Rai Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal

Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal ( – 21 September 1857), also known as Baba Kharal, was a Punjabi Muslim chieftain of the Kharal tribe who led the Gogera movement, a tribal rebellion in the Bar region of Punjab against the East India Company, during the Indian rebellion of 1857. He is regarded as a martyr and folk hero.

Earlier in the 19th century, he fought against the rising power of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the Punjab as a youngster. According to local historical accounts, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh offered Ahmad Khan Kharal a gift, he instead requested the release of Muslim prisoners and captives held by the Sikh authorities, a request that was granted. Ranjit Singh is also reported to have avoided direct confrontation with Kharal by bypassing his territories. As an elderly man in his late seventies, he fought against the expansion of the British Empire, and was subsequently martyred by British forces.

Biography Ahmad Khan Kharal was born in Jhamra, near Tandlianwala, Faisalabad District into a landowning family of the Kharals which was prominent in the Bar region. The Kharals are held to have embraced Islam through the influence of Baba Farid.

The Kharals had vied for dominance with Bar tribal groups such as the Baghela, Kathia, Wattoo, Fatayana and others. Ahmad Khan Kharal was able to maintain influence and control over all of the Sandal Bar.

Leopold Oliver Fitzhardinge Berkeley, better known as Lord Berkley, was the Assistant Commissioner of Gugera in 1857. He held a meeting with important personalities of Gugera including Ahmad Khan Kharal. Berkley demanded all the leaders to supply the British with men (soldiers) and horses to crush the ongoing revolt. To this, Ahmad Khan Kharal replied: "Kharals do not share women, horses and land with anyone" and left.

Role in the Revolt of 1857 On July 8, the British arrested a large number of Joiya tribesmen, women and children after they refused to pay the heavy taxes. But native accounts disagree suggesting that 145 prisoners died and 100+ East India Company troops were also killed. The British arrested Ahmad Khan Kharal but released him due to pressure from local tribes and insufficient evidence available to charge him. The connection of Jhang to Lahore was completely cut on account of their actions. Ahmad Khan Kharal planned a major assault on Gugera with other tribal leaders in a secret meeting but the information was leaked by Sarfraz Kharal of Kamalia to the British. The British prepared themselves to face the upcoming assault and when the rebels attacked they were repulsed with heavy losses. The rebellion continued until it ended in 1858 as local tribes lost to British reinforcements. A few days later, one of his supporters stole the head and buried it in his ancestral graveyard in Jhamra.

احمد خاں شہید ہویا تاں سِر پَنجاب دے نوُں جا گھَتیا اے ہَتھ

With Ahmad Khan's martyrdom, Britain has lowered the head of Punjab.