The Naruka dynasty of Alwar is a prominent Rajput clan in Rajasthan’s history, establishing the Alwar State and playing a significant role in regional politics. A branch of the Kachhwaha clan, the Naruka Rajputs established their independent identity through courage, administrative efficiency, and military prowess. This clan’s contribution to Alwar’s cultural and political development has been particularly notable.
Naruka Dynasty of Alwar
Origin and Background
- The Naruka branch of the Kachwaha dynasty ruled over Alwar.
- Naruka: They are called the descendants of ‘Naru’, who was a descendant of Kokildev (Amer).
- Mirza Raja Jai Singh I granted the Jagir of ‘Macheri’ to Naruka Kalyan Singh.
- Later, the Alwar State emerged from these Naruka Thakurs.
Pratap Singh (1775–1790 AD)
- Father: Mohabbat Singh.
- Position: Feudal lord (Samant) of Macheri and head of the Narukas.
- Titles: In 1774 AD, Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II conferred the title of ‘Rao Raja’ and a Mansab of 5000 upon him.
- Provided military assistance to the Mughals against the Jat ruler Ranjit Singh.
- Independence: On December 25, 1775, Pratap Singh became the independent ruler of Alwar and made Alwar his capital.
- In 1755, he protected the Ranthambore Fort from Maratha attacks.
- Battle of Mauda-Mandoli (1767 AD): Assisted Jaipur ruler Madho Singh I against Jawahar Singh of Bharatpur.
- Court Scholar: Jachak Jeevan, who composed ‘Pratap Ras’ (Pratap Rasau).
- Painting: Artists named Shivkumar and Daluram migrated from Jaipur to Alwar and played a key role in the development of the Alwar School of Painting.
- Major Architecture & Forts:
- Around 1770 AD – Construction of Rajgarh Fort.
- Construction of Tehla Fort (Tehla Burj).
- 1772 AD – Construction of Malkhera Fort.
- Construction of Baldevgarh Fort.
- Pratap Singh organized the Naruka power and successfully established Alwar as a sovereign princely state.
Bhakhtawar Singh (1790–1815 AD) –
- Adopted son of Pratap Singh.
- Battle of Laswari (1803 AD):
- Parties: Bhakhtawar Singh vs. the Marathas.
- Ally: British General Lord Lake.
- Result: The Marathas defeated Bhakhtawar Singh’s forces.
- Benefit of the British Treaty:
- The Parganas (districts) of Tijara, Tapukara, and Kathumar were annexed into the Alwar state.
- 1793 AD: Constructed the Alwar City Palace for his residence.
- November 14, 1803:
- Signed a Subsidiary Alliance with Governor-General Lord Wellesley.
- Lord Lake acted as the British representative.
- War of Succession (Post-Death):
- Side 1: Balwant Singh (Son of Bhakhtawar Singh).
- Side 2: Vinay Singh (Banne Singh), son of Moosi Maharani (Bhakhtawar Singh’s mistress/handmaid).
- Initially, the British government recognized both as joint rulers.
- Due to Vinay Singh’s pressure, Balwant Singh was eventually given only the Jagirs of Neemrana and Tijara.
- After Balwant Singh’s death, both Neemrana and Tijara were re-merged into the Alwar state.
- Literary Side:
- Bhakhtawar Singh composed poetry under the pen names ‘Bakhtesh’ and ‘Chandrasakhi’.
Vinay Singh (Banne Singh) (1815–1857 AD) –
- Moosi Maharani: As he was the son of Bhakhtawar Singh’s handmaid ‘Moosi’, his mother became famous by the name ‘Moosi Maharani’.
- Architecture and Water Structures:
- Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri: Constructed a grand cenotaph in Alwar in memory of Moosi Maharani.
- 1845 AD: Built the Siliserh Lake on the Ruparail River for his Queen ‘Sheela’.
- Constructed the Siliserh Palace, which later came to be known as the ‘Nandan-Kanan of Rajasthan’.
- Raghunathgarh Fort: Built for protection against frequent raids by the Meo community.
- 1857 Revolution:
- Vinay Singh was a supporter of the British.
- However, Dewan Faizulla Khan supported the rebels and revolutionaries and opposed the British.
- During Vinay Singh’s reign, administrative control and the security infrastructure of Alwar were significantly strengthened.
Sheodan Singh (1857–1874 AD)
- His reign was short-lived.
- He ascended the throne during the turbulent environment of 1857 and was removed shortly thereafter.
Mangal Singh (1874–1892 AD)
- He was the first student of Mayo College, Ajmer.
- He represented the generation of modern, educated Indian princes.
- In 1888 AD, the British conferred the title of ‘Maharaja’ upon him.
Maharaja Jai Singh (1892–1937 AD)
- Education and Philanthropy:
- Provided financial assistance to Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
- Provided financial assistance to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
- Also provided financial aid to Sanatan Dharma College, Lahore.
Political Role:
- He preferred giving the ‘Chamber of Princes’ the more Indian name ‘Narendra Mandal’.
- Participated in the First Round Table Conference and demanded a democratic/republican system of governance.
- 1925 – Neemuchana Massacre: During the farmer’s movement, the Alwar administration opened heavy fire to suppress the protesters.
- 1933: Following the Tijara riots, the British government removed Jai Singh from the throne.
Language, Social Reform, and Administration:
- Declared ‘Hindi’ as the official language of Alwar State.
- (Note: Maharaja Kishan Singh of Bharatpur also declared Hindi as the official language.)
- Banned Child Marriage and ‘Anmel Vivah’ (mismatched marriages) through an order on December 10, 1903.
- Imposed a ban on the consumption of tobacco.
- Banned Mrityubhoj (funeral feasts).
- Promoted the use of Swadeshi (indigenous) goods.
- Encouraged local self-government by establishing Panchayats in Alwar.
Construction and Architecture:
- Constructed the Jaisamand Dam.
- Built the Sariska Palace for the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Alwar.
- End:
- After being deposed in 1933, he moved to Paris.
- He passed away in Paris in 1937 AD.
Tej Singh (1937–1948 AD)
- He was the last ruler of the Alwar princely state.
- He was the ruler at the time of India’s independence.
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Assassination (1948): Following the assassination, Tej Singh and his Prime Minister, Narayan Bhaskar Khare, were included in the list of suspects.
- After an investigation and trial, the court acquitted and released Tej Singh.
- March 18, 1948: Alwar State merged into the ‘Matsya Union’.
- With this, the Naruka rule of Alwar ended, and it became an integral part of the Indian federal structure.
