Mom Raj Dhaka
Mom Raj Dhaka (मोमराज ढाका) of Ganora village in Sikar district of Rajasthan was appointed as mansabdar by Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (1246–1266).
War with Burdaks of Sarnau
Sarnau Fort falls to Delhi Badashah Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (1246–1266) in samvat 1315 (1258 AD). Nasir-ud-din Mahmud had appointed Mom Raj Dhaka of Ganora village as mansabdar.
There was tension between Dhakas and Burdaks. There seem apparently two reasons regarding this tension.
- Firstly as par bard records Sukhi Devi, the Wife of Dhaka Momraj, uttered bad words for Kunwar Padam Singh Burdak while he was passing through village Ganora. Offended Kunwar Padam Singh Burdak took Sukhi Devi to the Sarnau Fort.
- Secondly as per local tradition some Dhaka woman came for water on well of Burdaks and Dhakas took it otherwise.
As per records of Bards there were 6 wars between Burdaks and Dhakas as under:
First war – Mom Raj Dhaka attacked Sarnau Fort on Chaitra Badi 9 samvat 1308 (1251 AD) with an army of 10000 soldiers. Mom Raj Dhaka was defeated with a loss of 1500 people. Padam Singh Burdak lost 500 people. Total loss 2000 people.
Second war – Mom Raj Dhaka attacked Sarnau Fort second time on Kartik Sudi 13 samvat 1309 (1252 AD) with an army of 15000 soldiers. Mom Raj Dhaka was defeated with a loss of 600 people. Burdaks lost 200 people. Total loss 800 people. The chief of Burdak army was Ridmal Jakhar of Riri-Bigga.
Third war – Mom Raj Dhaka attacked Sarnau Fort third time on Falgun Badi 5 samvat 1310 (1254 AD) with an army of 20000 soldiers. War continued for three days (Falgun Badi 5-8). Mom Raj Dhaka was defeated with a loss of 2000 people. Burdaks lost 500 people. Total loss 2500 people. The chief of Burdak army was Kunwar Jag Singh Burdak.
Fourth war – Mom Raj Dhaka attacked Sarnau Fort fourth time on Chaitra Badi 9 samvat 1311 (1254 AD) with an army of 20000 soldiers. War continued for five days (Chaitra Badi 9-13). Mom Raj Dhaka was defeated. The total loss was 13515 people. The chief of Burdak army was Kunwar Jag Singh Burdak.
Fifth war – Mom Raj Dhaka attacked Sarnau Fort fifth time on Jeshtha Badi 2 samvat 1313 (1256 AD) with an army of 25000 soldiers. War continued for Seven days (Jeshtha Badi 2-9). Mom Raj Dhaka was defeated with a loss of 5000 people and injury to 2000 people. The Dhaka Army was badly defeated as they did not get drinking water. The chief of Burdak army was Kunwar Padam Singh Burdak.
Sixth war – Mom Raj Dhaka attacked Sarnau Fort sixth time on Paush Badi 5 samvat 1313 (1257 AD). War continued for nine days (Paush Badi 5-13). Mom Raj Dhaka was defeated. The chief of Burdak army was Kunwar Padam Singh Burdak.
Mom Raj Dhaka conspires
Thus Mom Raj Dhaka could not defeat Burdaks in six direct wars. He started conspiracy how to defeat Burdaks. He got the secret information about Burdaks that they all gather and take bath unarmed at Halani Baori at Sarnau on the amavashya tithi of Ashwin month for performing the annual shradha of their ancestors. On such occasion on amavashya tithi of Ashwin month of samvat 1315 (1258 AD) when all Burdaks gathered to take bath unarmed at Halani Baori at Sarnau, Mom Raj Dhaka attacked them with an army of 25000. All Burdaks were killed. The village and Fort of Sarnau was reduced to ashes.
Mom in Ahulana traditions
Who was Mom Raj ? H.A. Rose[1] writes that The Ahulana tradition traces their origin to Rajasthan. Their ancestor was coming Delhi-wards with his brothers, Mom and Som, in search of a livelihood. They quarrelled on the road and had a deadly fight on the banks of the Ghātā, naddi. Mom and Som, who were on one side, killed their kinsman and came over to Delhi to the king there who received them with favour and gave them lands : to Som the tract across the Ganges where his descendants now live as Rajputs. Mom was sent to Rohtak, and he is now represented by the Jats there as well as in Hansi and Jind. The Rohtak party had their head-quarters at Ahulana in that district, and thence on account of internal quarrels they spread themselves in different directions, some coming into the Delhi district.
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Foot notes
Note- This content is from the History of Burdak clan as recorded and maintained by Bard (traditional record keeper) Rao Bhawani Singh (Mob:09785459386) of village Maheshwas, tahsil Phulera, district Jaipur, Rajasthan. There is need to cross check from the Badwa of Dhakas.
References
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