Tod Rajasthan Vol 01

This document is the first volume of a Gujarati translation of Colonel James Tod's "Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan." The title page and introductory sections confirm the translation by Savailal Chotalal Vora and publication by Purushottamdas Gigabhai Shah.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided pages:

Overall Scope: The provided text is the initial volume of a Gujarati translation of Colonel James Tod's seminal work on the history of Rajasthan. It focuses on the early periods, tracing the lineage of Rajput rulers, the geography of Rajasthan, and establishing the historical context for the subsequent volumes.

Key Sections and Content:

• Title Pages and Publisher Information (Pages 1-5): These pages clearly indicate the book's title ("Tod Rajasthan"), author (Colonel James Tod), translator (Savailal Chotalal Vora), publisher (Purushottamdas Gigabhai Shah), publication year (Samvat 1967 / AD 1911), and price (Rs 5). The publisher is identified as being from Bhavnagar. The presence of the "Jain Education International" and "Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat" information suggests a connection to Jain scholarship and libraries, indicating the context of the publication for personal and private use.

• Dedication (Pages 7-9): The book is dedicated to His Highness Maharaja Sir Bhavsinhji Bahadur, KCSI, of Bhavnagar. The dedication praises his virtues, his role in promoting education, his administrative skills, and his just rule. This highlights the patronage and respected status of the ruler in whose territory the book was published.

• Publisher's Preface/Introduction (Pages 10-20): This section, attributed to Purushottamdas Gigabhai Shah, details the challenges and motivations behind undertaking such a monumental translation.

  • Initial Hesitation: The publisher expresses initial apprehension due to the book's vast scope and complex historical content, questioning his own capability to bring it to the public.
  • Inspiration and Motivation: The project was inspired by Shriyut Madhavji Pragji Agnishotri. Despite personal limitations, the publisher felt compelled to undertake the task, acknowledging the support of friends and well-wishers.
  • Obstacles and Challenges: The preface highlights significant hurdles:
    • Loss of Key Associates: The unexpected deaths of close friends Shri Madhavbhai Varma and Seth Bhaichand Modardas, who were instrumental in the project, caused immense distress and delayed the printing.
    • Linguistic Complexity: The original Gujarati translation of the text was considered difficult ("kilat") for the general reader. Attempts were made to simplify it, but the translator's response ("This book is not for farmers, but for scholars") underscored the inherent complexity.
    • Personal Challenges: The publisher mentions personal struggles and financial burdens in undertaking the printing.
  • Overcoming Challenges: The unwavering support and encouragement from friends and well-wishers ultimately revived the project and led to its completion.
  • Appreciation: The publisher expresses gratitude to Shri Dayashankar Rudraji Vyavaharic for writing the preface and Shri Manilal Ghelabhai Sanghvi for compiling the glossary of difficult words.
  • Structure and Content: The preface also briefly touches upon the nature of historical texts, the importance of reading and contemplation, and the role of such books in broadening knowledge and understanding. It specifically notes that this volume contains the reflection of Colonel Tod's original work in Gujarati.
  • Volume Scope: It's mentioned that this Volume 1 covers the "pūrva" (forepart) of Tod's original English work's first volume, encompassing chapters up to 21.

• Preface (Peethika) by Dayashankar Rudraji Vyavaharic (Pages 14-20): This section delves into the philosophy and importance of reading and acquiring knowledge.

  • Value of Reading: It quotes Bacon on how reading leads to perfection, writing to clarity, and conversation to promptness. It emphasizes the need for deep study, contemplation, and reflection when engaging with significant texts.
  • Purpose of Prefaces/Mangalacharan: It explains the tradition of starting books with auspicious verses (Mangalacharan) to ensure a smooth and beneficial reading experience for the audience. It also discusses the role of prefaces (Prastavana, Bhumika, Peethika) in summarizing the book's content and purpose.
  • Nature of Knowledge: The author discusses the acquisition of practical knowledge and the importance of refining the intellect through reading books.
  • Historical Texts: It highlights the value of historical narratives for intellectual development, showcasing how they enrich the mind with various experiences, understand societal structures, and learn from past events.
  • Colonel Tod's Work: The preface introduces Colonel James Tod's "Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan," noting its original English publication in 1829. It acknowledges Tod's background as the Political Agent to the Western Rajput States, implying his deep understanding of the region. The sheer magnitude of the original work is praised, and the effort involved in its creation is acknowledged.
  • Translation Nuances: It is mentioned that the Gujarati translation is not a word-for-word rendering of the Bengali translation, acknowledging potential variations from the original English. The first volume of the English work is divided into two parts for this Gujarati translation, with Volume 1 covering up to Chapter 21.
  • Significance of Rana Raj Singh's Letter: The preface draws attention to Rana Raj Singh's letter to Aurangzeb (found in Chapter 18), highlighting its depiction of courage, conviction, and unwavering spirit, which remains impactful even today.

