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Rajasthan
is where all the country's similes and metaphors appear to have come together.
Sand dunes, wooded hills and amazing lakes, palaces and rugged forts, men and
women in colorful turbans and skirts, bustling towns and quiet villages,
camels, elephants and tigers, harsh sunlight and the cool evening breeze - are
all there in abundance.
Rajasthan
was inhabited by the Rajput clan in the 8th century. The waning of their power
led to the emergence of Jats, Nath, Ahirs, Gujars, Bhils and Meenas, who
established their dominance in the different districts of Rajasthan. It is
noteworthy that these clans largely influenced the culture of Rajasthan. The
12th century heralded the rule of the Muslims, who were followed by the
Mughals. The people, culture and architecture of Rajasthan largely owe to the
Mughal Empire.
Rajasthan,
land of princes, comprised many small kingdoms ruled over by clans who warred
constantly for supremacy and individually tried to stem the tide of the Islamic
invasions. The clans were all Rajputs
According
to the Hindu Mythology, the Rajputs of Rajasthan were the descendants of the
Kshatriyas or warriors of Vedic India. The emergence of the Rajput warrior
clans was in the 6th and 7th centuries. Rajputs ancestry can be divided into
two: the "solar" or suryavanshi-those descended from Rama, the hero
of the epic Ramayana, and the "lunar" or chandravanshi, who claimed
descent from Krishana, the hero of the epic Mahabharata. Later a third clan was
added, the agnikula or fire-born, said to have emerged from the flames of a
sacrificial fire on Mt Abu.
It has
been accepted that the Rajputs were divided into thirty-six races and
twenty-one kingdoms. The Rajput clans gave rise to dynasties like Sisodias of
Mewar (Udaipur), the Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur), the Rathors of Marwar
(Jodhpur & Bikaner), the Hadas of Jhalwawar, Kota & Bundi, the Bhattis
of Jaisalmer, the Shekhawats of Shekhawati and the Chauhans of Ajmer.
Some
popular rulers have been listed and given below according to period:
Rajput
clans emerged and held their sway over different parts of Rajasthan from about
700 AD. Before that, Rajasthan was a part of several republics. It was a part
of the Mauryan Empire. Other major republics that dominated this region include
the Malavas, Arjunyas, Yaudhyas, Kushans, Saka Satraps, Guptas and Hunas.
The
Rajput clans ascendancy in Indian history was during the period from the eighth
to the twelfth century AD. The Pratihars ruled Rajasthan and most of northern
India during 750-1000 AD. Between 1000-1200 AD, Rajasthan witnessed the
struggle for supremacy between Chalukyas, Parmars and Chauhans.
Bappa
Rawal was one of the most powerful and famous rulers of the Mewar Dynasty.
Although a surviving member of the Guhilot clan, Prince Kalbhoj (his actual
name) did not continue the family name of seven generations when he came to the
throne; instead, he established the Mewar Dynasty, naming it for the kingdom he
had just taken.
Prithvi
Raj Chauhan was the second last Hindu king to sit upon the throne of Delhi (the
last Hindu king being Hemu). He succeeded to the throne in 1179 CE at the age
of 11, and ruled from the twin capitals of Ajmer and Delhi. He controlled much
of Rajasthan and Haryana, and unified the Rajputs against Muslim invasions
Around
1200 AD a part of Rajasthan came under Muslim rulers. The principal centers of
their powers were Nagaur and Ajmer. Ranthanbhor was also under their
suzerainty. At the beginning of the 13th century AD, the most prominent and
powerful state of Rajasthan was Mewar.
Some of
the rulers have been listed below.
His
reign was one of expansion and consolidation. Kumbha was a remarkable ruler. He
was a great general and defeated the Sultans of Malwa and Gujarat. He built the
forts at Kumbalgarh, Achalgarh, and Mandalgarh. He erected the Tower of Victory
at Chittor and built innumerable temples. He was a scholar of Sanskrit and a
fine musician. He wrote several commentaries on musical treatises. He was a
tolerant ruler and during his reign the beautiful Jain temples at Ranakpur were
built.
Maharana
Pratap belonged to the Sisodia clan of Suryavanshi Rajputs. The epitome of
fiery Rajput pride and self-respect, Pratap has for centuries exemplified the
qualities that Rajputs
Pratap,
eldest of 25 brothers and 20 sisters, was born at Kumbhalgarh to Maharana Udai
Singh II and Maharani Javanta Bai Songara (Chauhan). Maharana Pratap was born
in Pali-Marwar. His birthplace is known as Juni Kacheri.
Maharana
Udai Singh was a king of Mewar and the founder of the city of Udaipur in the
present day Rajasthan He was the 53rd ruler of the Mewar dynasty. He was the
fourth and posthumous son of Maharana Sangram Singh and Rani Karmavati, a
princess of Bundi
He was
ruler of the kingdom of Amber (later called Jaipur). His father was Maha Singh
the Raja of Garha, and his mother was Damayanti, a princess of Mewar.
At the
tender age of 10 Jai Singh I became the Raja of Amber and the head of the
Kachwaha Rajputs. His military career spans the full reign of Shah Jahan and
the first half of Aurangzeb's reign. Jai Singh's first step in his rise to
greatness took place on the accession of Shah taking advantage of this change
of sovereigns.
Rao
Bika was the founder of the city and principality of Bikaner. He was a son of
Rao Jodha, founder of the city and principality of Jodhpur.
Rao
Bika left Marwar (Jodhpur) to create his own kingdom. Rao Jodha supported Bika
in his endeavours in return in return for which he made Bika promise never to
try and take the throne of Mewar.Some valuable family heirlooms which would
legitimize his right to found a kingdom were promised to Bika.
During
his time Amber proved too small for the growing power of the state. He built
the new capital of Jaipur (1712) and being a great diplomat maintained
equitable relations with the bigoted Emperor Aurangzeb.
Due to
the policy of appeasement, the matrimonial alliances and the solid military
support offered by Amber-Jaipur to the Moghuls, this state escaped the sacking
and constant warfare which disrupted other Rajput principalities. As a result,
the state of Jaipur was the most advanced at the time of Indian independence
(1947)
Jaipur
as a matter of course became the capital of the newly formed state of
Rajasthan. Its ruler, Sawai Man Singh II became Rajpramukh of Rajasthan. His
wife, now Rajmata Gayatri Devi entered politics and is a member of parliament.
Sawai Man Singh was a great polo player. His son and heir Bhavani Singh is an
officer in the Indian Army and won the Mahavira Chakra for conspicuous bravery
in the 1971 war with Pakistan thus maintaining the martial traditions of the
Rajputs.
Rajasthan
had never been united politically until its domination by Mughal Emperor -
Akbar. Akbar created a unified province of Rajasthan. Mughal The political
disintegration of Rajasthan was caused by the dismemberment of the Mughal
Empire. The Marathas penetrated Rajasthan upon the decline of the Mughal
Empire. In 1755 they occupied Ajmer. The beginning of the 19th Century was
marked by the onslaught of the Pindaris.
The
erstwhile Rajputana comprised 19 princely states and two chiefships of Lava and
Kushalgarh and a British administered territory of Ajmer-Merwara. Rajasthan
State was heterogeneous conglomeration of separate political entities with
different administrative systems prevailing in different places.
The
present State of Rajasthan was formed after a long process of integration which
began on March 17, 1948 and ended on November 1, 1956. Before integration it
was called Rajputana; after integration it came to be known as Rajasthan. At
present there are 33 districts (including the new district of Pratapgarh) in
the State.
