History
Background to the Aton/Bambolia Dynasty
The Aton/Bambolia jagir 1 was established in the early 18th century by an offshoot of the royal dynasty that ruled the kingdom of Kotah (now called Kota). The holders of this jagir are thus direct descendants of several of Kotah’s earliest rulers and have remained closely related kinsmen of this royal dynasty ever since. Thus the history of the Aton/Bambolia jagir remains closely interwoven with that of Kotah.
Rao Madho Singh of Kotah (reigned 1631-48)
In 1631, Rao Madho Singh was made the ruler of Kotah by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in recognition of his military service to the emperor. Rao Madho Singh had five sons: (1) Mukand Singh, who succeeded his father; (2) Mohan Singh, who was given the jagir of Palaitha; (3) Kanhiram who was given Koela; (4) Jujhar Singh who was given Kotra; and (5) Kishore Singh, who was given Sangod.
Rao Mukund Singh of Kotah (r. 1648-58)
Mukund Singh had a prosperous reign but it was cut short during the war of succession for the Mughal throne amongst the sons of Emperor Shahjahan. Rao Mukund Singh sided with Shahjahan’s eldest son Dara Shikoh who was pitted against the army of his younger brothers Aurangzeb and Murad. Dara Shikoh’s army was commanded by Raja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur, who was assisted by Rao Mukund Singh. On 15th April 1658, the two Mughal armies met on the battlefield of Dharmath near Ujjain. In the fierce battle that ensued, Rao Mukund Singh and his three brothers, Mohan Singh, Kanhiram, and Jujhar Singh were killed on the battlefield. The youngest brother, Kishore Singh, was found grievously injured with 42 wounds lying under a heap of corpses but with some signs of life. Kishore Singh was taken to Kotah to recuperate. Rao Mukund Singh, who died in the battle, left behind a son Jagat Singh who was fourteen years old.
Rao Jagat Singh (r. 1658-83)
Within a year of ascending to to the Kotah gaddi 2, Jagat Singh was called to serve the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. On the 2nd of January 1659, the Kotah forces joined the Imperial Army in attacking Shuja, another of Aurangzeb’s brothers. The fifteen-year-old Jagat Singh called on his uncle, Kishore Singh, to assist him. Kishore Singh had not fully recovered from the wounds received at the battle of Dharmath but nevertheless still joined his nephew, the young Rao of Kotah, on the battlefield. Jagat Singh was killed in 1683 (Kartik Shukla Panchmi V.S.3 1740) while fighting against Sheikh Minaz at Hyderabad.
Pem Singh (r. 1683-84)
As Rao Jagat Singh had no male heir, Pem Singh, son of Kanhiram of Koela, inherited the throne of Kotah. However, within a year of his installation, the nobles of Kotah deposed him and sent him back to Koela. Pem Singh’s uncle, Kishore Singh, was chosen to rule Kotah.
Rao Kishore Singh (r. 1684-96)
Rao Kishore Singh had three sons: (1) Bishen Singh, (2) Ram Singh, and (3) Harnath Singh. Bishen Singh, who was the eldest, refused to accompany his father to the Mughal court, so Ram Singh went with his father and served him faithfully. Ram Singh was with his father at the battle of Arni in Karnataka where Rao Kishore Singh was killed in April 1696.
Bishen Singh (r. 1696-97)
When the news of his father’s death reached Kotah, Bishen Singh ascended the throne. Ram Singh requested leave from the Emperor Aurangzeb in order to travel to Kotah to pay obeisance to his elder brother. Aurangzeb made Ram Singh a Mughal mansabdar 4 of 3,000 and commander of 3,000 horses. Aurganzeb also conferred Kotah upon Ram Singh and gave him an Imperial sanad 5 for the kingdom. Aurangzeb also provided a contingent of the Imperial Army to accompany Ram Singh to Kotah.
Ram Singh arrived at Kotah with his army in 1696, and a battle was fought between the brothers at Anwa. Harnath Singh sided with Ram Singh. Bishen Singh was grievously wounded on the battlefield and Harnath Singh was killed. Bishen Singh was carried away to his in-law’s jagir at Pander near Jahajpur in Mewar, but Bishen Singh died from his wounds in 1699. His wife Ranawatji committed sati upon his funeral pyre and a cenotaph still marks the site where Bishen Singh was cremated.
