Citizendia

Historical Region of North India
Shekhawati (शेखावाटी)
Mandawa fort
Locationnorthern Rajasthan
Flag of 19th c. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification
Jaipur Princely State
State established:1445
LanguageShekhawati
DynastyShekhawats (1445-1949),branch of Kachawa Dynasty of Jaipur
Historical capitalsAmarsar, Shahpura
Separated statesThikanas of Shekhawati: Khandela, Khatu,([Khood),]

]Sikar, Pentalisa, Panchpana, Khetri, etc. A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them Shekhawati is a Dialect of the Rajasthani language and is spoken by about three million speakers in Shekhawati region ( Churu, Jhunjhunu History See also Thikanas of Shekhawati The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Shahpura is a city and a Municipality in Jaipur district in the Thikanas of Shekhawati - princely states ( Thikanas in the region of Shekhawati in Rajasthan, India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Khandela ( Hindi:खण्डेला is a city and Municipality located within the Sikar Khatushyamji is a village of religious importance in Sikar District of Rajasthan in India where there is a famous temple of Shyam Baba. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sikar ( Hindi िसकर) is a town located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan Pentalisa was a territory which was located in the region of Shekhawati, India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Khetri Nagar is a town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India.

Shekhawati (Hindi: शेखावाटी, IAST: Śekhāwāṭī) is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration ( IAST) is a popular Transliteration scheme that allows a lossless Romanization of Indic A Semi-arid climate or steppe climate generally describes climatic regions that receive low annual Rainfall (250-500 mm or 10-20 in Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

It encompasses the administrative districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Jhunjhunu ( Hindi:झुन्झुनू is a town in the state of Rajasthan in WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sikar ( Hindi िसकर) is a town located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan From the administrative and geographical point of view Shekhawati is limited to Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts only. It is bounded on the northwest by Jangladesh region, on the northeast by Haryana, on the east by Mewat, on the southeast by Dhundhar, on the south by Ajmer, on the southwest by Marwar regions. Early history Prior to middle 15th century rule the region that is Bikaner was a Barren Wilderness called "Jangladesh" Haryana (हरियाणा Punjabi: ਹਰਿਆਣਾ hərɪjaːɳaː is a state in northern India. Mewat District is a district of Haryana Haryana state in India. Geography In 1900 at the times of Jaipur Kingdom region had a total area of 15579 square miles (40349 km² Geography The area of the province was 2710 square miles The plateau on whose centre stands the town of Ajmer may be considered as the highest point in the plains of North Geography In 1901 the region (Jodhpur state had an area of 90554 km² (34963 square miles However, Districts of large part of Churu and Nagaur district fall with in shekawati region.

Its area is 13784 square kilometers. [1]

The inhabitants of Shekhawati are considered brave, sacrificing and hard working people. The region provides the highest number of persons to the Indian Army.

Contents

Etymology of Shekhawati

Shekhawati has been first time mentioned in the book 'Bankidas ki khyat'. [2] Contemporary of Bankidas was Col. W. S. Gardener, who used the word Shekhawati in year 1803. Later Col James Tod wrote history of Shekhawati first time. Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod (1782-1835 a British officer Historian of Rajasthan and Numismatist, was born on March 20 Shekhawati word has been used in 'vamsh bhaskar' many times. This shows that Shekhawati word came in use about two and half centuries back. [3]

Shekhawati derives its name from the Rajput Kachhwaha chieftain Rao Shekha Ji. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India Sub-clans Overall sub-clans of the Kachwaha number around 71 Prominent sub-clans of the Kachhawa clan include Rajawat, Shekhawat, Sheobramhpota Rao Shekha (1433 &ndash 1488 was a Rajput chieftain belonging to the Kachwaha clan of Amer/Jaipur The descendants of Rao Shekha Ji, the ruling clan is called Shekhawat. History See also Thikanas of Shekhawati The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years The story of Shekha's birth is interesting to understand the origin of Shekhawati. Mokal Ji and his wife were troubled as they had no son for several years. They heard about the miraculous powers of the Sheikh Burhan, a Muslim saint. They decided to pay the man a visit. After they received the blessing of the Sheikh, a son was born to the couple. In honour of the mendicant, the couple named their son Shekha.

