comply. Some nobles at court spoke in his favor, but the mounting pressure and accusations reportedly left Swarup Singh “sorrow-stricken.” Falling ill, he died in 1714 without resolving the tribute dispute, as noted in a January 31, 1714, letter from Madras to England, which reported his death and the expectation of a new governor for Gingee.
Swarup Singh in Local Ballads and Historical Records
The popular Tamil ballad of Desing, Swarup Singh’s son, presents a curious divergence from official records. Instead of Swarup Singh, the ballad names Terani Singh as Desing’s father, ruling Gingee alongside his brother Tarani Singh, son of Sura Singh. It recounts a tale where Terani Singh, imprisoned in Delhi, was freed by Desing, who tamed a remarkable horse for the emperor to secure his release. However, Fort St. George records and Narayanan’s chronicle do not mention Terani Singh, Tarani Singh, or any imprisonment, casting doubt on the ballad’s historical accuracy and highlighting its folkloric nature.
English records from Madras, where Swarup Singh’s name appears as Surop Singh, Seröop Singh, or Syröop Singh, provide substantial details about his interactions with the English East India Company. These records, including correspondence between Fort St. George and Fort St. David, offer more insight than Narayanan’s chronicle, which is sparse on Swarup Singh’s administration.
Relations with the English and Fort St. David
Swarup Singh’s jagir included villages near Fort St. David (Devanampatnam), purchased by the English from Maratha ruler Rama Raja in 1690. His relations with the English were strained due to his dealings with local renters. Swarup Singh leased his parganahs at favorable rates to wealthy inhabitants, making alluring promises he often failed to keep, leading to tense and unsatisfactory relationships. In 1700, William Fraser, Chief of Fort St. David’s Council, mediated an agreement between the renters and Swarup Singh, who was compelled to issue a farman of assurance and provide substantial security, promising not to demand more than the agreed terms in his cowles (leases).
English concerns about regional competition also surfaced. On April 24, a diary entry from Fort St. George noted that the Dutch, accompanied by Daud Khan’s mauldars, were surveying a former English factory at Conimeer, raising fears of a Dutch purchase. The Council resolved to prevent this, citing the inconvenience and discredit of a Dutch flag on an English settlement. On May 27, learning of Daud Khan’s approach to Chidambaram near Fort St. David with possible hostile intentions, the Fort St. George Council dispatched the “Advice” frigate with 30 men, stores, and presents to avert conflict, a mission postponed until after Daud Khan’s departure.
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- The Bijapur Sultanate Rule over Gingee: Conquest, Governors, and Legacy
- History of Gingee Fort After Hyder Ali’s Capture in 1780
- The Last Stand: Haidar Ali’s Capture of Gingee Fort (1780)
- French Occupation of Gingee (1750–1761): A Tale of Fortresses and Failure
- The Assassination of Nasir Jang: Unraveling a Treacherous Act in 18th Century India
- Assassination of Nasir Jang and the Mystery of Dupleix Fathabad: Unraveling the Site of a Historic Betrayal
- The Assassination of Nasir Jang: A Tale of Treachery in the Carnatic Gingee, December 1750