• Table of Contents (Anukramanika) (Pages 21-30): This provides a detailed chapter-wise breakdown of the book's content for Volume 1. It's divided into two major sections:

  • General History and Dynasties (Chapters 1-6):
    • Chapter 1: Puranic account of the Suryavansha (Solar Dynasty) and Chandravansha (Lunar Dynasty) in Rajasthan.
    • Chapter 2: Genealogy of the rulers of the Solar and Lunar dynasties and their relative timelines.
    • Chapter 3: Discussion of cities and states established by ancient Aryan rulers.
    • Chapter 4: Brief account of Ram and Yudhishthira's lineage and their relation to Solar and Lunar dynasties, along with analysis of other royal lineages.
    • Chapter 5: Information about Shakdweep and Skand related to Rajput origins.
    • Chapter 6: Brief description of the thirty-six Rajput clans and their similarities with other ancient tribes.
  • History of Mewar (Chapters 1-6 - Part 2): This extensive section begins the detailed history of Mewar, covering:
    • Chapter 1: Geographical divisions of Rajasthan, description of various Bhatt Granths and inscriptions, Kankasen's lineage, invasion of Vallabhi-pur by Mlecchas, and its destruction.
    • Chapter 2: Origin of the Gehlot dynasty, their conquest of Idar, etymology of Gilhot, ancient worship rituals, description of Bappa Rawal, his monastic life, conquest of Chittor, and the history of Mewar from the 2nd to the 11th century.
    • Chapter 3: Accounts of the rulers between Bappa Rawal and Samarasimha, including the Arab invasion of India and the resistance by Hindu kings.
    • Chapter 4: Historical accounts by Maha Kavi Chand Bardai, and the lineage of Gopal, Prithviraj, Amarsingh, and subsequent rulers, including the impact of Tartar invasions.
    • Chapter 5: Raja Lakshman Singh, Alauddin's invasion of Chittor, Alauddin's treachery, the extraordinary self-sacrifice of Chittor's Sardars, the expulsion of the Tartars, Rana Hammir's recapture of Chittor, the development of Mewar's glory and prosperity, and the reigns of Khetra Singh and Lakha Rana.
    • Chapter 6: Rajput customs regarding death, the principle of primogeniture in Mewar, and the establishment of Chand's authority in Sundar city, along with the relationship between Mewar and Marwar kingdoms and Moghul rule.
  • Subsequent Chapters (Chapters 7-16): These chapters continue the detailed history of various rulers and events in Rajasthan, covering reigns from Kumbha, Sangram Singh, Rana Ratan Singh, Vikramjit, Vanvir, Udai Singh, Pratap Singh, Amarsingh, and many others, up to the Maratha influence and the beginning of British involvement. The content includes details of battles, political events, and societal customs.
  • Concluding Chapters (Chapters 17-19): These chapters discuss topics like the suppression of looting practices, Anglo-Mewar treaties, British residency in Udaipur, Rana's plans for the state's prosperity, land ownership, village administration, the importance of the Puranas, and descriptions of various festivals.

• Biography of Purushottam Gigabhai Panchabhaya (Pages 31-64): This section provides an extensive biographical account of the publisher and the driving force behind this Gujarati translation.

  • Ancestry: It traces the lineage back to his great-grandfather Ogha and grandfather Nagji Shah, identifying them as Viniyak (merchant) caste, from Shah Upnam, residing in Tanā village, under Bhavnagar jurisdiction. The "Panchabhaya" surname is speculated to originate from "five brothers." The family were traders, particularly dealing in grains, and were known for their involvement in trade. Nagji had a basic education, being able to read and write Gujarati in the old script.
  • Personal Life and Early Struggles: The biography details Nagji's marriage to Amratbai, their four sons (including Giga bhai, the father of Purushottamdas), and two daughters. It highlights Giga bhai's early business acumen and his taking over the family business at the age of 18.
  • Purushottamdas's Early Life: The narrative then shifts to Purushottamdas's childhood. It recounts his birth in 1926 (Vikram Samvat), his early life in Shapurbhai, and his move to Bhavnagar. It details his education, his father's decision to withdraw him from formal schooling to focus on business, and his early inclinations towards writing poetry and stories.
  • Challenges in Publishing: The biography vividly narrates Purushottamdas's entrepreneurial journey, including his attempts to establish a monthly magazine ("Aayaman Ranjan"), his struggles with financial difficulties, the devastating fire that destroyed his printing press and inventory, and his subsequent efforts to restart the press with the help of friends.
  • Resilience and Determination: The narrative emphasizes Purushottamdas's perseverance through significant adversities, including personal tragedies, financial setbacks, and the loss of loved ones, highlighting his dedication to his literary and publishing aspirations.
  • Literary Pursuits: It details his early writings, including several books and the establishment of the monthly magazine "Jain Shubhechchhak" (Jain Well-wisher). His involvement in public works, like printing materials for Jain conferences and compiling albums of local sights, is also mentioned.
  • The Translator's Role: The biography underscores the publisher's deep connection to literature and his commitment to bringing important works like Tod's Rajasthan to the Gujarati-speaking audience, despite numerous challenges.

• First Chapter - Mythological Accounts of Solar and Lunar Dynasties (Pages 65-74): This chapter begins the historical narrative.

  • Origin of Rajput: It traces the term "Rajput" as a corruption of "Rajputra" (son of a king).
  • Territorial Extent of Rajputana: It describes the vast geographical expanse of Rajasthan during periods prior to Muslim conquests, extending from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers to the Himalayas.
  • Ancient Dynasties: It discusses the two primary ancient royal dynasties of India: the Suryavansha (Solar Dynasty) and Chandravansha (Lunar Dynasty). It asserts their antiquity compared to other ancient civilizations like China, Assyria, and Egypt, and traces their lineage to Manu and Budh respectively.
  • Genealogical Discrepancies: The chapter notes the inconsistencies in genealogies provided by different ancient texts like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, attributing them potentially to later scribal errors or the need to connect later dynasties with ancient heroic figures.
  • Key Figures and Their Roles: It mentions significant figures like Rama, Yudhishthira, and the complexities of establishing timelines and relationships between figures from different Puranic accounts.

In essence, the provided text serves as the foundational volume of a significant translation project, offering a comprehensive introduction to the history, rulers, and cultural nuances of Rajasthan, as meticulously researched and presented by Colonel James Tod, and made accessible to the Gujarati-speaking audience through the dedicated efforts of Savailal Chotalal Vora and Purushottamdas Gigabhai Shah.