Khoja Bhalo

Khoja Bhalo

Town of birth

• Lohgadh

Province of birth

• Punjab

Country of birth

• India

Date of Death

• 1607

Place of Death

• Bhuj

Province of death

• Kutch

Country of death

• British India

Place of longest stay

• Bhuj

Where-City or Country

• British India

Family tree

Children

Banno Khoja Bhalo 1715

Khetasi Khoja Bhalo 1687

Lakho Khoja Bhalo 1629

Born in Lohgadh

Bhalo lived around 1154 at Lohgadh in Punjab, and belonged to the Lohana class of the Rajput stock.

He embraced Satpanth through Pir Dadu (d. 1596) and henceforth was called Khoja Bhalo.

In 1587, at the request of Rao Bharmalji I (1585-1631), the ruler of Kutchh, Pir Dadu and Khoja Bhalo left Sind and went to Kutchh.

There, Khoja Bhalo was employed to a high post in the administration of Kutchh State.

Bhalo was followed by his sons Lakho (d. 1629), Khetasi (d. 1687) and Banno, who died in Delhi in 1715.

Banno's son was Jivo (d. 1752), whose son was Ebhalo (d. 1784) and henceforward, the whole family became known as the Ebhlani family.

Roa Bharmalji I

Dying in 1585 Khengarji I was succeeded by Bharmal who ruled till 1631. During his reign the government of Gujarat passed from the Gujarat Sultanate to the Mughal Emperors. Under the Gujarat Sultanate, the Kutch chief remained to the last paying no regular tribute, but bound to serve with 5000 horse. When their power ceased Bharmal seems to have attempted to make himself independent, but after two defeats, in 1590 and 1591 Battle of Bhuchar Mori, agreeing to admit the supremacy of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, he was confirmed in his former position, and was only occasionally called on to pay tribute.[20]

Of the state of Kutch at the close of the sixteenth century, the author of the Ain-i-Akbari (1583–1590) has left the following details, The greater part was composed of woods and untilled lands. Its horses, supposed to be of Arab blood, its camels, and its goats were remarkably good. Its men, once Jadavs, now named Jadejas, were tall, handsome, and long-bearded. The Muhammadan religion had for long prevailed. The military force of the country was 10,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry. The capital was Bhuj (written Tahej) and there were two strong forts, Bara and Kanthkot.[20]

In 1617 Bharmal went to Ahmedabad to pay his respects to the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, presenting him with 100 Kutch horses, 100 ashrafis and 2000 rupees. He is spoken of as one of the greatest Zamindars in Gujarat, who had always from 5000 to 6000 horse, and was able in time of war to double the number.[20] Jahangir, much pleased with the old chief, gave him his own horse, a male and female elephant, a dagger, a sword with diamond mounted hilt, and four rings. At the same time, on the condition of giving pilgrims a passage to Mecca, he freed Kutch from tribute.[21]

' Source: Wikipedia