Ajay Kumar at 17:29, 23 July 2023

2023-07-23T17:29:10Z

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{{Short description|14th-century poet & horse trader}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alhaji Barhath
| birth_place = [[Jaisalmer district|Haduwa]]
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Poet]]|[[Merchant|Trader]]}}
| years_active = 13-14th century
| notable_works = Veermayan
| children = 2 (Dulhaji, Jethaji)
| father = Bhanoji Barhath
}}
'''Alhaji Barhath''' (13-14th century), or '''Alhaji Rohadia''', was a 13th-century [[poet]] & [[Horse trading|horse trader]] known for providing shelter to [[Chunda of Mandore|Rao Chunda of Mandore]] during his childhood, who is credited with laying the foundation of the [[Rathore]] rule in [[Jodhpur State|Marwar]].

== Early life ==
Alhaji Barahath was a [[Charan]] of [[Rohadiya|Rohadia]] clan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Sabita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0bSmDwAAQBAJ|title=The Politics of Marriage in India: Gender and Alliance in Rajasthan|date=2019-05-27|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-909828-6|language=en|quote="In another case, when Viram, the ruler of Khed died, his wife Mangliyani did not commit sati immediately, but started living in her natal village, hiding her identity. Later, her son Chuda was given to Alha Charan while she decided to committed sati. There are references of the sons being handed to Brahmins and Charans before the queen decided to commit sati...In the episode of Rathor Chunda described by Nainsi, it is a Charan who recognizes him as a Rajput, but also equips him with a horse and weapons."}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Kothiyal|first=Tanuja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IQS-DAAAQBAJ|title=Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert|date=2016-03-14|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-316-67389-8|language=en|quote="Chunda herded the cattle of the Charan. One day when he got tired while herding, he fell off to sleep. Alha happened to come that way, and saw the boy sleeping with a serpent shading his head....The Charan equipped him with a horse and weapons and presented him to his uncle Malo, who granted him a distant thana of Salodi."}}</ref> He was born in a prosperous family in Haduwa village of [[Jaisalmer district|Jaisalmer]] to Bhanoji Barhath. He was a skilled poet but also traded in horse and cattle. He is said to have owned more than 500 [[Cattle|cows]]. There were ten households of his [[Domestic worker|servants]], who lived alongside and looked after Alhaji's cattle. In his youth, Alhaji left his native place of Haduwa and settled in a village called 'Kalau', about twenty miles south of [[Pokhran|Pokaran]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Jijñāsu |first=Mohanalāla |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A85EAQAAIAAJ |title=Cāraṇa sāhitya kā itihāsa: Rājasthāna ke prācīna evaṃ Madhyakālīna 275 cāraṇa kaviyoṃ, unake kāvya ke vibhinna rūpoṃ tathā pravr̥ttiyoṃ kā Jīvanacaritra sahita aitihāsika evaṃ ālocanātmaka anuśīlana |date=1968 |publisher=Ujvala Cāraṇa-Sabhā |language=hi |quote=चूंडा को अपने बाल्यावस्था के सारे दिन ध्यान में आ गये, जो उन्होंने आल्हा के घर पर बिताये थे। शीघ्र ही उनका यथोचित सम्मान किया गया। चूंडा ने आल्हा को अपना आधा राज्य देना चाहा, किन्तु इन्होंने इस प्रस्ताव को अस्वीकार कर दिया। बहुत आग्रह करने पर इन्होंने केवल बारह कोस लम्बी व बारह कोस चौड़ी जमीन अपनी गायों एवं घोड़ों के चारागाह के लिए लेना स्वीकार किया।}}</ref>

