Rao Bal Kishan

Rao Bal Kishan was a prince of Rewari Princely state  who fought against Nadir shah in the Battle of Karnal.     

Early Life
Rao Bal Kishan was born to Rao Nand Ram Singh of Rewari region.https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Brij_Bhoomi/iKJRDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rao+bal+kishan&pg=PA93&printsec=frontcover It is said that he killed a lion without wearing armor. This earned him the title of "Sher Bacha Shamsher Bahadur". He was married to the daughter of a Sardar Ramchandra of Takana Nasibpur. 

Battle of Karnal
In 1739, the Iranian ruler Nadir Shah attacked India. Rao Bal Kishan, with his army and with the forces of Delhi, fought Nadir Shah. His army included 5000 infantry and 2000 cavalry.  In February 1739, Nader Shah captured Sirhind and moved towards the field of Karnal, a battle destined to be fateful to the Mughal rulers. On 24 February, the battle of Karnal was fought. Emperor Muhammad Shah had over a hundred thousand force against Nader Shah's 55,000 men but was still decisively defeated because royal force left the Battlefield at Karnal. Only Rao Balkishan Singh  fought to Nadir shah, he was killed in the battle but immortalized the name "Vijay or Veergati".https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Haryana_State_Gazetteer/kYsMAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=rao+bal+kishan&dq=rao+bal+kishan&printsec=frontcover The Battle was ambitious as Nadir Shah itself remarked to Mughal Emperor that if your combined forces helped Rao Balkrishna of Rewari, than I might not able to enter in Delhi. I had never seen any warrior like him brave , Fierce and strong. After this to a royal chhatri kiosk was made by Mughal Emperor to remark tribute to Rao Balkrishna. Even today the Chhatri is present in Karnal.  

Post Battle
After the battle, Nadir Shah met the Mughal emperor and praised Rao Bal Kishan and his soldiers. He said - "If Rao Bal Kishan had not been martyred in the battle and Faujshahi (Mughal armies) supported that brave Sardar whole heartedly instead of escaping from the battlefield, we would not had the luck to see Delhi today, but it would also have been difficult to return to Iran alive.

Death
Rao Balkishan was killed in an ambush by the Iranian troops in the Battle of Karnal on 24 February, 1739.

Legacy
Chhatri (Memorial) of Raja Rao Balkishan is located in Karnal, Haryana.
Rao Balkishan Singh Memorial School is located in Hauz Khas, Delhi.
A Shaheedi Mela is organised in Gurgaon, Haryana on 24 February every year.

Related pages
Gurgaon
Ahirwal
References

Category:Indian monarchs
Category:1739 deaths
Category:18th century in India