Table Of ContentA
HISTORY OF
RAJASTHAN
A
HISTORY OF
RAJASTHAN
RIMA HOOJA
Copyright © Rima Hooja 2006
First Published 2006
Second Impression 2009
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Dedicated to
Bhupendra Hooja (1922–2006)
In turn student leader (Lahore), radio broadcaster (AIR and BBC, London),
government publicist (Delhi Administration), journalist, author, senior civil
servant (IAS), writer, editor, publisher, activist, perennial seeker of knowledge,
and a learned and warm hearted mentor to many.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
SECTION 1
1.THE LAND AND THE BACKGROUND SETTING
Introduction
The Background Setting: Geography of Rajasthan
The Aravalli Range
The Major Rivers of Rajasthan
The Geology of Rajasthan
Water Collection and Storage Systems
Traditional Geographical, Political and Cultural Divisions
2.A PICTURE UNFOLDS: THE PRE-AND PROTO-HISTORY OF
RAJASTHAN
Introduction
Climate and Climatic Changes in Pre-and Proto-historic Times: A
Summary
The Prehistory and Protohistory of Rajasthan
The Palaeolithic (Or ‘Old Stone Age’) Period
Lower Palaeolithic
Middle Palaeolithic
Upper Palaeolithic
The Mesolithic (Or ‘Late Stone Age’) Sites of Rajasthan
Chalcolithic Cultures
The Early, Mature and Post-Harappan Sites of Rajasthan
The Ahar Culture
The Ganeshwar-Jodhpura Copper Complex
Iron Age Cultures
The Painted Grey Ware Using Sites
Iron in Southeast Rajasthan
Northern Black Polished Ware
Early Art
SECTION 2
3.THE EARLY HISTORICAL PERIOD – c. 500 BC TO AD 300
Introduction
Early Kingdoms and Republics
Rajasthan Between the c. 300 BC – AD 300 Period
Aspects of Society, Economy, Religion, Art and Architecture During this
Period
The Rajasthan Region at the Beginning of Circa AD 300
4.RAJASTHAN BETWEEN c. AD 300 – AD 700
Introduction
Rajasthan During the Time of the Gupta Empire
Some Local Chiefships in Rajasthan During the Gupta Age
The Guptas, the Huns and the Situation in Rajasthan
The Post-Gupta Period — c. AD 500-700
Some Local Kingdoms of Rajasthan
The Guhilas
The Guhilas of Medpat/Mewar
The Guhilas of Kishkindha (Kishkindhpura)
The Pratiharas of Mandore
The Nagas and Early Towns of Rajasthan
The Administrative and Economic Practices in Rajasthan in the Gupta and
Post-Gupta Period
Art and Architecture in Rajasthan During the c. AD 500-700 Post-Gupta
Period
SECTION 3
5.RAJASTHAN BETWEEN c. AD 700 – AD 1200
Introduction
Contact, ‘Isolation’ and Trade Routes
Rajasthan Between c. AD 700-1000 (Eighth-Eleventh Centuries AD)
Relations with the Arabs During the Early Eighth Century AD
The Rajputs: Their ‘Origins’ and Consolidation of Power in Rajasthan
The Imperial Pratiharas — Their Rise, Zenith and Decline: from
Nagabhata I to the Successors of Trilochanapala
The Imperial Pratiharas and Contemporary Art and Architecture in
Rajasthan
The Ghaznavide Raids
Other Important Clans and Chiefdoms in Rajasthan Between c. AD 700-
1000
The Pratiharas of Mandore
The Chauhans of Shakambhari and Nadol
The Nadol Branch
The Mauryas of Chittor and Kota
The Nagas
The Parmars
The Parmars of Abu
The Parmars of Vagar
The Parmars of Jalore
The Parmars of Kiradu and/or Bhinmal
The Guhilas of Chatsu, Mewar and Dhod
The Guhilas of Dhod
The Guhilas of Chatsu
The Bhatis of Western Rajasthan
The Tomars
Other Groups
Post-Imperial Pratihara Struggle for Supremacy
The Chauhans of Shakambhari-Ajmer During the c.1000-1200 Period
The Age of Prithviraj III
Other Ruling Families and Clans of Rajasthan Up to c. AD 1200
