Alhaji Barhath

Alhaji Barhath(आल्हाजी बारहठ)(also called Alhaji Rohadiya) was a 14th-century poet & horse trader known for providing shelter to Rao Chunda of Mandor during his childhood, who is credited with laying the foundation of the Rathore rule in Marwar.

Family

Alhaji Barahath was a Charan of Rohadiya clan.[1][2]

Sheltering Chunda

Alhaji lived in his village called Kalau located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Viramdev Rathore, the ruler of Mahewa and father of Chunda, was killed in battle against Johiyas 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.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

After ensuring the safety of Chunda under Alhaji, Mangaliyaniji is said to have committed Sati.[1][9][10]

Alhaji raised Chunda in anonymity, hiding his real identity. Growing up, Chunda used to herd the cattle of Alhaji.[2][1]

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 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.[2][6][8][1]

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.[2][4][5][6][8]

Chunda showed his skill as a warrior and began expanding his territory. In 1395, Mandor was given as dowry to Rao Chunda by the Eenda Rajputs and eventually became the capital of the Rathores. Rao Chunda inherited the Rathore mantle and was instrumental in the move of the Rathores from the marginal Mahewa belt to Mandor.[1][2][8][6][11]

Verses of Alhaji

Some years after Rao Chunda was installed on the throne of Mandor, Alhaji remembered Chunda and wished to see him. He travelled to Mandor to meet Chunda but Chunda didn't come. At that time, Alhaji is said to have spoken this couplet:[12]

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 old friends and companions and your condition during the days of adversity.[12]

References
  1. Singh, Sabita (2019-05-27). The Politics of Marriage in India: Gender and Alliance in Rajasthan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-909828-6. 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.
  2. Kothiyal, Tanuja (2016-03-14). Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-316-67389-8. 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.
  3. Singh, Dhananajaya (1994). The House of Marwar. Lotus Collection, Roli Books. ISBN 978-81-7436-002-1.
  4. Sinh, Raghubir (1984). Rao Udaibhan Champawat ri khyat: Up to Rao Rinmal and genealogies of the Rinmalots (in Hindi). Indian Council of Historical Research. After the death of Viram, the mother of his minor son, Chunda, had to seek refuge with Alha Charan.
  5. Rāva Udaibhāṇa Cāmpāvata rī khyāta (in Hindi). Śrī Naṭanāgara Śodha Saṃsthāna, Sītāmau. 2006.
  6. Ujwal, Kailash Dan S. (1985). Bhagwati Shri Karniji Maharaj: A Biography. [s.n.]]. 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.
  7. Gurbaxani, Gitanjali (2018-09-15). Jodhpur: An Insight to a Gourmet Destination. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64324-930-8.
  8. Chandra, Yashaswini (2021-01-22). The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-93-89109-92-4. 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.
  9. Social Scientist. Indian School of Social Sciences. 2005.
  10. Sethia, Madhu (2005). "British Paramountcy: Reaction and Response by the Nineteenth Century Poets of Rajasthan". Social Scientist. 33 (11/12): 14–28. ISSN 0970-0293. JSTOR 3518063. 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.
  11. Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa & Company. ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
  12. Paniker, K. Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
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