Rajasthan's Role in The Struggle of 1857

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The Upheaval of 1857, which appeared at first 'a small cloud-no bigger than a man's hand' grew bigger and bigger till at last it overwhelmed the British East India Company with ruin. During this period of storm and stress, the entire Princely Order of Rajasthan 'proved their staunch fidelity to the Paramount Power' and almost all the rulers 'clustered round the waning fragments" of the British Empire. Maharana Swaroop Singh 'exerted his great influence as the acknowledged Head of all the Rajput princes on the side of the British by advising all, who applied to him by letter or by accredited ministers specially deputed for counsel the crisis, to stand firm in their allegiance to the British Government." The Maharaja of Karowli sent levies in British support, drove out of his territory the Gwalior rebels and sent a detachment of 800 (followed by a re-inforcement of 1500) to Kotah with a view to rescue the Maharao who had been reduced by the rebels to the status of a virtual prisoner. He even 'issued a proclamation to his subjects, pointing out in strong language the delusion' under which the mutineers had been labouring and called upon his people not only not to join the rebels but to help him also in fighting for the British Government. Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur remained absolutely loyal to the British cause even amidst strongest temptations. Despite the revolt of his troops, the Nawab of Tonk supported the British even at 'considerable personal risk and pecuniary loss.' Maharaja Takhat Singh of Jodhpur, though rendered totally powerless to aid the British as a result of the anti British revolts of his refractory chiefs, did not lose any opportunity to show his pro-British zeal. It was, however, only in case of the rulers of Kotah and Bundi that the A.G.G. could find an opportunity to make certain adverse remarks in his report on the Mutiny in Rajasthan. Though he had 'no instance to allege of hostility or marked disloyalty on the part of Bundi', he complained against the general lukewarmness in the Capture of rebels, and the seizure of their families'. The Maharao of Kotah, despite his pro British inclinations, had, however, been suspected of complicity with the rebels and an enquiry was set up to investigate into his conduct.

All these princes had been so conspicuously loyal and helpful to the British because the blessings of British Protection had saved them from the grinding tyranny of the Marathas and the Pindaries. Then, most of them were living in 'continual strife with the chief people of their principalities' and as such stood in dire necessity of an overlordship which could afford them full protection against internal anarchy. They had 'no sympathy with one another and, being devoid of political insight, they were in a way incapable of understanding the turn, Indian politics was likely to take. A century of Maratha rapacity, followed by the inhuman atrocities of the Pindari excursions, had so paralysed the ruling princes of Rajasthan that they were not inclined to under-rate the advantages, arising out of their treaty alliances with the British in favour of an upheaval which, in all probability, might have strengthened their already. troublesome feudal chieftains. Naturally, therefore, the mutinous soldiery in Rajasthan could not receive any sympathy or support from the Rajput princes, who had, as such, practically no anti British role to play in the struggle of 1857. They threw their entire weight in favour of the British. Out of the eighteen ruling princes in Rajasthan, Maharaja Sardar Singh of Bikaner alone could, despite his strong pro-British affiliations, anyhow manage to give shelter to six hundred followers of Tantia Tope and procure for them the unconditional pardon from the Government of India. The millions at large were, however, seething with discontent and their anti British inclinations had been manifested on several occasions. The principal jagirdars of Rajasthan supported the anti-British rebels because they feared lest the continuation of the British rule in India should bring about their political ruin. It was, therefore, left to these jagirdars and their contingents to make a common cause with the mutinous soldiery and raise a standard of revolt against the British.

This brief narrative does not aim at attempting a detailed history of the 1857 Upheaval in Rajasthan; nor has there been any intention to evaluate the services, rendered by the Princely Order to the British cause. An attempt has, however, been made to place before the readers only a review of the circumstances under which the Jagirdar rebels of Rajasthan tried to grasp the opportunity, afforded to them by the Mutiny of 1857, to set right the wrongs, the British penetration had done to them in the past. Due notice of the anti-British ferment, prevailing amidst the millions at large inhabiting the arid zones of Rajasthan, has also been taken and the narrative goes to reveal the vague and indistinct sympathy, the mutineers could procure at a number of places in Rajasthan. The factors, responsible for the out break of the mutiny in the British military cantonments of Nasirabad, Neemuch, Erinpura, Deoli etc., had, however, been the same as those throughout India and as such no detailed analysis of these uprisings was essential. An effort has, however, been made to analyse the anti-British trends responsible for the revolts at Auwa and Kotah.

The State Government had decided as early as August, 1956 to bring out an authentic account of the role of Rajasthan in the Freedom Struggle of 1857. The work of writing this book was entrusted to Professor N.R. Khadgawat, who, in his capacity as the Research Officer for the History of Freedom Movement in India, had already collected valuable material from sources mostly hitherto unexplored and unutilised. I am glad to see that Professor Khadgawat has been able to prepare an interesting and reliable history of the 1857 Struggle in Rajasthan. The narrative is mainly based on the Rajputana Residency Records, the well-known works of the British authors dealing with this period of Indian History as well as many indigenous records and sources all of which have been freely quoted and acknowledged by the author. This short but authoritative chronicle will show that Rajasthan played its rightful role in the movement that flared up in many parts of the country with the object of driving away the alien rulers. It illumines a dimly known corner of the history of our people. There were many persons who thought and acted wholly in consonance with the spirit of the struggle. That their attempts failed as the attempts of their compatriots elsewhere in the country was no fault of theirs. It cannot, however, be ignored that in spite of the initial set-back, this first attempt for independence released the forces that culminated in the freedom that we enjoy today. This saga of heroism and self-sacrifice will always be a source of inspiration for us all. We must pay on this occasion our grateful homage to the valiant many, both named and unnamed, who suffered or sacrificed their lives for the cause they cherished so dearly.

Professor Khadgawat deserves commendation for his effort. I trust this volume will be welcomed by the public.

**Contents and Sample Pages**