Fateh Muhammad
Fateh Muhammad (1752–1813) was a regent who administered Cutch State as a leader of Bar Bhayat ni Jamat under titular kings, Prithvirajji and Rayadhan III.
Maharao Rayadhan III was deposed by the revolt of Jamadars, the local chiefs, led by Meghji Sheth of Anjar and placed under restraint in 1786.
[1] The chief actors, the Jamadars and Meghji Seth, raised Prithvirajji, Rayadhan's younger brother to the chiefship, appointed during his minority a council known as the Bar Bhayat ni Jamat which was a congregation of power.
To his party belonged the chief of Mandvi and Aima Bai, the mother of the Prithvirajji, and by their secession, the power of Dosal Ven and the other members of the council was greatly reduced.
Always a favourite with the troops, Fateh Muhammad had little difficulty in putting an end to Dosal's supremacy and restoring Prithvirajji to his proper position as the head of the state.
[1] As minister, Fateh Muhammad won regards of the young Prithvirajji, he secured the favour of the Jadejas by pensions; and, by raising a powerful body of mercenaries t acted with such vigour against those who opposed him, that except Dosal Ven, who retired to Mundra, all the members of the council were either banished from Cutch, or placed in confinement.
[2] He next turned his attention to the outlying parts of the province, which during the eight years of weak and divided rule had fallen into disorder and become a prey to the raids of Miyana and Khosa robbers.
The town of Sanva, whose unruly chief had refused to pay tribute was taken and plundered, and its bands of robbers broken and driven out of the country.
Besides in bringing disorderly vassals to obedience, Fateh Muhammad spread the Rao's power by recovering arrears of tribute from the Jam of Navanagar State, and obtained from the Girasias the cession of the Bhachau district in Vagad, which under his management became one of the richest and most populous parts of Kutch.
At the same time, so long as they had his confidence, he placed in their hands almost unlimited power, neither listening to stories against them nor cramping them by requiring too close an adherence to rules.
While thus successful, they were suddenly recalled to Bhuj, where Fateh Muhammad, deserted by one of his chief supporters the commandant of Lakhpat, and badly off for funds, had determined to centre his forces.
The Rao now moved against Bhuj, and being joined by many bands of mercenaries, became so strong that Fateh Muhammad feeling resistance useless, agreed to surrender the capital, if he were given the estates of Anjar and Bhachau.
In these schemes and in keeping up a large body of mercenaries he spent more than his income, and looking about for some way to raise money, made so heavy a demand from his follower Askarn, that he, entering into secret communication with Hansraj, invited him to attack Anjar, and flying from the town joined his troops.
Shortly afterwards, at Bhuj, Askarn taking advantage of Hansraj's absence, on condition of a promise of the post of minister, set Rao Rayadhan free.
[5] Fateh Muhammad, after his victory over Askarn, continued to advance on Bhuj, and, finding the mercenaries friendly, he was at night secretly admitted into the town.
[7] On recovering from his wound, Fateh Muhammad, at the instigation of the chief of Adesar, marched into eastern Cutch and remained in Vagad region during the greater part of this and the two following years (1809-1812).
[9] He negotiated with British government agent Captain James MacMurdo regarding piracy in Arabian Sea and bandits from Vagad region.
[9] Kutch with other parts of north Gujarat suffered from locusts in 1811 and from a failure of rain in 1812, and in the next season, among the people reduced by want and crowded into the larger towns; a pestilence broke out that, carrying off half of their number, paralyzed the whole population.
During the siege of Kanthkot in Vagad his army suffered so severely that he was forced to retire to Bhuj; and there, after a few days he died on 5 October 1813 due to the disease.