Shekhawati means Garden of Shekha or Land of Shekhawat Rulers. History See also Thikanas of Shekhawati The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years

About origin of word Shekhawati Hakim Yusuf Jhunjhunuvi gives another view. According to him Shekhawati derives its name from Persian language word 'Sheekh' which means 'Sand deposited on the coastal area of sea'. This indicates that this area has been inundated with seawater long back and converted to sand dunes over thousands of years[4][5][6] It is not clear when these seas dried up and receded but the desert was created due to the receding of the sea. In physical Geography, a dune is a Hill of Sand built by Aeolian processes.

About millions of years back this land was inundated with sea water. [7][8][9] As per Mr Gorki it needs no evidence as fossils found in the area confirms that this area was a sea at one time. [10] Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha believed that the desert area of Rajasthan was earlier an ocean but due to earthquakes and other climatic reasons the seabed rose and the water receded southwards leaving behind a sand mass, which later came to be known as marukantar. Rai Bahadur Pandit Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha (1863-1947 born in Sirohi District, was an eminent historian from the Indian state of Rajasthan. The presence of shells, conch etc found in stone form in this area is clear evidence that this was a sea earlier. [11][12]

Geography

Shekhawati region of Rajasthan
Shekhawati region of Rajasthan

Shekhawati in the desert area of Rajasthan has a special importance in the history of India.

The natural climatic conditions in the region are very harsh and extreme. The temperature ranges from sub-zero Celsius in winters to more than 50 °C in summers. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. The summers bring hot waves of air called loo. Annual rainfall is very low, of the scale of 450 to 600 mm. The ground water is as deep as 200 feet (60 m), and at places water is hard and salty. Groundwater is Water located beneath the Ground surface in Soil pore spaces and in the Fractures of lithologic formations The people in the region depend on rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting is the gathering or accumulating and storing of rainwater The July and August rainwater is stored in pucca tanks and used throughout the year for drinking purposes. [13] Bawdis and johads are traditionally constructed for storing water received from rainfall in this arid region of Rajasthan. Stepwells, also called bawdi ( Hindi:बावड़ी or baoli ( well]]s in which the water can be reached by descending a set of steps Johad ( Hindi: जोहड is a traditional pucca Rainwater Storage tank, mainly used for drinking purposes Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area The bawdi is constructed in such a design that it gets narrower as we go down. The water stored in it is very cool and used for drinking purposes. On an average the region faces every third year as a dry year and every eighth year as a famine year. A famine is a widespread shortage of food that may apply to any Faunal species which phenomenon is usually accompanied by regional Malnutrition, Starvation The famine of 1899 is considered to be the most severe. A famine is a widespread shortage of food that may apply to any Faunal species which phenomenon is usually accompanied by regional Malnutrition, Starvation During famine years it becomes very difficult for animals to survive and the cattle population goes down drastically.

Shekhawati is a home of colourful peacock, parrots, etc.

Shekhawati Dialect

Shekhawati is a dialect of the Rajasthani language and is spoken by about three million speakers in Churu, Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts of Rajasthan. A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of Rajasthani (राजस्थानी is a language or language cluster Bagri: about five million speakers in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts of WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Churu (चूरु is a town in the desert region of Rajasthan state of India WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Jhunjhunu ( Hindi:झुन्झुनू is a town in the state of Rajasthan in WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sikar ( Hindi िसकर) is a town located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan Though a very important dialect from the grammatical and literary points of view, yet very little work is carried out on it. In 2001 A descriptive grammar of Shekhawati has been published. [14] Shekhawati, like Bagri dialect of Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts, has parallel lexicon which make it very rich from the lexicographical point of view. Word order is typical SOV and there is existence of implosives. In Linguistics, word order typology refers to the study of the different ways in which languages arrange the constituents of their sentences relative to each other and the systematic Implosive consonants are stops (rarely Affricates with a mixed Glottalic ingressive and Pulmonic egressive Airstream mechanism. Beside presence of high tone at suprasegmental level classify it with other dialects of Rajasthani. In Linguistics, prosody (from Greek προσωδία) is the Rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech It is a perplexing question as to ask the number of dialects of Rajasthani language. It has contributed a lot to the development of Rajasthani language and linguistics. Linguistics is the scientific study of Language, encompassing a number of sub-fields

