Sodha

They are off-shoot of Parmara Rajputs, who once controlled regions of Malwa and later North-West parts of Rajasthan. The area around Suratgarh was called 'Sodhawati' and south-east of Bhatner was once occupied by the Sodha Rajputs before being evicted from these regions by Bhati Rajputs, after which they moved their base to Thar desert.{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Rajvi Amar |title=Mediaeval History of Rajasthan: Western Rajasthan |date=1992 |publisher=Rajvi Amar Singh |pages=202 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZIMAQAAMAAJ&q=suratgarh+sodha |access-date=30 April 2021 |language=en}}{{cite book |title=Rajasthan [district Gazetteers].: Ganganagar |date=1972 |publisher=Printed at Government Central Press |pages=35 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H7YbAAAAIAAJ&q=suratgarh+sodha |access-date=30 April 2021 |language=en |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531031303/https://books.google.com/books?id=H7YbAAAAIAAJ&q=suratgarh+sodha |url-status=live }}

Sodha Rajputs, based in Umerkot district of Pakistan's Sindh, are one of the clans, which are off-shoots of the Parmar Rajput dynasty that reigned over Malwa in central India from the 9th century onwards till 13th century. The Sodhas controlled Tharparak (Thar) in the southeast of the Sindh province in Pakistan.

Sodha Rajputs are one of few Hindu Rajput clans still living in Pakistan. The history of Sodha Rajputs is also recorded in book named "Sodhayan" authored by Chimanji Kavia in early 20th century and published in 1887 at Jodhpur.{{cite book |title=Sources on Social and Economic History of Rajasthan, 17th-20th Century A.D. |year=2005 |publisher=Vikas Prakashan |pages=161 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zVluAAAAMAAJ&q=sodha+rajput |access-date=30 April 2021 |language=en}}

{{Main|Sodhas of Amarkot}}

File:Umarkot Fort view3.JPGA branch of Parmaras left Abu and settled in Radhanpur led by Bahar Parmar. His descendant Rao Sodho G became the founder of Sodha clan of Rajputs and captured Ratokot in 1125 AD. With base at Ratokot, they consolidated neighbouring villages under their influence.{{Cite journal |last=Kalhoro |first=Zulfiqar Ali |title=VANISHING VISUAL HERITAGE: SATI AND HERO STONES IN NAGARPARKAR, SINDH ZULFIQAR ALI KALHORO Introduction |url=https://www.academia.edu/4803305 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |access-date=17 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531031303/https://www.academia.edu/4803305 |url-status=live }}

Further, Sodhoji's ambitious descendant Rana Raj Dev began plotting for the Amarkot fort held by the Soomras. For this purpose, he sent his trusted Charan allies Junfahji and Budhimanji to Amarkot to prepare the ground for the invasion, where they lived for some time before returning to Ratokot.

After deliberations with both the Charanas, Rana Raj Dev launched his invasion of Amarkot (Umarkot) in 1226 AD. In the ensuing battle between the armies of Khenhro Soomro and Rana Raj Dev, Sodhas were victorious while Soomras had to retreat. Thus, Rana Raj Dev established Sodha rule over Amarkot and is considered the real founder of the Sodha dynasty.

Thereafter, with Umarkot under control, the Sodhas began expansion of their kingdom and soon captured parts of Mithi, Chelhar, Chacharo, and extended their sway up to Nagarparkar. Four generations later, Rana Darabursh divided his state between his two sons and gave Amarkot and adjoining areas to his elder son Darjanshal and Nagarparkar to the younger son, Aasrai.

Amarkot province was ruled by Sodha Rajput clan from medieval times until 1947 Partition of British India. The city held prominence during the Mughal Empire Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar and the British Raj. Mughal Emperor Akbar The Great was born in Amarkot 14 October 1542 when his father Humayun fled from the military defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri.[http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/gulbadan/part10.html Part 10:..the birth of Akbar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629053135/http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/gulbadan/part10.html |date=29 June 2010 }} Humayun nama by Gulbadan Begum. Rana Parshad, the Sodha Rajput ruler of Amarkot, gave him refuge.[http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/gulbadan/part10.html Part 10:..the birth of Akbar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629053135/http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/gulbadan/part10.html|date=29 June 2010}} Humayun-nama by Gulbadan Begum. Anarkot Kingdom ruled by Sodha Rajputs was annexed by Jodhpur State in the 18th century and its rulers were reduced to Vassals. Amarkot area and its fort was later handed to the British in 1847 by the Maharaja of Jodhpur in return for reducing the tribute imposed on Jodhpur State by Rs.10,000. and the territory came under direct rule of British India, and the Ranas were reduced to category of Jagirdars.{{Cite web |title=Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 14, page 186 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V14_192.gif |access-date=1 May 2021 |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501051521/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V14_192.gif |url-status=live }}

