Our city – Udaipur is completely filled with beauty in and out. And this beauty is not reflected in just its history, culture and its places, but also in its people. There are some gem of the people belonging from Udaipur who, with their hard work and success, have not just made the city but the entire nation proud.
But sadly, with time we tend to forget the accomplishment of such people of the city. The series ‘People from Udaipur you should know about’tends to glorify the journey of these famous and triumphant people from Udaipur who have become an epitome of success in their lives.
Jamnalal Jethi
Jethi community has been known for its wrestling business or better known as ‘Pehelwani’ since the city was under the regime of kings and queens. There are still many ‘Akhada’ in the city belonging to the Jethi community such as the one at Chandpole and Gangaur Ghat. But it looked like, that wasn’t something which Jamnalal had decided for himself.
Jamnalal Jethi was born in the year 1932 in Udaipur. Many people back then wanted a secured life and a safe future but Jamnalal had something else in his mind. Being born in a slave country, he always wanted to do something for his country. At a very young age, he became a part of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh).
1947 was the year of independence for India but Goa was still seized by the Portuguese. This was the time when Jamnalal’s brother gave him a tea stall and suggested to earn his livelihood by the same. But the fire of independence and the feeling of patriotism made him sell this stall and with the little amount he got from it, he left for Goa in the year 1950 without informing anyone in his family and leaving his wife and 3 children behind. As a matter of fact, he was a mere 23-year-old boy when he took this crucial decision of his life.
He was the only one from Udaipur who participated in the Goa Liberation Movement. There were numerous challenges and hardships awaiting him there.
The rage rose up to such a level that the Portuguese started firing on all the agitators. During this while, Jamnalal also got hit by a bullet on his shoulder. While all of his co-agitators were taken to the crematorium, Jamnalal was taken to the hospital.
His family was completely unaware about the entire episode until he returned to Udaipur. He was welcomed by the citizens with utmost pride and honor at Jagdish Chowk. It was then that his family came to know about his whereabouts while he was missing.
Jamnalal Jethi awarded by the then Vice President of India, Bheru Singh Shekhawat
His dream got fulfilled in the year 1961 when Goa was liberated from the control of Portuguese.
On his return, he joined PWD and made his own house at Chandpole. His bravery and courage were even recognized by UIT which awarded him with a piece of land in Hiranmagri as a token of respect.
All the freedom fighters of Goa Andolan
On 16th September 2018, 85-year-old Jamnalal Jethi passed away and his last rites were performed with state honors in which many renowned personalities including the then Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria were present.
He left behind his two sons and a daughter and several stories for his grandchildren to cherish. ‘My grandfather was such a patriot that he named me after his country’ says Bharat Jethi, his only grandson.
People like Jamnalal Jethi turns out to be an inspiration to all the citizens of Udaipur. Leaving behind all the worldly pleasures, Jamnalal’s spirit and dedication to liberate his nation has been commendable.
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Our city – Udaipur is completely filled with beauty in and out. And this beauty is not reflected in just its history, culture and its places, but also in its people. There is some gem of the people belonging from Udaipur who, with their hard work and success, have not just made the city but the entire nation proud.
But sadly, with time we tend to forget the accomplishment of such people of the city. The series ‘People from Udaipur you should know about’ tends to glorify the journey of these famous and triumphant people from Udaipur who have become an epitome of success in their lives.
Source: Wikipedia
Kanta Kumari Bhatnagar
Kanta Kumari Bhatnagar was born in the year 1930 in Udaipur. She was a judge as well as a human rights activist in India. She became a district and session judge at Jodhpur, Bhilwara, Ajmer, and Kota.
Apart from that, Kanta achieved many ‘firsts’ in her lifetime. She became Udaipur’s first lady Advocate, followed by being the first Lady Judge of Rajasthan in 1968. In the year 1992, Kanta became the first women to become a Chief Justice of the Madras High Court and served there for the whole year. Moreover, she became the first chairperson of the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission in the year 2000.
At the age of 81, Kanta passed away due to a heart attack on 13 August 2011 in Udaipur.
Throughout her life, Kanta Kumari Bhatnagar has empowered many women out there and gave a very powerful message to the world, that if a woman makes her mind to do something, nothing can ever stop her.
Do you have a feedback regarding the article? Or have something to share of your own? Write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com, we would love to feature your story.
Mewar and its lineage have been in light since ancient times for its greatness and grandeur. In classical India, it was said, that “The Maharana of Udaipur is the Sun of Hindutva.” Many ancient travelers visited our land and wrote about the glory and dignity of the state of Mewar. This time we bring you the excerpts (translated in English) from various ancient “Safarnamas” in which the visitors from faraway lands sang about the glory of Mewar.
Xuanzang– The traveler from China
About– He was a Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveler and visited India in 621 AD. He, in his book, mentioned about Vallabhi (presently a district in Gujarat) which was once the capital of ancestral kings of Udaipur. After the rampage and destruction in the city due to some battle, Mewar was properly formed.
Source: Pinterest
Excerpt– “The lifestyle of people is somewhat influenced by Malwa region. There are undoubtedly 100 millionaires. The precious goods from all over the world can be seen here. The current king is the nephew of King Shiladitya of Malwa. His name is Dhruv Pat, and he is cheerful and, a bit, hot-tempered man. He seems to be least interested in ruling the kingdom. Every year, he holds a congregation, and he distributes precious jewels and exquisite food for seven days. He adores all the saints and deities with three dresses and medicines or equally valuable jewelry made of all seven kinds of precious stones. The king finds kindness as the greatest and he truly respects all those who are regarded as highly intellectual in the kingdom. He also honors all the monks and priests who come from foreign lands.”