Some samples in Shekhawati are:

History

Ancient history

Main article: Matsya Kingdom

Many historians have considered this region included in the Matsya Kingdom. Matsya or Machcha ( Sanskrit for fish classically called the Mese (ˈmiːˌziː was the name of a tribe and the state of the Vedic civilization Matsya or Machcha ( Sanskrit for fish classically called the Mese (ˈmiːˌziː was the name of a tribe and the state of the Vedic civilization Rigveda also provides certain evidences in this matter. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" [15][16] Manusmriti has called this land as 'brahmrishi desha'. [17]

Shekhawati region was included in 'marukantar desha' up to Ramayana period. The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki Out of 16 mahajanapadas prior to Buddha, only two janapadas, namely Avanti and the Kingdom of Virata were counted in Rajasthan area. Mahajanapadas ( Sanskrit: महाजनपद Mahājanapadas) literally "Great Kingdoms" (from Maha, "great" and Janapada Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder Virata ( Sanskrit: विराट in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was a king in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment This region was also influenced by Avanti but later on Nandas of Magadha defeated Avanti. NANDA (formerly the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association is a professional organization of Nurses to standardize Nursing Terminology that was Magadha (मगध formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas ( Sanskrit, "great countries" or regions in ancient India. Historians believe that Mauryas obtained the Rajasthan from Nandas. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military NANDA (formerly the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association is a professional organization of Nurses to standardize Nursing Terminology that was [18]

In ancient times Shekhawati was not limited to present two districts only but during the Mahabharata period it was known as Matsya Kingdom extending up to Saraswati River. Matsya or Machcha ( Sanskrit for fish classically called the Mese (ˈmiːˌziː was the name of a tribe and the state of the Vedic civilization The Sarasvati River ( Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती नदी sárasvatī nadī) is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu This was due to the fact that the first clan ruling this region, in the Mahabharata period, were descendants of fishermen. So the Vedas were supposed to be written and compiled on this very land. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. [19][20] During ancient times this region was divided into several janapadas. The Janapadas are the major realms or kingdoms of Vedic ( Iron Age) India, by the 6th century BC evolving into the sixteen classical Every janapada was a free republic state. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its The development of janapadas in Rajasthan started with habitation of Aryan. [21]

The northern part of Rajasthan was known as Jangladesh (Bikaner and Nagaur) during Mahabharata period. Early history Prior to middle 15th century rule the region that is Bikaner was a Barren Wilderness called "Jangladesh" WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bikaner is a city in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan in western India WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Nagaur is a city in the state of Rajasthan in India. [22] and eastern part Jaipur-Alwar were called the Matsya Kingdom. Matsya or Machcha ( Sanskrit for fish classically called the Mese (ˈmiːˌziː was the name of a tribe and the state of the Vedic civilization Pandavas had spent one year of their vanishment in this Kingdom of Virata as their abode, to live in anonymity, after the expiry of their twelve-year long forest life. In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava (or Pandawa brothers ( Sanskrit: पाण्‍डव pāṇḍavaḥ are the five acknowledged sons of Virata ( Sanskrit: विराट in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was a king in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment [23] According to Vimal Charanlal, this Kingdom of Virata extended from Jhunjhunu to Kotkasim 109 km in the north, Jhunjhunu to Ajmer 184 km in the west, Ajmer to Banas and up to confluence of Chambal River 229 km in the south. Virata ( Sanskrit: विराट in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was a king in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Jhunjhunu ( Hindi:झुन्झुनू is a town in the state of Rajasthan in The capital of this Kingdom of Virata was Bairat. Virata ( Sanskrit: विराट in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was a king in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bairat is a town in northern Jaipur District of Rajasthan, state, India [24][25]

