Sirohi State

Last updated

Kingdom of Sirohi
Sirohi State
1311 CE–1949 CE
Flag of Sirohi.svg
Flag
Sirohi State Coat of Arms.png
Coat of arms
Map of Sirohi.jpg
Sirohi State (orange) within Rajputana (yellow), in 1909
Capital Sirohi
Religion
Hinduism
Government Monarchy
History 
• Established
1311 CE
1949 CE
Today part of India

Kingdom of Sirohi (known as Sirohi State in colonial time) was an independent Hindu state in present-day Rajasthan state of India. The state was founded by in 1311 CE and lasted for six centuries, which led to stopping dissolution in 1949 CE, and stopping merger into the erstwhile Bombay State of India.

Contents

Geography

Sirohi State was in the Rajputana agency. It had an area 1,964 square miles (5,090 km2) The territory was much broken up by hills and rocky ranges; the Aravalli range divided it into two portions, running from north-east to south-west. The south and south-east part of the territory is mountainous and rugged, containing the lofty Mount Abu, an isolated mass of granite rock, culminating in a cluster of hills, enclosing several valleys surrounded by rocky ridges, like great hollows. On both sides of the Aravallis the country is intersected with numerous water channels, which run with considerable force and volume during the height of the rainy season, but are dry for the greater part of the year. The only river of any importance is the Western Banas. [1]

In 1911 the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition recorded that a large portion of the state was covered with dense jungle, in which wild animals, including the tiger, bear and leopard, abounded; and that the climate was on the whole dry (in the south and east there was usually a fair amount of rain. On Abu the average annual rainfall is about 64 inches (160 cm), whereas in Erinpura, less than 50 miles (80 km) to the north, the average fall is only between 12 and 13 inches (30 and 33 cm). [1]

During the 19th century the Rajputana Railway was built. It traversed the state, and a station was built at Abu Road, 28 miles (45 km) south of the town of Sirohi. [1]

In 1901 the population of the state was 154,544, showing a decrease of 17% in the decade, due to the results of famine. Gross revenue was £28,000, tribute to the British Raj was £450. The population of the town of Sirohi was 5,651 and its main business was the manufacturing of sword-blades and other weapons. [1]

History

South Asia non political, with rivers.jpg
Map of the Rajputana 1525.png
South Asia
1525 CE
Long Rectangle (plain).png
class=notpageimage|
Location of Sirohi within Rajputana circa 1525, with neighbouring polities, on the eve of the establishment of the Mughal Empire. [2]

Sirohi State was founded by Maharaja of Deora Rajputs before c. 1311, and formed the area into a state. [3] In 1405, then-ruler Shivabhan established the capital of the state at Shivpuri, 3 kilometers east of the present-day town of Sirohi. [4] In 1425, Rao Sains Mal built the town of Sirohi, while later became the capital of the state. [5] The rulers of this state belong to Deora Chauhan clan of Rajputs. [6] In 1452, the state was attacked by Rana Kumbha of Mewar. [7]

During the early years of the 19th century, Sirohi suffered much from wars with Jodhpur and the hill tribes of the area. The protection of the British was sought in 1817; the pretensions of Jodhpur to suzerainty over Sirohi were disallowed, and in 1823 a treaty was concluded with the British government. Sirohi became a self-governing princely state, and part of the Rajputana Agency. [1]

For services rendered during the Revolt of 1857, the Rao received a remission of half his tribute. Rao Keshri Singh (ruled 1875-1920) and his successors were granted the title Maharao (equivalent to Maharaja) in 1889. [1]

When India became independent in 1947, there was no immediate consensus about whether Sirohi State should be merged with the new states of Bombay or Rajasthan. [8] Initially, the area under Sirohi State was merged into Bombay 1949, but was transferred to Rajasthan in 1950. [8] [9]

List of rulers

Rao Alhana , the Chauhan ruler of Nadol ancestors of rulers of Jalor, Chandrawati and Sirohi.