Sulaiman-Al-Tajir – The traveler from Iran
About– Sulaiman was Muslim merchant, traveler, and writer from Iran and used to write in the Arabic language. He visited India and China in 851 AD. His Arabian works were translated in French and English by a French writer, Eusebius Renaudat.
Source: WikiVisually
Excerpt– “People of India and China believe that there are four most powerful kings in the world. In descending order of their power, the four kings are:
1) The King of Arabia
2) The King of China
3) The King of Greece
4) Balhara (the King of Mewar)
The Balhara is quite famous in India. All the Kings in India rule independently and are under no other king but they believe him to be the greatest. They honour him greatly. Like the King of Arab, he too distributes the gratuity lavishly. He owns many elephants and horses and possesses a ludicrous amount of treasure. Many of these kings lived for many years and some even ruled more than 50 years. Such is his generosity that even though the state is surrounded by enemy states, Balhara never orders the attack”
*Balhara is not any king particularly but all the kings of the clan were referred as Balhara.
François Bernier– The traveler from Paris
About– Mr. Bernier was a French physician and traveler. For a brief period of time, he was the personal physician of Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. After Dara Shikoh’s death, he was appointed to the court of Emperor Aurangzeb where he served for 12 years. He stayed in India from 1652-1669. He wrote about his experiences in India in his book, “Travels in the Mughal Empire” and wrote the following excerpt about Mewar and its bounty.
Source: Alchetron
Excerpt– “There are more than 100 Kings who do not pay“Khiraj”. They are scattered all over the state with some being near and far from Agra and Delhi. Among them, 15-16 kings are unbelievably rich and strong, Especially, “Rana”, who was known as the “King of Kings” formerly and is known to be the descendant of King Porus*. If Rana, Jai Singh (King of Alwar) and Jaswant Singh (King of Marwar), join hands against Mughal Empire, they can be a huge threat to Mughal Empire because at a time, they possess, with them, the ability to take 20,000 soldiers to a battle. Nobody is as capable as these soldiers. They are known as “Sawaar-Rajput” (as in mounted on horses) and their warrior craftsmanship has been inherited from their warrior ancestors. The “Jagir” is given in the state at only one condition that whenever Times call (battle or a war), they should at once go wherever king orders them to.”
* In Col. Tod’s times, Sisodia Clan of Mewar claimed lineage from King Porus but these claims were based only on the fact that names of the descendants had supposed similarity with King Porus’s name.
Charles Umpherston Aitchison– Lieutenant Governor of Punjab from Scotland
About– Mr. Aitchison was born in 1832 in Edinburgh. In 1885 he took India’s first Civil Services Examinations and secured the fifth position. After several positions in and around Amritsar, he went on to become Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. He is also the founder of infamous Aitchison College, Lahore which was founded in 1886.
Source: Revolvy
Excerpt– “The Royal Clan of Udaipur is the most prestigious and supreme amongst all the Rich Rajputs of India. King of Udaipur is said to be the descendant of the Ayodhya’s Raja Ram. This Royal Clan was founded by Raja Kanaksen of Vallabhi in 144 AD. The Kings of Dungarpur and Pratapgarh emerged from this Clan. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who founded the power of Marathas, was the descendant of this clan. None was a dominion in India which could fight Muslims (Mughals) with such valor and bravery as this clan did. They took pride in the fact that they never married any of their daughters with a Muslim (Mughals) King and for quite some time, broke all the marriage-related affairs with those Rajput dominions who married off their daughters to Muslims (Mughals).”
John Malcolm– The Governor of Bombay from Scotland
About- Sir John Malcolm was born in 1769 in Eskdale, Scotland. He arrived at Madras in 1783 and was positioned as a regimental soldier in the Army of East India Company. He was appointed Governor of Bombay in 1827. He finally went back to Britain in 1831. In his memoir, “Central India,” he wrote the following excerpt related to Mewar.
Source: Wikpedia
Excerpt- He wrote about the King Of Malwa, Mahmood Khilji that “Khilji was captured by Rana Kumbha of Chittor and after some time he was mercy-released by him and his territories too were given back to him. Almost all the memoirs written till this time, have in them that how Rajput Kings used to have a huge victory over Muslim Kings again and again.”
Abul Fazl– The Author of Akbarnama
About- Shaikh Abu al-Fazal ibn Mubarak was the Prime Minister of Akbar and Author of the official written record of Akbar’s days as a Monarch. He was also amongst the nine gems of Akbar. The following excerpt is from Akbarnama.
Source: Baha’i Culture
Excerpt- “After Badshah’s Procession, even the Kings, who never served beneath any King, accepted to serve Akbar. But Rana Udai Singh, the oldest, the bravest and the one who built an empire through mountains, denied serving Badshah. As a result, Badshah had to capture the Fort of Chittorgarh.”
And so there might be very few Arabic, Persian, Urdu and Hindi books of Indian History which does not have in them the Greatness of Ranas of Udaipur written. There are numerous reasons as to why their greatness is so much celebrated. Firstly, The Chandravanshi and Suryavanshi Kings were said to be “The Greatest” in ancient India, especially the descendants of Raja Ramchandra and Royal Clan of Udaipur is said to be amongst the very first branches of this dynasty. And secondly, there are numerous accounts in history where this dynasty showcased its gallantry and valor by fighting Mughals bravely rather than surrender. Mewar and its Kings were, in a true sense, Royal because from generation to generation, each and every king brought nothing but prosperity and richness to Mewar.
