Shekhawati

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shekhawati (शेखावाटी) is a semi-arid region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India. It encompasses the administrative districts of Churu, Jhunjhunu and Sikar. From the administrative and geographical point of view Shekhawati is limited to Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts only. Its area is 13784 square kilometers.^[1]

1 Origin of Shekhawati
2 History
3 Climatic conditions
4 Towns and cities of Shekhawati
5 Grand havelis and frescos
6 Role of Marwaris
7 Shekhawati Dialect
8 The famous Marwari industrial houses
9 Feudalism in Shekhawati
10 Farmers of Shekhawati
11 References
12 External links

[edit] Origin of Shekhawati

Shekhawati gets its name from the Rajput Kachhwaha chieftain Rao Shekha Ji. The descendants of Rao Shekha Ji are called Shekhawat. The story of Shekha's birth is rather interesting to understand the origin of Shekhawati. Mokal JI and his wife were much troubled as they had no son for several years. They heard about the miraculous powers of the Sheikh Burhan, a Muslim Saint. They decided to pay the man a visit. After they received the blessings of the Sheikh, a son was born to the couple. In honour of the mendicant, the couple named his son Shekha.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] History

The chieftains of the region retained a nominal loyalty to the Rajput state of Jaipur, who in turn honoured them with the hereditary title known as tazimi sardar. Shekhawati mainly consists of the area ruled by the five Grandsons of MahaRao Shekha Ji, popularly known as Panchpana. Covering an area of some 30,000 square kilometers, this region has been recognised as the "open-air art gallery of Rajasthan"^[2]. Inhabitants of Shekhawati are brave, sacrificing and hard working people. The region provides the highest number of persons to the Indian Army. The Shekhawati region has produced large number of Marwaris who are driving the economy of India. Col. J.C. Brooke in his book Political History of India wrote that for the recruitment of Horse-army there is no region in India at par with Shekhawati.^[3]

[edit] Climatic conditions

The natural climatic conditions in the region are very harsh and extreme. The temperature ranges from sub-zero Celsius in winters to more than 50 °C in summers. The summers bring hot waves of air called loo. Annual rainfall is very low, of the scale of 450 to 600 mm. The ground water is as deep as 200 feet (60 m), and at places water is hard and salty. The people in the region depend on rainwater harvesting. The July and August rainwater is stored in pucca tanks and used throughout the year for drinking purposes.^[4] Bawdis and johads are traditionally constructed for storing water received from rainfall in this arid region of Rajasthan. The bawdi is constructed in such a design that it gets narrower as we go down. The water stored in it is very cool and used for drinking purposes. On an average the region faces every third year as a dry year and every eighth year as a famine year. The famine of 1899 is considered to be the most severe. During famine years it becomes very difficult for animals to survive and the cattle population goes down drastically.

[edit] Towns and cities of Shekhawati

The major towns and cities of the Shekhawati region are as follows:

[edit] Grand havelis and frescos

The towns of Shekhawati region are known for their painted havelis. This region has been recognised as the "open art gallery of Rajasthan" having the largest concentration of frescos in the world. Most of the buildings of the Shekhawati region were constructed during 18th century to early 20th century. During the British occupation, traders would adapted this style for their new buildings. ^[5] The havelis are noted for their frescos depicting mythological and historical themes. The frescos include images of gods, goddesses, animals, life history of Lords Rama and Krishna, profusely painted on the havelis in this region.

[edit] Role of Marwaris

The development of the frescos in Shekhawati region is linked with the history of the Marwaris, the influential business community from the Shekawati region (Originally from Marwar thus called Marwari). The Marwaris prospered until the beginning of the 19th century, because of the caravan routes that crossed the area to reach the ports of Gujarat. But from 1820 onwards, many left their families behind and migrated to Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, which were gaining importance as main trade centers. There they had great financial success. The descendants of these rich merchants have permanently settled down in the towns where their ancestors immigrated.

Between 1830 and 1930, they erected buildings in their homeland, Shekhawati, as evidence of their success. As the ultimate symbol of their opulence, the Marwaris commissioned artists to paint those buildings.

The Shekhawati region has produced large number of Marwaris who are controlling the economy of India. About 80 percent of big industrial houses are managed by Marwaris. India's richest industrialists of the century, such as the Birlas, are Marwaris. Today, the main trading and industrial houses of India have their roots in Shekhawati.

Marwaris have played an important role in the development of Shekhawati region. Their major contribution to the Shekhawati region is in the field of education. Marwaris have also played a leading role in Indian Independence Movement. They provided financial help in running the freedom movement.

[edit] Shekhawati Dialect

Shekhawati is a dialect of the Rajasthani language (in turn part of the Indo-Aryan family) and is spoken by about three million speakers in Churu, Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts of Rajasthan. Though a very important dialect from the grammatical and literary points of view, yet very little work is carried out on it. In 2001 A descriptive grammar of Shekhawati has been published. Shekhawati, like Bagri dialect of Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts, has parallel lexicon which make it very rich from the lexicographical point of view. Word order is typical SOV and there is existence of implosives. Beside presence of high tone at suprasegmental level classify it with other dialects of Rajasthani. It has contributed a lot to the development of Rajasthani language and linguistics.

