Rajasthan diaries - Part 3

Bharatpur continued ....

In all our wisdom we figured that the right place to start in a new town is the tourist information office. So that is where our group of three musketeers headed led by the yogic maestro. It turned out to  be only a few yards away.  The official at the reception desk very kindly handed us a dilapidated booklet containing valuable information about the places of interest in Bharatpur, besides other statistics.  On our persistent enquiries about further details, he guided us to a library located in the precincts of the tourist office itself. 

   A beautiful lifelike portrait of Raja Surajmal greeted us at the entrance of the library creating an almost surreal atmosphere. 

The huge wooden door had to be pushed hard till it groaned eerily allowing us to enter. The place had a musty odour to it. The old world charm well preserved in the shelves full of books replete with the knowledge of the yore. The books were neatly arranged, though covered in a layer of dust. We began shuffling through the stacks. Our yoga instructor friend even climbed on a  contraption which passed for a stool, to lay hands on the  top shelf.  Deeply engrossed in our hunt, we failed to hear the now familiar agony of the doorway opening followed by faint footsteps.

The three musketeers in the library

Our new companion coughed rather scratchily to make his presence felt. My friend almost fell off her perch due to the sudden interruption. He was a distinguished looking man, oldish in early 50s perhaps. The man looked askance as though he found our presence a trifle incongruous with the surroundings. But, eventually, he smiled amiably.  We gave our introductions & informed him of our project- without being asked.  He leafed through the literature we had got hold of. Then, motioned us to take the chairs lying nearby. We did as told. He turned out to be a live encyclopaedia.  So well informed about the rich heritage of Bharatpur. I am sharing some of the information we gained from the gentleman.

Origin of the name

   It is believed that Bharatpur  is named after Bharat, Lord Rama’s brother. The Lord’s other brother Laxman was also worshiped as the family deity by the rulers of this State. It is evident from the engravings in the State coat of arms and seals. Bharatpur is the eastern most district of Rajasthan.  It forms boundaries with Gurgaon district in the north; with Gurgaon, Mathura and Agra districts in the east; Morena district of Madhya Pradesh in the south; and Sawai Madhopur and Alwar districts of Rajasthan in the west.  The river Chambal forms the sourthern boundary with Madhya Pradesh. 

History

   Bharatpur has a rich and turbulent historical past.  After Aurangzeb's death Raja Jaisingh of Jaipur named Badan Singh as the Raja of Deeg on 19-11-1722.  During this period the forts of Kumher, Deeg and Bharatpur were built.  Raja Surajmal took over Deeg after Raja Badan Singh on 07.06.1756.  History of Bharatpur has sagas of Raja Surajmal's military, economic, political and social achievements.  Parts of UP, Haryana and Rajasthan including a separate Bharatpur state was under his control.  He even unified the perpetually warring Jat groups.  The area was ruled by Jawahar Singh and Keshri Singh after his death on 25-12-1763 while fighting with Najeeb Khan and his army.  During 1804, there was a fight between the Birtish Army and the combined armies of Bharatpur and Holkar for winning over the fort of Bharatpur.  The fight broke out due to the rift between Raja Ranjit Singh and British.  Later, however, there was a settlement and control went into the hands of Raja Kishan Singh and subsequently Brijendra Singh.  Ultimately Bharatpur became a separate district of Rajasthan in 1950.

           

 Rivers

   There are three main seasonal rivers viz., Banganga, Ruparel and Gambhir.  During the rainy season the water from these rivers is collected in the big and small dams constructed on these rivers.  This water is then used for drinking and irrigation purposes in Bharatpur.  Chambal is the only perennial river flowing through the district. 

Back to the library .....

   Quickly, we scribbled the details provided to us by our mentor. We were marvelling at the stroke of good fortune when the gong struck.  The officer at the desk sauntered in to inform us that we had to vacate the premises. When our learned friend left us in all this commotion, we did not notice.   We felt sorry that he did not give us a chance to express our gratitude. He may have been in a hurry, we surmised. 

   On our way out, I asked the clark, if he knew the man. Which man? he looked puzzled. Wondering whether he was myopic, I pursued- the one who was in the Library with us all the while. But, there was no visitor today, besides yourselves, he informed us. Possibly  the clark had fallen asleep while we were inside the Library & missed the visitor. I had an idea. Let’s look up the visitors log book. He was quick to lay it in front of us. See, I screamed. He pored over & read the name aloud- Surajmal…… Quantum entanglement, spooky action at a distance…..what?  

   
But that is not even in the realms of possibility!!!!!!!!


OR IS IT? 


I distinctly remember reciting Hanuman Chaalisa under my breath 


Just in case.........


Mystified, we left the place.  


.......continued in Rajasthan diaries - Part 4 .......