Amarkot was the only area with a Hindu majority population of Sodha Rajputs and including the ruling family that acceded to Pakistan. Rana Chandra Singh, a federal minister and the chieftain of the Hindu Sodha Rajput clan and the Amarkot Jagir, was one of the founder members of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Umarkot, seven times with PPP between 1977 and 1999, when he founded the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP). Many Muslim Sodhas are also found across Pakistan's Sindh province and Indian state of Rajasthan.{{cite web|title=Hindu Leader, Ex-minister Chardar Singh is Dead|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2009/August/international_August122.xml§ion=international&col=|date=3 August 2009|work=Khaleej Times|access-date=3 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608211713/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data%2Finternational%2F2009%2FAugust%2Finternational_August122.xml§ion=international&col=|archive-date=8 June 2011|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C08%5C02%5Cstory_2-8-2009_pg12_6|title=Chieftain of Pakistani Hindu Thakurs dies|last=Guriro|first=Amar|date=2 August 2009|work=Daily Times|access-date=2 August 2009|archive-date=30 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830233251/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C08%5C02%5Cstory_2-8-2009_pg12_6|url-status=live}} Currently, his politician son Rana Hamir Singh is the 26th Rana of Tharparkar, Amarkot and Mithi.[https://www.dawn.com/news/1157340 Footprints: Once upon a time in Umerkot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928081527/https://www.dawn.com/news/1157340 |date=28 September 2022 }}, Dawn (newspaper), 16 January 2015.[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/Pakistans-Umerkot-gets-a-new-Hindu-ruler/article16042843.ece Pakistan's Umerkot gets a new Hindu ruler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928192037/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/Pakistans-Umerkot-gets-a-new-Hindu-ruler/article16042843.ece |date=28 September 2022 }}, The Hindu, 30 May 2010.{{cite book |last1=Economics |first1=Pakistan Institute of Development |title=Land Reforms in Pakistan: A Historical Perspective |year=1987 |publisher=Pakistan Institute of Development Economics |pages=200 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VCksAAAAIAAJ&q=sodha+rajput |access-date=30 April 2021 |language=en |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531031302/https://books.google.com/books?id=VCksAAAAIAAJ&q=sodha+rajput |url-status=live }}

They still follow the age-old tradition of getting their daughters married to Rajput families in the border districts of India's Rajasthan. As they only inter-marry with other Hindu Rajput clans, every year they come to Rajasthan, to choose their bride and groom. Both Government of India and Pakistan have made special visa provisions and created a special diplomatic channel to facilitate the cross-country marriage of Sodha Rajputs, despite the strained relations between both countries.{{cite news |title=For These Cross-Border Couples, Strained India-Pak Ties Mean an Indefinite Separation |url=https://thewire.in/rights/sodha-rajpurs-india-pakistan-cross-border-marriage-visa-troubles |access-date=30 April 2021 |work=The Wire |agency=The Wire |date=18 September 2020 |archive-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428024538/https://thewire.in/rights/sodha-rajpurs-india-pakistan-cross-border-marriage-visa-troubles |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Cross-Border Couples Rejoice as India Resumes Visa Service To Pakistanis |url=https://thewire.in/diplomacy/cross-border-couples-india-visa-pakistan-sodha-rajput |access-date=30 April 2021 |work=The Wire |date=15 February 2021 |archive-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428000705/https://thewire.in/diplomacy/cross-border-couples-india-visa-pakistan-sodha-rajput |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=भारत-पाक सीमा की परवाह नहीं करने वाले सोढा समुदाय के बारे में जानते हैं आप? - पाकिस्तान के गांव में होती है शादी |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/hindi/news/when-baraats-have-to-cross-indo-pak-border/marital-bliss-was-short-lived/slideshow/70123396.cms |access-date=30 April 2021 |work=The Economic Times |date=8 July 2019 |language=hindi |archive-date=30 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430114935/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/hindi/news/when-baraats-have-to-cross-indo-pak-border/marital-bliss-was-short-lived/slideshow/70123396.cms |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Smriti Kak |title=Marriage mission made easy for Sodhas from Pakistan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Marriage-mission-made-easy-for-Sodhas-from-Pakistan/article16883113.ece |access-date=30 April 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=23 September 2009 |language=en-IN |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422120138/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Marriage-mission-made-easy-for-Sodhas-from-Pakistan/article16883113.ece |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Months after getting citizenship, Pakistan migrant set to fight Rajasthan panchayat polls |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/months-after-getting-citizenship-pakistan-migrant-set-to-fight-rajasthan-panchayat-polls-795467.html |access-date=30 April 2021 |work=Deccan Herald |date=17 January 2020 |language=en |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422120139/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/months-after-getting-citizenship-pakistan-migrant-set-to-fight-rajasthan-panchayat-polls-795467.html |url-status=live }}

In India, Sodha Rajputs are found scattered around North West regions of Rajasthan.

In Kachchh district of Gujarat, Sodha Rajputs are the most recent migrants from Sindh, Pakistan. After Chachro Raid during Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, the Sodhas had flee Sindh and were settled in Rapar and Bacchau tehsils of Kachchh where they continue to live.

Sodhas are one of several sub-groups of the larger Hindu Rajput community and retain strong links with Sindh through intermarriages. Fiercely patriarchal customs and traditions characterize this traditional protector-warrior community. Control over the movement of women in public has led to various ironic role reversals, such as men fetching water for the women from the village well.{{cite web |title=Maiwa - Artisans: Kachchh Mahila Vikas Sangathan KMVS |url=https://maiwa.com/pages/kachchh-embroidery |website=MAIWA |access-date=30 April 2021 |archive-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428022531/https://maiwa.com/pages/kachchh-embroidery |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Hatanaka |first1=Kokyo |last2=Sardar |first2=Zahid |title=Textile Arts of India |date=1996 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-0-8118-1084-5 |pages=338 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W1dQAAAAMAAJ&q=kutch+sodha+rajput |access-date=30 April 2021 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Jain |first1=Jyotindra |last2=Gujarat |first2=Shreyas Folk Museum of |title=Folk Art and Culture of Gujarat: Guide to the Collection of the Shreyas Folk Museum of Gujarat |date=1980 |publisher=Shreyas Prakashan |pages=44–45,213 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuPWAAAAMAAJ&q=sodha+kutch |access-date=1 May 2021 |language=en}}

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Category:Rajput clans of Gujarat

Category:Rajput clans of Rajasthan

Category:Sindhi tribes

Category:Rajput clans of Sindh