By Capt Pratap Mehta
Rajasthan Foundation Day is celebrated every year on the 30th of March. It commemorates the day in 1949 when the princely states of Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner merged to form the 'Greater Rajasthan Union'. This day is a tribute to the bravery, strong will, and sacrifices of the people of Rajasthan. The state's unique identity is reflected in its folk arts, rich culture, palaces, and cuisine. In this aspect, the contribution of the Bachhawat clan and my direct ancestors in preserving the socio-economic and political fabric of Rajputana for over a thousand years deserves a mention.
Let me share an anecdote from my coffee table book, Rajputana Chronicles: ‘Guns and Glories – The thousand-year story of Bachhawat Clan’. These are untold stories of lesser-known nobles. The Bachhawat clan's contributions to Rajputana's socio-political fabric are numerous. Among them, Rajputana Vibhuti, Diwan Karamchand Bachhawat stands out for his remarkable achievements. He was Diwan, the Prime Minister of Bikaner state from 1571 to 1591, during the reigns of Rao Kalyanmal and Raja Rai Singh.
Saviour of Jainism During Medieval Period
Diwan Karamchand, who was concerned about the environment and Jain traditions, had orders issued by Raja Rai Singh of Bikaner to stop fishing activities in Sutlej, Dek, and Ravi rivers during the monsoon. He prohibited the felling of trees in the desert region. Raja Rai Singh also passed orders to ban the killing of animals during Paryushan, a holy festival of the Jains that takes place during the monsoon.
In 1576, Sultan Tursam Khan looted 1050 Jin statues and idols made of gold and precious stones from the shrines of Sirohi. These items were kept with Badshah Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri. Although it was intended to melt the idols to extract gold and precious stones, Akbar refused and ordered them to be preserved. At the request of Diwan Karamchand, Raja Rai Singh of Bikaner approached Badshah, and the idols were released in 1582. They have since been stored in the basement of Chintamani Mandir in Bikaner.
In 1586, Prince Salim (later Emperor Jahangir), son of Emperor Akbar and son-in-law of Raja Rai Singh, was blessed with a daughter under inauspicious planetary conditions. The royal court consulted Sheikh Abul Fazl and other Islamic scholars. Eventually, Diwan Karamchand, along with astrologers, was approached. Special puja was performed according to Jain philosophy by the priest Bhanu Chandra to successfully ward off the evil effects.
In gratitude, Karamchand presented Prince Salim with a precious pearl necklace worth 1300 gold mohurs. Emperor Akbar was very pleased with Karamchand and honoured the women of the Bachhawat family by allowing them to wear gold on their feet—a privilege previously reserved only for the Sarang family of the Oswal clan. As a direct descendant, my wife, even today, wears a gold ring in the toe of the foot, continuing this tradition.
The title of Mehta, meaning a person engaged in important work, was also bestowed upon Karamchand. Now known as Karamchand Bachhawat Mehta, he became a trusted friend and strategist of Emperor Akbar, earning a place in history as the saviour of Jainism during the medieval period.
Farsighted administrators and Chivalrous Warriors
Diwan Bachhraj, the founding Prime Minister of Bikaner State in 1486, had laid a strong foundation, and his descendant Karamchand upheld this legacy. A brave warrior, good administrator, and strategist, Karamchand maintained strong relations with Akbar. However, in 1591, fearing for his life, he resigned. Later, at Akbar's invitation, he joined the emperor as an advisor to his Lahore court, cementing his place in the annals of history.
Karamchand Bachhawat belonged to the Bachhawat gotra (sect) of the Oswal community. The Bachhawats were part of the feudal elite of former states of Rajputana, who faced many ups and downs in life. Bachhawat nobles were known for their farsightedness as administrators and warriors. Members of this lineage were associated with the administration of the state for generations and valiantly fought against Muslim invaders, sacrificing their lives to preserve the sovereignty and integrity of the states they served.
The Bachhawats believe that their origins trace back to the Chauhan dynasty of Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan. Their ancestors, known as Devda Chauhans, ruled the state of Delwara (City of Gods; Devkulpatan Nagari – about 30 kms from Udaipur) in the 13th-14th centuries. In the 14th century, this clan embraced Jainism, thus the Bachhawat gotra emerged within the Oswal community. For generations, many of them served rulers (Maharajas and Maharanas), hence the Bachhawats followed Vaishnavism along with Jainism.
Formation of Rajasthan
Rajasthan was formed by combining a total of 19 princely states of Rajputana. The princely state of Mewar (Udaipur) merged with Rajasthan on April 18, 1948, upon the signing of the Instrument of Accession in Udaipur, along with the merger of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, and Karauli princely states. Maharana Bhupal Singh of Udaipur became the first Raj Pramukh (Chief of state) of the newly formed Rajasthan, with Udaipur, the capital of Mewar, being made the capital of United Rajasthan.
The princely states kept joining in various stages, and finally, on March 30, 1949, the merger of Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner princely states formed the "Greater Rajasthan Union," known as Rajasthan Foundation Day. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played an active role in this historic consolidation.
Reference: Rajputana Chronicles – Guns and Glories (English) and Parakram aur Parampara (Hindi) – By Capt Pratap Singh Mehta.
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Capt Pratap Mehta is Author, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Indian Navy Veteran and Founder MindRetreat