Rao Ram Singh (r. 1697-1707)
A few years after seizing the throne, Rao Ram Singh invited Prithvi Singh, the son of the late Bishen Singh, to return to Kotah from Pander. Rao Ram Singh bestowed upon Maharaj Prithvi Singh the jagir of Antah. The jagir included Antah town and twelve villages with a revenue of Rs. 40,000. Harnath Singh’s son was given the jagir of Sangod. Rao Ram Singh was killed at the battle of Jajaw in 1713 while fighting for the Mughal prince Azam, the Viceroy of the Deccan, against Prince Moazzam in the battle of succession amongst Aurangzeb’s sons.
Prithvi Singh of Antah
Prithvi Singh of Antah had five sons: (1) Bhopal Singh, who was poisoned during his father’s lifetime; (2) Ajit Singh, who inherited Antah; (3) Soorajmal; (4) Bakhat Singh; and (5) Chain Singh.
Maharao Durjansal of Kotah (r. 1723-56)
Maharao DurjanSal granted Soorajmal the jagir of Aton/Bmbolia in 1721 (?) with a revenue of Rs. 40,000 per annum and twelve villages. Bakhat Singh was given the jagir of Itawa, which was worth Rs. 30,000 annually. And Chain Singh was given Sorkhand, worth Rs. 20,000 annually.
Maharao Ajit Singh of Kotah (r. 1756-58)
The aging Maharaj Ajit Singh of Antah, elder brother of Maharaj Soorajmal of Aton, was adopted on Maharao Durjansal’s death and ascended the Kotah gaddi. Maharao Ajit Singh died after ruling for only a year-and-a-half.
Maharao Shatrushal Singh I of Kotah (r. 1758-64)
In 1756 at the death of Maharao Durjansal, the aging Maharaja Ajit Singh of Antah (r.1756-58), elder brother of Soorajmal, became Maharao of Kotah but he ruled only for one and half year then his son Shatrushal (r. 1758-64) ascended the gaddi of Kotah.
The Aton/Bambolia Dynasty
Maharaj Soorajmal (r. 1721-64)
Soorajmal was the 3rd son of Maharaj Prithvi Singh of Antah and the great-grand son of Maharao Kishore Singh of Kotah. Because Bhopal Singh, the eldest son of Maharaj Prithvi Singh, had died of poisoning, Maharaj Ajit Singh succeeded to the jagir of Antah. Then Ajit Singh succeded Maharao Durjansal to became Maharao of Kotah. So Soorajmal now became Tikayat-Sardar of Kishore Singhot Hada family.
Soorajmal had the Aton Fort repaired. The fortifications were strengthened and an efficient water harvesting/storing system was constructed. Water was lifted from the river Parwan which flowed below the fort.
Soorajmal married twice: first to Kishore Kr. Chandrawat of Dhabla and then to Jayant Kr. Sisodia Daughter of the Raja of Umri. He had two sons:(1) Deo Singh and (2) Sanwant Singh.In 1740 a huge Imperial Army of more than 200,000 strong were sent by Emperor Muhamad Shah to quell the Marathas under the Chief Command of Khandaura. Kotah’s army also accompanied this force but Malhar Rao Holker and Ranoji Scindia besieged the Imperial army and cut off their supplies. Soorajmal accompanied Maharao Durjansal who went with a force to help the besieged army but the Kotah army was defeated by Malhar Rao Holkar and Jaswant Rao Pawar. This was the last time people saw the Mughal army in Rajasthan.