== Sheltering Chunda ==
Alhaji lived in his village called Kalau located in [[Jodhpur district|Jodhpur]], [[Rajasthan]]. Viramdev Rathore, the ruler of Mahewa and father of Chunda, was killed in battle against [[Johiya]]s around 1383 AD. At this time, Chunda was a mere child. Chunda's mother, referred to as Mangaliyaniji, was apprehensive about Chunda's safety & preferred to seek safety for him. She approached Alhaji Barhath of Kalau and handed Chunda over to him.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Dhananajaya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SktuAAAAMAAJ|title=The House of Marwar|date=1994|publisher=Lotus Collection, Roli Books|isbn=978-81-7436-002-1|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Sinh|first=Raghubir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fyJuAAAAMAAJ|title=Rao Udaibhan Champawat ri khyat: Up to Rao Rinmal and genealogies of the Rinmalots|date=1984|publisher=Indian Council of Historical Research|language=hi|quote="After the death of Viram, the mother of his minor son, Chunda, had to seek refuge with Alha Charan."}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MytuAAAAMAAJ|title=Rāva Udaibhāṇa Cāmpāvata rī khyāta|date=2006|publisher=Śrī Naṭanāgara Śodha Saṃsthāna, Sītāmau|language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Ujwal|first=Kailash Dan S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pkkqAAAAYAAJ|title=Bhagwati Shri Karniji Maharaj: A Biography|date=1985|publisher=<nowiki>[s.n.]]</nowiki>|language=en|quote="While keeping the secret to himself for fear of Jagmal, Alha brought up Chunda as a Rajput warrior destined to raise the family’s name. Chunda fulfilled the hopes and expectations of his mother and his benefactor."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Gurbaxani|first=Gitanjali|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lIBuDwAAQBAJ|title=Jodhpur: An Insight to a Gourmet Destination|date=2018-09-15|publisher=Notion Press|isbn=978-1-64324-930-8|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Chandra|first=Yashaswini|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VawSEAAAQBAJ|title=The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback|date=2021-01-22|publisher=Pan Macmillan|isbn=978-93-89109-92-4|language=en|quote="Chunda had in fact had a humble start in life, spending his early boyhood in exile in the home of a Charan in a village, where he made himself useful looking after buffalo calves."}}</ref>

After ensuring the safety of Chunda under Alhaji, Mangaliyaniji is said to have committed [[Sati (practice)|Sati]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wtUSAQAAMAAJ|title=Social Scientist|date=2005|publisher=Indian School of Social Sciences.|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sethia|first=Madhu|date=2005|title=British Paramountcy: Reaction and Response by the Nineteenth Century Poets of Rajasthan|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3518063|journal=Social Scientist|volume=33|issue=11/12|pages=14–28|jstor=3518063|issn=0970-0293|quote="It is well-known that Charan Alha of Kalau village brought up Rao Chunda of Marwar (c.1383-1423) after his father died fighting against the Joiyas and mother committed sati. So, it is obvious that the Charans had been also active participants in the establishment and functioning of the Rajput polity."}}</ref>

Alhaji raised Chunda in anonymity for 14 years, hiding his real identity. Growing up, Chunda used to herd the [[cattle]] of Alhaji.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

== Presenting Chunda to Rawal Mallinath ==
One day, Chunda grew tired while herding the cattle and slept under a tree. When Alhaji arrived to check on Chunda, he saw a [[Snake|serpent]] shading over Chunda's head, while he lay sleeping. Alhaji took this as a sign of Chunda's destiny as a ruler & began training him.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" />

Later, at the opportune time, Alhaji equipped Chunda with a [[horse]] and weapons and travelled to Mahewa & presented him before [[Rawal Mallinath]], revealing Chunda's identity as his nephew. Mallinath granted Chunda a distant ''thana'' of Salodi.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

Chunda showed his skill as a warrior and began expanding his territory. In 1395, [[Mandore]] was given as dowry to Rao Chunda by the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty|Inda]] Rajputs and eventually became the capital of the [[Rathore]]s. Alhaji was instrumental in this [[alliance]] as he convinced Raidhaval Inda to marry his daughter to Chunda.<ref name=":7" /> Rao Chunda inherited the Rathore mantle and was instrumental in the move of the Rathores from the marginal Mahewa belt to Mandore.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Hooja|first=Rima|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tosMAQAAMAAJ|title=A History of Rajasthan|date=2006|publisher=Rupa & Company|isbn=978-81-291-0890-6|language=en}}</ref>

