Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh Rathore were contemporary Hindu rulers of two different Rajput clans in 18th century A.D. Sawai Jaisingh ruled over Kachhwaha principality of Amber from 1699 to 1743 A.D. whereas Ajitsingh Rathore ruled over Rathore principality of Marwar from 1707 to 1724 A.D. [1]
The families of Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh had marital relations with each other since so many centuries but their relations were never cordial. Both the Rajput clans were serving Mughals from 16th century A.D. and both the clans had given their daughters to Mughal princes but Amber family was more near to Mughls.
In 18th century their was a drastic change in the relations between Mughals and Rajput families. Sawai Jaisingh had cordial relations with Mughal Durbar but Maharaja Ajitsingh was considered as enemy for Mughal sultanate. Maharaja Ajitsingh wanted to oust Mughal empire but Maharaja Sawai Jaisingh wanted the aegis of Mughal empire.
There was almost no correspondence between Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh during 1699-1707A.D.[2] From 1701-1703A.D., Jai Singh served in the Deccan and during 1704-7, in Malwa.[3] During this period, Ajit Singh remained engrossed in his struggle for survival.[4] The developments following the battle of Jajau (18 June, 1707A.D.), however, unexpectedly brought them close to each other.
Principalities of Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh taken into Khalisah
Sawai Jai Singh, as is well known, had changed over from Azam’s side to Muazzam’s during the battle of Jajau. Soon after the battle, Muazzam now Emperor Bahadur Shah, passed orders for taking Amber into Khalisah (खालसा) on the plea that there was a dispute for the throne between Jai Singh and his younger brother Bijai Singh,[5] who had fought on his side during the succession war.
The plea on which Amber was being resumed was baseless. Jai Singh had succeeded his father in 1699 and till June 1707, his brother had never raised any objection to his accession and if the Emperor was punishing Jai Singh for having taken Azam’s side, as he actually told Jai Singh,[6] there was no reason to treat him differently from other partisans of Azam, who had been pardoned and conciliated in accordance with the Emperor’s declared policy.[7]
It therefore seems all the more reason able to assume that Bahadur Shah was trying to persist with his father’s policy of bringing the semi-autonomous states under the direct Mughal rule, a policy which was likely to bring far reaching political and administrative advantages to the Mughal government.[8]
Later on we will see that Bahadur Shah tried his best to retain Amber and Jodhpur proper under Khalisah, through he was prepared to part with the rest of the territories of these States.
Bahadur Shah also ordered for taking Jodhpur into Khalisah again.[9] Soon after Aurangzeb’s death, Ajit Singh had captured Jodhpur which was in Khalisah for the past twenty five years. Bahadur Shah was keen to retain Jodhpur though he was prepared to grant some concessions to Ajit Singh in the form of mansab (मनसब) and jagirs .
Bahadur Shah passed through Amber in January 1708, on way to the Deccan. The place had already been put under an Imperial faujdar and now it was named Mominabad. In Feb., 1708, the Emperor received Ajit Singh near Merta and though granted him a mansab of 3500 zat and 3000 sawars and the title of Maharaja, but resumed Jodhpur and named it Muhammadabad.[10]
These acts of the Emperor which flagrantly violated the understanding between the semi-autonomous States and the Moghul government, led to the Rajput rising of 1708-10. It may again be said that the basic issue involved was whether the Mughal Government had the right to deprive the Chiefs of their lands held by them hereditarily (called ‘watan’ (वतन) in Mughal administrative terminology) without suffi Therefore it became necessary for the Rajputs to assert their claim and to fight for their existence.
Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh break with the Mughal government; Rajput rising begins
Jai Singh had accompanied the Emperor from Agra to Merta. Kam Baksh. During the course of the marches, Jai Singh and Ajit Singh which first reached Ajmer and then moved towards the Deccan against Merta, Ajit Singh and Durga Das Rathore also joined the Imperial army occasions to discuss their problems and the course of action they should came in close contact with each other for the first time and had frequent wazir, unrelenting, they decided to break away from the Imperial adopt for securing back their states.[11]
They found Munim Khan, the On receiving assurance of help from and to recover their States by force. army Mewar, they abruptly left the Imperial camp at Mandeshwar on 20th April, and reached Udaipur where Maharana Amar Singh received them warmly.[12]
The Maharana also married his daughter to Jai Singh. In 1696, Rana Jag at Singh’s niece had been married to Jagat Singh. These marriages strengthened the political ties among the three most powerful Rajput States and ensured the success of their struggle against the Mughal Government.