After the collapse of Gupta dynasty, Shekhawati's some parts like Jhunjhunu, Fatehpur, Narhar were controlled by the Kaimkhanis, until they were defeated by Shekhawat Rajputs. The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Jhunjhunu ( Hindi:झुन्झुनू is a town in the state of Rajasthan in Fatehpur (फतेहपुर शेखावाटी is a town of Sikar district in Rajasthan, India. Narhar (नरहड़ is an ancient town situated in Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan, India. Qaim Khani or Kaim Khani ( Urdu: قائم خانى) is a Muslim community in Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan.

Kaimkhani is a branch emerged from Chauhans. Qaim Khani or Kaim Khani ( Urdu: قائم خانى) is a Muslim community in Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan. Origins According to the Rajput bards Chauhan is one of the four Agnikula or 'fire sprung' clans who were created by the Gods in the anali kund or 'fountain The first progenitor of Kaimkhanis was Karamchand, born in the family of Moterao of Chauhan clan, the ruler of Dadrewa. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Dadrewa is a village situated in Churu district of Rajasthan, India. Firuz Shah Tughluq converted him to Islam and named him Kaimkhan. Firuz Shah Tughlaq (also known as Firoz Shah Tughluq ( 1309 - 1388 in Delhi) was a Muslim ruler of the Tughlaq Dynasty from 1351 Thus his descendants were called Kaimkhani.

Shekhawat Rule

Rao Shekha
Rao Shekha
Bawdi in Fatehpur
Bawdi in Fatehpur
Laxmangarh fort of Sikar
Laxmangarh fort of Sikar

Shekhawati was established by Shekhawat Rajputs and it was ruled by them till India's Independence. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sikar ( Hindi िसकर) is a town located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan

Rao Shekha Ji from Dhundhar established his own independent kingdom with the capital at Amarsar; he was the first independent Ruler. Rao Shekha (1433 &ndash 1488 was a Rajput chieftain belonging to the Kachwaha clan of Amer/Jaipur Geography In 1900 at the times of Jaipur Kingdom region had a total area of 15579 square miles (40349 km² After him Rao Raimal, Rao Suja and Rao Lunkaran become the rulers of Amarsar. Rao Manohar succeeded his father Rao Lunkaran and founded Manoharpur later renamed Shahpura (The present ruler of Shahpura is the Tikai of Shekhawat subclan). WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Shahpura is a city and a Municipality in Jaipur district in the Shekhawats conquered the Jhunjhunu, Fatehpur, Narhar of Kaimkhanis and established their rule on them.

Shekhawati was the largest Nizamat of Jaipur State, almost the whole of which is occupied by Shekhawats. Jaipur ( Hindi: जयपुर also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. The Shekhawat chieftains of the region retained a nominal loyalty to the Kachwaha Rajput's capital state of Jaipur, who in turn honoured them with the hereditary title known as Tazimi Sirdars. Tazim was a medieval system of respect given to some noble person in India The Rulers of the Shekhawati's Thikanas were the Shekhawat sub clan of Kachwaha Dynasty of Jaipur Princely State. Shekhawats was the most prominent among all the Kachawas of Jaipur. Col. J. C. Brooke in his book Political History of India wrote that for the recruitment of Horse-army there is no region in India at par with Shekhawati.

Thikanas of Shekhawati

Main article: Thikanas of Shekhawati

Shekhawats were brave Rajputs; they established many Thikanas, towns and villages in Shekhawati and built many Forts, Castles, palaces and Havelis. Thikanas of Shekhawati - princely states ( Thikanas in the region of Shekhawati in Rajasthan, India. History See also Thikanas of Shekhawati The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years

Many Thikanas had their own flags and emblems. Shekhawats ruled over highest no. of Thikanas in Jaipur Rajwara. Jaipur ( Hindi: जयपुर also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. . [26]

In 19th century Sikar was the largest & wealthiest Thikana and the Khetri was the second wealthiest Thikana of Jaipur State. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sikar ( Hindi िसकर) is a town located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Khetri Nagar is a town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India. }

Culture, heritage and tourism

Architecture

Shekhawats built many magnificent forts in their Thikanas. History See also Thikanas of Shekhawati The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years Every Thikana in Shekhawati is the site of the Fort and Shekhawati was richest and the most happening place, thus Shekhawati has more than 50 forts and Palaces built by Shekhawat Rajas. Many of them are hotels nowadays.