[edit] The famous Marwari industrial houses

Some of the famous Marwari industrial houses are as follows: Bagari, Bajaj, Birla, Dalmia, Goyanka, Jaipuria, Jaju, Jalan, Jhujhunuwala, Kanoria, Khetan, Kothari, Lohia, Mittal, Modi, Murarka, Parasrampuria, Poddar, Rungta, Singhania, Sanghi, Somani, Surana,

[edit] Feudalism in Shekhawati

The feudalism functioned as an over-riding politico-administrative, social and economic formation undermining even the institution of caste. The feudal mode of social relations as a dominant force guided everyday life of the people of Shekhawati region in Rajasthan. One could trace some continuity of the past social formation in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal in the form of 'semi-feudalism' as characterised by some scholars, but such a situation is not traceable in the present day Rajasthan which was a prominent stronghold of feudalism prior to independence. ^[6]

Today a remarkable discontinuity in distributive processes and social relations, simultaneous occurence of the processes of upward and downward social mobility and a self-perpetuating process of social transformation could be witnessed in the Shekhawati region. ^[7]

[edit] Farmers of Shekhawati

The Marwaris dominated the cities and towns of Shekhawati region. The rural areas of the Shekhawati region are dominated by farming communities. The farmers of the Sekhawati region are considered to be the most advanced in the state of Rajasthan, second only to farmers from Ganga Nagar and Hanumangarh districts.^{[citation needed]} The Shekhawati region has the highest literacy in the state.^[8]

The predominant farmer communities in the rural areas of Shekhawati are the Jats: they comprise the largest single caste in the state (9 per cent), and were, in the 1930's and even earlier, the most self-conscious and prosperous among the peasant castes. In 1935 their claims to certain privileges led to a series of clashes between them and the Rajputs, who resisted their attempts to revise accepted signs of status. ^[9] The Rajput community who were the ruling people before independence still play very important role in society. The Brahmans and Harijans also play an important role in the area. The farmers of the region have done great struggle to come to the present status.

Before independence, the farmers of the Shekhawati region were exploited and oppressed by the Jagirdars during British Raj. During that time, Jagirdars would burden farmers, known as Kisans, with various taxes, a large part of which was to be paid to the British government. ^[10]

[edit] References

^ Taknet, D.K, Marwari Samaj Aur Brijmohan Birla, Indian Institute of Marwari Entrepreneurship, Jaipur, 1993 p 78 ISBN 81-85878-00-5
^ Bradnock, Robert Rajasthan & Gujarat Handbook: The Travel Guide 2001, pg 135
^ Col. J.C. Brooke, Political History of India
^ Busquet, Carisse and Gerard Impressions of Rajasthan 2003, Editions Flammarion, ISBN 2-08-011171-1
^ Henderson, Carol D, Cultures and Customs of India; Greenwood Press 1992, ISBN 0-313-30513-7, pg. 92
^ [K.L. Sharma: Caste, Feudalism and Peasantry : The Social Formation of Shekhawati, Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd. New Delhi, 1998]
^ [K.L. Sharma: Caste, Feudalism and Peasantry : The Social Formation of Shekhawati, Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd. New Delhi, 1998]
^ Dr RP Arya, Jitendra Arya, Dr Gayatri Arya, Anshuman Arya, Rajasthan Road Atlas, Indian Map Service, Jodhpur 2005
^ Princely States Report
^ Dr Natthan Singh, Jat-Itihas, (Jat History), Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad, F-13, Dr Rajendra Prasad Colony, Tansen marg, Gwalior, M.P, India 474 002 2004

Ranbir singh Shekhawat(DUNDLOD) History of Shekhawats,Jaipur,2001 ISBN 81-86782-74-5
Ghansyamdas Birla: Bikhare Vicharon ki Bharonti, New Delhi, 1978

[edit] External links

	State of Rajasthan Rajasthan Topics
Capital	Jaipur
Divisions	Ajmer \| Bharatpur \| Bikaner \| Jaipur \| Jodhpur \| Kota \| Udaipur
Districts	Ajmer \| Alwar \| Banswara \| Baran \| Barmer \| Bhilwara \| Bikaner \| Bharatpur \| Bundi \| Chittorgarh \| Churu \| Dausa \| Dholpur \| Dungarpur \| Ganganagar \| Hanumangarh \| Jaipur \| Jaisalmer \| Jalore \| Jhalawar \| Jhunjhunu \| Jodhpur \| Karauli \| Kota \| Nagaur \| Pali \| Rajsamand \| Sawai Madhopur \| Sikar \| Sirohi \| Tonk \| Udaipur
Major cities	Alwar • Bhilwara • Bikaner • Jaipur • Jaisalmer • Jodhpur • Udaipur

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../s/h/e/Shekhawati.html"

Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | Geography of India | Regions of Rajasthan

See also ebooksgratis.com: no banners, no cookies, totally FREE.