Ahirwada

Ahirwada is a historic town located between the Parvati and Betwa rivers in Central India or modern Madhya Pradesh.[1] It was between the cities Bhilsa and Jhansi.[2] It was named after Ahir warriors.

History

The Abhiras are often mentioned in Ksatrapa inscriptions of Saurashtra. The Puranas and the Brihatsamhita place the Abhiras in the southern region during the Samudragupta. These tribes slowly spread out in different parts of India. They may have occupied Ahirwada in Madhya Pradesh at a late date. We know of their occupation in Rajasthan also at a late date as is evident from the Jodhpur inscription of samwat 918, that the Abhira people of this area were a terror to their neighbours, because of their violent demeanour.[3]

According to James Tod, The Princes of Garh Mandla, for ages continued the surname of Pal, which is indicative of their nomadic occupation. The Aheers, who occupied all the Central India and have left Aheerwara (Ahirwada) a memorial of their existence, was a bunch of the same race, as Aheer being a synonym for Pal.[4]

Ahirwada is mentioned in Malwa in Transition Or a Century of Anarchy: The First Phase, 1698-1765, along with Khichiwada and Bhopal where the anti Maratha feelings prevailed very often. Rising of the Ahirs of Ahirwada were a cause of worry for Maratha Supremacy as the Ahirs started building new Forts.[5] Also, the presence of Puranmal Ahir, an Ahir Ruler or chief of Ahir Country in Malwa is noticed in several historical accounts for the period of 1714 to 1716 .[6][7]

Puranmal, Malwa

Puranmal was an Ahir chief or leader of Malwa region during 1714-1716 (A.D.) .[8] In 1714, Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur succeeded in suppressing the disorder in Malwa.[9] The Afgan marauders established control over Sironj with the help of Ahir leader Puranmal.[10]The Ahir country (Ahirwada) stood rebellion under its leader Puranmal, who closed the roads from Sironj to Kalabagh and from his strongholds of Ranod and Indore continued to trouble the government. [11] Raja Jai Singh reached Sironj and defeated Afgan Army in April 1715. The peace so imposed could last no longer and in November 1715, Puranmal Ahir renewed his depredations in Malpur. The Rohilas, Girasias, Bhils, Ahirs and other Hindu princelins rose up in all the sides in Malwa. None of the efforts made by government could control the situation. [12]

Rulers and chiefs

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tripathi, Rama Shankar (1942). History of ancient India (1st. ed., repr. ed.). Delhi: Motinal Banarsidass. p. 244. ISBN 81-208-0018-4.
  2. ↑ Epigraphia Indica. Volume 39, Part 7. 1985. p. 256. ISSN 0013-9572.
  3. ↑ Tej Ram Sharma (1989). A Political History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta. Concept Publishing Company. p. 87. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  4. ↑ James Tod (1922). Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han, Or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India. Lyon Public Library. p. 443.
  5. ↑ Sinh Raghubir (1993). Malwa in Transition Or a Century of Anarchy: The First Phase, 1698-1765. Asian Educational Services. pp. 75–329. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Jadunath Sarkar (1994). A History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938. Orient Blackswan. p. 164. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  7. ↑ R.K. Gupta, S.R. Bakshi (2008). Studies In Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs (Set Of 5 Vols. Sarup & Sons. p. 91. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  8. ↑ Doris Marion Kling (1993). The emergence of Jaipur state: Rajput response to Mughal rule, 1562-1743. University of Pennsylvania, Original from the University of Michigan. p. 662.
  9. ↑ N. Shantha Naik (2012). Dalit Literature: Our Response. Sarup & Sons,. p. 91. ISBN 9788176258418.
  10. ↑ Doris Marion Kling (1993). The emergence of Jaipur state: Rajput response to Mughal rule, 1562-1743. University of Pennsylvania, Original from the University of Michigan. p. 275.
  11. ↑ Jadunath Sarkar, Editor Raghubir Sinh (1994). A History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938. Orient Blackswan. p. 164. ISBN 9788125003335.
  12. ↑ Jadunath Sarkar, Editor Raghubir Sinh (1994). A History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938. Orient Blackswan. pp. 167,168. ISBN 9788125003335.