Rao Nara

Rao Nara (Hindi: राव नरा), (born in c. 1420 and died 1487). Rao Nara was of Rathore lineage and the crown Prince of Nadol, the then small kingdom in northwest India in the 15th century. Nadol had been ruled by the Chauhans in the 11th to 14th centuries, but was taken over by the Rathores. Rathores are of the Suryavanshi (Sun-worshiping) Kshatriya dynasty. His father was Rao Samra, the Raja (King) of Nadol. Rao Nara is significant in the history of India, as he plays a crucial role in the founding of Jodhpur, India in 1459 with Rao Jodha.

Fall of Nadol

In 1438, Rao Ranmal was assassinated by the Rana of Mewar, Rana Kumbha. Rao Ranmal's son, Rao Jodha, with an army of 700 soldiers left but were pursued by Chunda and the Mewar forces. Skirmishes occurred as Rao Jodha fled up to Chittor. By the time, Rao Jodha had reached Bhilwara, only a handful of soldiers remained. As Rao Samra was related to Rao Ranmal with both originating from Mandore, Rao Samra allied with Rao Jodha. Rao Samra sent his son, Rao Nara and 50 soldiers with Rao Jodha as a means of escape, while Rao Samra confronted the Mewar forces. But Rao Samra could not hold off the forces and Nadol came under Mewar[1]

Control of Mandore

Rao Nara and Rao Jodha had reached Mandore to find it also had been under Rana Kumbha's control. From a small village close by, Rao Jodha and Rao Nara attacked the Mewar forces under surprise and took control of Mandore. They then went on to capture Chaukade, Sojat, Merta, Bahirunda, and Kosana.[1]

Founding of Jodhpur

In 1459, Rao Jodha and Rao Nara inaugurated Jodhpur by placing the foundation of Mehrangarh Fort on Bhaurcheeria Hill. Citing his valor, Rao Jodha honored Rao Nara by making him the Pradhan, as Rao Nara no longer had a kingdom to call his own. He made him a Jagirdar, as he gave him seven surrounding areas constituting a large jagir- Babar, Bisalpur, Dhundhra, Jajiwal, Mazal, Palasni, and Rohat. With much magisterial authority, his descendants (up to the independence of India) continued to be the official Jagirdars & Pradhans (also known as Diwans - see Diwan (title)) of Marwar.[1]

Jagirdars & Pradhans of Marwar

Jagirdar is a royal title in princely India. The titles: Jagirdar, Zamindar, and Deshmukh are similar to the European counterpart, Count or Duke, depending on the extent of the estate. A list of Rao Nara's direct descendants, the subsequent Jagirdars & Pradhans are noted below.[1] Many were Marwar's illustrious military commanders also, including Jagirdars Bhawani, Sutaram, Daulatram, and Shivchand I.

†With Ajit Singh of Marwar in Delhi, Raghunath ruled Jodhpur as Maharaja in his name from 1713-1724[1]

Royal Titles and Indian Government

Following independence from the British in 1947, the jagirs were abolished in 1951.[2] Then in 1971, with the addition of the 26th amendment[3] to the Constitution of India, all official symbols of princely India, including titles, privileges, and remuneration (privy purses) were abolished. Thus, the title has no legal or official status by the Government of India.[4] But the title, Jagirdar & Pradhan, much like Zamindar & Nawab, continue to carry unofficial weight and status.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Chanchalmal Lodha (2007). History of Oswals.
  2. ↑ Singh, Kumar Suresh; Lal, Rajendra Behari (2003). Gujarat, Part 3. People of India, Kumar Suresh Singh Gujarat, Anthropological Survey of India. 22. Popular Prakashan. p. 1350. ISBN 81-7991-106-3.
  3. ↑ ""The Constitution (26 Amendment) Act, 1971", indiacode.nic.in (Government of India), 1971, retrieved 1 June 2013".
  4. ↑ Barbara Ramusack (2004). The Indian princes and their states. Cambridge University Press. p. 278. ISBN 978-0-521-26727-4.


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