Rajputs in Himachal Pradesh
{{Short description|Indian caste}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
File:Rajput states in Himachal Pradesh.svg
The Rajputs in Himachal Pradesh are members of the Rajput community living in the North Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. They ruled a majority of kingdoms of the region[https://books.google.com/books?id=8tCfhaVcul4C&dq=Katoch+dynasty+rajput&pg=PA33 "Part I: Kangra (1883-1884)", Gazetteer of the Kangra District, 1883-84; reprinted Indus Publ. Co., New Delhi, 1994, p. 33.] {{ISBN|8173870241}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ongF6dkNKAcC&dq=pathania+dynasty+rajput&pg=PA142|title = The Indian Portrait, 1560-1860|isbn = 9788189995379|last1 = Crill|first1 = Rosemary|last2 = Jariwala|first2 = Kapil|year = 2010| publisher=Mapin Publishing Pvt }} and even dominate in Himachal Pradesh politics. The kingdoms of the Hill States of India were mostly in the present day state of Himachal Pradesh, and mostly had Rajput rulers.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ongF6dkNKAcC&dq=pathania+dynasty+rajput&pg=PA142|title = The Indian Portrait, 1560-1860|isbn = 9788189995379|last1 = Crill|first1 = Rosemary|last2 = Jariwala|first2 = Kapil|year = 2010| publisher=Mapin Publishing Pvt }} All of the Chief Ministers who served Himachal Pradesh except for Shanta Kumar belong to the Rajput caste.{{cite web | url=https://theprint.in/report/jai-ram-thakur-himachal-cabinet-rajput-flavour/25190/ | title=Jai Ram Thakur's Himachal cabinet has a distinctly Rajput flavour | website=ThePrint | date=27 December 2017 }} The Rajputs of Himachal Pradesh fought battles with Tughlaq, Mughal, and Sikh forces, most notable being the Battle of Bhangani, when the Hill States made an alliance against the Sikhs.{{Cite book |last=Dahiya |first=Amardeep S. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881415374 |title=Founder of the Khalsa : the Life and Times of Guru Gobind Singh. |date=2014 |publisher=Hay House |isbn=978-93-81398-61-6 |location=Carlsbad |chapter=Chapter 3 - Battles of Bhangani and Nadaun |oclc=881415374}}{{cite web| url= http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/g/garhwal.htmlk| title= Garhwal (Princely State)| access-date= 1 December 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071027091328/http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/g/garhwal.html| archive-date= 27 October 2007| url-status= live| df= dmy-all}} While some Rajput kingdoms and clans have a long history in Himachal Pradesh, others were established due to the Rajput migrations to the hill regions mostly due to the Islamic invasions.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QgZFhkVINvkC&q=other%20states%20founded%20by%20the%20rajput%20adventurers | title=Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh | isbn=9788173870941 | last1=Singh | first1=Mian Goverdhan | year=1999 | publisher=Indus }}
Notable Kingdoms
=Kangra=
File:Kangra Fort from Sansar Chandra Museum 02.JPG.]]
File:Flag of Kangra state.png kingdom.]]
The Kangra kingdom was established by the Rajputs of the Katoch dynasty, and ruled the kingdom from the 11th century to 1810, when it was annexed by the Sikh Empire.{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Kangra |volume=15 |page=652}} In 1333 during the Battle of Kangra, the Katoch kings successfully retreated the Tughlaq forces of Firuz Shah Tughlaq.Chandra, Satish (1997). Medieval India: From Sultanate to the Mughals. New Delhi, India: Har-Anand Publications. pp. 101–102. {{ISBN|978-8124105221}}. The Kangra rulers built the Kangra Fort, which is one of the largest forts of the state.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tUezEAAAQBAJ&dq=Kangra+fort+built+by+katoch+rajputs&pg=PA8 | title=A Study of Ancient Monuments & Historic Heritage Sites of Himachal Pradesh | isbn=9789390835003 | last1=Kanda | first1=Ravi Kumar | last2=Mahajan | first2=Varun | publisher=Rudra Publications }}
=Bilaspur=
File:Bilaspur_flag.svg kingdom.]]
