Rajasthan History

Rajasthan occupies a place of pride in the history of India since the pre-historic period. The area where the state is presently located is home to some of the famous Indus Valley sites, notable among the being Kali Bangan. Many others are waiting to be discovered.

That Rajasthan formed part the Great Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC, is attested by the presence of the Rock Edict of Asoka at Bairat, forty-two miles northeast of Jaipur.

However Rajasthan come to the center stage of history in the seventh century AD. The turbulent history of Rajasthan, characterized by supremacy among the different Rajput clans, courtly intrigues and inter-state warfare, begins in the sixth and seventh centuries AD, to which is ascribed the origin of the Rajputs.

Noted for their chivalry, these Rajput clans fought among themselves. Their heroics found fullest expression in the famous battles such as Battles of Tarain. The First Battle of Tarain witnessed a fierce battle between the Chauhans, the ruling power of Delhi and Ajmer, and the army of Muhammad Ghori. Muhammad Ghori has to acquiesce in to the chivalry of the Rajputs. However, the Second Battle proved to be a nemesis of the Chauhan power and as a result Muslim rule was started in India.

Though the Muslim power took control of almost whole of India at some time or another, Rajputana (former name of Rajasthan) offered stiff resistance to the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Power all throughout the period. Some of the enlightened Mughals such as Akbar adopted a policy of reconciliation towards the Rajputs, which found expression the marriage alliances between the Mughlas and the Rajputs. Akbar himself married Rani Jodha Bai, a princess from the Kuchwaha family of Amber. Man Singh, one of the greatest generals of the medieval period entered the court of Akbar and held in high esteem.

Rajasthan had never been a political entity until its subjugation by the Mughal Emperor - Akbar. However as said earlier Akbar was wise enough to understand the amicable relations with the Rajputs. He never interfered with the internal affairs of the ruling states. But with the decline of the Mughal Empire, the disintegration of Rajasthan was also a forgone conclusion. The decline of the Mughlas paved the way for a resurgent Marathas. They occupied Ajmer in 1755.

In 1817-18 the British Government concluded treaties of alliance with almost all the states of Rajputana. Thus began the British rule over Rajasthan, then called Rajputana.

At the time of independence the erstwhile province of Rajputana comprised 19 princely states and all of these merged to form the present state of Rajasthan.