Ties between Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh bring successes to Rajputs
During the next few months, Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh remained mostly together and their combined armies recovered Jodhpur (July 1708) and Amber (August, 1708).[13] eg. On 21stAugust, Jai Singh was at Jodhpur, where four days later he received tika for his betrothal with Ajit’s daughter. He stayed on at Jodhpur till the end of August and then returned to Amber reaching there on the 3rd September.[14]
Meanwhile the Maharana wrote to Prince Jahandar Shah, in reply to his farman censoring the conduct of Jai Singh and Ajit Singh, that if their watans were not restored, there would be wide-spread trouble in Rajputana.[15]
After capturing Amber and Jodhpur, Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh took all possible steps to strengthen their position. Each kept the other informed about the latest military and diplomatic developments. A number of letters of this period give an ultimate picture of their efforts to face the might of the Mughal government. The farmans, nishans (निशान) and private letters received from the Imperial nobles, and the reports of their harkar as were exchanged in order to coordinate their efforts against the Imperial authorities.[16]
The close co-operation among the Rajputs proved very useful during the coming months. In the beginning of Nov., 1708, the close co-operation among the Rajputs proved very Rajput forces defeated an army of 30,000 horsemen near Sambhar killing the Faujdars of Mewat, Narnol and Merta,[17] occupied Sambhar and established their than as at Rewari and Narnol.[18]
Mean while, Jagjiwan Das Pancholi, Jai Singh’s vakil at the Mughal court, was negotiating for the restoration of Amber and Jodhpur. Learn from his report that the Emperor was willing to restore all the areas of Amber and Jodhpur States to Jai Singh and Ajit Singh respectively save Kasba Amber yielding 20 lac dams and Kasbas (कसबा) of Jodhpur and Merta yielding 20 lac dams each.[19]
But as the restoration of Amber and Jodhpur was vital, in order to preserve their status as the hereditary rulers of their states, they insisted on the restoration of all their mahal-i-watan without exception and rejected the Mughal offer. The closeness and harmony between Jai Singh and Ajit Singh is proved by former’s rejection of the Emperor’s offer made some time later to restore Amber without restoring Jodhpur to Ajit Singh.[20]
Differences on the question of besieging Ajmer
It should however be mentioned that the relations between Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh did experience occasional strain. For instance, in Feb., 1709, when Ajit Singh besieged Ajmer for a fortnight,[21] Jai Singh did not join him.
The bitterness caused on that occasion lingered on for some time. In Jan., 1710 when Jai Singh proposed to besiege Ajmer and sent word to Ajit Singh about it, the latter was very hesitant.[22]
Shujaat Khan, the Governor of Ajmer subah, was aware of the differences between Jai Singh and Ajit Singh on the question of the siege ofAjmer. In his letter of Feb., 23, 1709, he praised Jai Singh for keeping himself aloof from Ajit Singh who “owing to his short sighted nesses has besieged Ajmer”, he wrote.[23]
Secret understanding with Ghazi-ud-din Khan
But fortunately Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh did not permit their differences to grow to such an extent which might destroy the Rajput Concert. In July, 1709, Jai Singh received Vakil-Mutlaq Asad Khan’s offer to secure restoration of their watans if they would raise their than as from Sambhar and if he and Ajit Singh would accept posting in Subahs Ahmedabad and Kabul respectively. Ajit Singh, on being informed by Jai Singh of this offer emphasized that the grant of watans was of utmost importance and that they should not accept such distant postings. He also wrote to Jai Singh about the friendly attitude of Ghazi-ud-din Khan Firuz Jang towards the Rajputs and sent a brief account of his negotiations with him.