The Bilaspur kingdom was ruled by a Chandel{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayYbAvECXQwC&pg=PA50 |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh |author=Mark Brentnall |publisher=Indus |year=2005 |isbn=9788173871634 |page=50 52 }} dynasty. Earlier, the kingdom was known as Kahlur, which later was renamed to Bilaspur. The last Maharaja, Anand Chand, acceded to India following the independence. The kingdom fought wars against the Mughal and Sikh forces of Guru Gobind Singh, such as the Battle of Bhangani and the Battle of Anandpur (1682).
=Nurpur=
With having the original name as Dhameri,{{cite book |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh |volume=1 |first=Mark |last=Brentnall |publisher=Indus Publishing |year=2004 |pages=350–358 |isbn=978-8-17387-163-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayYbAvECXQwC&pg=PA350}} The Nurpur kingdom was ruled by a Pathania dynasty, which is believed to be an off-shoot of the Tomaras of Delhi. A prominent ruler of Nurpur was Raja Jagat Singh, who often faced conflicts with the Mughal rulers due to taxes and even changed the kingdom's name to Nurpur.{{Cite web|title=नूरजहां ने जलन के कारण इस किले में कटवा दी थी एक खूबसूरत नर्तकी की जीभ!|publisher=Navbharat Times|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/photomazza/travel/interesting-facts-about-nurpur-fort-himachal-pradesh/photoshow/msid-75578125,picid-75578211.cms|access-date=19 February 2022}}
=Chamba=
File:Drapeau Chamba.png kingdom.]]
Chamba was a princely state during the British Raj, which belonged to the Mushana dynasty of Rajputs, which is of the Suryavanshi branch.{{cite web|url=http://www.indianrajputs.com/view/chamba|title=Chamba|author=Abhinay Rathore|work=Rajput Provinces of India|date=21 April 1948 |access-date=11 March 2016}}
=Sirmur=
File:Sirmur State CoA.png kingdom.]]
The Sirmur kingdom was ruled by a Bhati dynasty, which claimed descent from Jaisalmer.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Mian Goverdhan |title=Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh |publisher=Indus Publishing |year=1999 |isbn=9788173870941 |pages=48–49}} The state during the British era was an 11 gun-salute state. The kingdom faced invasions from the Gurkhas of Nepal.{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v-5QAQAAIAAJ&dq=Sirmur+State+gurkha&pg=PA17 | title=Sirmur State Gazetteer ... 1934 | last1=State) | first1=Sirmur (Princely | year=1939 }}
=Dhami=
File:Drapeau Dhami.png kingdom.]]
The kingdom of Dhami was ruled by a Chauhan dynasty, and was the only Chauhan ruled state of the region.[https://www.google.com/search?q=%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%95+%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%80+%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%95+%E0%A4%9A%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF+%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4+%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8B+%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80+%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87+%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3+%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87+%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3+%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%87+%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97+%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0+%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%94%E0%A4%B0+%E0%A4%AB%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0+%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%80&client=ms-android-asus-tpin&prmd=vnmi&sxsrf=ALeKk02khQ8epn8oO3u-wRsiwmKXB7ILXA:1627234436196&source=lnms&tbm=bks&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiigqTU4P7xAhUW3jgGHcfOAacQ_AUoBnoECAIQBg&biw=360&bih=593&dpr=3 Dhami state] They settled in the hills following the Ghurid invasion of Delhi, which led to the downfall of the Chauhan rule in Delhi. The state was occupied by the Gurkhas of Nepal from 1803 to 1815. The end of the rule came in 1947, when the state acceded to India.{{cite book |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh |volume=1 |first=Mark |last=Brentnall |publisher=Indus Publishing |location=New Delhi |year=2004 |isbn=978-81-7387-163-4 |page=162 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayYbAvECXQwC&pg=PA162 |accessdate=19 October 2012}}
Notable people
