Jodhpur or Marwar

JODHPUR or MARWAR, the largest Indian state in the Rajputana agency. Area, 35,016 sq.m. Pop. (1931), 2,125,982. The general aspect of the country is that of a sandy plain, divided into two unequal parts by the river Luni, and dotted with pic turesque conical hills, attaining in places an elevation of 3,00o ft. The river Luni rises in the sacred lake of Pushkar in Ajmere, and flows through Jodhpur in a south-westerly direction till it is finally lost in the marshy ground at the head of the Runn of Cutch. It is fed by numerous tributaries and occasionally over flows its banks, fine crops of wheat and barley being grown on the saturated soil. The famous salt-lake of Sambhar is situated on the borders of Jodhpur and Jaipur, and two smaller lakes of the same description lie within the limits of the state, from which large quantities of salt are extracted. Marble is mined in the north of the state and along the south-east border. Marwari traders are an enterprising class to be found throughout the length and breadth of India.

The principal crops are millets and pulses, but wheat and bar ley are largely produced in the fertile tract watered by the Limi river. The manufactures comprise leather boxes and brass uten sils; and turbans and scarfs and a description of embroidered silk knotted thread are specialities of the country.

The ruling house belongs

to the Rathor clan of Rajputs, and claims descent from Rama. After the downfall of the Rathor dynasty of Kanauj in 1194, Sivaji, the grandson of Jai Chand, the last king of Kanauj, entered Marwar on a pilgrimage to Dwarka, and laid the foundation of the state, but it was not till the time of Rao Chanda, the tenth in succession from Sivaji, that Marwar was actually conquered. His grandson Jodha founded the city of Jodhpur, which he made his capital. In 1561 the country was in vaded by Akbar, and the chief was forced to submit. Aurangzeb invaded Marwar in 1679, plundered Jodhpur, sacked all the large towns, and commanded the conversion of the Rathors to Mo hammedanism. This cemented all the Rajput clans into a bond of union, and a triple alliance was formed by the three states of Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur, to throw off the Mohammedan yoke. One of the conditions of this alliance was that the chiefs of Jodh pur and Jaipur should regain the privilege of marriage with the Udaipur family, which they had forfeited by contracting alliances with the Mogul emperors, on the understanding that the offspring of Udaipur princesses should succeed to the state in preference to all other children. The quarrels arising from this stipulation lasted

through many generations, and led to the invitation of Mahratta help from the rival aspirants to power, and finally to the sub jection of all the Rajput states to the Mahrattas. In 1818 Jodh pur was taken under British protection. In 1843, the chief having died without a son, and without having adopted an heir, the nobles and state officials were left to select a successor from the nearest of kin. Their choice fell upon Raja Takht Sinh, chief of Ahmed nagar. This chief, who did good service during the Mutiny, died in 1873. Since 1896 there was a succession of minorities, during which Sir Pertab Singh of Idar carried on the government of the state as regent. The imperial service cavalry formed part of the reserve brigade during the Tirah campaign, and were on active service during the World War. The chief is a Maharaja, and his salute is 17 guns.

The city of JODHPUR is 64 M. by rail N.W. of Marwar junction, on the Rajputana railway. Pop. (1931), It was built by Rao Jodha in 1459, and from that time has been the seat of gov ernment. It is surrounded by a strong wall nearly 6 m. in extent, with seven gates. The fort, which stands on an isolated rock, contains the maharaja's palace, a large and handsome building, completely covering the crest of the hill on which it stands, and overlooking the city, which lies several hundred feet below. The city contains palaces of the maharaja, and town residences of the thakurs or nobles, besides numerous fine temples and tanks. Build ing stone is plentiful and close at hand, and the architecture is solid and handsome. Five miles north of Jodhpur are the ruins of Mandor, the site of the ancient capital of the Parihar princes of Marwar, before its conquest by the Rathors.

The Jaswant college is affiliated to the B.A. standard of the Allahabad university. To the Hewson hospital a wing for eye diseases was added in 1898.