Rajasthan,
situated in the north-western part of the Indian Union, is now the largest
State of India. Largely an arid state for most of its part, Rajasthan is
bound in the west by part of the Indo-Pak International boundary. The State
is girdled by Punjab and Haryana states in the north, Uttar Pradesh in the
east, Madhya Pradesh in the southeast and Gujarat in the southwest.
Rajasthan
is renowned for its great monuments, exquisite art and culture. It's history
that date back to several centuries. No other region in the country,
reconciles the many paradoxes of India in it, as does Rajasthan. Unexpected
forest glens, lakes and temples, appear like mirages in the desert. Rugged
forts on the cradle of the desert are testimonies to a turbulent history.
Many temples, dating back to the 7th century, still survive amidst scattered
ruins. Medieval cities exist around turreted marble palaces and spacious
gardens.
HistoryThe desert areas of Rajasthan are
among the few tropical deserts of the world, which have the highest
population density. The earliest inhabitants of Rajasthan belonged to the
Great Harappan Civilization. The archaeological findings from Luni Basin,
Buddha Pushkar, Ahar valley, Kalibanga, Pilibanga and Sanchore reveal that
early man inhabited this area 6000-8000 years ago.
This area saw
the arrival of the Aryans from central Asia in about 2000 BC. Rajasthan was
under Mauryan rule around 400 AD. The settling of the Scythians in this
region set the stage for the race of the Rajputs who were the offspring's of
the Indo-Scythians. With the passing of time this new race proliferated into
a number of new clans. Rajasthan thus became the homeland of these groups of
warrior clans, collectively called Rajputs, who dominated this region for
over a thousand years.
The Rajputs rose to prominence in the 9th
and 10th centuries, and were a major force to reckon within medieval India.
Passionately attached to their land, family and honour, chivalry was the
hallmark of the Rajputs. They fought with courage and determination. Death
to defeat was the theme of Rajput warring ideology. They would face the
enemy with all the might even if defeat were imminent; in which case
'jauhar' was performed. In this grim ritual women and children would commit
suicide by immersing themselves in a huge funeral pyre.
But the
Rajputs were never united and often fought each other. Due to this lack of
unity, the Rajputs were unable to put up a combined front against any common
aggressor. As a result they are defeated or subjugated by the invaders and
Mughals reduced them to the status of the vassals.
With the
decline of the Mughal Empire, the Rajputs were gradually able to recover
their lost territories and status. These turn of events were however
short-lived, as the British started taking control of the country. Under the
British Raj most of the princely states in India signed treaties those
ensured their independent existence subject to certain political and
economic restrictions causing the decline of the once mighty and powerful
Rajput dynasties of this region.
House
Boat