Indian Antiquary Vol 62

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 37

FEBRUARY, 1933
RAO CHANDRASEN, A FORGOTTEN HERO OF RAJPUTINA
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his mind, and was received by the emperor with due honour. His inward desire was that if the Rao were to own his allegiance, even in name, he might rostore Jodhpur to him. But the unbending nature of the Rio defied all courtly allurements and he returned to Bhadrajan, rejecting the offers of the emperor. Soon after this the imperial army laid siege to Bhadrajan.
The Râo defended it for some time, but as provisions here also failed, he went to Siwana.
In 1629 v.s. (1572 A.D.) the Rao made a recruiting tour, and on his way, when encamped at Kanuja (district Jaitaran), Ratan, son of Khinva, the chieftain of Asarlai, disregarded a summon to his court. The Rao, therefore, marched on Asarlai and laid it waste.
Next year (1630 v.s.=1573 A.D.) the inhabitants of the town of Bhinaya (district Ajmer) approached him for protection against the depredations of Madalia, the Bhil chief. tain. Accepting their appeal, the Rao attacked the residence of the Bhil. As many other Bhils of the neighbourhood happened to be there taking part in some ceremony, they all took up arms to repulse the attack ; but as soon as Madalia was killed they all fled, 15 leaving the place and the district in the possession of the Rao.
The same year (i.e., 1630 v.s.=981 A.H.) Akbar despatched a strong army to take Siwana. 16 Besides the Muhammadan commanders, Shah Quli, etc., Hindu princes and chiefs, like Rayasingh of Bikaner, Keshavadas of Mertâ and Jagat Raya, were also deputed to accompany it. As the emperor was very anxious that the Rio might be made to own allegiance, he had instructed his commanders to try to win him over by promises of imperial favour. At first the army went towards Sojat, where it defeated prince Kalla, 17 a nephew of the Rao, and thence set out for Siwana, taking his (tho Rao's) relatives Keshavadás, Maheshdås and Prithviraj along with it. When this large army camo near Siwâna, 18 plundering the surrounding country and defeating those who made opposition, the retainers of the Rao suggested that he should take refuge in the neighbouring hills and await his opportunity.
Chandrasen, accordingly, went into the hills, leaving the defence of the fort to his commander-in-chief, Råthor Patta, but he let slip no opportunity of harassing the besieging army upon its flanks and rear. The garrison, too, gave a good account of itself. Though the besieging army was large and formidable, yet neither the Rao nor his retainers were discomfited. In 1621 v.s. (982 A.H.), disppointed at the state of affairs, Rao Rayasingh, who then administered Marwar on behalf of the emperor, left Siwana for Ajmer and informed the emperor that the army doputed to Siwana was not adequate to capture the fort, and that reinforcements were necessary. 19 The emperor thereupon sent Taiyib Khan, Saiyid Beg Toqbâî, Subhân Quli Khân Turk, Kharram, Azmat Khân, Shivadas, etc., with a large army to
15 From that day the following proverb has been curront in Mârwâr :- Ararsi afar aiutt, i..., as soon as Madalio (the Bhil chief) was killed the guests to the feast dispersed.'
Bhinaya is in the possession of the descendants of Rao Chandragen to this day.
It is stated in the Chiefs and Leading Families of Rajpúdnd (1916) that Chandrasen, the son of Rao Mâldev of M&rwâr (1531) came to Ajmer, and having by stratagem intoxicatod Madalis, the chief of a band of Bhils who ravaged the country near Bhinai, slew him and dispersed his followers. For this service Bhinai and seven other parganas were bestowed on him in jdgir by the emperor Akber. (See pp. 96-98.)
16 Albarndma, vol. III, pp. 80-81.
17 Prince Kallå at first bravely opposed the imperial army, but being outnumbered, was eventually obliged to leave Sojat and take refugo in the fortress of Siriari. The imperial Army, finding it difficult to take this latter place, set fire to it, which obliged Kalla to retreat to Korna. Being pursued to this place, too, he had to conclude peaco, and though exempted himself, upon some pretext, from attendance, he had to send his relatives to the court.
18 The allies of Rio Chandrason, Raval Mogharaj, Sukharaj, Suja and David As, had bravely fought with batches of the imperial army that had been plundering in the neighbourhood. (Akbarndmd, vol. III, p. 81.)
19 Albarndmd, vol. III, pp. 110-111,