Rajput Nobility- A Study of 18th Century Rajputana

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The study of this so far uncharted field undertaken here, principally, pertains to the five leading states of the region viz. Mewari, Kota, Jaipur, Marwar and Bikaner, during 18th century. Nobility as an institution differed in details in all these states but the frame-work under which it functioned was almost identical and the nobles cherished identical aspirations irrespective of their geo-political placing. An earnest, attempt has been made to give it a shape exclusively based upon archival records available at Rajasthan State Archives, Bikaner, its various repositories and private records of a number of Thikanas.

A study of the nobility seems to suggest that 'vertical as well as horizontal mobility featured at different capitals, governed in turn by geo-political conditions. Many families braved to extinction and upon their ruins' the bold and adventurous forged themselves ahead. The powerful castes and clans pushed themselves to the fore resulting in a greater semblance to clan-oriented nobility rather than clan-nobility during the later part of 18th century. “

I am thankful, to the authorities of Rajasthan State Archives, Bikaner and its various repositories for giving me a free access to their records. To the Thikanas of Digit, Kanote, Ladona, Uniara, Dharma who granted me permission to consult their collections, I am earnestly grateful.

Here as elsewhere the activities of the rulers have been focused. But rulers represented only a part of the ruling class. The other part comprising of nobles or officers also deserve attention. Even the most despotic rulers required a train of officers to execute their policies and it is here that one feels to study the composition, traditions and predilections of this class which are as meaningful as that of individual rulers.

The canvas of study covers a complete century generally taken as a century a cultural failure on the part of Indian rulers-irrespective of the Mughal' or the Rajput. This failure resulted not only in a static but a degenerating society too. The gains of the past were not only given up but thrown to the limbo of oblivion. Even making 'allowances for the Marxist theory of the stagnancy of Asiatic societies one feels constrained to conclude that such apathy prevailed in Rajputana at least. The causes for it are not only to be traced in the personal afflictions of the rulers alone but in the structure of the: states as a whole. In this structure the nobles had a decisive role which requires a close study. It is for this reason that the study has been undertaken to clear the mist that enveloped its organization, traditions, rights, duties, policies and the various strains and stresses to which it was subjected or the ripples to which it was a party.

Nobility has been named differently at different capitals. The word Samant or Sardar has been generally attached Igor this class before our period commences. By this time this had crystallized into Pattayats or Jagirdars (holders of the Patta or Jagir). Every noble was a Pattayat or a Jagirdar but every Pattayat or Iagirdar was not a noble.

Different yard-sticks were deployed to demarcate the one with the other.

At Mewari the, nobles or Pattayats were classified as 'Solah', 'Battisa' and the Surdars of 'Gol' based Oil Rich which they held or the meritorious services which they rendered. At Kota they were designated as Hazur Ka fagirdar and Dash Ka fagirdar-the former almost coming from the clan of the ruler while the latter comprised of the nobles in general. At the Kachhwaha capital the amount of Tan Patta was the prime consideration. Political influence exercised by this class has rarely weighed. As to the special categories of this class, there were Tazimi, Khas Chauki and Malaguzar nobles. At Jodhpur the nobles were divided into three categories, viz., (a) Members of the ruling family, known as Rajiv; (b) the hereditary nobles or Sardars; and the Mutsaddis. The 'Sardars were further divided into four categories fizz. Sprayed, the second, third and fourth order consisted of the nobles to whom Hath-ka-Curb, Bav-Pasaw and Ekevri Tazim was granted. At Bikaner the nobles were divided into three categories viz., those who had accompanied Bikaner from Marwar; those who were related to Bika and the third one constituted those tribals who had accepted the sovereignty of Bika along with those who had been stuffed into the state from time to time.

We have taken the Pattas or Jagirs as the most reliable index of the size and composition of the ruling class as in its absence there is no viable alternative which call is safely relied upon. For this purpose we have taken every Pattayat or fagirdar into account carrying a Reek or Tan of Rs. 100 so as to bring out a more comprehensive picture of the system as a whole.

The size and composition of Rajput nobility has always been an important part ‘of the study: We have tried to bring out the number of nobles (Pattayats) at different times; the rate at which the number increased and the repercussions which this increase had on the resources of the state and its internal cohesion. For the latter we have studied the groups and the races which formed the nobility taking into account the share of the castes and clans at different capitals. This statistical presentation has its own shortcomings and various qualifications are always attached when this is reduced for purposes of cormparision. The one advantage which can be safely reaped out of such a comparison is that it compact as a check on generalizations and lead to some further avenues of enquiry.

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