BALLU CHAMPAWAT RATHORE OF HARSOLAW

Ballu Champawat Rathore (A.D. 1591-1644), of Harsolaw in Marwar was a dauntless warrior of the period. He had a glorious line of ancestry. He was a man of sterling qualities, and of unimpeachable character. In him there was a confluence of the streams of valor and self-respect; both flowed together plenteously in him. He had fought 34 battles in his career. But these battles alone were not enough to put him among the worthies of history. What gave him an abiding place in history was his miraculous valor, demonstrated by him at the Agra Fort in July, 1644.

On 25^th July, 1644, an exciting event had occurred in the imperial court at Agra Fort. Mir Bakshi Salabat Khan had uttered a provocative remark to Amar Singh Rathore, which stirred up his feelings to a fever pitch; and he spontaneously thrust his dagger in the chest of Salabat Khan, the latter died on the spot. To take vengeance on Amar Singh, the Emperor’s security officers, guards and mace bearers, made a ruthless assault upon him, and a gruesome fight had started. Amar Singh offered a tough resistance, but he was soon overpowered by the Emperor’s men, and finally was slain. To recover the dead body of Amar Singh, laid in the Emperor’s custody, was a mighty challenge before Ballu Champawat. At that crucial moment, Ballu had displayed rare qualities of fidelity, honor and bravery which made him a figure of high regard. Nothing daunted Ballu, he entered into the Agra Fort, hurriedly picked up the corpse, or the severed head, and put it on horseback; pressed his thighs in sudden quick pull, and gave a twitch to the horse. The horse in quickness, with the speed of a bullet, dashed, and leapt over the ramparts; it fell by the sight of the moat, where it breathed its last. Ballu had carried out his plan successfully; brought the corpse or the severed head of Amar Singh Rathore from the jaws of death; and handed over the same to his ‘ranies’ (wives) who were waiting for it in order to become ‘Sati’. Ballu’s valorous feat was unparalleled in the historical records of the world. This incident had happened on 26^th July, 1644.

To avenge his (Rao Amar Singh Rathore) death, his retainers, headed by Ballu Champawat…, put on their saffron garments, and a fresh carnage ensued within the ‘Lal Quila’ (Red Fort of Agra)… The pillars of Agra bear testimony to their deeds, nor shall they ever be obliterated from the records of time: they made their obeisance to Amar in the mansions of the sun.
~ James Tod : Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan

But this was not the end of Ballu’s story. The same day the Emperor’s forces were in chase of Ballu. A grim battle had occurred outside the Agra Fort between Ballu’s men and Emperor Shah Jahan’s forces, where the valiant Rathore cut the troops of the enemy and threw each corpse a headless torso. Ballu fought the battle in his euphoric spree even when beheaded. The battle-great Ballu thus made history – different and distinct from other warriors known in history.

By the sheer dint of his miraculous valor shown by Ballu Champawat at the Agra Fort, he unquestionably earned an immortal place and an undying fame in the annals of history. We are proud to be a part of such a royal and brave lineage coming from one of the greatest warrior in Rajput history.

HISTORY OF THAKUR NAHAR SINGH JI

Rao Ballu Singh Ji was born on 25^th May 1591. Harsolav was granted to Ballu Singh Ji on 30^th October 1619 by Maharaja Gaj Singh I of Jodhpur. For his services and sacrifice, Rao Duda Ji was granted Balotra on 6^th Oct 1664 which had an income of 50,000. He died in 1687 in conquest against Subedar of Ajmer. Thakur Jaswant Singh was granted Singari on 28^th July 1672 by Jaswant Singh I and he looked into Administration of Jodhpur State. In 1708 a battle was fought between Ajit Singh of Jodhpur and Sawai Jai Singh of Amber at Sambhar Jaswant Singh was fatally wounded here, for his bravery Dhandiyan was given as a reward by Ajit Singh on 28^th Jan 1709, he died in 1718 at Singari.

On 13^th March 1807 a battle was fought between Sawai Singh Pokhran and Maharaja Man Singh at Gingoli near Parbatsar, here Zalim Singh Harsolav and Nahar Singh Singari left the faction of Man Singh and joined Sawai Singh Pokhran but after murder of Sawai Singh Pokhran and several other feudals at Mundwa on 30^th March at Mundwa, Zalim Singh and Nahar Singh left for Bikaner. After murder of Sawai Singh and regaining Nagaur Maharaja Man Singh confiscated the villages of Dhandiyan, Mandawas, Chawa, Salawas, Singari of Balludasot Champawats. When the faction of Sawai Singh became weak and poor Zalim Singh Harsolav,Nahar Singh Singari,Karan Singh Salawas proceeded towards Delhi while enroute at Jaipur they met an officier of East India Company and asked help from them as they had large Cavalry and infantry. Zalim Singh had cavalry of 500. Nahar Singh had cavalry of 300-500. Both joined East India Company and Rs.22 per horse was fixed per month.