Ajit informed that the Turani leader had promised not to take part in any campaign against the Rajputs and had solemnly assured that he would resign from his mansab rather than proceed against Jai Singh and Ajitsingh. Ghazi-ud-din Khan, whose appointment as Subahdar of Ajmer province was announced in June-July 1709, scrupulously kept his word, the sanctity of which he had indicated by sending lotus and bread to Ajit Singh.[24]
Rising of Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh comes to an end
Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh maintained these close ties during the succ- eeding months also. In early Zilqada 1121 H. when Bahadur Shah arrived near Mewar’s territory on his way back to Ajmer from the Deccan, the Durga Dass and to create diversion, Jai Singh and Ajit Singh decided to Maharana withdrew to the hills leaving a force of 7000 at Udaipur under march towards Ajmer with 70000 horse.[25]
It is evident from a number of letters of this time that there was a effect upon the Mughal Government’s attitude towards the question of complete co-ordination and unity among the Rajputs which had a salutary efect upon the Mughal government’s attitudetowards the question of the restoration of the watans.
As the Sikh rising was gaining momentum in Punjab, the Emperor decided to accept the Rajput demands without any pre-conditions. On the 13th June, Jai Singh and Ajit Singh met the Emperor, who restored their watans and granted them six months leave immediately after the audience.[26] The terms were complete triumph of the stand taken by the Rajputs.
Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh do not participate in the Sikh campaign
From Ajmer, the Emperor went away to Punjab and thence to Lahore. Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh were repeatedly asked to attend the Court, but as they were reluctant to participate in the Sikh campaign, they did not start from their states. It was only after considerable pressure from the Court and on persuasion of their Vakils that they reached Narnol on 26 June. They were at Sonipat in late Sept. 1711, and at Jhajjar on 1 February 1712.[27]
They were posted at Sadhaura, where they guarded the foot hills from the Sikh raids. After two and half months Jai Singh was made faujdar of Ahmedabad Khora and Ajit Singh of Sorath. But these appointments were far below their expectations. In January Jai Singh received permission to proceed on leave to celebrate his marriage.[28]
He availed of this leave in early February, when Ajit Singh also returned to his State along with Jai Singh. A few days later on 27th February, 1712, Bahadur Shah died at Lahore.
During Jahandar Shah’s reign, Sawai Jai Singh and Ajit Singh continued to act in concert. They did not take part in the war of succession at Lahore (March 1712) nor in the expeditions against Farrukhsiyar, even though Jahandar Shah had granted[29] Jai Singh Subadari of Malwa and mansab of 7000/7000, and to Ajit Singh the Government of Gujarat and mansab of 9000/9000.
Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh : Period of co-operation ends with Farrukhsiyar’s accession
The differences between the two came to the surface for the first time soon after Farruhkhsiyar’s accession (Jan., 1713). Jai Singh and Ajit Singh were desirous of securing the Government of Malwa and Gujarat respectively. But inAugust 1713 Ajit Singh involved himself in the murder of Raja Mohkam Singh,[30] son of Raja Indra Singh of Nagaur, in Delhi itself. After Mohkam’s murder, Ajit Singh avoided visit to the Mughal Court.
Jai Singh in his letter dated 15th Sept., 1713 to Bhandari Raghunath of Jodhpur wrote, “If Maharajaji decides not to visit the Court, then request him to send the Kunwar (Abhai Singh) who should accompany me to the Court. We shall obtain for him the grant of Subha Gujarat. I will start from here on receiving the Maharaja’s response to my proposal. Even if he stays on at Jodhpur, he should convey his promise to the Emperor to abstain from doing anything which might be detrimental to Subha Gujarat. The Emperor would like to have a definite assurance in this regard.”[31]
Ajit Singh ignored Jai Singh’s advice and the Imperial orders to attend the Court. This further displeased the Emperor. Hence it is not surprising that in Oct., 1713, while appointing Jai Singh to the Subahdari of Malwa, Farrukhsiyar granted to Ajit Singh the government of Thatta, and not of Gujarat.[32]
Ajit Singh considered it an inferior posting which it actually was. He did not carry out the orders to reach Thatta, thus inviting the charge of defying the Imperial orders. Jai Singh, on the other hand set out to take charge of Subah Malwa in Nov., 1714. It seems that Ajit Singh considered Jai Singh’s acceptance of the Government of Malwa, while he was being denied a proper posting, a violation of the spirit of the Rajput concert. The breach between the two created at this time continued to widen till it became almost unbridgeable.
