Originally Posted by
DrRajpalSingh
Friend,
{Please read part I of the post above.}
My comments on the issues raised in the post are :
There is no similarity/synchronous among the gotras or names of the present day Rods/Rors with the Marathas.
Even today, except a microscopic few, do not subscribe to the Maratha origin of the Rods.
The notion of using so called Chhatarpati ki Jaihas no relevance in finding the pedigree of a community. I do not claim sole proprietorship on the history ofRods but can say with confidence that none of the Maratha survivors in 1761Panipat battle remained in northern part of Nurbada as is recorded in thecontemporary sources extensively used by Dr. G S Dardesai, Dr. H R Gupta, Dr. KR Qanungo, Dr. J N Sarkar et, all.
Duringcollection of material for my Ph. D dissertation I found that after thedissastor of Panipat where major chunk of officers and leaders includingSadashiv Rao Bhao were killed, thousands of survivours were able to reach theterritories of the Jat ruler of Bharatpur in a very wretched condition.
Maharani Kishori, the consort of MaharajaSurajmal, took over the charge to look after these Marathas. She personally looked after the arrangement to provide them humanitarian aid, necessary medicines to the ill and food to the starving lotl and when they were able to recover from the illnessand fatigue for taking further journey, they were seen off by giving them expenses to be borne in their home ward journey. The detail of her good work is recorded in by a anonymous Marathi record of the 18th century --Bhao Bakhar. {for details, see, Dr. Raj Pal Singh, Rise of the Jat Power, 1988,Delhi}.
The then Maratha leadership including Peshwa is said to have acknowledged with due respect the contribution of the Jat Maharani towards saving lives of over50,000 Marathas who had received kind hospitilty and personal attention.
The myth that Bhao escaped death at Panipat andremained alive is not tenable in view of the contemporary records kept atPeshwa Daftar, Poona and other evidences recording his death in the battleground. [See book by Hari Ram Gupta on Third battle of Panipat)
If the love of some Rods for horses isindication of their lost link with the Marathas, then what about ancient postHarappan people of India and also of Persia or Scythia of the yore. So it is ashallow link in the same way as is the case of sneezing. For instance, when achild sneezes in Bhiwani district villages, the elders compliment by saying: Chhattarpati Sedh Masani, Gurgoan wali Rani!In the adjacent Jhunjhunoo district the complementation is Chhattarpati aansn msi, mahare tabber ka pet salayi and also useChhattarpati makkhawalir/tatijawali mai,….
On thisbasis can we conclude that the inhabitants of Bhiwani / Jhunjhunoo districts are descendants of Chhatapati Shivaji or Maratha survivours of Panipat battleof 1761.
In fact, the word Chhatarpati is used to denote the local dieties ie Sedh, Masani, Gurgon/Tatija/Makhar wali Rani which are represented as Shakti or Parvati the consort of the Shiva. They have nothing to do with Shivaji or his dynasty assuming Chhattarpati title.
To conclude, if the well financed research project to establish connection between the Rods and Marathas is based on the sound historical evidence, then it would be a nice addition in the history of the country. In the end, I welcome efforts of the Rod-Maratha Jagriti Manch led by Shri Virendra Varmaji and his team's latest attempt to unveil the lost pages of history of one of the rural communities residing in some parts of Haryana and UP.
We hope to hear some path breaking news of solid sources based history of Rods from the Manch..
Thanks