Sodha Dynasty | |
---|---|
12th century–1947 | |
Capital | |
Religion | Hinduism |
Historical era | Late Medieval Period |
• Established | 12th century |
• Acceded to Pakistan | 1947 |
The Sodhas of Amarkot were a Rajput [2] dynasty who ruled Amarkot, which is now located in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The Sodha Rajput clan are a branch of the Parmar clan of Rajputs, as they are an off-shoot of Parmara Rajputs, who once controlled regions of Malwa and later North-West parts of Rajasthan. The kingdom was known for giving refuge to Mughal emperor Humayun, after he was fleeing from the forces of Sher Shah Suri, hence Akbar was born in the kingdom of Amarkot.
The area around Suratgarh was called 'Sodhawati' and south-east of Bhatner was once occupied by the Sodha Rajputs before being evicted from these regions by Bhati Rajputs, after which they moved their base to Thar desert. [2] [3]
A branch of Parmaras left Abu and settled in Radhanpur led by Bahar Parmar. His descendant Sodhoji became the founder of Sodha clan of Rajputs and captured Ratokot in 1125 AD. With base at Ratokot, they consolidated neighbouring villages under their influence. [4] Further, Sodhoji's ambitious descendant Rana Raj Dev began plotting for the Amarkot fort held by the Soomras. For this purpose, he sent his trusted Charan allies Junfahji and Budhimanji to Amarkot to prepare the ground for the invasion, where they lived for some time before returning to Ratokot. [4] After deliberations with both the Charanas, Rana Raj Dev launched his invasion of Amarkot (Umarkot) in 1226 AD. In the ensuing battle between the armies of Khenhro Soomro and Rana Raj Dev, Sodhas were victorious while Soomras had to retreat. Thus, Rana Raj Dev established Sodha rule over Amarkot and is considered the real founder of the Sodha dynasty. [4] Thereafter, with Umarkot under control, the Sodhas began expansion of their kingdom and soon captured parts of Mithi, Chelhar, Chacharo, and extended their sway up to Nagarparkar. Four generations later, Rana Darabursh divided his state between his two sons and gave Amarkot and adjoining areas to his elder son Darjanshal and Nagarparkar to the younger son, Aasrai. [4]
The city of Amarkot held prominence during the Mughal Empire Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar and the British Raj. Mughal Emperor Akbar was born in Amarkot 14 October 1542 when his father Humayun fled from the military defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri. [5] Rana Parshad, the Sodha Rajput ruler of Amarkot, gave him refuge. [6] Rana Prasad Rao of Amarkot duly welcomed Humayun into his home and sheltered the refugees for several months. Here, in the household of a Hindu Rajput nobleman, Humayun's wife Hamida Bano, daughter of a Sindhi family, gave birth to the future Emperor Akbar on 15 October 1542. The date of birth is well established because Humayun consulted his astronomer to utilise the astrolabe and check the location of the planets. The infant was the long-awaited heir-apparent to the 34-year-old Humayun and the answer of many prayers. Shortly after the birth, Humayun and his party left Amarkot for Sindh, leaving Akbar behind, who was not ready for the grueling journey ahead in his infancy.[ citation needed ]
The Anarkot Kingdom ruled by Sodha Rajputs was annexed by Jodhpur State in the 18th century, which caused the decay of power as the Sodha rulers became vassals. The Amarkot area and its fort was later handed to the British in 1847 by the Maharaja of Jodhpur in return for reducing the tribute imposed on Jodhpur State by Rs.10,000. and the territory came under direct rule of British India, and the Ranas were reduced to category of Jagirdars. [7]
The Sodha rule came to an end in 1947 Partition of British India, after the Amarkot king Rana Arjun Singh contested for the All-India Muslim League platform, and decided to join the new nation of Pakistan.[ citation needed ]
Rana Chandra Singh, a federal minister and the chieftain of the Hindu Sodha Rajput clan and the Amarkot Jagir, was one of the founder members of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Umarkot, seven times with PPP between 1977 and 1999, when he founded the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP). [8] Chandra Singh's son Rana Hamir Singh is the 26th Rana of Tharparkar, Amarkot and Mithi. [9] [10] [11]
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.
