Fateh Shah

Fateh Shah was the Hindu Rajput king of Garhwal, a small kingdom in North India, from 1684 to 1716.

Campaigns H. G. Walton states that Fateh Shah led an attack from Dehradun on Saharanpur in 1692. Pundirs and Gurjars were expelled out of Dehradun and areas of Saharanpur. According to research by G.R.C. Williams, Fateh Shah established a township called Fateh Pur in Haraura Pargana of Saharanpur.

According to Rahul Sankrityayan and Fateh Prakash, Raja Fateh Shah also invaded Tibet, where his sword and armour were preserved in the monastery at Daba for a long time.

In 1688, the marriage of Fateh Shah's daughter was arranged with the son of Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur (Kahlur). Guru Gobind Singh had sent jewellery worth one lakh rupees to Fateh Shah's daughter at the time of marriage ceremony. However, Bhim Chand had grown wary of the rising influence of Guru Gobind Singh, and had developed animosity toward the Guru. He threatened to cancel the marriage if Fateh Shah accepted the gift from the Guru. Although, there is practically no evidence about the territorial ambitions of the Guru.

Battles with Kumaon Fateh Shah also fought several battles against Kumaon, without any conclusive results.

Gyan Chand of Kumaon, who ascended the throne in 1698, raided Pindar valley in Garhwal after he was crowned. In 1699, he crossed Ramganga river and plundered Sabli, Khatli, and Sainchar. Fateh Shah replied by invading Chaukot and Giwar areas of Kumaon in 1701. In 1703, the Kumaonis defeated the Garhwalis in the battle of Duduli (near Melchauri in Garhwal). In 1707, the Kumaon forces annexed Juniyagarh in Bichla Chaukot, and razed the old fort at Chandpur.

Raja Jagat Chand of Kumaon plundered Lohba and garrisoned the fort of Lohbagarh. Next year, he proceeded as far as Srinagar in Garhwal. According to H. G. Walton, Raja of Kumaon occupied Srinagar, and Fateh Shah fled to Dehradun. Fateh Shah appears to have returned very soon to Garhwal; in 1710, he mobilized his troops in Badhan. After this, he conquered the areas of Katyur Valley (modern day Baijnath) and donated a village named Garsaar to the Badrinath temple.

Patronage of art and literature The contemporary writings mention Garhwal as a very prosperous state during Fateh Shah's reign. Fateh shah was a great patron of art and literature. Like Vikramaditya and Akbar, he is said to have nine illustrious figures (Navaratnas) in his court: Sureshanand Barthwal, Revatram Dhasmana, Rudridutt Kimothi, Hari Dutt Nautiyal, Vasvanand Bahuguna, Shashidhar Dangwal, Sahdev Chandola, Kirit Ram Khanthola, and Hari Dutt Thapliyal.

Some of the encomiastic works from Ratan Shah's period include: Fateh Shah Karna Granth by Jatadhar (or Jatashankar) Fateh Prakash by Ratan Kavi (or Kshem Ram) Vrit Vichar by Kavi Raj Sukhdev Misra Vrit Kaumudi or Chhandsar Pingal by Mati Ram

Ratan Kavi's eulogies state that there was perfect law and order in Garhwal during Fateh Shah's reign, and people did not lock their houses as a result. Kavi Raj Sukhdev Misra praises the Raja's gallantry. Mati Ram's Vrit Kaumudi compares the Raja's generosity with that of the Maratha king Shivaji. Ananda Coomaraswamy mentions that two painters from the Mughal court, Shyam Dass and Har Dass, accompanied Suleiman Shikoh to Garhwal; it is possible that these painters got patronage during the reign of Fateh Shah, which resulted in the birth of the Garhwali school of painting.

Family

Fateh Shah had five children: Upendra Shah (became the Raja after his father's death) Dalip Shah Madhukar Shah Pahar Shah A daughter who married Rajkumar (later Raja) Ajmer Chand, the son of Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur (Kahlur).