History

Archaeological evidence indicates that early humans lived along the banks of the Banas and its tributaries some 100,000 years ago. Harappan (Indus) and post-Harappan culture (3rd-2nd millennium BC) is traceable at Kalibangan, Ahar, and Gilund. Pottery fragments at Kalibangan are carbon-dated to 2700 BC. The discovery near Bairat of two rock inscriptions (c. 250 BC) of the emperor Ashoka seems to show that his rule extended westward to this part of the state. Later rulers of the whole or parts of the state were the Bactrian Greeks (2nd century BC), the Scythians (Shakas; 2nd to 4th centuries AD), the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries), the Huns (6th century), and Harsavardhana, a Rajput ruler (early 7th century).

Arising between the 7th and 11th centuries were several Rajput dynasties, including that of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, who kept the Arab invaders of Sindh at bay. Under Bhoja I (836-885), the territory of the Gurjara-Pratiharas stretched from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Narmada River and from the lower Ganges Valley to Sindh. With the disintegration of this empire by the late 10th century, several rival Rajput clans rose to power in Rajasthan. The Guhilas, feudatories of the Pratiharas, asserted their independence in AD 940 and established control of the region around Mewar (modern Udaipur). By the 11th century the Cauhans (Cahamanas), with their capital at Ajmer and later Delhi, had emerged as the major power in eastern areas of the state. In the following centuries other clans, such as the Kachwahas, Bhattis, and Rathors, succeeded in establishing independent kingdoms in the region.

The second battle of Tarain, fought near Delhi in 1192, initiated a new period in Rajasthan's history. Muhammad Ghuri's victory over a Rajput army under Prthviraja III not only led to the destruction of Rajput power in the Gangetic plain but also firmly established the Muslim presence in northern India. As Muslim forces pushed south and then west along the traditional routes to Gujarat, the Rajput kingdoms of Rajasthan were encircled. The next four centuries saw repeated, though unsuccessful, attempts by the central power based in Delhi to subdue the Rajput states of the region. The Rajputs, however, despite common historical and cultural traditions, were never able to unite to inflict a decisive defeat on their opponents.

Rajput strength reached its zenith at the beginning of the 16th century under Rana Sangram Singh (Sanga) of Mewar, but he was defeated in a fierce battle by the Mughal invader Babur, and the brief splendour of a united Rajput polity waned rapidly. It is largely from this period of Rajasthan's history that the romantic view of the Rajput as a valiant warrior--defending family, honour, and religion against the invading Muslims--is derived.

Toward the end of the 16th century the Mughal emperor Akbar was able to achieve, through diplomacy and military action, what his predecessors had been unable to accomplish by force alone. Military campaigns were still undertaken by imperial Mughal forces, and Rajput strongholds, such as Ranthambhor and Chitor, were besieged and destroyed (1567-68), but Akbar also entered into a series of alliances with numerous Rajput ruling houses in Rajasthan, arranging marriages with Rajput princesses for himself and for his heirs. Mughal-Rajput marriages continued until the early 18th century, and it is noteworthy that the emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan were both born of Rajput mothers. Thus, many Rajput states of Rajasthan (along with their not insubstantial military resources) were brought into the imperial fold without costly military subjugation. Furthermore, some Rajput rulers, such as Man Singh of Amber (Jaipur) and Jaswant Singh of Marwar (Jodhpur), served with loyalty and distinction in the imperial Mughal forces. Under Akbar the Rajput states of the region were grouped together under the Suba of Ajmer, an administrative unit of the Mughal Empire.

After the death (1707) of the emperor Aurangzeb, the Rajput state of Bharatpur was developed by a Jat conqueror, but by 1803 most of the rest of Rajasthan paid tribute to the Maratha dynasties of west-central India. Later in the 19th century, the British subdued the Marathas and, having established paramountcy in the region, organized the Rajput states into Rajputana province. The government of India was represented in Rajputana by a political officer, with the title of agent to the governor general, who was also chief commissioner of the small British province of Ajmer-Merwara. Under him were residents and political agents who were accredited to the various states.

During this period the idea of Indian nationalism was born. Maharishi Dayanand wrote at Udaipur his Satyarath Prakash, intended to restore Hinduism to its pristine purity, which created a ferment in Rajputana. Important movements of thought also occurred among the Jaina sadhus ("holy men") and scholars. Ajmer was the centre of political activity, and nationalist leaders included Arjun Lal Sethi, Manik Lal Varma, Gopal Singh, and Jai Narain Vyas.

After India became independent in 1947, the princely states and chiefships of Rajputana were integrated by stages into a single entity. They were first grouped into small unions, such as the Matsya Union and the Rajasthan Union, which were merged with the remaining states to create Greater Rajasthan in 1949. When the new constitution of India came into force in 1950, Rajasthan became an integral part of India. The Rajput princes--though retaining a recognition of their original title, some special privileges, and a privy purse--surrendered their political powers to the central government. The privileged status given to rulers of the former princely states was discontinued in 1970.

(I.P./D.O.L.)