Najabat Khan
Afghan chief and warrior (18th century)
Najabat Khan ( † 17 October 1760) was an Afghan warrior of the 18th century, and founder of a line of chiefs of Kunjpura which he was granted by Nader Shah in 1739 and the titlehood "Nawab". Najabat Khan was killed during the Battle of Kunjpura at his fort on 17 October 1760 by the Maratha Army led by Ibrahim Khan Gardi during preparations for the Third Battle of Panipat.
Early life
Najabat Khan was born in the region of Ghorghushti in the Chach plains northeast of Attock, in the area along the upper parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain that correspond to what is just nearby to the Hazara region. Having left the valley, he set out to the eastern parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain to seek his fortunes. Najabat Khan entered into the service of the Mughal governor of Punjab, who was then Zakariya Khan, until he was made an imperial commander within the Mughal Army and obtained a tract in Karnal. During the decisive Battle of Karnal, he betrayed the Mughals and aided Nader Shah during his invasion of Delhi, and was therefore recognized as Nawab of Karnal by Nader Shah.
Kunjpura chiefdom
In 1748 he obtained a sanad from the Durrani Padishāh Ahmad Shah Abdali, who was then in the height of his power in Northern India, granting him a "hereditary jagir" of 149 villages. The villages were declared to be inam, or revenue-free, and he was to enjoy thenceforth the revenue payable to the Imperial Government, subject to the obligation of maintaining order in his ilaqa or possessions. These villages were in Karnal district, and it was from this base that he fought more battles against the Rajput Hill Rajas. In 1729 he founded Kunjpura and built a fort there.
“Najabat Khan” enters the record as afghan chief and warrior (18th century). Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Najabat, Khan and Afghan can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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