In 1761, Maharaja Madho Singh of Jaipur sent a huge army of 60,000 troops to subdue Kotah. Jaipur had been given Ranthambore Fort which was the stronghold of Rao Surjan of Bundi and his descendents so the Hada jagirdars 6 who owed allegiance to Bundi were in a quandry. These jagirdars refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of Jaipur. These jagirdars namely Indergarh, Khatoli, Balwan, Anterdah, Karwar, Pipalda, Gainta, Nimola, and Phusod went to Maharao Shatrushal I of Kotah who welcomed his brethren with open arms. The Jaipur army was under the leadership of M. Ajit Singh of Isharda and Th. Bheru Singh of Sewad. On the Kotah side there were approx 15,000 troops commanded by Akheyram Pancholi and Maharaj Bakhat Singh of Khedli. Akheyram Pancholi was assisted by Zalim Singh Jhala and the Hada Jagirdars Apji Roop Singh of Palaitha, Apji Koela , M. Soorajmal of Bambolia, Apji Shivnath Singh of Rajgarh, Apji Guman Singh of Nagda, and M. Nath Singh of Sangod. Initially, Kotah lost more than 700 troops in the cannon fire but they regrouped and fiercely charged the Jaipur artillery stopping any further onslaught. The thakurs of Isharda , Sewad, Achrol, Macheri, Bansko, Barwara etc. left the battlefield leaving the Jaipur army to its fate. Several commanders like Th. Bhawani Singh of Sarsa, Th. Ajit Singh of Palanhera, and Th. Shyam Singh of Sewa were killed. A rout took place as Holkar also started looting the Jaipur army camps on Akheyram Pancholi’s advice. The fleeing Jaipur army further got bogged down in the Sukhni River with its muddy bed. The spoils of war taken home by the Kotah Army were: Rs. 4,00,000 in cash, 17 elephants, 1800 horses, 73 canons and some camels. Most importantly, the Panchranga Flag (five-coloured flag) of Jaipur was also captured from the battlefield. For many years thereafter, this flag was hoisted on the head of Ravan’s effigy on Dashera. Kotah lost M. Nath Singh of Sangod, Apji Shivnath Singh of Rajgarh, and a few other Jagirdars. Soorajmal recieved more than a dozen wounds in the battle. Maharao Shatrushal I travelled six miles outside Kotah to receive the victorious Kotah army and lauded the victorious Kotah force. M. Soorajmal was given many presents including a fine horse by the Maharao. Maharaj Soorajmal died in Aton in 1764.
Deo Singh (r.1764-1804)
Deo Singh, Maharaj Soorajmal’s son, was married three times. He first married two sisters, Fateh Kr. Rajawat and Bacchav Kr. Rajawat of Jalwada who were daughters of Ratan Singh. Later he married Man Kr. Sisodia. Deo Singh had a beautiful temple of Laxmi Narainji constructed in Aton which still exists. Later Maharao Ajit Singh’s son, Maharao Guman Singh, increased the revenue of the Aton Jagir to Rs. 60,000. Deo Singh’s younger brother, Sawant Singh, married Sajjan Kr. Rajawat of Jalwada. Deo Singh had two sons: (1) Zorawer Singh and (2) Udai Singh. Sawant Singh had one son, Kishen Singh. Kishen Singh married Ranawatji of Bhadora, from whom he had two sons. The first, Bhagwat Singh, married Guman Kr Sisodia, and the second, Mehtab Singh, married a daughter of Raja Kushal Singh Sisodia of Umri.
From amongst the Hada jagidars who were closely related to the ruling house of Kotah, the most important was Deo Singh of Aton/Bambolia, who had a jagir worth Rs. 60,000. He was closely related to Maharaja Swaroop Singh, Commander of Kotah’s army who was previously murdered at the behest of Zalim Singh Jhala who then took over as Commander and Regent of Kotah State. Deo Singh vowed to revenge Swaroop Singh’s murder, but Zalim Singh was informed of this plot and ordered the troops of Kotah’s army to march against Aton. Maharao Umed Singh I of Kotah though young, did not like forces being mobilized against his own kith and kin and therefore ordered the commanding officer not to move. This was the beginning of Zalim Singh’s despotic career. Zalim Singh therefore invited the French adventurer, Major Pulleite (also popularly known as Moosa Madat), who had a good artillery with well trained and disciplined troops, to march against Deo Singh. Major Pulleite was also assisted by troops of Kotah State under Maharaja Baijnath Singh of Gainta. The siege dragged on for several months and the besieged began to feel the shortage of sustenance. The siege carried on for more than three months. Meanwhile the besieged garrison made many forays causing quite a few casualties on the Kotah army. One day M. Baijnath Singh was killed by gunfire from the Aton fort and Deo Singh left the Fort under darkness. Deo Singh took refuge with the Rao Raja of Uniara in Jaipur state on paying a tribute of Rs. 60,000 to him. The Rao Raja granted him Ajitgarh with twelve villages in 1777. Later when the pressure of Zalim Singh increased on Uniara, Deo Singh went to Gawalior and took refuge under Madho Rao Scindia in Gwalior. Madhaji Scindia was very sympathetic to him and also gave him a small jagir for maintenance. Deo Singh died in 1804 but was survived by his son, Zorawer Singh, who was then 21 yrs old. Scindia performed the Matami ceremony (i.e. recognised Zorawer Singh as the rightful successor) and strongly advised Zalim Singh to restore Late Deo Singh’s jagir to Zorawer. Deo Singh had also tied a rakhi 7 to Maharani Ahalya Bai Holkar of Indore, so she too sent a message to Zalim Singh to the same effect. Eventually, Zorawer Singh was given a jagir of Rs. 15,000 with Bambolia as its main town and four other villages, namely Nareda, Pipalda, Amritkhedi and Charelia. This is why Bambolia was known as Bambolia Deo Singh.