Ajit Singh’s rising, the concert breaks down
The details of Sayyid Hussain Ali’s campaign (1714) against Maharaja Ajit Singh are not required here. It resulted in Ajit’s humiliation but in the end contributed to his rise. He gained the government of Gujarat from the Emperor to whom he had to give his daughter in marriage. But instead of supporting the Emperor, he joined the powerful Sayyid brothers. as Maharana and Jai Singh had not given any assistance to Ajit Singh against Hussain Ali Khan, the Rajput concert broke down.
Though Maharana Sangram Singh continued to be in touch with Ajit Singh, he ceased to exercise any influence on latter’s policies. But Sawai Jai Singh, whose relations with Ajit broke down even on the social level,[33] maintained close ties with Mewar and other Rajput State, excluding Kotah, whose ruler also had drifted into the Sayyid Camp.
Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh splits between Sayyid group and Farrukhsiyar
Ajit’s governorship of Gujarat was rather uneventful. When he reached Delhi at the end of August, he went over to the Sayyids side openly, though Farrukshiyar had summoned him only to checkmate their power.[34]
Farrukhsiyar had called Jai Singh to the Court as early as Sept; 1715, and when he reached there at the end of May 1716,[35] he was asked to lead a campaign against Churaman. From there he returned an angry man, due to Sayyid Abdulla Khan’s mischievous interference in Churaman’s favour in May 1718.[36]
Though we do not have a precise account of Jai Singh’s activity at by Ajit Singh after Farrukhsiyars deposition (though the authenticity of Delhi after his return from the Jat campaign, we learn from a letter written the charge contained in it is not above doubt) that Sawai Jai Singh was a the Deccan in 1718, the crisis deepened.[37]
Ajit Singh and Sawai Jai Singh party to the plots against his life.[38] After the return of Hussain Ali from remained faithful to the groups they had joined. The latter candidly advised the Emperor to fall upon the Sayyid brothers without delay. But this suggestion went unheeded by the Emperor who was hustled by the Sayyid brothers into sending peremptory orders to Jai Singh to leave for Amber brothers to commit the blunder of deposing Farrukhsiyar in a very cruel immediately,[39] Jai Singh then left Delhi leaving Ajit Singh and the Sayyid manner, which made them highly unpopular. But for the time being their fortune was in the noon day glory though only to set prematurely a year later.
Jai Singh organizes opposition to Sayyid brothers, Ajit Singh negotiates on their behalf
Jai Singh returned to Amber after Farrukhsiyar’s deposition. Ajit Singh later boasts in a letter[40] that he spared Jai Singh’s life, as after deposing the Emperor, “poor Jai Singh did not deserve his attention”. It might have so appeared to Ajit Singh in February-March 1719, but not in May 1719, when evidence of a united opposition by Jai Singh, Chabila Ram and the Nizam beg an to show its head.[41]
The proclamation of Nekusiyar on the throne (18 May 1719) heightened this crisis and the Sayyid brothers were forced to divert their resources to check the rising at three places. The Nizam failed to play his role, as he did in 1749 also and all along in his dealings with the Marathas when he sacrificed the interests of the Empire for his own benefit.
In the first two weeks of May 1719 Jai Singh was in correspondence with Ajit Singh while waiting for news from Allahabad and the Nizam. The Sayyid too, realising that they would find it difficult to extinguish fires at so m any places, continued negotiations with Jai Singh through Ajit Singh. Though Jai Singh had been restored his state and mansab[42] he wasnot prepared to accept Subahdari of Bidar for which he was being pressed by the Saiyydds.[43]
Jai Singh replies to the charge sheet
A few days later Nekusiyar was proclaimed Emperor and Chabila Ram was reported to be advancing towards Mathura. Jai Singh now stiffened his tone and flung open defiance at the Sayyids. In his letter of 5th June 1719, he defended his conduct and chided his enemies. Replying to the various charges made against him by the Sayyid group he wrote, “I have received your letter. What you told Jai Singh Kumbhani and Pancholi Sri Krishna has been conveyed to me.
