Sodha
Sodha is a Rajput clan residing in India and Pakistan.[1]
| Sodha | |
|---|---|
| Jāti | Rajput |
| Religions |  Hinduism |
| Languages | Sindhi, Rajasthani languages, Kutchi |
| Country |  Pakistan,  India |
| Region | Sindh, Rajasthan, Kutch |
| Feudal title | Rana |
| Related groups | Parmara Rajputs |
History
[edit]They are off-shoot of Parmara Rajputs, who once controlled regions of Malwa and later North-West parts of Rajasthan. The area around Suratgarh was called 'Sodhawati' and south-east of Bhatner was once occupied by the Sodha Rajputs before being evicted from these regions by Bhati Rajputs, after which they moved their base to Thar desert.[2][3] Sodha Rajputs, based in Umerkot district of Pakistan's Sindh, are one of the clans, which are off-shoots of the Parmar Rajput dynasty that reigned over Malwa in central India from the 9th century onwards till 13th century.[4] The Sodhas controlled Tharparak (Thar) in the southeast of the Sindh province in Pakistan.
Sodha Rajputs are one of few Hindu Rajput clans still living in Pakistan. The history of Sodha Rajputs is also recorded in book named "Sodhayan" authored by Chimanji Kavia in early 20th century and published in 1887 at Jodhpur.[5]
Amarkot kingdom
[edit]
A branch of Parmaras left Abu and settled in Radhanpur led by Bahar Parmar. His descendant Sodhoji became the founder of Sodha clan of Rajputs and captured Ratokot in 1125 AD. With base at Ratokot, they consolidated neighbouring villages under their influence.[6]
Further, Sodhoji's ambitious descendant Rana Raj Dev began plotting for the Amarkot fort held by the Soomras. For this purpose, he sent his trusted Charan allies Junfahji and Budhimanji to Amarkot to prepare the ground for the invasion, where they lived for some time before returning to Ratokot.[6]
After deliberations with both the Charanas, Rana Raj Dev launched his invasion of Amarkot (Umarkot) in 1226 AD. In the ensuing battle between the armies of Khenhro Soomro and Rana Raj Dev, Sodhas were victorious while Soomras had to retreat. Thus, Rana Raj Dev established Sodha rule over Amarkot and is considered the real founder of the Sodha dynasty.[6]
Thereafter, with Umarkot under control, the Sodhas began expansion of their kingdom and soon captured parts of Mithi, Chelhar, Chacharo, and extended their sway up to Nagarparkar. Four generations later, Rana Darabursh divided his state between his two sons and gave Amarkot and adjoining areas to his elder son Darjanshal and Nagarparkar to the younger son, Aasrai.[6]
Amarkot province was ruled by Sodha Rajput clan from medieval times until 1947 Partition of British India. The city held prominence during the Mughal Empire Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar and the British Raj. Mughal Emperor Akbar The Great was born in Amarkot 14 October 1542 when his father Humayun fled from the military defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri.[7] Rana Parshad, the Sodha Rajput ruler of Amarkot, gave him refuge.[8] Anarkot Kingdom ruled by Sodha Rajputs was annexed by Jodhpur State in the 18th century and its rulers were reduced to Vassals. Amarkot area and its fort was later handed to the British in 1847 by the Maharaja of Jodhpur in return for reducing the tribute imposed on Jodhpur State by Rs.10,000. and the territory came under direct rule of British India, and the Ranas were reduced to category of Jagirdars.[9]
Pakistan
[edit]Amarkot was the only area with a Hindu majority population of Sodha Rajputs and including the ruling family that acceded to Pakistan. Rana Chandra Singh, a federal minister and the chieftain of the Hindu Sodha Rajput clan and the Amarkot Jagir, was one of the founder members of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Umarkot, seven times with PPP between 1977 and 1999, when he founded the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP). Many Muslim Sodhas are also found across Pakistan's Sindh province and Indian state of Rajasthan.[10][11] Currently, his politician son Rana Hamir Singh is the 26th Rana of Tharparkar, Amarkot and Mithi.[12][13][14]
They still follow the age-old tradition of getting their daughters married to Rajput families in the border districts of India's Rajasthan. As they only inter-marry with other Hindu Rajput clans, every year they come to Rajasthan, to choose their bride and groom. Both Government of India and Pakistan have made special visa provisions and created a special diplomatic channel to facilitate the cross-country marriage of Sodha Rajputs, despite the strained relations between both countries.[4][15][16][17][18]
India
[edit]In India, Sodha Rajputs are found scattered around North West regions of Rajasthan.[2]
In Kachchh district of Gujarat, Sodha Rajputs are the most recent migrants from Sindh, Pakistan. After Chachro Raid during Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, the Sodhas had flee Sindh and were settled in Rapar and Bacchau tehsils of Kachchh where they continue to live.
