Selected Papers on History and Culture of Medieval Rajasthan

Preface A number of papers brought together in this book were published 'in various Journals and Volumes. These have been revised, in many cases substantially. A few papers, such as on Jauhar, Chhanda Rau Jaitasi Rau, Ramavildsa Kavya etc, have been written in the recent past. It is hoped that the scholars and research students interested in medieval Rajasthan's history and culture might find these papers of some use, while the scholars of the Maratha history might find the paper on the attempts of the Rajput States to check the Maratha advance in the North of considerable interest and importance. Also the papers on Chhanda Rav Jaitasi Rau, Kanhadade Prabandha, Jaisingh Charit, Ramavildsa Kavya and use of Hammira Mahakavya, Achaldas. Khichi ri Vachnika, isvaravilasa Mahakavya, and Gunaduta Kavyam etc., in some of the Papers should convince the readers about the importance of the Historical Kavyas written in Rajasthan for understanding the history and culture of this province.

It may be mentioned that Section I has Papers on literary sources of historical importance while the papers in Section II deal with religion in some way or the other. The Papers in Section in concern the Archival Records of Jaipur, Maps and Plans of Ayodhya in Kapad Dwara, Jaipur, and sources of Social History in the Rajasthan Archives, Bikaner. The last section has Papers on the political history during the Later Mughal period, in the context of Rajasthan, on which there are only a few works written during the modern times.

The present collection should save a number of Papers of some interest from being totally forgotten, scattered as they are in various Journals and Volumes. If the scholars find them of some value, despite their shortcomings, I will feel amply rewarded for bringing out this book in which only the papers concerning the Medieval Rajasthan have been included. It is, however, likely that some of these papers might disappoint those scholars who favour, in their words, "secular, non- communal approach to Indian history", but might be approved by those who prefer true and honest portrayal of the times about which one is writing, uninfluenced by any ideology or political considerations, and not intending to please, displease or appease anyone. . In fact, to forget the efforts and the sacrifices made by .millions of Indian men and women for centuries all through the Medieval period to protect their land, religion and culture from the violent visitation of foreign invaders, following a foreign religion and committed to its values and ideas would not be fair and honest on the part of anyone writing about the past history of our country or any part of it.

Despite care, some errors and omissions might have escaped undetected by me, and it will be great kindness of the learned readers if they point out the same for rectification. I am grateful to Shri Sapan Khandelwal of Literary Circle, Jaipur for publishing this collection of papers in a short time.

To Shri Maganlal Verma, Retd. Dy. Registrar, Mehrishi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer, I am sincerely thankful for overseeing typing of these papers with great care.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages