Notion Press Old No. 38, New No. 6 McNichols Road, Chetpet Chennai - 600 031 First Published by Notion Press 2016 Copyright © Pratap Singh Mehta 2016 All Rights Reserved. ISBN 978-93-5206-600-1 This book has been published in good faith that the work of the author is original. All efforts have been taken to make the material error-free. However, the author and the publisher disclaim the responsibility. No part of this book may be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The information regarding genealogy of Deora Chauhans and Bachhawat Mehtas, available from different books of history, internet, “Bhaats” (story tellers) and inscriptions, is full of contradictions and the names are at variance. The history of any person or place is also the perception and objective of the writer. However, care has been taken to present the paper factually and truly after due moderation. Therefore, the author and publisher of this book are not responsible for any objections or contradictions raised. Cover Credits: Painting of Mehta Rai Pannalal: Raja Ravi Varma (Travancore), 1901 Custodian of Painting: Ashok Mehta (New Delhi) Photo credit: Ravi Dhingra (New Delhi) Contents Foreword xi Preface xiii Acknowledgements xvii Introduction xix 1.1 Genealogy of Songara and Deora Chauhans in Mewar 4 1.2 History – Temple Town of Delwara (Mewar) 7 Chapter 1.3 Rulers of Delwara 10 12th–15th 1.4 Raja Bohitya Inspired by Jain Philosophy 11 Century 1.5 Raja Shree Karan Sacrifices his Life for Mewar 13 1 1.6 Deora Chauhans Embrace Jainism 14 1.7 Kadua Honoured by Maharana Laksha Singh of Chittor 16 2.1 The uslimM Invaders in India 20 2.2 The uslimM Invaders – Common Enemies of Mewar and Marwar 24 Chapter 2.3 Bachhraj Arrives in Jodhpur at the Invitation of Rao Jodha 25 th th 15 –17 2.4 Founders of Bikaner - Rao Bika and Century Bachhraj Proceed to Janglu Desh 27 2 2.5 Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke 28 2.6 Bachhraj Appointed as Diwan of Bikaner State 29 2.7 Villages of Bachhasar and Karmisar Granted in Jagir 30 2.8 Bachhawat Diwans of Bikaner 33 v Contents 2.9 Good Rapport Between Emperor Akbar and Diwan Karam Chand 35 2.10 Diwan Karam Chand Bachhawat - Saviour of Jainism 37 2.11 Bachhawats Granted Honour to Wear Gold on Legs and Title “Mehta” Given by Akbar 38 2.12 Karam Chand Remonstrates Bounty to Charans 39 2.13 Why Bachhawats Stopped Worshiping Dyadi Mata? 41 2.14 Diwan Karam Chand Lays Foundation of Junagarh Fort at Bikaner 42 2.15 Suspicion Grows Between Raja Rai Singh and Diwan Karam Chand 43 2.16 Emperor Akbar Invites Diwan Karam Chand Bachhawat to Lahore Court 45 2.17 Acharya Jinchandra Suri Invited by Emperor Akbar to Lahore Court 47 2.18 Emperor Akbar Proceeds to Kashmir by Boat Through Jhelum 49 2.19 Diwan Karam Chand Bachhawat Passes Away 52 2.20 Dying Wish of Raja Rai Singh for Bachhawat Family 54 2.21 Bravery & Heroism of Bachhawats at Bikaner 55 2.22 History of Rangdi-ka-Chowk at Bikaner 57 3.1 Saviour Minister Bhamashah & Bachhawat Mehtas in Mewar 60 Chapter 3.2 Bachhawat Mehtas Inducted in 17th–18th Administration of Mewar 62 Century 3.3 Mewar State in Turmoil During 3 late Eighteenth Century 64 3.4 Charismatic Mehta Agar Chand Appointed as Pradhan 67 3.5 Pradhan Mehta Agar Chand Sacrifices Life for Mewar 69 vivi Contents 3.6 Conscientious Mehta Devi Chand Appointed as Pradhan 72 3.7 Capt James Tod visits Mandalgarh in 1820 75 3.8 Acute Aspirants of Power – Mehta Sher Singh & Mehta (Cheel) Ram Singh 77 3.9 Mehta Moti Ram Killed to Check Growing Influence of Mehta Sher Singh 80 3.10 Mehta Sher Singh Dismissed & Recalled – Once Again Power Tussle in Mewar 82 3.11 Services of Mehta Sher Singh Recognised 85 3.12 Pradhan Mehta Sher Singh Dismissed – Power Politics Resurface in Mewar 88 4.1 Chivalrous Mehta Gokal Chand Appointed as Pradhan of Mewar 93 4.2 Services of Mehta Sher Singh Recalled 94 4.3 Administrative Career of Mehta Murlidhar 97 4.4 Mehta Pannalal’s Grooming at Nimbahera under Mehta Ajeet Singh 100 Chapter 4.5 ‘Sati’ in the Bachhawat Mehta Family 102 18th–19th 4.6 Internship for Mehta Pannalal Begins 103 Century 4.7 Mehta Sher Singh and his Son Sawai Singh 4 Implicated for Embezzlement 106 4.8 Triumphs and Trials of Pradhan Mehta Gokal Chand 109 4.9 Proclamation Regarding Prohibition of Sati 111 4.10 Chequered Career of Mehta Ajeet Singh 113 4.11 Trial of Mehta Ajeet Singh for Barbarous Atrocities 115 4.12 Excesses by Mehta Raghunath Singh During Bhil Disturbances 117 viivii Contents 5.1 Visionary Statesmen Mehta Pannalal Appointed as Munshi of Mahakma Khas 121 5.2 Maharana Shambhu Singh Grants Privileges of ‘Langar’ & ‘Talwar