Sodhas are one of several sub-groups of the larger Hindu Rajput community and retain strong links with Sindh through intermarriages. Fiercely patriarchal customs and traditions characterize this traditional protector-warrior community. Control over the movement of women in public has led to various ironic role reversals, such as men fetching water for the women from the village well.[19][20][21]
References
[edit]- ^ Talbot, Ian (28 January 2016). A History of Modern South Asia: Politics, States, Diasporas. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-21659-2.
- ^ a b Singh, Rajvi Amar (1992). Mediaeval History of Rajasthan: Western Rajasthan. Rajvi Amar Singh. p. 202. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Rajasthan [district Gazetteers].: Ganganagar. Printed at Government Central Press. 1972. p. 35. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ a b "For These Cross-Border Couples, Strained India-Pak Ties Mean an Indefinite Separation". The Wire. The Wire. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Sources on Social and Economic History of Rajasthan, 17th-20th Century A.D. Vikas Prakashan. 2005. p. 161. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali. "VANISHING VISUAL HERITAGE: SATI AND HERO STONES IN NAGARPARKAR, SINDH ZULFIQAR ALI KALHORO Introduction".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Part 10:..the birth of Akbar Humayun nama by Gulbadan Begum.
- ^ Part 10:..the birth of Akbar Humayun-nama by Gulbadan Begum.
- ^ "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 14, page 186 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library".
- ^ "Hindu Leader, Ex-minister Chardar Singh is Dead". Khaleej Times. 3 August 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ Guriro, Amar (2 August 2009). "Chieftain of Pakistani Hindu Thakurs dies". Daily Times. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
- ^ Footprints: Once upon a time in Umerkot, Dawn (newspaper), 16 January 2015.
- ^ Pakistan's Umerkot gets a new Hindu ruler, The Hindu, 30 May 2010.
- ^ Economics, Pakistan Institute of Development (1987). Land Reforms in Pakistan: A Historical Perspective. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics. p. 200. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ "Cross-Border Couples Rejoice as India Resumes Visa Service To Pakistanis". The Wire. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ "भारत-पाक सीमा की परवाह नहीं करने वाले सोढा समुदाय के बारे में जानते हैं आप? - पाकिस्तान के गांव में होती है शादी". The Economic Times (in Hindi). 8 July 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Ramachandran, Smriti Kak (23 September 2009). "Marriage mission made easy for Sodhas from Pakistan". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ "Months after getting citizenship, Pakistan migrant set to fight Rajasthan panchayat polls". Deccan Herald. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ "Maiwa - Artisans: Kachchh Mahila Vikas Sangathan KMVS". MAIWA. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Hatanaka, Kokyo; Sardar, Zahid (1996). Textile Arts of India. Chronicle Books. p. 338. ISBN 978-0-8118-1084-5. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Jain, Jyotindra; Gujarat, Shreyas Folk Museum of (1980). Folk Art and Culture of Gujarat: Guide to the Collection of the Shreyas Folk Museum of Gujarat. Shreyas Prakashan. pp. 44–45, 213. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