You have asked me as to why I am collecting an army; it involves expenses and the Nabab’s suspicions are aroused. But Jagram, on the verbal instructions of the Nabab (Abdulla Khan) had written to me to reach the court. I thought that Maharajaji (Ajit Singh) is there, and I have been summoned at such a time, so I should reach there with a good army to remove the Nabab’s displeasure.
That is why I have sent money (to my Thakurs) and summoned my men. Many of them have arrived and many are to come. I have given them a month’s salary in advance. First Nabab asks me to do a thing and then objects. It is not just on his part”.
“You have asked why I called Maharaoji (Budh Singh). Earlier when I went to see Emperor Farrukhsiyarji he had accompanied me (to Delhi). But now, as my visit to the Court is cancelled, he too will not come.”
“You wrote that I am sending men and message to Raja Chatrasal Bundela and Mehta Chabila Ram and they are sending me letters and messengers. This was so when they were in the Imperial service, but now as they have left the Imperial service, these cont acts will naturally stop.”
“You wrote to Jag Ram and Bhandari about the money of the Jagirdars and the revenue. The money was collected for remission to the Subah treasury, but as an army had to be collected to proceed to Delhi. I spent the money on it. Now if I do not come, the money will be wasted …… Until Nasratyar Khan etc. withdraw I too cannot……Wherever there is trouble the Nabab says that I have created it. You should remove his suspicion about me so that he does not speak such words again…… You wrote that According to the Agreement, I should march to Bidar. I am ready to proceed. Before my departure, you should reach here so that we have a meeting. Please continue to send me letters.”[44]
It appears that with this letter the negotiations between the two sides terminated. Sawai Jai Singh came out of Amber with great ostentation. His entire army wore saffron robes and maur (मौर) indicative of its resolve to win or die. He declared with characteristic ingenuity that he had bestowed the city of Amber on the Brahmans as a sacred gift. Ater covering a number of stages, he halted at Toda, about 80 miles South-West of Agra.[45]
But his pl an to provide concerted support to Nekusiyar was frustrated due to Chabila Ram’s failure to reach Mathura, and on account of the Nizam’s inactivity.[46]
Jai Singh conciliated through Ajit’s mediation
The details of the two incomplete campaigns of 1719 against Jai Singh are not needed here. The first wascalled off Abruptly by Sayyid Abdulla Khan on hearing the fall of Agra. The second ended, as Maharaja Ajit Singh, in a meeting with Jai Singh in the second week of October, persuaded him to quit Toda (12 October). Jai Singh was given 20 lakhs for purchasing back Amber from the Brahmins, upon whom he said, he had bestowed it at the time of moving towards Toda, but to the public it was announced as a gift on the occasion of his marriage with Ajit Singh’s daughter, to whom he had been betrothed in 1708.[47]
A strange twist in relations of Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh
In April-May, Jai Singh went to Jodhpur for his marriage with Ajit’s daughter. On 19th May, on the occasion of unveiling the bride’s face, ornaments and costly dresses were given to her.[48] Thus Jai Singh’s relations with Ajit Singh underwent a strange twist, and it appears that the former cordiality between Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh might be re-established. But in reality they continued to be aligned to rival groups, though after this their relations did not betray the extreme bitterness of 1717-19A.D.
Jai Singh’s Activity after Hussain Ali’s Assassination
A few months later Sayyid Hussain Ali Khan was assassinated (8 October) at Toda. Emperor Muhammad Shah urgently summoned Sawai Jai Singh, Raja Girdhar Bahadur, the Nizam etc. to assist him against Sayyid Abdulla Khan.[49]
Jai Singh sent urgent letters to the rulers of Mewar, Bikaner, Bundi and Raja Indra Singh of Nagaur asking them to assist the Emperor.[50] While waiting for their contingents to arrive, he sent a large army which joined the Emperor in time. His army acquitted itself well[51] in the battle of Hasanpur (2 November, 1720) which ended the power of the Sayyid group once and for all, leaving Ajit Sing has the lone survivor of the “triumvirate”.
