Marwar and the Uprising of 1857
During the Revolt of 1857, while several parts of India witnessed large-scale uprisings against British rule, the princely state of Marwar (Jodhpur) saw both loyalist and rebel factions emerge. Maharaja Takhat Singh of Jodhpur remained firmly pro-British during the uprising, providing assistance to the British government.
Jodhpur’s Role in the Revolt
Takhat Singh dispatched Jodhpur State troops to Ajmer to safeguard the British arsenal. Under the command of a British officer named Walter, these troops pursued mutineers from Nasirabad and even traversed Jaipur territory in pursuit of rebels from Neemuch.
This close alignment with the British allowed an opportunity for disaffected Rajput nobles—who were more hostile to British authority than to their own ruler—to take matters into their own hands.
The Revolt at Auwa
Support for the Mutineers
In August 1857, when the Jodhpur Legion mutinied at Erinpura, they were welcomed into the fort of Auwa by its Thakur. The Thakur not only gave them shelter but also offered them service. This defiance attracted support from other nobles, including the Thakurs of Asop, Goolar, Alaniawas, and Bajuwas, who marched to Auwa with their own forces.
Takhat Singh responded by dispatching a contingent under a British officer, but on 8 September 1857, this force was defeated at Bithoora, just 5 km from Auwa. The rebel forces captured guns and military stores in the encounter.
Death of the Political Agent
Shortly afterward, A.G.G. Lawrence led a British force against Auwa, managing to drive the rebels back into the fort. During this engagement, Political Agent Monck Mason arrived at the scene with a small force. In the fierce battle that ensued, Mason was killed, and his body was hung on a tree near the fort’s gateway—an act that intensified British resolve.
The Endgame at Auwa
In October 1857, the rebel Jodhpur Legion marched toward Delhi, with Thakurs of Alaniawas and Goolar accompanying them to Narnol, while the Thakur of Asop returned to protect his jagir.
On 20 January 1858, 1,500 British troops from Deesa (Palanpur) and Nasirabad attacked Auwa. They were joined by the Raj army and Thakurs of Nimbaj and Ras. Though the Thakur of Auwa fled to Mewar on 23 March, resistance continued under the leadership of the Thakur of Lambia.
On 29 March 1858, bribed guards allowed the British to enter the fort. The town was looted, and both fort and palace were destroyed. The entire jagir of Auwa was confiscated.
Aftermath and Repression
Following the suppression of the uprising:
- The fiefs of Asop, Goolar, Alaniawas, and Bajuwas were seized.
- The Thakur of Asop was interned in the Jodhpur fort.
- Other rebel Thakurs were declared outlaws and their allies punished severely.
This suppression allowed Maharaja Takhat Singh to reassert control over rebellious nobles.
Legacy
Although the rebellion in Marwar was defeated, it was part of the larger First War of Indian Independence. The martyrs of Auwa and surrounding regions did not die in vain. One of the key outcomes of the broader uprising was the transfer of power from the East India Company to the British Crown in 1858.
The Queen’s Proclamation of 1 November 1858 promised Indian rulers the recognition of their territories, rights, and status, marking a significant political shift in colonial India.