Zorawer Singh (r. 1804-40)
Deo Singh died leaving behind two sons (1) Zorawer Singh and (2) Sawant Singh. The elder son, Zorawer Singh, succeeded Deo Singh in 1804. Zorawer Singh was married to Takhat Kr. Mansinghot of Jaloda. He had two daughters Kundan Bai, who was to married to Rao of Darda, and Raj Bai, who was married in Jaloda village to Ajit Singh Rajawat, son of Nathu Singh Rajawat. Zorawer Singh was sent to Bambolia in A.D.1777 (V.S.1821) after Aton was sacked. He was accompanied by the families of Heera Bai Dhai, Purohit family and also the Sweepers family. Their descendants still live in Bambolia. On the death of Maharaj Deo Singh, Zorawer Singh went to Gawalior but returned to Bambolia at the end of 1804. He first installed an idol of a Goddess on a small platform on the village boundary. Then after this installation, he started construction work of the present Bambolia fort at the end of year 1804. Today this temple is known as Deru Mata (from Dera, i.e. tent) temple. Zorawer Singh also constructed the main building and two additional temples, one of which was dedicated to Govardhan-nath and was located inside the fort and the other was built outside the fort in 1823. The Laxmi Narain was constructed in the memory of Heera Bai Dhai. Heera Bai was very close to Zorawer Singh as she had brought up Zorawer as his foster mother. Zorawer Singh’s wife Takhat Kr. Rajawat built the temple of Dauji and a stepwell next to the temple, which still exists. Her daijwal (maid) had the temple of Raghunathji, which stands in front of the main gate of Bambolia Fort today. Zorawer Singh also constructed a cenotaph in memory of his father M. Deo Singh. It stands in the ksahr bagh (garden of ashes) near the fort and has been restored by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Rajasthan, which now owns the site. It is well worth a visit. Col. James Tod, the British agent (famous Historian who wrote The Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan) visited Bambolia in 1807 when most of construction had been completed except the dome on the 3rd floor of the main building.
In 1821 Maharao Kishore Singh II gave a call to all his brethren to join his forces to oust Zalim Singh the Regent of Kotah whose tyranny on Hada jagirdars continued till then. Zorawer Singh joined the forces of the Maharao and fought in the famous battle of Mangrol, which took place against the combined armed forces of Kotah State assisted by British Cavalry called from Nasirabad. The forces of Maharao lost and all the participants fled from Kotah State. Later, the British pardoned all the participants of the battle at Bhatwara near Mangrol and Zorawer Singh was restored the jagir of Bambolia. This battle is vividly described by Col.Tod, who was himself present at the battle. Kr. Mehtab Singh, son of M. Kishen Singh of Aton, had accompanied Zorawer Singh in the battle of Bhatwara near Mangrol. Mehtab Singh was adopted by Zorawer Singh as his heir in 1839. In 1824 Zorawer Singh went on a pilgrimage to various dhams including Gayaji & Jagdishji with his family.
Mehtab Singh I (r. 1840-56)
Mehtab Singh, son of M. Kishen Singh and grandson of M. Sawant Singh of Aton, was adopted by Zorawer Singh as he had no issue. Mehtab Singh married Mangal Kr. Sisodia, daughter of Bahadur Singh/Kushal Singh Raja of Umri. Mehtab Singh had two sons, (1) Bhim Singh and (2) Narsingh Singh, and two daughters, (1) Raj Bai and (2) Gulab Bai. One daughter was married to (a son of?) Th. of Koshithal in Mewar. Mehtab Singh constructed the dome on the third floor of the main building of the fort, as well as the rest of the buildings in the zenana 8 portion and the stables inside the fort. Mehtab Singh built a temple at Mehtabpura and also established a small settlement there. Mehtab Singh had the beautiful cenotaph of Zorawer Singh constructed at Bambolia, which stands in the kshar bagh (garden of ashes) next to that of M. Deo Singh. The cenotaph still exists in the kshar bagh 9 at Bambolia. Mehtab Singh appears in several miniature paintings playing holi 10 on elephants with Maharao Ram Singh II of Kotah.