The fall of the Sayyids was a severe blow to Ajit Singh, ashis own power and position were dependant upon that of the Sayyids. Now came the period of Jai Singh’s ascendancy. He rose rapidly in the Emperor’s esteem and wielded great influence both in Rajputana and at the Mughal Court.
Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh : Jai Singh doesn’t participate in first campaign against Ajitsingh
In May 1721, Ajit Singh was removed from the Governorship of Gujarat and Ajmer, which led to his first rising in Muhammad Shah’s reign. Jai Singh did not participate in the campaign against Ajit Singh, which came to an end with the acceptance of his tardy submission by the Imperial Government (February 1722). Ajit Singh was allowed to continue as the Governor of Ajmer Subah, though, to keep an eye on him, Nahar Khan was appointed Diwan[52] of Ajmer Subah. There is almost no correspondence between Jai Singh and Ajit Singh during the period 1719-24 which shows that their relations continued to remain cool.
Second Rising of Ajit Singh; Jai Singh’s role
In January 1723, Maharaja Ajit Singh again provoked the Imperial government by getting Nahar Khan, the Diwan of Ajmer Subah, murdered.[53] It was too serious an offence to be taken lightly and a large army was dispatched against him.
Jai Singh on receiving two or three farmans of the Emperor to join the campaign, reached Ajmer (May 1723). In the farman of 25 May, 1723, he was asked to see that “the Jali baccha (false son) of Jaswant might not enter a hole like a rat, and at the appropriate time, he (Jai Singh) should spring like a lion upon that fox and send that disturber to hell or capture him, a task not beyond the power of the Rajput army”.[54]
The Emperor and his advisers continued to press Jai Singh to get Ajit Singh murdered, but he showed no enthusiasm in the scheme, for which he was also censured by the Emperor in the farman of July 1723.[55] But through Jai Singh’s intercession, the Marwar garrison evacuated Garh Beethli (गढ़ बीठली) fort of Ajmer (4th August 1723).
The Maharana appreciated Jai Singh’s mediation in his letter of 13August.[56] Ajit Singh now submitted and the government of Ajmer Subah was restored to him. As Ajit had sought excuse from attending the Court,[57] his son Abhai accompanied Sawai Jai Singh to Delhi, where he was received well.
A curious finale to the relations between Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh
On the 23 June, 1724, Ajit Singh was murdered by his son Bakht Singh.[58] The murder was instigated by Abhai at the desire of the Emperor and it is alleged of Sawai Jai Singh also.[59] After Ajit Singh’s murder, widespread disturbances broke out in Marwar. Abhai Singh, Bakht Singh and the Bhandari officers were opposed by two other sons of Ajit i.e. Rai Singh and an and Singh, who had the support of the Rathore nobles.
The Emperor had already recognised (25 July, 1724) Abhai Singh as the ruler of Jodhpur. Sawai Jai Singh and Maharana Sangram Singh sent large armies under Kesri Singh Naruka and Kanha Pancholi in October, and in November Jai Singh sent another force, which restored order in Marwar.”[60]
On 1st August, 1724, Abhai Singh married Sawai Jai Singh’s daughter at Mathura.[61] The marriage, resented by the Rathore nobles, was a curious finale to the relationship of these two former allies and later bitter adversaries.
The relations between Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh thus passed through three phases. Sawai Jaisingh and Ajitsingh came very close to each other during 1707-12A.D., on the resumption of their States by Bahadur Shah. But once the crisis was over, Ajit Singh drifted away from Jai Singh till extreme mistrust and bitterness replaced the earlier goodwill and cordiality between the two, During the third and the last phase i.e. 1720-24 A.D., although they had been formally reconciled, their relations continued to remain cool. Thus the concert of 1707, once broken in 1714, could never be revived again, exposing Rajputana, in the coming years, to the fury of the Maratha storm.
REFERENCES
[1] (Ajitsingh Rathorewas coroneted in 1679 as Rathore Maharaja but he could take over Jodhpur in 1707 A.D., after the death of Auranzeb.)