Havelis, Temples and frescos

This temple built by Shekhawat ruler of Nawalgarh
This temple built by Shekhawat ruler of Nawalgarh

In Shekhawati first of all, Frescoes were introduced by Shekhawat Rajputs in their Forts n Palaces. History See also Thikanas of Shekhawati The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years History See also Thikanas of Shekhawati The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years The towns of Shekhawati region are known for their painted havelis. Haveli ( Urdu: حویلی, Hindi: हवेली) is the term used for a private residence in Pakistan and North India. This region has been recognised as the "open art gallery of Rajasthan" having the largest concentration of frescos in the world. An art gallery or art museum is a space for the exhibition of art, usually Visual art. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area Fresco (plural either frescos or frescoes) is any of several related Painting types done on Plaster on walls or

The Marwaris from Marwar was the influential business community in the Shekhawati region, and they prospered until the beginning of the 19th century, because of the caravan routes that crossed the area to reach the ports of Gujarat. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. But from 1820 onwards, many left their families behind and migrated to Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, which were gaining importance as main trade centers. Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial There they had great financial success. The descendants of these rich merchants have permanently settled down in the towns where their ancestors immigrated. The Shekhawati region has produced large number of Marwaris who are controlling the economy of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country About 80 percent of big industrial houses are managed by Marwaris. India's richest industrialists of the century, such as the Birlas, are Marwaris. The Birla family is one of the foremost business houses in India. Today, the main trading and industrial houses of India have their roots in Shekhawati.

Between 1830 and 1930, they erected buildings in their homeland, Shekhawati, as evidence of their success. As the ultimate symbol of their opulence, the Marwaris commissioned artists to paint those buildings.

Most of the buildings of the Shekhawati region were constructed during 18th century to early 20th century. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system The twentieth century of the Common Era began on During the British occupation, traders would adapted this style for their new buildings. [27] The havelis are noted for their frescos depicting mythological and historical themes. Fresco (plural either frescos or frescoes) is any of several related Painting types done on Plaster on walls or The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology The frescos include images of gods, goddesses, animals, life history of Lords Rama and Krishna, profusely painted on the havelis in this region. Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog: Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism

Marwaris have played an important role in the development of Shekhawati region. Marwaris are the people from the Marwar region of Rajasthan in India. Their major contribution to the Shekhawati region is in the field of education. Marwaris have also played a leading role in Indian Independence Movement. The term " Indian independence movement " is diffuse incorporating various national and regional campaigns agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Militant They provided financial help in running the freedom movement.

Some of the famous Marwari industrial houses are as follows: Bagari, Bajaj, Birla, Chandgothia, Dalmia, Didwania, Ganeriwal, Goyanka, Jaipuria, Jaju, Jalan, Jhujhunuwala, Kanoria, Khetan, Kothari, Lohia, Mittal, Modi, Murarka, Parasrampuria, Poddar, Ruia, Rungta, Singhania, Agrawal/Agarwal, Sarda/ Sharda, Sanghi, Somani, Sudrania, Surana, Dujodwala,

Tourism attractions

Towns and cities of Shekhawati

Villages and towns of Shekhawati are most developing places of Rajasthan. The major towns and cities of the Shekhawati region are as follows(alphabetical order):

Feudalism in Shekhawati

The feudalism functioned as an over-riding politico-administrative, social and economic formation undermining even the institution of caste. The feudal mode of social relations as a dominant force guided everyday life of the people of Shekhawati region in Rajasthan. One could trace some continuity of the past social formation in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal in the form of 'semi-feudalism' as characterised by some scholars, but such a situation is not traceable in the present day Rajasthan which was a prominent stronghold of feudalism prior to independence. [28]