Bandi’ 124 5.3 Detractors of Munshi Mehta Pannalal Become Active 125 5.4 Mehta Pannalal Goes to Ajmer for Safety 128 5.5 Reorganisation of Administration & Fiscal Reforms by Mehta Pannalal 130 5.6 Mehta Gokal Chand & Mehta Pannalal Arrest Goswami Girdharilal of Nathdwara 133 5.7 Mehta Pannalal Conferred Title of ‘Rai’ by British Government 136 5.8 Maharana Sajjan Singh Appoints Mehta Rai Pannalal As Pradhan of Mewar State 137 5.9 Chivalrous Mehta Laxmilal Appointed Chapter as Hakim of Jahazpur 139 5.10 Mehta Laxmilal Receives Maharana Sajjan Singh 19th–20th at Jahazpur 140 Century 5.11 Further Reorganisation in State Administration 5 by Mehta Rai Pannalal 142 5.12 Services of Mehta Takhat Singh as Hakim 144 5.13 Special Durbar Arranged at Chittor for Award Ceremony 145 5.14 Mehta Laxmilal Arrests Rawat Kesari Singh of Boeda 148 5.15 Awards & Honours after Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Celebrations 150 5.16 Mehta Takhat Singh Investigates case of ‘Spurious’ Son of Sakat Singh of Bagore 151 5.17 City Clock Tower – Symbol of Communal Harmony Built by Pradhan Mehta Rai Pannalal 152 5.18 Mehta Lakshmilal Ousted from Jahazpur by Detractors of Mehta Pannalal 154 5.19 Mehta Pannalal Falls from Horse 155 5.20 Duke of Connaught Lays Foundation of Fateh Sagar Lake 156 viii Contents 5.21 Border Dispute at Pagliya-ki-Naal between Mewar and Marwar 158 5.22 Conspiracy Hatched to Malign Mehta Rai Pannalal 160 5.23 Adieu to Pradhan Mehta Rai Pannalal 164 5.24 Mehta Rai Pannalal Returns to Udaipur on Completion of Pilgrimage 166 5.25 Great Famine and Epidemic of Nineteenth Century 168 6.1 Mehta Fatehlal Appointed as Member of Mahadraj Sabha 173 6.2 Mehta Fatehlal Conducts Raja Ravi Varma at Udaipur 175 6.3 Administrative Changes in State – Bachhawat Mehtas Appointed as Hakims 178 6.4 Mehta Fatehlal – Philanthropist, Academician and Adviser 180 Chapter 6.5 Mehta Pannalal & Fatehlal – Attend Special Investiture Durbar at Agra 183 20th–21st 6.6 Mehta Pannalal & Fatehlal – Century Attend United Province Exhibition at Allahabad 184 6 6.7 Landmark Events in Bachhawat Mehta Family 186 6.8 Distinguished Family of Mehta Fatehlal 192 6.9 Distinguished Family of Mehta Inder Singh 200 6.10 Distinguished Family of Mehta Jai Singh 209 6.11 Distinguished Family of Mehta Dungar Singh 212 6.12 Distinguished Bachawat Families (Bikaner / Kolkata) 214 6.13 Distinguished Family of Manik Bachhawat (Bikaner / Kolkata) 216 Annex A Bachhawat Mehtas in the Feudal Administration of Rajputana 221 Annex B Rulers of Mewar 225 Annex C Rulers of Bikaner 231 Annex D Rhymes of Rajputana 233 Annex E Genealogical Family Trees: Bachhawats 239 Annex F Bibliography 287 ix Pratap Singh Mehta Chapter 1 12th–15th Century he Chauhans, during 11th century, founded Amber, Sambhar and Ajmer in Rajputana. The last of them, Vigraha Raja or Rao Bisaldeo, in the middle of the 12th century, extended the ancestral dominions considerably and conquered Delhi from the chief of the Tomara clan. At that time, according to their own bard, the dominions of the Chauhans extended to the north from Hissar to the south until the Aravalli hills. After Prithviraj Chauhan III was killed in a battle in 1192, the Chauhan kingdom broke up. During mid-13th century, there was a very brave king of Delwara (Mewar), Raja Sagar, a Deora Chauhan and a descendant of Rao Kirtipal of Jalore. He was the progenitor of the Bachhawats. Raja Sagar’s son Raja Bohitya was immensely influenced and inspired by Jain philosophy. Samdhar, a grandson of Bohitya and a Deora Chauhan, was the first man in his genealogy to convert to Jainism. Hence, this is the period of transition from Deora Chauhans to Bachhawats (Kshatriya Rajputs to Jainism). (Left) A painting of Prithviraj Chauhan III (1165–92 AD). Credit: Qila Rai Pithora, Conservation Center, New 3Delhi. Guns and Glories 1.1 Genealogy of Songara and Deora Chauhans in Mewar Chauhans have 26 major sects - Hada, Songara, Deora, Khichi, Shambhri, Sanchora, Pavia, Goyalwal, Bhadauria, Malani, Nirwan, Puravia, Madrecha, Cheeba, Mohil, Chahil, Balecha, Chachera, Boda, Nadola and Nikumbh to name a few. It is said that Rao Bisaldeo was the progenitor of the Deora clan. Prithviraj Chauhan III was the nephew of Rao Bisaldeo. The rulers of Jalore, Chandravati and Sirohi belonged to the Songara and Deora clans in the past. The Chauhan clan of Rajputs ruled over a large area of south-western Rajasthan and Gujarat during 12th and 13th centuries. Alhana, the younger son of Wakpati Rao Chauhan, seized Nadol (near Jodhpur) from the Paramaras and established himself there, towards the end of the 10th century.