PAPER ID:IJIM/V. 10 (1)/80-83/11

AUTHOR: Aayushi Sharma^[I]  Dr. Hawaldar Bharti^[II]

TITLE : RISE OF LOCAL POWER: THE JATS IN THE SUBAH OF DELHI (1707-1757)

ABSTRACT: The period following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 marked a critical transition in the Indian subcontinent, witnessing the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of regional powers. Among these, the Jats emerged as a significant force in northern India, particularly between Delhi and Agra. Originally an agrarian community, the Jats evolved into powerful political actors through strategic mobilization, opportunistic raids, and military consolidation. Under leaders like Gokula, Churaman, Badan Singh, and Surajmal, they challenged imperial authority, established autonomous centers of power such as Bharatpur and Ballabgarh, and capitalized on the weakening Mughal administration. This paper examines the rise of the Jats in the context of political fragmentation, with a focus on their conflicts with Mughal officers, their alliances with Marathas and local rulers, and their gradual transformation from plunderers to state-builders. It also highlights the localized resistance and assertion of power in regions such as Faridabad and Ballabgarh, demonstrating how subaltern groups leveraged imperial decay to reshape the political landscape of northern India.

KEYWORDS : Aurangzeb’s death, Mughal decline, Jat uprising, Bharatpur, Ballabgarh, Surajmal, Badan Singh, Safdar Jang, regional powers, Delhi Subah, political fragmentation, 18th-century India, highway raids, Maratha alliance, imperial decay.

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