- Preity Zinta, Indian film actress{{cite news |title=Preity Zinta rubbishes claims of her 'British ancestry'! |url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/preity-zinta-rubbishes-claims-of-her-british-ancestry_22242.html |access-date=9 June 2019 |work=Zee News |date=2 February 2009}}
- Kangana Ranaut, Indian film actress{{cite news |last1=Goyal |first1=Divya |title=Kangana Ranaut To Karni Sena On Manikarnika Row: I'm Rajput, Will Destroy You |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/kangana-ranaut-to-karni-sena-on-manikarnika-row-im-rajput-will-destroy-you-1979536 |access-date=9 June 2019 |work=NDTV.com |date=18 January 2019}}
- Dalip Singh Rana (popularly known as The Great Khali), WWE wrestler{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpaxh3bStSQ|title=Khali says i am rajput 🔥|via=www.youtube.com}}
- Yashwant Singh Parmar, first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh{{cite web | url=https://thewire.in/politics/himachal-pradesh-sukhwinder-singh-sukku | title=Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu: From Humble Beginnings, a Journey to the Top of Himachal's Political Ladder }}
- Anurag Thakur, BJP Member of Parliament of the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh, and current Sports Minister of India{{cite news|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachal/bjp-works-out-caste-equation-carefully-756554|title=BJP works out caste equation carefully|work=The Trobune|date=11 April 2019|access-date=19 July 2021}}
- Raja Rajendra Singh, Raja of Baghal from 1946 until 1971.{{Cite book |last=Brentnall |first=Mark |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire |publisher=Indus Publishing Company |year=2004 |isbn=9788173871634 |volume=1 |location=New Delhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayYbAvECXQwC}}
- Thakur Ram Lal, former Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh{{cite book |last1=Grover |first1=Verinder |last2=Arora |first2=Ranjana |title=Encyclopaedia of India and Her States: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab |date=1996 |publisher=Deep & Deep |isbn=978-81-7100-730-1 |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aPVtAAAAMAAJ&q=Thakur+Ram+Lal+rajput |language=en}}
- Virbhadra Singh, former Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Pratul |title=It's Rajput versus Rajput in Himachal polls |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/its-rajput-versus-rajput-in-himachal-polls.html |access-date=6 April 2022 |work=the Week |date=2 November 2017}}
- Vikramaditya Singh (Himachal Pradesh politician), son of Virbhadra Singh, the former Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh
- Pratibha Singh, wife of Virbhadra Singh, the former Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/elections/news/himachal-pradesh-poll-results-the-rise-of-maharani-pratibha-singh-chief-minister-contender-in-congress-bjp-loses-jairam-thakur-hp-election-2022-2022-12-08-829696 | title=Himachal Pradesh poll results: The rise of 'Maharani'- Pratibha Singh | A chief minister contender | date=8 December 2022 }}
- Prem Kumar Dhumal, former Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh
- Jai Ram Thakur, former Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh
- Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, 7th and current Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh
- Anirudh Singh (politician), Indian National Congress politician from Himachal Pradeshhttps://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/leaders-from-shimla-rajput-community-dominate-himachal-pradesh-cabinet-expansion-468594
- Chander Kumar, Indian National Congress politician from Himachal Pradesh
- Virender Singh Pathania, Indian Coast Guard officer serving as the 24th and the current Director General of the Indian Coast Guard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/nurpur-resident-dg-of-indian-coast-guard-357202|title=Nurpur resident DG of Indian Coast Guard : The Tribune India}}
- Maj Gen Anant Singh Pathania, a recipient of Maha Vir Chakra and the first Indian to receive Military Cross in the Second World War.{{cite book |editor1-last=Brentnall |editor1-first=Mark |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire (Volume I: Himachal Pradesh) |year=2004 |publication-date=2004 |page=360 |publisher=Indus |isbn=81-7387-163-9}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.thefridaytimes.com/from-a-family-of-warriors-i/|title = From a Family of Warriors – I|date = April 2021|access-date = 1 June 2023|archive-date = 29 January 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220129072559/https://www.thefridaytimes.com/from-a-family-of-warriors-i/|url-status = dead}}