[2] There is, however, one letter of Ajit Singh addressed to Bishan Singh, Jai Singh’s father, (Dated 18th June, 1692) in which he informs that Jodhpur might be restored to him.
[3] He served under prince Bidar Bakht, son of Azam Shah, who was appointed Governor of Malwa in August 1704.
[4] Ojha, Jodhpur II, 520 f.f.
[5] Irvine, Later Mughals, I., 46
[6] Jai Singh to Maharana Amar Singh, letter dated 22 July, 1707, copy of the letter in Vyas collection of historical documents, Udaipur. Subsequently, Bahadur Shah did not bestow Amber upon either, as is evident from the Akhbarats, and went on postponing a decision in the matter.
[7] Irvine, Latter Mughals, I, 36.
[8] Bhimsen Says (Nuskha-i-Dilkasha, Br. Mr. Or. Mss. 23, Aligarh copy, f. 169 b) that the measure was intended to relleve the acute shortage of paibaqi lands which had caused a crisis in the Jagirdari system.
[9] Irvine, Later Mughals, I, 46.
[10] Parwana of Asad Khan to FakhruddinAhmed Khan, 25 Rabi II, 1119 H:Akhbarat, 7 Zilhijja, 1119 H.J.S.A. (Jaipur StateArchieves); Irvine, 1, 48,
[11] For an interesting account of their meetings and deliberations during the march, Pustak Prakash ki Juni Bahi, P. 86 (Rajasthan Archieves, Bikaner).
[12] Vir Vinod, pp. 676 ff.
[13] Vir Vinod, pp. 774-75; Irvine, op. cit. p. 69.
[14] Siaha Waqava, Bahadava Vadi 1-5, S1765, JSA
[15] Vir Vinod, 777.
[16] Letters of this period in Jaipur records, RajasthanArclieves, Bikaner.
[17] Akhbarat, 12-18 Ramzan, 1120 H. J.S.A.
[18] Jagjiwan Das Pancholi to Sawai Jai Singh,Arzadasht (Ca. Jan. Feb. 1709) JSA.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Sawai Jai Singh to RanaAmar Singh, letter dated 22 nd December, 1709, JSA,
[21] For the Siege ofAjmer, see Akhbarats, 19th, 25th and 27th Muharram, 1121 H., JSA
[22] Daulat Singh to Sawai singh, arrzadasht, 10th Jan. 1710 JSA.
[23] Shuja at Khan to Sawai Jai Singh, letter, February 23, 1709, JSA.
[24] Maharaja Ajit Singh to Sawai Jai Singh, letter dt. 11th July, 1709, JSA. For
details see author’s paper, “The secret understanding between Ghazi-üd-din Khan Firuz Jang and Maharaja Ajit Singh (June-July 1709)” in the Journal of Indian History, Vol. XLIII, Part 11,August, 1965, pp. 617
[25] Akbbarat, 19 Zilqada, JSA.
[26] Akhbarat, 24 Rabi II, 26 Rabi, II JSA.
[27] Jai Singh’s Parwana to Bhadari Khivsi, 9 July 1711, JSA; Parties and Politics pp. 38-39
[28] Raja Todar Mal to Sawai Jai Singh, letter dated 8 Jan. 1712, and Abdul Aziz to Sawai Jai Singh Arzadasht dated 6 Muharrm, 1124 H. JSA.
[29] Akhbarat, 25 Shawwal 1124 H. JSA.
[30] Akhbarat, Shahban, 1125 H. JSA;Ajitodaya, canto 20 verses 24-29.
[31] Jai Singh to Bhandari Raghunath, Parwana, 15 Sept. 1713, JSA.
[32] Akhbar, 6 Shawwal, 1125 H. JSA.
[33] There are almost no letters of this time exchanged between Jai Singh and Ajit Singh. As already noted, Ajit Singh had betrothed his daughter to Jai Singh in 1708, but the marriage was not celebrated till May 1720 when the two had been temporarily reconciled.
[34] For details see Irvine, Op, cit. p. 349 ff.