Today a remarkable discontinuity in distributive processes and social relations, simultaneous occurrence of the processes of upward and downward social mobility and a self-perpetuating process of social transformation could be witnessed in the Shekhawati region. [29]

Farmers of Shekhawati

The Marwaris dominate the cities and towns of Shekhawati region. The rural areas of the Shekhawati region are dominated by farming communities. The farmers of the Shekhawati region are considered to be the most advanced in the state of Rajasthan, second only to farmers from Shri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area The Shekhawati region has the highest literacy in the state. [30]

The predominant farmer communities in the rural areas of Shekhawati are the Jats: they comprise the largest single caste in the state (9 per cent), and were, in the 1930's and even earlier, the most self-conscious and prosperous among the peasant castes. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1935 their claims to certain privileges led to a series of clashes between them and the Rajputs, who resisted their attempts to revise accepted signs of status. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [31] The Rajput community who were the jagirdars before independence still play very important role in society. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India In Pakistan and India, a Jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond The Brahmans and Harijans also play an important role in the area. Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Harijan ( son of God) was a term coined by Gandhi for Dalits, which is now considered patronizing The farmers of the region have done great struggle to come to the present status.

Before independence, the farmers of the Shekhawati region were exploited and oppressed by the Jagirdars during British Raj. In Pakistan and India, a Jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British During that time, Jagirdars would burden farmers, known as Kisans, with various taxes, a large part of which was to be paid to the British government. [32]

References

  1. ^ Taknet, D. K, Marwari Samaj Aur Brijmohan Birla, Indian Institute of Marwari Entrepreneurship, Jaipur, 1993 p 78 ISBN 81-85878-00-5
  2. ^ Mukutji: Jaipur rajya ka bhugol, page 46-47
  3. ^ Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-1
  4. ^ Hakim Yusuf Jhunjhunuvi: Jhunjhunu ka Itihasa, Vol III page-10
  5. ^ Mansukh Ranwa 'Manu', Amar Shaheed Lotu Jat, J C Ranwa Prakashan, Sikar, 2001 p-13
  6. ^ Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-1
  7. ^ Devi Singh Mandawa: Shardul Singh Shekhawat, page 17
  8. ^ Rajputane ka uthala samudra, page-21
  9. ^ FE Partiger: Ancient Indian historical tradition, page-260
  10. ^ Parmeshwar Solanki: Rajasthan marupradesh ka iti vritatmak vivechan, page 16
  11. ^ G H Ojha: Rajputane ka Itihasa (Part I), page 83
  12. ^ Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-2
  13. ^ Busquet, Carisse and Gerard Impressions of Rajasthan 2003, Editions Flammarion, ISBN 2-08-011171-X
  14. ^ Lakhan Gusain. Rai Bahadur Pandit Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha (1863-1947 born in Sirohi District, was an eminent historian from the Indian state of Rajasthan. Shekhawati. Munich: Lincom Europa (2001) (LW/M 385)
  15. ^ Sukh Sampati Raj Bhandari: Bharat ke deshi rajya, Jaypur rajya ka Itihas, page 3
  16. ^ G H Ojha: Rajputane ka Itihasa (Part I), page 83
  17. ^ Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-3
  18. ^ Prithvi Singh Mehta: Hamara Rajasthan (1950), pages 30-31
  19. ^ Satapatha Brahman 13/5/9
  20. ^ Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-2
  21. ^ Prithvi Singh Mehta: Hamara Rajasthan (1950), page 27
  22. ^ Prithvi Singh Mehta: Hamara Rajasthan (1950), page 28
  23. ^ G H Ojha: Rajputane ka Itihasa (Part I), page 83
  24. ^ G H Ojha: Rajputane ka Itihasa (Part I), page 86
  25. ^ Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-2
  26. ^ Shekhawat
  27. ^ Henderson, Carol D, Cultures and Customs of India; Greenwood Press 1992, ISBN 0-313-30513-7, pg. Rai Bahadur Pandit Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha (1863-1947 born in Sirohi District, was an eminent historian from the Indian state of Rajasthan. Rai Bahadur Pandit Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha (1863-1947 born in Sirohi District, was an eminent historian from the Indian state of Rajasthan. Rai Bahadur Pandit Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha (1863-1947 born in Sirohi District, was an eminent historian from the Indian state of Rajasthan. 92
  28. ^ K. L. Sharma: Caste, Feudalism and Peasantry: The Social Formation of Shekhawati, Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd. New Delhi, 1998
  29. ^ K. L. Sharma: Caste, Feudalism and Peasantry: The Social Formation of Shekhawati, Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd. New Delhi, 1998
  30. ^ Dr RP Arya, Jitendra Arya, Dr Gayatri Arya, Anshuman Arya, Rajasthan Road Atlas, Indian Map Service, Jodhpur 2005
  31. ^ Princely States Report
  32. ^ Dr Natthan Singh, Jat-Itihas, (Jat History), Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad, F-13, Dr Rajendra Prasad Colony, Tansen marg, Gwalior, M. Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad Gwalior is an Organization of Jat people in Gwalior region in Madhya Pradesh, India. P, India 474 002 2004

