Bharatpur State

Under Suraj Mal leadership, the major architecture of this state include the Lohagarh Fort, Deeg Palace and the Keoladeo National Park, a royal hunting reserve, is a World Heritage Site.

History

Background

Bharatpur was a Jat-ruled kingdom. The Jat rulers of Deeg and Bharatpur emerged in the medieval period, spreading over parts of the Subah of Agra, including Deeg, Bharatpur, and Mewat. During this time, the Jats were zamindars and cultivators causing trouble for the Mughal Empire alongside Gujars and Meos. During early time Jats were considered outcasts and jungle inhabitants. According to Tarikh-i-Firishta, in 1026 AD, a band of Jats attacked Mahmud of Ghazni on his return from Gujarat but were nearly exterminated. In 1397 AD, Timur massacred a group of Jats while marching towards Delhi. In 1526 AD, Babar army was harassed by Jats during his march through Punjab.

The Bharatpur rulers were Jats of Sinsinwar clan. According to a mythological origin, they descended from Balchand, a Yadav Rajput, through his sons Vijje and Sijje, born to a Jat concubine. They adopted the Sinsinwar gotra after being rejected as Rajputs. Ram Pande states that this legend was created "to show superiority of Sinsinwar Jats over other Jats."

The formation of the state of Bharatpur was a result of revolts by the Jats living in the region around Delhi, Agra, and Mathura against the imperial Mughals. Gokula was a prominent Jat zamindar of Tilpat who led a rebellion against the Mughal Empire during the reign of Aurangzeb. In 1669, he spearheaded the Battle of Tilpat, where Jat farmers revolted against heavy Mughal taxation. Despite initial successes, Gokula was eventually captured and executed in 1670.

Rajaram of Sinsini succeeded Gokula and continued the struggle against Mughal rule. He is noted for organising the Jats into a more cohesive force and avenging Gokula’s death by desecrating Akbar’s tomb. Rajaram’s leadership saw several victories against Mughal forces, including the defeat of Mughal Nawab Bahadur Khan (Mughal general). He was instrumental in consolidating Jat power in the region until his death in 1688. Now Aurangzeb approached the Kachhwaha Rajput ruler Bishan Singh to crush the uprising and appointed him as the faujdar of Mathura, granting him the entire area in zamindari. Conflict between Jats and Rajputs for zamindari rights also complicated the issue, with Jats primarily being landowners, whereas the Rajputs were primarily revenue collectors.

The Jats put up a stiff resistance but by 1691, Rajaram and his successor Churaman were compelled to submit to the Imperial Mughals. However unrest among Jats continued and later on in the beginning of the 18th century, Churaman, taking advantage of the Mughal civil wars, was able to expel the Rajputs from the area and establish an independent state where Jat chiefs formed the ruling class. Rajaram who also exhumed and burned the remains of Akbar is known for setting up a small fort at Sinsini and it was a key foundation of this kingdom.

Foundation

In the early 18th century, the two fortresses of Thoon and Sinsini were constructed by Chudamani Singh, the head of a band of plunderers and the brother of Badan Singh (whom had been imprisoned by Chudamani). Chudamani was able to repel the Mughal forces of Aurangzeb and the forces of Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur. Chudamani's antic were opposed by his brother Badan Singh, who teamed-up with Maharaja Jai Singh and ousted Chudamani, who fled with his son Muhakam. This would lead to the formation of a Jat state by Badan Singh. Sujan Singh (Suraj Mal) was born in 1707 to Badan Singh and Rani Devaki, who became martially trained. Badan Singh became increasingly blind and forfeited power to his son Sujan Singh in 1750, with Sujan officially succeeding as maharaja in 1756.

The decline of the Mughal Empire in the second half of the 18th century allowed for the kingdom of Bharatpur to emerge as a regional power. Maharaja Suraj Mal was the most prominent ruler of Bharatpur. On 12 June 1761, he captured the significant Mughal city of Agra. During his reign, he melted the two silver doors of the Taj Mahal. Agra remained under Bharatpur’s control until 1774. After Maharaja Suraj Mal’s death, his successors continued to rule over Agra Fort. Maharaja Jawahar Singh succeeded him, followed by Maharaja Ratan Singh. During the minority of Maharaja Kehri Singh, Maharaja Nawal Singh acted as the regent.

British era

In 1805, war between the British and the Holkars broke out. Maharaja Ranjit Singh agreed to help the Holkar and the two Maharajas fell back to the Bharatpur fort. The British surrounded the fort and after three months, Ranjit Singh agreed to peace and signed a treaty with the British, thus becoming a princely state. Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Bharatpur provided great support for the British during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and this aid was greatly acknowledged by the British. Jaswant Singh was made a G.C.S.I and his personal gun salute was increased.

Post-independence

In August 1947, Bharatpur acceded to the newly independent Dominion of India. The following year, in 1948, it became part of the Matsya Union, and in 1949, it was integrated into the state of Rajasthan. Members of the Bharatpur royal family have remained active in national and regional politics. Several family members have served as members of parliament and in the state legislature.