2405:201:300F:6041:692E:99A0:D5B3:B16B at 14:31, 20 November 2022

2022-11-20T14:31:28Z

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{{refimprove|date=March 2017}}
{{Fanpov|date=December 2020}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Amar Singh Rathore
| title = [[Subedar]] of [[Nagaur]] [[Prince|Rajkumar]] of [[Jodhpur State|Marwar]]
| image = Rao Amar Singh of Jodhpur (6125095904).jpg
| birth_date = 30 December 1613
| birth_place = [[Bikaner]], [[Jodhpur State|Marwar]], [[Mughal Empire]]
| death_date = 21 July 1644
| death_place = [[Agra]], [[Mughal Empire]]
| issue = Anup Bai
| house = [[Rathore|House of Rathore]]
| father = [[Gaj Singh of Marwar]]
| mother = Rani Mansukhdeji
}}
'''Amar Singh Rathore''' (30 December 1613 – 25 July 1644) was the eldest son of [[Gaj Singh of Marwar|Maharaja Gaj Singh]] of [[Marwar]] in seventeenth-century India.<ref name="ref70yecej">{{Citation | title=Casting kings: bards and Indian modernity | author=Jeffrey G. Snodgrass | date=10 August 2006 | publisher=Oxford University Press US, 2006 | isbn=978-0-19-530434-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uP8r9JAs7xkC | quote=''... Amar Singh Rathore was seventeenth-century noble belonging to Jodhpur's royal Rajput family during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan ... made the emperor's representative (subedar) of Nagaur district ...''}}</ref>

After he was disinherited and exiled by his family, he entered the Mughals' service. His legendary bravery and battle prowess resulted in elevation to a high rank in the imperial nobility and personal recognition by the emperor, who made him the ''[[subedar]]'' (governor) of a region that was directly ruled by the emperor himself, [[Nagaur]].<ref name="ref70yecej" />

In 1644, he was enraged by an attempt by the emperor to levy a fine on him for an unauthorized absence. In the emperor's presence, he stabbed and killed Salabat Khan, who had been asked to collect the fine. He is celebrated in some popular ballads of [[Rajasthan]], [[Western Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name="ref77pavab">{{Citation | title=Legends of the Panjab, Part 3 | author=R. C. Temple | date=June 2003 | publisher=Kessinger Publishing, 2003 | isbn=978-0-7661-6349-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E5hoHIQQLfUC | quote=''... Jabbal kadhi misri nikali do dhari, Mare Salabat Khan di ja khili pari ...''}}</ref>

==Family==
Amar Singh was born 30 December 1613 as the son of [[Gaj Singh of Marwar|Kunwar Gaj Singh]], eldest son of [[Sur Singh|Raja Sur Singh of Marwar]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Mertiyo Rathors of Merta, Rajasthan|volume=II|pages=58}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Mertiyo Rathors of Merta, Rajasthan|volume=II|pages=64}}</ref> His mother was Rani Sanagari Mansukhdeji, daughter of Sangaro Cahuvan Jasvant of Pali.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Mertiyo Rathors of Merta, Rajasthan|volume=II|pages=57}}</ref>

== Life ==
On the death of his father, the throne of [[Jodhpur State|Marwar]] was given to his 11 year old younger half brother, [[Jaswant Singh of Marwar|Jaswant Singh]], as per his father's wish.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Hussain|first=S. M. Azizuddin|title=Structure of Politics Under Aurangzeb, 1658-1707|pages=134}}</ref> This was due to Gaj Singh being extremely fond Jaswant's mother, Pratap Devi and also due to the influence his patar, Anara Bai, who was on bad terms with Amar Singh.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Hooja|first=Rima|title=A history of Rajasthan|pages=589}}</ref> He instead received the pargana of [[Nagaur]] and the title of Rav.<ref name=":1" />

== Commemoration in popular culture==
Amar Singh Rathore is considered an icon of extraordinary might, will and freedom. Neither fear, nor greed were able to affect his decisions. He died as a free man. The bravery of Amar Singh Rathore and Ballu Champavat is still remembered in folk songs in Rajasthan and around Agra. A Hindi movie based on Amar Singh was made in 1970, named 'Veer Amar Singh Rathore' and directed by Radhakant. Dev Kumar, Kumkum and Zeba Rehman were the lead actors of the movie in Black and White. A Gujarati movie was also made on the same subject and the lead role was played by Gujarati actor [[Upendra Trivedi]]. A gate of Agra Fort was named after him as 'Amar Singh Gate' which is a major tourist attraction in Agra. A small excerpt from a Punjabi ballad on Amar Singh Rathore describes his angry entry into Shah Jahan's ''[[Diwan-i-Khas (Red Fort)|Diwan-i-Khas]]'' and Salabat Khan's attempts to hold him back.<ref name="ref77pavab"/> -

{|
!Original
!Translation
|-
|
<blockquote>
''Dekhkar Shahjahan Badshah bharta hankare,'' 
''Kaha Salabat Khan nun: "Karo kam hamare.'' 
''Age auna na do, Rajput rakho atkare."'' 
''Salabat Khan un Bakhshi dida tare,'' 
''"Adab manke khara raho, Rajput bichare!'' 
''Teri bat digi Darbar men, main khara sidhare."'' 
''"Meri tu kya bat sanwarda, Kartar sanware!"'' 
''Amar Singh digaia, no dige, jaisa parbat bhari.'' 
''"Hatke khara ganwariar! Kya kare ganwari?"'' 
 
''Jabbal kadhi misri nikali do dhari:'' 
''Mare Salabat Khan di ja khili pari:'' 
''Lagi mard de hath di na rahi wo dhari.'' 
''"Eh le apne sat lakh, Salabat piare!'' 
''Kante dharke janch le, hor ghat hamare!"'' 
</blockquote>
|
<blockquote>
As soon as he saw him Shahjahan the King called out, 
And said to Salabat Khan: "Do my bidding. 
Let not the Rajput come forward, keep him back." 
Salabat Khan, the Controller, cast his eyes on him, 
(And said): "Stand and be respectful, thou wretched Rajput! 
Thy fame hath fallen in the Court, and I keep watch (over thee)." 
"How can'st thou watch over me? God shall watch!" 
Amar Singh, like a great mountain, was not to be kept back. 
(Said Salabat Khan): "Stand back, thou boor! What wilt thou with thy boorishness?" 
 
In his wrath he (Amar Singh) drew his dagger and struck twice: 
He struck Salabat Khan and went through him: 
Struck by a warrior's hand the blow stayed not. 
"Take this for thy seven lakhs, friend Salabat! 
Take thy scales and weigh them out!" 
</blockquote>
|}

==See also==
*[[Amar Singh Gate]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rathore, Amar Singh}}
[[Category:1613 births]]
[[Category:1644 deaths]]
[[Category:Rajasthani people]]
[[Category:Indian warriors]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian people]]

Amar Singh Rathore - Revision history

2405:201:300F:6041:692E:99A0:D5B3:B16B at 14:31, 20 November 2022