List of Raos

Raos of Jalore
Raos of Chandrawati
Raos of Sirohi

List of Maharaos

Titular ruler

Revenue system

The traditional practice of revenue collection consisted of bhog batai and halbandi. Bhog batai, the more prevalent practice, consisted of direct collection of a part of the harvested produce by the state. In some areas of the state, halbandi was used, under which a cash tax was imposed on the implements used by farmers. In 1904, a new revenue-collection system was introduced which consisted of revenue collection based on average productivity of the cultivated area as the criterion for payment. From the state's perspective, the new revenue system was largely successful, leading to a large increase in the state's revenue. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajputana Agency</span> Former political office of the British Indian Empire

The Rajputana Agency was a political office of the British Indian Empire dealing with a collection of native states in Rajputana, under the political charge of an Agent reporting directly to the Governor-General of India and residing at Mount Abu in the Aravalli Range. The total area of the states falling within the Rajputana Agency was 127,541 square miles (330,330 km2), with eighteen states and two estates or chiefships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodhpur</span> Metropolis in Rajasthan, India

Jodhpur is the second-largest city of the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan after its capital Jaipur. As of 2011, the city has a population of 1.03 million. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Jodhpur district and Jodhpur division. It is historic capital of the Kingdom of Marwar, founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief of the Rathore clan. On 11 August 1947 four days prior to the Indian independence, Maharaja Hanwant Singh, the last ruler of Jodhpur state signed the Instrument of Accession and merged his state in Union of India. On 30 March 1949, it became part of the newly formed state of Rajasthan, which was created after merging the states of the erstwhile Rajputana Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marwar</span> Region in Rajasthan, India

Marwar is a region of western Rajasthan state in North Western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. The word 'maru' is Sanskrit for desert. In Rajasthani languages, "wad" means a protected area. English translation of the word 'marwar' is the region protected by desert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chauhan Dynasty</span> Clan that ruled parts of northern India in the medieval period

Chauhan, a name derived from the historical Chahamanas, a clan name associated with various ruling Rajput families in the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan from seventh century onwards.

Gorwar or Godwar, is a region of Rajasthan state in India, which lies in the southwest Rajasthan and borders with the state of Gujarat.

Jalore, also known as Granite City, is a city in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. It is the administrative headquarters of Jalore District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldeo Rathore</span> Rao of Marwar (1511–1562)

Rao Maldeo Rathore was a king of the Rathore dynasty, who ruled the kingdom of Marwar in present day state of Rajasthan. Maldeo ascended the throne in 1531 CE, inheriting a small ancestral principality of Rathore's but after a long period of military actions against his neighbours, Maldeo swept significant territories which included parts of present day Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Sindh. He refused to ally with either the Sur Empire or the Mughal Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodha of Mandore</span> Rao of Marwar and founder of Jodhpur (1416–1489)

Rao JodhaRathore was the 15th Rajput chief of Rathore clan who ruled the Kingdom of Marwar in the present-day state of Rajasthan. He was the eldest son of Rao Ranmal. He is known for his illustrious military career and for founding the city of Jodhpur in 1459, which subsequently became the new capital of Marwar after Mandore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha</span> Indian historian (1863–1947)

Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha, born in Rohida village of Sirohi District, was a historian from the Indian state of Rajasthan. A prolific author, he wrote several books on the history of Rajasthan and other historical subjects. Subsequent historians from Rajasthan have referred to him as Guruvara Mahamahopadhyaya. Ojha regarded Kaviraj Shyamaldas as his guru and worked under him as assistant secretary of the historical department, Udaipur

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajputana</span> Region of India up to 1949

Rājputana, meaning Land of the Rajputs, was a region in the Indian subcontinent that included mainly the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan, as well as parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and some adjoining areas of Sindh in modern-day southern Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Rajasthan</span> Brief history of the Indian state of Rajasthan

The history of human settlement in the western Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 100,000 years ago. Around 5000 to 2000 BCE many regions of Rajasthan belonged as the site of the Indus Valley Civilization. Kalibangan is the main Indus site of Rajasthan, here fire altars have been discovered, similar to those found at Lothal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Mewar</span> Former kingdom in the Indian subcontinent

The Kingdom of Mewar was an independent kingdom that existed in the Rajputana region of the Indian subcontinent and later became a major power in medieval India. The kingdom was initially founded and ruled by the Guhila dynasty followed by the Sisodiya Dynasty. The earliest kingdom was centered around the south-central part of Rajasthan, state of India. It was bordered by the Aravali Range to the northwest, Ajmer to the north, Gujarat, Vagad and Malwa regions to the south and the Hadoti region to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Marwar</span> Kingdom in Rajasthan, India, 1243 to 1818

Kingdom of Marwar, also known as the Jodhpur State under the British, was a kingdom in the Marwar region from 1243 to 1818 and a princely state under British rule from 1818 to 1947. It was established in Pali by Rao Siha, possibly a migrant Gahadavala noble, in 1243. His successors continued to struggle against regional powers for domination and 9 out of 15 rulers till 1438 died in combat. In 1395, its capital was changed to Mandore by Rao Chunda of Mandore and to Jodhpur in 1459 by Rao Jodha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dursa Arha</span> 16th-century warrior and Rajasthani poet

