The Tribal Tales

2.2
Jodhpur – The Blue City
Jodhpur is the second largest city in the Indian State of Rajasthan and officially the second metropolitan city of the state. Jodhpur district is among the largest
districts in Rajasthan. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the name Jodhpur. Also known as ‘Blue city’, it was founded by Rao Jodha, a chief of
Rathore clan in the year 1459. He began construction of the Mehrangarh fort that rises 400 feet above the landscape.
The Blue City is blue to the literal sense with blue paint to distinguish the Brahmin housing from the rest.
Modern Jodhpur stretches well beyond the city walls. It is the immediacy and the buzz of the old city and the larger than life fort that captures the traveller’s
imagination.
2.2.1 History
According to the Hindu Ramayana and the Rajasthan district Gazetteers’ of Jodhpur, the Abhiras (Ahirs) were the original inhabitants of Jodhpur and later
Aryans spread out to this region.
Home to the valiant, warrior clan of Rajputs who claim to originate from the sun, moon and fire, Rajasthan is said to have been a region where human settlement
dated back to early historical period. Archaeological excavations in the territory of land establish a connection with the Harappan civilisation that
dates to 1000 BC.
Traditionally, local tribes such as Meenas, Gujjars, Bhils, Rajputs, Rajpurohits, Charan, Jats, Bishnois, Phulmali (Saini) and others made a great contribution
in building the place. All these tribes suffered great difficulties in protecting their culture and land. From 640 AD, the Gujars, Pratiharas, Chauhans, Gahlots
established their independent kingdoms. Internal rivalry and power struggles between the Rajput kingdoms led to the establishment of many strong Rajput
kingdoms. Rajput families rose to prominence in 6th century.
Jodhpur has historically been the capital of the kingdom ‘Marwar’, which is now a part of Rajasthan. The Jodhpur history revolves around the Rathore clan.
Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief of the Rathore clan is credited with the origin of the city in India. The Rathores were driven out of their origin homeland, Kannauj,
by Afghans. They then fled to Pali, nearby village to present day Jodhpur. Rathore Siahaji married the sister of a local prince that helped the Rathores to establish
and strengthen themselves in the region. They then ousted the Pratiharas of Mandore. Mandore was initially served as the capital, but then in 1459, a
need for secure capital was felt and hence, this led to the formation of Jodhpur, the Sun City, by Rao Jodha. The city was located on the strategic road linking
Delhi to Gujarat. This enabled the state to profit from a flourishing trade in opium, copper, silk, sandals, date palm and coffee.
After the death of Chandrasen Rathore, the state became a fief under the Mughal Empire. The state furnishes the Mughals with several notable generals and
in return the people of Jodhpur got exposure to new styles of art and architecture that broadened the opportunities for local tradesmen across the country.
Fifty years of wars and treaties ate up the wealth of Jodhpur, that sought and gratefully entered a subsidiary alliance with the British in 1818. During the British
Raj, the state of Jodhpur had the largest land area in the Rajputana. Under the reign of Maharaja Umed Singh, Jodhpur grew into a modern city. Jodhpur
prospered under the British Raj. Its merchants, the Marwaris flourished endlessly.
12