RAJPUTANA

RAJPUTANA

It’s been more than 2.5 years since I wrote my first blog. Majorly time and lack of urge to write long essays are the main culprits. Now the time is apt for me to write the second blog since I am feeling restless and guilty too about my lack of understanding and zero knowledge on politics and history.

I visited Jaipur in first week of December and had an opportunity to visit AMBER fort. In 2018 I had visited Udaipur too. Since most of my reading on history is around MARATHA Empire, I always compared the RAJPUTS with MARATHAs and tried to prove that MARATHAs were more brave and independent clan than RAJPUTS. Had my share of debates with my friends, some of them RAJPUT themselves. My topic of debate was always around two points:

1.       Most of the RAJPUT kings were mere employees of MUGHAL Empire.

2.       Some of the RAJPUT kings have married their daughters in MUGHAL Royal Family.

Apart from that, the only defeat in the life of SHIVAJI Maharaj at the hands of MIRZA RAJE JAISINGH was also a reason. This particular point always pained me.

However when we visited the AMBER Fort, we had a guide named Chandan Singh who was quite well versed in the RAJPUT history. While coming back someone asked him a question on why did the RAJPUTs worked under MUGHAL? While we all hear the stories of their bravery. To this question he gave a very simple explanation which seems to be justified but needs to be validated with evidences. Post the visit I discussed this topic with one of my friend and came up with below theory which needs to be worked on and more documents I am sure will be available.

One of the most important reason of RAJPUTS working under MUGHALS was GEOGRAPHY.

Most of the RAJASTHAN is covered with desert and to establish cities like JAIPUR, UDAIPUR, BIKANER and may others, the community has to be hardworking and sincere. Also business acumen is needed. However in the pre-modern era the trade and land was controlled by kings who were more powerful and it was the era of wars. Today we can’t really imagine how difficult it was to establish a peaceful kingdom. Areas like RAJASTHAN or PUNJAB were always first to bear the brunt of attacks from the invaders coming from IRAN, TURKSTAN or AFGHANISTAN. To keep on fighting the wars persistently and to keep your country and citizens safe and prosperous is a tough ask.  The concept of bravery is based on “DO or DIE” or “FATEH ya SHAHIDI” in RAJPUT history. Hence they kept on fighting for long time. We still learn stories of RAJPUT Warriors doing KESARIYA act and RAJPUTANIs doing JOHAR. But this was never going to be sustainable.

Another reason which our Guide Mr. Chandan explained was the absence of unity amongst all RAJPUT Kingdoms. INDIA is cursed on this front and we have a history of JAICHAND’s in different eras and in different parts of INDIA.  The lack of unity ensured that RAJPUT kings did not help each other at the time of War and at times helped the invaders. This was slowly ensuring that the area under Muslim rulers was increasing and the area ruled by others, be it RAJPUTS or others was shrinking. If we see the world history, Muslim religion which started 1300 years back has spread to almost 50 countries and the religion is second in terms of global population. This could happen because of many reasons but during the times of GHORIs, KHILJIs or MUGHALs conversion was rampant.  There are high chances that the main rulers of RAJASTHAN (JAIPUR) had a good foresight and they could see the entire population converting to either MOHAMMADIAN religion or getting wiped out.  Hence they would have made a pact with the MUGHALs that you will get the revenue and we will keep our culture and religion. Similar thought may have been taken up by others. This is of course against the basic instinct of radical thoughts which places PRIDE above everything else. However practically the above solution seems good.

When we read about Maratha history in school it starts with SHIVAJI MAHARAJ and ends with PESHWAI. However MARATHA history too is full of JAICHANDs and they are conveniently ignored. SHIVAJI MAHARAJ was the pinnacle of MARATHA history and SAMBHAJI Raje followed his footsteps. SHIVAJJIRAJE came up with gorilla war tactics, which consisted of surprise attacks and then running away as the enemy got alert. This was something new in those times and also innovations in different arms ensured he won all his wars except the one with MIRZA RAJA JAISINGH.

There are some theories which say MIRZA RAJE JAISINGH’s pressure ensured that AURANGZEB couldn’t harm SHIVAJIRAJE during Agra visit.  MIRZA RAJE has taken an oath to protect SHIVAJI RAJE and had given assurance to AURANGZEB that SHIAVAJI RAJE will work for MUGHALs. Similarly our guide had a theory that forefathers of MIRZA RAJE, Named MAN SINGH had won all wars for AKBAR except the one with MAHARANA PRATAP. Similar logic can be applied there. In current political scenario too, we see politicians help someone from opposition parties for their vested interest.

Someone like me who is in awe of SHIVAJI MAHARAJ conveniently ignores and have been kept ignored about the real history of RAJPUTS which is far beyond the MUGHAL era. This history is full of warriors like BAPPA RAWAL, PRIHTVIRAJ CHAUHAN, PADMAVATI DEVI and likes. These are also the famous names which we read in history. There are more and more names which didn’t get their due because of our flawed curriculum.

I would like to read more about RAJPUTANA and dg more information to validate above claims. If they are already validated, I would like to read them too.

I would end this write up by Saluting RAJPUTS with the famous poem:

चार बांस चौबीस गज अंगुल अष्ट प्रमाण

ता ऊपर सुलतान बेसियो, मत चूको चौहाण

References:

1.       Google Baba

2.       Mr. Chandan Singh

3.       My Friends who shares same interests.