State formation in Rajasthan : Mewar during the seventh-fifteenth centuries / Nandini Sinha Kapur.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kapur, Nandini Sinha.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Udaipur (Princely State)--History.

Udaipur (Princely State).

Physical Description:

308 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New Delhi : Manohar Publishers & Distributors, 2002.

Summary:

This book is an expanded version of author's Ph.D. thesis submitted to Jawaharlal Nehru University. The scope of this research monograph is wide. It examines among others, issues like nature of state in early medieval/medieval India, regional history of Rajasthan and origin of Rajputs. This work challenges the notions of political fragmentation or mere feudatory status for the state of Mewar. Alternatively, it explores the political, economic, social and ideological processes between the seventh and the fifteenth centuries in the making of the regional state of Mewar. Geographical perspective has enabled us to highlight the integrative role of the Guhila dynasty in forging the geographical sub-regions of Mewar into a regional state. Territorial integration involved political integration through accommodation of the local-level Rajput chiefs and non-Rajput social groups in the political and administrative hierarchies. This work also explores the relationship between the state and Bhil tribe: the process of 'peasantisation' and tribal participation in areas of state-functioning. Ideological support or legitimisation of the Guhila power was drawn from the regional cult of Ekalingaji on a strong Pasupata base. Finally, the image of the Guhila state, perceived by different social groups has been discussed to show that the state of Mewar had come to be popularly identified with the Guhila dynastic tradition.

Contents:

II. Mewar as the Locus of a State 53

III. Mewar between the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Centuries: King, Kinsmen and Political Alliances 100

IV. Administrative and Military Apparatus of the State of Mewar: Thirteenth to Fifteenth Centuries 155

V. Strategies of Legitimization of the Guhila State: The Religious Dimension 194

VI. Perceptions of the Guhila State: Literary Representations 244.

Notes:

Originally presented as the author's thesis (Ph. D.--Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1997).

Includes bibliographical references (pages [287]-301) and index.

ISBN:

8173044295

OCLC:

51586360