Battle of Sammel
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Sammel, also known as the Battle of Giri-Sumel, was fought in 1544 near the villages Giri and Sumel of the Jaitaran
sub-division in the Pali district
of Rajasthan
between Sher Shah Suri
and the Hindu
Rajput
s army led by the commanders Jaita and Kumpa od Rao Maldeo Rathore
, king of Marwar
.
, ninety kilometers east of Jodhpur
. After one month, Sher Shah's position became critical owing to the difficulties of food supplies for his huge army. To resolve this situation, Sher Shah resorted to a cunning ploy. One evening, he dropped forged letters near the Maldeo's camp in such a way that they were sure to be intercepted. These letters indicated, falsely, that some of Maldeo's army commanders were promising assistance to Sher Shah. This caused great consternation to Maldeo, who immediately (and wrongly) suspected his commanders of disloyalty. Maldeo left for Jodhpur on 4 January 1544. with his own 20,000 men, abandoning his commanders to their fate.
When Maldeo's innocent generals Pachain, Jaita and Kumpa found out what had happened, they did not lose their cool. When the king ordered withdrawal, they overheard the chat between the village woman worried about the Mughal Army. One of the women said we need not to worry as long as Pachain, Jaita and Kumpa are here to protect us. They decided that they would not leave the field even though they had just 20,000 men against an enemy force of 80,000 men and 40 cannons. Pachain said that the land we are leaving has been won and protected by our ancestors and we must not leave and flee. In the ensuing battle of Sammel (also known as battle of Giri Sumel), Sher Shah emerged victorious, but several of his generals including Pachain and Kumpa lost their lives and his army suffered heavy losses. Sher Shah is said to have commented that "for a few grains of bajra
(millet, which is the main crop of barren Marwar) I almost lost the entire kingdom of Hindustan
."
to Mount Abu in 1544. But by July, 1555 Maldeo reoccupied his lost territories.
Jaitaran
Jaitaran is a city and a municipality in Pali district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.-Geography:Jaitaran is located at . It has an average elevation of 307 metres .-History:...
sub-division in the Pali district
Pali district
Pali District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The town of Pali is the district headquarters.-History:...
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
between Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
and the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s army led by the commanders Jaita and Kumpa od Rao Maldeo Rathore
Rao Maldeo Rathore
thumb|Rao Maldeo RathoreRao Maldeo Rathore was a Rajput ruler of Marwar, which was later known as Jodhpur . He was a scion of the Rathore clan. His father was Rao Ganga and his mother was Rani Padmavati of Sirohi.The then Muslim historean Ferishta calls him as the "most Potent Prince of Hindustan"...
, king of Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
.
The battle
In 1543, Sher Shah set out against Marwar with a huge force of 80,000 cavalry. With an army of 50,000 cavalry, Maldeo advanced to face Sher Shah's army. Instead of marching to the enemy's capital Sher Shah halted in the village of Sammel in the pargana of JaitaranJaitaran
Jaitaran is a city and a municipality in Pali district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.-Geography:Jaitaran is located at . It has an average elevation of 307 metres .-History:...
, ninety kilometers east of Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
. After one month, Sher Shah's position became critical owing to the difficulties of food supplies for his huge army. To resolve this situation, Sher Shah resorted to a cunning ploy. One evening, he dropped forged letters near the Maldeo's camp in such a way that they were sure to be intercepted. These letters indicated, falsely, that some of Maldeo's army commanders were promising assistance to Sher Shah. This caused great consternation to Maldeo, who immediately (and wrongly) suspected his commanders of disloyalty. Maldeo left for Jodhpur on 4 January 1544. with his own 20,000 men, abandoning his commanders to their fate.
When Maldeo's innocent generals Pachain, Jaita and Kumpa found out what had happened, they did not lose their cool. When the king ordered withdrawal, they overheard the chat between the village woman worried about the Mughal Army. One of the women said we need not to worry as long as Pachain, Jaita and Kumpa are here to protect us. They decided that they would not leave the field even though they had just 20,000 men against an enemy force of 80,000 men and 40 cannons. Pachain said that the land we are leaving has been won and protected by our ancestors and we must not leave and flee. In the ensuing battle of Sammel (also known as battle of Giri Sumel), Sher Shah emerged victorious, but several of his generals including Pachain and Kumpa lost their lives and his army suffered heavy losses. Sher Shah is said to have commented that "for a few grains of bajra
Pearl millet
Pearl millet is the most widely grown type of millet. Grown in Africa and the Indian subcontinent since prehistoric times, it is generally accepted that pearl millet originated in Africa and was subsequently introduced into India. The center of diversity, and suggested area of domestication, for...
(millet, which is the main crop of barren Marwar) I almost lost the entire kingdom of Hindustan
Hindustan
Hindustan or Indostan, literal translation "Land of River Sindhu ", is one of the popular names of South Asia. It can also mean "the land of the Hindus"...
."
The aftermath
After this victory, Sher Shah's general Khavass Khan took possession of Jodhpur and occupied the territory of Marwar from AjmerAjmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
to Mount Abu in 1544. But by July, 1555 Maldeo reoccupied his lost territories.