Durgadas Rathore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Durgadas Rathore (13 August 1638 - 22 November 1718) is a famous personality in the annals of Marwar. He is credited with having single-handedly preserved the rule of the Rathore dynasty over Marwar (Jodhpur) after the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh in the 17th century.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Durgadas was a suryavanshi Rathore Rajput, belonging to the Karnot branch of the Rathore clan. He was the son of Askaran Rathore, a Rajput general in the army of Maharaja Jaswant Singh. As his mother did not get along with her husband and co-wives, she lived away from Jodhpur, and Durgadas grew up in a small village.
When Durgadas was young, a camelherd, rearing the herds of the Maharaja, ventured into Durgadas's fields. Durgadas asked the camel herd to take his herd away and not destroy the field. The camelherd paid no heed. Durgadas unsheathed his sword and killed him. Word of this reached Maharaja Jaswant Singh. He summoned Durgadas and asked him why he killed the camelherd. Durgadas told him that the royal herd of camels was giving Jaswant Singh a bad name by destroying the crops of ordinary people. The Maharaja was very impressed with Durgadas's uprightness and gave him an appointment in the army.
[edit] Saving Ajit Singh
Maharaja Jaswant Singh, ruler of Marwar, died in 1679 without immediate male heirs. However, two of his wives were pregnant at the time of his death. These circumstances allowed the mughal emperor Aurangzeb to intervene; he appointed a Muslim to rule over Marwar, which upset the Rathod clan a great deal. One of Jaswant Singh's pregnant widows gave birth, in due course, to a male child, who was named Ajit Singh. After the birth of this rightful heir, prominent grandees of Marwar, including Durgadas, went to Delhi along with the infant Ajit Singh and asked Aurangzeb that the infant be confirmed in his late father's estates and titles. Aurangzeb did not absolutely refuse, but suggested, supposedly for the infant's own safety, that Ajit grow up in his harem.
The nurturing of the head of the Rathod clan in Aurangzeb's staunchly muslim household was not acceptable to the clan. It is said that Crown prince Ajit Singh along with his mother Queen was staying at a place called "Bhuli Bhatiyari" near Jhandewalan of modern Delhi. Durgadas and others of the delegation resolved upon smuggling Ajit Singh out of Delhi. Even as they approached the outskirts of the city, the mughal guard fell in hot pursuit of them. Durgadas and his 300 men, notable among them Raghunandan Bhati, had to make their escape while fighting hand-to-hand with the much larger mughal guard. Every so often, some 15-20 Rajputs would fall behind to check the mughal pursuers, in the process getting themselves killed, thus allowing the forward party to create some distance between Ajit and the Mughals. This continued till the evening; Durgadas was left with just seven men out of the 300 he started with, but he managed to convey the infant Ajit Singh to safety in Jaipur. Later, the infant was removed to the safety of Aravali hills near Abu Sirohi, a remote town on the southern fringes of Marwar, and grew up in anonymity.
For 20 years after this event, Marwar remained under the direct rule of a mughal governor. During this period, Durgadas carried out a relentless struggle against the occupying forces. Trade routes that passed through the region were plundered by the guerillas, who also looted various treasuries in present-day Rajasthan and Gujarat. These disorders adversely impacted the finances of the empire.
Aurangzeb died in 1707; he was to prove the last of the great mughals. Durgadas took advantage of the disturbances following this death to seize Jodhpur and eventually evict the occupying mughal force. Ajit Singh was proclaimed Maharaja of Jodhpur. He rebuilt all the temples that had been descecrated by the occupying muslims.
[edit] Character
Aurangzeb's son Sultan Muhammad Akbar rebelled against his father. Naturally, Durgadas extended aid to him in the rebellion. This venture came to naught, as Akbar died in exile; he left his children in the custody of Durgadas. Aurangzeb became extremely anxious to get his grandchildren back. He requested Durgadas, who agreed to send them to Aurangzeb. When the children arrived, Aurangzeb asked a Qazi to start teaching them the Quran. On hearing this, his little grand-daughter began reciting ayats from the holy book. Aurangzeb was left dumbfounded. On being asked, his grand-daughter told him that while she was in Durgadas's custody, a Qazi had been engaged to take care of their religious instruction.
Such was Durgadas. Till today, people in Rajasthan pray: Maa puut aisa janiyo jaisa Durgadas (Mother, give birth to a son just like Durgadas).
[edit] References
- Durgadas Rathore: National biography by Raghubir Sinh. Publisher: Panchsheel Prakashan Jaipur. First published 1999. ISBN 81-7056-051-9
- Vira Durgadasa Rathaurha by Ved Prakash. Publisher: Rajbhasha Pustak Pratishthan, Delhi. First published 2005. ISBN 81-88613-10-X
- Svatamtrata-premi Durgadasa Rathaura by Sukhvir Singh Gehlote. Navbharat publications, Jodhpur. First Published 2000
