Gaur
JātiRajput
Religions Islam, Hinduism,
LanguagesHindustani(Hindi-Urdu), Punjabi, Rajasthani languages
Country Pakistan,  India
RegionPunjab, Rajasthan,[1][2] Uttar Pradesh,[3] Madhya Pradesh[4][5]
Feudal titleRana

The Gaur also spelled as Gor is a Rajput clan.[6][3][7][8] They have ancient ancestry and find mention by James Tod as one of 36 royal races in his book Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan[9]

The Gaur Rajputs once held a prominent position in Ajmer till the time of Prithviraj Chauhan.[6] Gorwar region gets its name from this clan.[1][2] In later years they lost the territories ruled by them. In 15th century, they fought at least 13 battles against Shekhawats but were eventually defeated and reduced to be feudatory jagirdars in the Shekhawati region.[10]

Etymology

The Sanskrit word गौर gaura means 'white, yellowish, reddish'.[11] The Hindi word गौर gaur means 'fair-skinned, fair, white'.[12]

Estates

The Rajgarh territory was one of the last bastions of Gaur Rajputs during the times of Mughal Emperors, Humayun and Akber, which was lost to Kishangarh in 17th century.[10] Gaur Rajputs remained allies to Mughal till the time of Aurangzeb, whose political decisions, alienated Rathores, Sisodias, Hadas and Gaur Rajputs from Mughals.[13]

Outside, Rajasthan, the Chief of Chamraoli (near Unnao), a Gaur Rajput, was held in high esteem by Alwar Raj and was amongst the very few who were given honor of tazim.[6]

According to tradition the city of Sheopur and its fort in present-day Madhya Pradesh were founded by the Gaur Rajputs' chief, Indra Singh, in 1537. The first historical reference to the city dates to 1570.[5]

Population

Their population today is found in Indian States of Rajasthan,[1][2] parts of Uttar Pradesh[3] and parts of Madhya Pradesh.[4][5]

Some of them converted to Islam and are now part of Garha Biradari or Gaur Muslims of the larger Musalman Rajputs community.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa & Company. p. 399. ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Bahadur), Har Bilas Sarda (Diwan (1941). Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive. Fine Art Printing Press. pp. 300, 309. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Khan, Rānā Muḥammad Sarvar (2005). The Rajputs: History, Clans, Culture, and Nobility. Rana Muhammad Sarwar Khan. pp. 12, 159. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b census of India. 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Sheopur history, District Sheopur, Government of Madhya Pradesh, India". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Bayley, C. S. (2004). Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana. Asian Educational Services. pp. 25, 82, 100, 106, 110. ISBN 978-81-206-1066-8. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  7. ^ Gazetteer of the Province of Oudh: N to Z. North-Western and Oudh Government. 1878. p. 386. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ Fox, Richard Gabriel (1971). Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India. University of California Press. pp. 85–88. ISBN 978-0-520-01807-5. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  9. ^ Tod, James (1829). Annales and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of Indian. Smith. pp. 80, 115–116. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b Meharda, B. L. (2006). Territory, Polity, and Status: A Study of Shekhawats. Rawat Publications. pp. 14, 110. ISBN 978-81-7033-887-1. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  11. ^ Macdonell, A. A. (1929). "गौर". A practical Sanskrit dictionary with transliteration, accentuation, and etymological analysis throughout. London: Oxford University Press. p. 87.
  12. ^ Caturvedi, M. (1970). "गौर". A practical Hindi-English dictionary. Delhi: National Publishing House. p. 184.
  13. ^ Indian Defence Review. Lancer Publishers. 2003. p. 81. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
Categories