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Historical regions of North India
Ajmer | Awadh | Bagelkhand | Braj | Bundelkhand | Delhi | Dhundhar | Garhwal | Gird | Godwar | Hadoti | Jaisalmer | Jangladesh | Kumaun | Magadha | Mahakoshal | Malwa | Marwar | Mewar | Mewat | Mithila | Nimar | Purvanchal | Rohilkhand | Shekhawati | Vagad
Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula Geography The area of the province was 2710 square miles The plateau on whose centre stands the town of Ajmer may be considered as the highest point in the plains of North For the Oudh tree see Agarwood. Awadh ( Hindi: अवध Urdu: اودھ) also known in various British historical texts as Oudh Bagelkhand (or Baghelkhand) is a region in central India, in northeastern Madhya Pradesh state Region and the cult of Krishna Region is closely related to the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Geography Bundelkhand lies between the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the north and the Vindhya Range to the south Overview The modern city contains the remnants of eight successive ancient cities including 'Dhilli' was founded by Tomar Anangapala according to Vibudh Shridhar Geography In 1900 at the times of Jaipur Kingdom region had a total area of 15579 square miles (40349 km² Garhwal, or Gurwal (गढ़वाल ɡəɽʱʋal is a region and administrative division of Uttarakhand state India, lying in the Himalayas. Russian Group of Study of Reactive Motion (in Russian: Группа изучения реактивного движения (ГИРД transliterated GIRD) was a Geography Most of the region is drained by the Sukri River and its tributaries which flow west to join the Luni River before it empties into the Rann of Geography History The name of the region is derived from the Hada Rajputs a branch of the great Chauhan Rajput clan Geography Jaisalmer is almost entirely a sandy waste forming a part of the great Indian desert Early history Prior to middle 15th century rule the region that is Bikaner was a Barren Wilderness called "Jangladesh" Kumaon (or Kumaun) is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal Magadha (मगध formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas ( Sanskrit, "great countries" or regions in ancient India. Mahakoshal (also Mahakaushal) is a region of central India. Mahakoshal lies in the upper or eastern reaches of the Narmada River valley in the Geography In 1901 the region (Jodhpur state had an area of 90554 km² (34963 square miles Geography The northern part of Mewar is a gently sloping plain drained by the Bedach & Banas River and its tributaries which empty northwest into the Chambal River Mewat District is a district of Haryana Haryana state in India. Mithila ( Sanskrit: मिथिला mithilā) was a city in Ancient India, the capital of the Videha Kingdom Nimar is the southwestern region of Madhya Pradesh state in west-central India Purvanchal (est - mountain is a geographic region of north-central India, which comprises the eastern end of Uttar Pradesh state Rohilkhand ( Hindi: रुहेलखण्ड Urdu: روہیل کھنڈ) is a region of northwestern Uttar Pradesh state of India Geography The region mostly lies in the upper watershed of the Mahi River and its tributaries which is said to be the lifeline of Vagad
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