[35] Jai Singh met the Emperor in Diw an Khana and received the title of Rajadhiraj,
[36] For details, See Irvine, op. cit. p. 327
[37] Dr. V. S. Bhatnagar, Sawai Jaisingh’s Relations With Maharaja Ajitsingh (1700-1724 A.D.), Rajasthan History Congress, 1968, pp. 84-95.
[38] Ajit Singh to Dayal Das, Parwana dated 4th May, 1719 (quoted by B.N. Reu, Glories of Marwar, pp. 127-128).
[39] Khafi Khan, ii, 805-06; Seir-ul-Mutaakhirin (Tr. M. Raymond) A.V. p. 77.
[40] Ajit Singh to Dayal Das, Parwana, dt. 4 May, 1719.
[41] This is evident from his letter to Ajit Singh dated 5 June, 1719 cited on the following page; Maharana Sangram Singh’s letter to Chabila Ram, Ajaib-ul-Afaq B.M. Or. 1776, Letter Nos. 131-132, Translated by Dr. Satish Chandra.
[42] P.LH.C Session XXIII, 1961, pp. 226-230. 41. See Ajit Singh’s parwana to Dayal Dasdated 4 May, 1719.
[43] Jai Singh to Ajit Singh, letter dated 7th May, 1719 JSA. Ajit’s reply to this letter was brought by Purohit Kesari Singh, to which Jai Singh sent his reply on the 15th May (JSA)
[44] Jai Singh to Ajit Singh, letter dated 5 June, 1719, Jodhpur State Archives.
[45] Kamraj, Ibratnama, M.S. E the 391, I.O. 1524 (Aligarh Rotograph) f. 70A; Qasim, Ibratnama Br. M. and 26,245 (Aligarh Rotograph) f. 91 b; Khafi Khan, 832-833; Tod.
[46] Khafi Khan, 832; Irvine, Vol. II, p.2.
[47] Qasim, op. cit, f. 93A; Irvine. Vol 11, p.4., ForAjit’s successful negotiations, Abdulla Khan’s letter to Maharaja Ajit Singh, Balmukundnama, letter No. 34.
[48] Vamsha Bhaskar, 3075; Dastur Komwar, Vol. 11, p. 573, JSA.
[49] Shivdas, Munavvar-ui-Qalam, Br. M.Or. No. 26 (Aligarh Rotogrrph) 496, 50a.
[50] Drafts of Jai Singh’s letters, JSA.
[51] Waqaya Paper; 10 Nov. 1720, JSA. It reads “Foj Singh Kalya not and other Rajputs of the army who were sent to assist Patshah Muhammad Shahji, fought against the Saiyyads, distinguished themselves, captured Abdulla Khan, achieved victory and won Emperor’s praise. As a mark of favour, he gave them awards with his own hands, showed great kindness and bestowed Siropav etc.”
[52] For details, see Irvine, Vol. 11, pp. 108-12.
[53] Emperor’s farman to S. Jai Singh dt. 10 Feb. 1723, JSA
[54] Emperor’s farman to S. Jai Singh dt. 25 May, 1723, JSA; farman to Jai Singh Dt. February 10, 1723. JSA.
[55] Farman to Jai Singh, dt. 29 July, 1723 JSA.
[56] Maharana to Jai Singh, letter dated 13Aug. 1723 JSA.
[57] Irvine, Vol. II,113.
[58] Ojha, Jodhpur, Vol. II, p. 606.
[59] Ibid.; Reu, Marwar Ka Itihas, p. 327. The charge against Jai Singh is some controversial that much can be said on both the sides without coming to any definite conclusion. After Ajit’s murder, Maharana fully co-operated with Jai Singh In restoring normalcy in Marwar, which raises the question, whether he too was involved in the plot. This seems improbable looking to Maharana’s relations with Ajit Singh and Mewar’s general policy towards Marwar. In this connection Jai Singh reluctance to take recourse to such a method in 1723 may also be noted.
[60] Kesari Singh Naruka to Jai Singh, Arzadash, 31st Oct. 1724, JSA,
[61] The date of the marriage given in Jodhpur Khyat, 11 214-15 is contradicted by Ajitoday, which goes even so for as to say that the marriage was performed shortly before Ajit’s death (Canto 31, verse 12).