Aspects of the Art and Architecture, Religious Trends, and Administrative
and Economic Practices in Rajasthan During the c. AD 1000-1200
Period
Rajasthan at the End of the Twelfth Century AD
6.RAJASTHAN BETWEEN c. AD 1200 – AD 1500
Introduction
Transformation, Consolidation and the Re-drawing of Older Boundaries in
Rajasthan in the Thirteenth Century AD
Rajasthan and the Delhi Sultanate During AD 1200-1300
The Chauhans of Ranthambore
The Chauhans of Jalore
The Parmars of Abu
Nagaur: A Much Contested Possession
Rajasthan at the Beginning of the Fourteenth Century AD
The Chauhans of Ranthambore and Alauddin Khilji
Chittor and its Conquest by Alauddin Khilji
The Fall of Siwana
The Chauhans of Jalore and Alauddin Khilji’s Conquest
Victors and the Vanquished — Some Aspects
The Delhi Sultanate and its Impact Upon Rajasthan During the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Centuries
The Political History of the States of Rajasthan (c. AD 1200-1500)
The Guhila-Sisodias of Mewar
Other Guhila States
The Guhilots of Vagar/Dungarpur
The Deora Chauhans of Sirohi
The Hada Chauhans of Bundi
The Bhatis of Western Rajasthan
The Sankhlas of Janglu
The Rathores of Marwar
The Rathores of Bikaner
The Kachchwahas of Dhoondhar (Or Amber/Jaipur)
The Shekhawats of Shekhawati
The Yaduvamshis of Eastern and North-Eastern Rajasthan
Mewat and the ‘Mewatis’ of Eastern and North-Eastern Rajasthan
The Badgujars
The Tanwars of Dholpur
The Kyam-Khanis of Shekhawati
The Political History of Nagaur Region
Rajput Relations with ‘Indigenous’ Groups Like the Meenas, Bhils, and
Meds and So on
Rajput-Muslim Interactions and Matrimonial Alliances
Aspects of Art, Architecture, Literature, Religion, Economy, Society and
Governance, and Relations with Neighbouring States, etc. During c. AD
1200 – 1500
Rajasthan at the End of the Fifteenth Century
SECTION 4
7.RAJASTHAN BETWEEN c. AD 1500 – AD 1600
Introduction
The Sultanate of Delhi, the Mughals and the Sur Dynasty Rulers
The Various States of Rajasthan During the Sixteenth Century
The State of Mewar
Other Guhila States
The State of Dungarpur
The State of Banswara
The Guhilots and the State of Pratapgarh-Deoliya
The State of Amber/Dhoondhar
Shekhawati
Mewat and the Mewatis
The State of Sirohi
The State of Bundi
The State of Marwar/Jodhpur
The State of Bikaner
The State of Jaisalmer
The State of Karauli
Dholpur
Inter-religious Interactions and Matrimonial Alliances
Some Aspects of Administration, Socio-Economic Conditions, Art and
Architecture, Literature, and Religious Beliefs, etc. in Rajasthan in the
Sixteenth Century
Rajasthan at the Close of the Sixteenth Century
8.RAJASTHAN FROM c. AD 1600 UP TO THE DEATH OF
AURANGZEB (AD 1707))
Introduction
The Mughal Empire During the Seventeenth Century and Rajput
Participation in its Governance and Campaigns
The Various Prominent States of Rajasthan in the Seventeenth Century
The Kachchwahas of Dhoondhar
The Shekhawati Area
The State of Marwar/Jodhpur
The Rathores of Bikaner
The Rathores of Kishangarh
The Mewatis
The Rise of the Jats — the Kingdom of Bharatpur
The State of Mewar/Udaipur
Other Guhila States and Principalities
Dungarpur
Banswara
The Guhilots of Pratapgarh-Deoliya
Sirohi
The State of Bundi
The Kingdom of Kota
The Kingdom of Jaisalmer
Karauli
Contemporaneous Archival Records
Some Aspects of Art, Architecture, Literature, Socio-cultural and
Religious Conditions During the Seventeenth Century