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.
Umerkot is a city in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The Mughal emperor Akbar was born in Umerkot in 1542. The folk deities Pabuji and Ramdev married in Amarkot.
Umerkot District, also known as Amarkot District, is a district in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The city of Umerkot is the capital of the district. Sindhi is the native language of approximately 93.4% of the residents according to the 2017 Pakistan Census. Umerkot is the only non-Muslim majority district in Pakistan, with adherents of Hinduism representing 52.2% of the total population.
Rana is a historical title denoting an absolute Hindu monarch in the Indian subcontinent. Today, it is used as a hereditary name in the Indian subcontinent. "Rana" was formerly used as a title of martial sovereignty by Rajput kings in India. Rani is the title for the wife of a rana or a female monarch. It also applies to the wife of a raja. Compound titles include rana sahib, ranaji, raj rana,rana bahadur, and maharana.
Raja Bharmal, also known as Bihari Mal, and Bihar Mal, was the 22nd Kachwaha Rajput ruler of Amber, which was later known as Jaipur.
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.
Rana Chandra Singh, also known as Rana Chandar Singh, was a Pakistani politician and a federal minister. He was one of the founding members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Umerkot seven times with PPP between 1977 and 1999. He founded the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP) in 1990.
Umarkot Shiv Mandir, also known as Amarkot Shiv Mandir, is a Hindu temple situated in Umerkot District, near Rana Jaageer Goth, in Sindh Province of Pakistan. This temple is perhaps the oldest in Sindh. The temple is one of the most sacred Hindu places of worship in the Sindh
Rooplo Shamtoji Kolhi fought against the British Rulers in Karoonjhar Mountains at Nagarparkar of District Tharparkar, Sindh. His birth name was Rupaji Gohil. The British hanged him on 22 August 1858 with his companions. His anniversary is celebrated on August 22 every year by a faction of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz. He was the last commander of rebels hanged by the British officials.
Umarkot Fort, is a fort located in Umerkot, Sindh, also called Amarkot, Umerkot was founded and ruled By Sodha Rajputs of Parmar Dynasty. It was named after its founder Rana Amar Singh Sodha. Emperor Akbar was born in Umarkot Fort when his father Humayun fled from the military defeats at the hands of Sher Shah Suri on 15 October 1542. Rana Prasad Singh Sodha of Umarkot, who had risen to power, had given refuge to Mughal Emperor Humayun, and it was there Hamida Bano Begum gave birth to young Akbar. Later the Mughal Emperor Akbar became the Shahenshah of Hindustan and was a popular figure with both Hindus and Muslims. Umerkot has many sites of historical significance such as Mughal emperor Akbar's birthplace near to Umarkot Fort. Currently, King Akbar birthplace is an open land. In 1746, the Mughal Subahdar, Noor Mohammad Kalhoro, built a fort at the location. Later the British took over that area.
Rana Ratan Singh was a hereditary land owner in Umerkot, belonging to Sodha sub clan of Rajputs. Rana killed the British appointed Governor of Umarkot Fort, Syed Mohammad Ali, in 1847, during a tax protest. He was soon after tried and convicted of committing murder and treason, and hanged in Umarkot Fort, by the British.
Rana Hamir Singh is the 26th Rana of Amarkot and a Pakistani politician who had been a member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh from August 2018 to August 2023. He is one of the five children of Rana Chandra Singh. He is the current crown Rajput Ruler of Umerkot and is also titled as 'Rana Saheb'.
Rana Parshad aka Rana Patta was 18th king of Amarkot (Umerkot) (1530/1556). He gave refuge to Mughal king Humayun when he was defeated by Sher Shah Suri and nobody was offering him refuge because every kingdom was frightened of Sher Shah Suri.
Sodha is a Rajput clan residing in India and Pakistan.
Detha, or Detho, is a Charan clan (gotra) in Sindh province of Pakistan, and in Indian states of Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Sindhi Rajputs are one of the indigenous community of Sindhi people, they are mostly Muslim and Hindu Sindhis. They are found throughout Sindh, as well as in its neighboring regions like Balochistan, South Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(help)