== Reunion ==
Years after Chunda was installed on the throne of Mandor, Alhaji remembered Chunda and wished to see him. He travelled to [[Mandore]] to meet Chunda where he stayed in the [[Royal court|court]] but didn't feel the need to introduce himself. As Chunda didn't recognize him initially among the host of [[courtier]]s, one day, Alhaji is said to have spoken this couplet:<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Paniker|first=K. Ayyappa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC|title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections|date=1997|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-0365-5|language=en}}</ref>
{|
![[Dingal]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shal |first=kanheya Lal |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.540785 |title=Rajasthan Ke Etihasik Pravad |date=1947}}</ref>
_____________________________
![[English language|English]] translation
|-
|''चूंडा ना आवै चीत, काचर कालाऊ तणा।''
''भूप भयौ भैभींत, मंडोवर रै मालियै ॥''
|''O Chunda, don't you remember the Kachars of Kalau village?''
''That is, how could you forget your days of adversity?'' ''Living in the palaces of Mandovar and after becoming such a famous prince,'' ''you should not have forgotten your condition during the days of adversity.''<ref name=":62">{{Cite book |last=Paniker |first=K. Ayyappa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections |date=1997 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |language=en}}</ref>
|}
Hearing this, Chunda became aware of Alhaji and rose up to greet him. As a sign of [[gratitude]], Chunda offered half of his kingdom to Alhaji, which he refused. After a lot of insistence, Alhaji accepted only twelve kos long and twelve kos wide land enough for the [[pasture]] of his cows and horses.<ref name=":7" />

== Legacy ==
Today, three villages named Bhondu, Sihanda and Chak-Dair are inhabited in the same land by the descendants of Alhaji. Chunda also granted other villages in his jagir. Alhaji had two sons - the elder son's name was Dulhaji and the younger one's name was Jethaji. Dulhaji, in turn, had a daughter called Malhan Devi, who is worshipped as an incarnation of [[Shakti]].<ref name=":7" />

== Authorship ==
Alhaji had composed the work '<nowiki/>''Veermayan''<nowiki/>', a fragmentary copy of which was discovered at Shubhkaran Kaviya of [[Jodhpur]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_qVjAAAAMAAJ |title=Maru-Bhāratī |date=1983 |publisher=Biṛlā Ejyūkeśana Ṭrasṭa. |language=hi |quote=वीरमायण : चारण आल्हा का यह काव्य उत्कृष्ट कोटि का वीर रस प्रधान खण्ड काव्य है। राव चूडा वीरमदेवोत को आल्हा ने गांव कालाऊ में शरण दी थी। वीरम को मार कर जोइए वंश को ही नष्ट करना चाहते थे तब माता मांगलियाणी चूंडा को लेकर चली गई थी।}}</ref> This work has verses ranging from 90 to 160. It recounts the story of Viramdev, father of Chunda, who ultimately dies in a battle with Johiyas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Brij Sunder |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0EmgAAAAMAAJ |title=Mahākavi Suryamalla Miśraṇa smr̥ti grantha |date=1969 |publisher=Sūryamalla Smāraka Samiti |language=hi |quote=आल्हा कृत 'वीरमायण' वीर रस का प्रथम खण्ड काव्य है। इसके नायक राव वीरम (मारवाड़) परम वीर हैं जो जोइयों के साथ युद्ध में मारे जाते हैं। रानी माँगलियारणी अपने नवजात शिशु चूडा को लेकर बीस वर्षों तक आल्हा के घर काठाऊ में गुप्त रीति से रहती है, जहां चूंडा को अस्त्र-शस्त्र की शिक्षा दी जाती है। अन्त में चूडा आल्हा को सहायता से मंडोवर का राज्य प्राप्त कर लेता है । इस कथा को लेकर ग्रन्थ की सृष्टि हुई है ।}}</ref> It is distinct from '''Veervan''<nowiki/>' (1960 AD) published by Rajasthan Prachya Vidya Pratishthan, Jodhpur and edited by [[Lakshmi Kumari Chundawat]]. According to Udairaj Ujjwal, three original copies of this work remained with the descendants of Alhaji.<ref name=":7" />

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Indian poets]]
[[Category:Charan]]
[[Category:Dingal poets]]

Alhaji Barhath - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 17:29, 23 July 2023