Rajasthan at the Beginning of The Eighteenth Century
SECTION 5
9.AN ERA OF DISQUIET AND THE SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES:
RAJASTHAN IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY AD 1700 – 1800
Introduction
The Mughal Empire During the Eighteenth Century and its Interaction with
Rajasthan
The Rajput States and the Marathas
The State of Dhoondhar/Amber-Jaipur
The Shekhawati Area
Mewar/Udaipur
Marwar/Jodhpur
Bikaner
Jaisalmer
Karauli
The Narukas of Alwar
The ‘Jatwara’ Kingdoms of Bharatpur and Dholpur
Dholpur
Bundi
Kota
Kishangarh
Sirohi
Dungarpur
Banswara
Pratapgarh-Deoliya
Aspects of the Art, Architecture, Literature, Society, Economy and
Religious Trends etc. in the Eighteenth Century
Rajasthan at the End of the Eighteenth Century
SECTION 6
10.DIPLOMACY, TRANSFORMATIONS AND BRITISH
PARAMOUNTCY: RAJPUTANA DURING THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY
Introduction
Rajasthan and the Marathas, Pindaris and East India Company in the Early
Nineteenth Century
The Pindaris
British Ascendance in Rajasthan: The Rajput States and British
Paramountcy
The Establishment of the Rajputana Agency
The Doctrine of Lapse, the Events of 1857, and the States of Rajputana
Post-1858 Rajputana, Sanads (Grants) of Adoption of Heirs, and Relations
with the British
The States of Rajputana During the Nineteenth Century
The State of Tonk
British Recognition to the Chiefships of Lawa and Kushalgarh
Mewar/Udaipur
Dungarpur
Banswara
Kushalgarh
Pratapgarh-Deoliya (Pertabgarh)
Marwar
Bikaner
Kishangarh
Karauli
Dholpur
British Possession of Ajmer-Merwara
Jaipur/Amber
Alwar
The Shekhawati Area
Sirohi
Bundi
Kotah
Establishment of Jhalawar
Jaisalmer
Bharatpur
Agrarian Movements
British Monopoly Over the Salt Trade of Rajasthan
Opium, the British, and the States of Rajputana
Aspects of the Art, Architecture, Literature, Society, Economy, Education,
etc. in Rajasthan During the Nineteenth Century
Rajasthan at the End of the Nineteenth Century
SECTION 7
11.RAJPUTANA 1900 – 1947
Introduction
Background to Movements for Agrarian, Political and Socio-economic
Reforms in Rajputana and their Concomitant Role in the Formation of
Modern Rajasthan
The National Movement, British India, and the Princely States of
Rajputana (1900-1947)
Political Awareness in Rajputana
Peasant and Popular Movements and Uprisings
Tribal-related Movements
Mewar
Dungarpur
Banswara
Pratapgarh-Deoliya
Shahpura — from Chiefship to State to Merger
Alwar
Bharatpur
Kotah
Bundi
Jhalawar
Jaisalmer
Bikaner
Jaipur
Marwar
Kishangarh
Karauli
Sirohi
Tonk
Dholpur
British Administered Ajmer-Merwara
The Transition from Rajputana to Rajasthan
SECTION 8
12.A NEW AWAKENING: THE MAKING OF PRESENT-DAY
RAJASTHAN
Introduction
Towards the ‘Integration’ of Rajputana’s Princely States
The Process and Stages of Integration in Rajasthan
The New Political Administration of Rajasthan
Aspects of Integration — An Overview
Administrative Integration
Judicial Integration
Financial Integration
Integration of the Various States’ Armed Forces
Various Government Schemes, Programmes, Acts and Attempts for
Development
Land Reforms and the Abolition of Jagirs etc.
Land Reforms and the Protests of the ‘Ancien Regime’
Inauguration of Panchayati Raj in Rajasthan
Municipalities and Urban Local Administration
Towards the Future
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GLOSSARY
SOME TRADITIONAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
