Hudeel - The Battle of Rajputs

The Battle of Rajputs:- One of the most fascinating history of Hudeel is the battle between 2 clans of Rajput – The Gaur and The Shekhawat which took place somewhere in the 1720s. There is a very interesting story behind this battle between two of the most powerful clans of Rajput heritage.

The ruler of the Gaur Rajput’s “Kolraj Ji” decided to build a pond for the benefit of the public living in and around the area of Kololau (smaller village near Hudeel). Rajasthan being a dry area it was very important to have an area where water would be available easily for feeding oneself and the cattle. Kolraj Ji had a noble thought that since the pond was for public use so the public should help in building it. He did not hire any workers to build the pond. The plan was that any person passing by that area would scoop out a bucket full of earth and help in building the hole for the pond. He had kept a Chaukidaar (Guard) to help accomplish this task.

One fine day, two passer bys – a man and his wife, belonging to Shekhawat Rajput clan were asked by the Chaukidaar to scoop out 2 buckets of earth as part of their share to build the pond. So the man scooped 2 buckets of earth as the Rajput man will not allow his wife to do any menial work in front of another man. However, the Chaukidaar insisted that the woman does her share herself. This led to a dispute resulting in the Shekhawat man killing the Chaukidaar. This was witnessed by the Gaur Rajput soldiers so they in turn killed the Shekhawat man. Then the soldiers made his wife scoop her own share.

View of the fields from the Karni Kot Temple.

Rajput Women from Hudeel!

In shame and anger the wife walked all the way to the main Shekhawat village ruled by Rao Shekha Ji - the founder of the Shekhawat clan. She saw Rao Shekha Ji and his men sitting outside his house. So she threw a handful of sand in despite and went inside the house (A Rajput woman would never speak in front of Rao Shekha Ji or any other male elder Rajput). On seeing this Rao Shekha Ji enquired about the reason of this behavior from the women of his family. The grief-stricken wife of the heroic Rajput told the woman of Rao Shekha Ji’s family about the tragedy. She declared that she would be “Sati” (Sati – After the death of one’s husband the wife willingly or unwillingly burns herself alive in her husband’s pyre – a tradition which has been discontinued in Rajasthan by the government yet not completely abolished). She demanded two things, one the body of her dead husband (which was still in the lying at the site of the pond). Second thing, before becoming a Sati she wanted that the Gaur ruler “Kolraj Ji” to be beheaded and his head be presented to her in order to avenge her husband’s life and to regain a Rajput woman’s self respect.

All the Shekhawat’s expected Rao Shekha Ji to take a strong and bold step for the honour and prestige of their clan and to protect a Rajput woman’s words. Rao Shekha Ji decided to go ahead with the battle with his two younger sons Puran Singh and Durga Singh.

He asked his elder son Rao Raisal to collect men from other Shekhawat villages to join them in their struggle of keeping their head high. Rao Raisal was a little late and this resulted, in the war being almost over. He arrived at the battle with 600 men and witnessed the loss of his brave brothers – Puran Singh and Durga Singh. Rao Shekha Ji was badly injured yet standing brave against the Gaurs. They fought bravely and won the battle but since Rao Shekha Ji was badly injured he at last decided for his soul to leave the body (a very brave way of giving up life). The head of Kolraj Ji was presented to the Rajput woman and then she became Sati.

This great tale of bravery is not to be found in the Indian history books or mentioned by a historian but has been narrated by generations of Shekhawat Rajputs. A landmark in the history of Shekhawats depicts the length a Rajput can go to honour the prestige of their woman. Hudeel is the village of Shekhawats who till today would give their lives to honour the words of their fellow being and their women.

WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS UNTOLD HISTORY OF HUDEEL….

Man from Hudeel!