Dursa Arha was a 16th-century warrior and Rajasthani (Dingal) poet from India. He earned the epithet of the 'First Nationalist Poet Of India' or Rashtrakavi because of his nationalist stance in his bold Dingal poems commending Maharana Pratap of Mewar in his struggle against the Mughal Empire. He is one of the most highly regarded poets of the time, who was also a valuable and respectable part of the Mughal court. He was a renowned litterateur, historian, war general, consultant, administrator, feudal lord, and magistrate. He had close relations with the rulers of many erstwhile kingdoms. On the basis of wealth, fame, and honor Dursa Arha acquired in his lifetime and his contribution to medieval Indian history and literature, the historians and litterateurs consider him as one of the greatest poets. Dursa Arha attained heights of opulence and grandeur reached by no other poet in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bikaner State</span> Princely state of India

Bikaner State was a princely state in the Rajputana from 1465 to 1947. The founder of the state, Rao Bika, was the eldest son of Rao Jodha, ruler of Jodhpur. Rao Bika chose to build his own kingdom instead of inheriting his father's. Bika defeated the Jat clans of Jangladesh along with his uncle Rao Kandhal and his adviser Vikramji Rajpurohit and founded his own kingdom. Its capital was the city of Bikaner in the northern area of present-day Rajasthan State in India. Karni Mata has been designated as the kuldevi of the royal family of Bikaner.

The Chahamanas of Jalor, also known as the Chauhans of Jalor in vernacular legends, were an Indian dynasty that ruled the area around Jalore in present-day Rajasthan between 1160 and 1311. They belonged to the Chahamana (Chauhan) clan of the Rajputs

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rao Ganga</span> Rao of Marwar (1484–1531)

Rao Ganga was the Rathore Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Marwar. Rao Ganga ascended to the throne in the year 1515 through the support from his kinsmen and nobles. During his reign, the Rathores consolidated and expanded their rule in eastern Marwar.

Delwara, nestled in the Aravalli Range hills, is a small town about 28 km away from Udaipur, Mewar, and close to Eklingji Temple, on the way to the temple town of Nathdwara, in the state of Rajasthan, India. Delwara was originally known as ‘Devkul Patan Nagri’, which means the town of god. It boasted over 1500 temples at one time, out of which there were over 400 Jain temples. Delwara was the center of learning and culture before the 15th century AD. Around the middle of the 13th century, Raja Sagar, a Deora Chauhan and a descendant of Rao Kirtipal of Jalore, was a very brave king of Delwara (Mewar). Descendants of Raja Sagar sacrificed their lives while fighting alongside Ranas of Mewar against Muslim invaders. Raja Sagar was the progenitor of Bachhawat and Bothra clans of Oswals. Sagar's son, Kunwar Bohitya was immensely influenced and inspired by Jain philosophy. Samdhar, a grandson of Bohitya and a Deora Chauhan, was the first man in his genealogy to convert to Jainism.

Deora or Devda, Devra is a clan of Rajputs. The Deora dynasty historically ruled over Bhinmal, Sirohi and Chandravati, India. Rao Deoraj was the progenitor of the Deora clan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chisholm 1911, p. 257.
  2. ↑ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 147, map XIV.4 (a). ISBN   0226742210.
  3. ↑ Ram, Lala Sita (1920). History of Sirohi Raj. Allahabad: The Pioneer Press.
  4. ↑ Rajasthan through the ages: Volume 5, Marwar and British Administration. New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  5. ↑ Adams, Archibald (1899). A medico-topographical and general account of Marwar, Sirohi, and Jaisalmir. Junior Army and Navy Stores.
  6. ↑ "History of Deoras".
  7. ↑ "Princely State of Sirohi". 15 March 2017.
  8. 1 2 White Paper on Indian States. New Delhi: Government of India Press. 1950.
  9. ↑ District Census Handbook: Sirohi (Series 9: Part XII-A) (PDF). Directorate of Census Operations. 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  10. ↑ Vidal, Denis (1997). Violence and Truth: A Rajasthani Kingdom Confronts Colonial Authority. Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 69–71. ISBN   9780195641059.

Sources

24°53′N72°52′E / 24.883°N 72.867°E / 24.883; 72.867

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.