Bhim Singh I (r. 1856-72)
Mehtab Singh I was succeeded by his son, Bhim Singh. Bhim Singh was married to Mehtab Kr., daughter of the Raja of Bhadora. Bhim Singh constructed his father’s cenotaph, which still exists in Bambolia kshar bagh. Bhim Singh died after a short spell and was succeeded by his younger brother Narsingh.
Narsingh (r. 1872-88)
Narsingh was married twice, first to Chandrawatji of village Dhabla and then to Mehtab Kr., daughter of Th. Kushal Singh/Pratap Singh of village Khedli Tawran in 1885. Narsingh was a patron of art and music. Many miniature paintings were painted during his short tenure. He also wrote many bhajans in Indian classical style. Some of these bhajans are included in the modern day book "Rajasthan Ke Rajwadi Geet" by Th. Jaswant Singh. Narsingh had the Nazar Niwas Bagh laid out and organized the Gangaur festival here on a grand scale. The Gangaur procession with Narsingh on his favourite elephant, Gaj Moti, was witnessed by thousands of villagers from all around Bambolia. The specialty of this elephant was to wave a chawar 11 with its trunk. Narsingh was unfortunately poisoned in 1888 at village Dhaturia while returning in the barat of Kr. Onkar Singh of Palaitha from village Both near Mangrol. Because Narsingh had no issue, he had adopted Kr. Jai Singh, the eldest son of M. Chagan Singh of Kotra in 1887 before his death.
(Maharaj Narsingh of Bambolia’s Gangaur Procession 1880)
Jai Singh (r. 1888-1905)
Jai Singh’s younger brother, Kr. Udai Singh, was adopted by Maharao Shatrusal II of Kotah in 1889. On the death of Maharao Shatrushal, Kr. Udai Singh became H.H.Maharao Umed Singh II of Kotah. M. Jai Singh married Jadav Kr. Jadonji of Karauli in 1894. Jai Singh went to Mayo College Ajmer for schooling in 1892 where he received the Viceroy’s medal for the best student. He played polo for the Kotah State team. In 1901 H.H.Maharao Umed Singh sanctioned money to make a bigger fort wall and stables in Bambolia. The fort wall was more or less completed in 1905 when Jai Singh passed away. Maharaj Jai Singh was granted a personal jagir of Rs. 10,000 by Maharao Umed Singh at which the total revenue of the Bambolia Jagir became Rs. 25,000. He was appointed by His Highness as Senior Superintendent of Police of Kotah with Rs. 500/pm allowance. Subsequently, he was also appointed as member of the Kotah State Council, which was the supreme administrative body of the state. The Bambolia seat in Kotah Darbar hiearchy now became 1st on the right hand of the Maharao along with Palaitha and Koela. Maharaj Jai Singh had one son, Kr. Bhim Singh, and two daughters: (1) Daulat Kr., who was married to Kr Chander Sen, son of Raj Bijai Singh of Kunadi; and (2) Roop Kr., who was married during M. Mehtab Singh II’s lifetime to Maharaj Kumar Godji of Bhuj. M. Jai Singh passed away in 1905 succumbing to a wound on his leg.
Bhim Singh II (r. 1905-8)
M. Jai Singh’s son, Bhim Singh, ascended the Bambolia gaddi in 1905. Bhim Singh was sent to Mayo College for schooling where he died at the young age of 13, while staying in Kotah House. On his death H.H.Maharao Umed Singh II of Kotah gave consent to Jadonji, wife of late M. Jai Singh, to adopt Kr. Deo Singh of Amli. Deo Singh refused to go to Mayo College for schooling so he was sent back to Amli and Maharao Umed Singh gave consent for Jadonji to adopt Kr. Mehtab Singh, son of Maharaj Mod Singh of Napaniya.
Mehtab Singh II (r. 1910-34)
Mehtab Singh was adopted to Bambolia in 1910. Mehtab Singh was sent to Mayo College for schooling where he excelled as a sportsman. Mehtab Singh became captain of the Mayo College football team and represented the school in cricket and hockey. He was also a member of the Mayo College Horse Squadron, which was mostly represented by Marwar players. Mehtab Singh was married to Suraj Kr., daughter of Th. Fateh Singh of Kherwa in Marwar. His sister Roop Kr. was married to Kr. Chander Sen of Kunadi. Before the marriage, the present main gate of the Bambolia fort was constructed as the older gate was damaged. Mehtab Singh had one son, Kr. Keshav Singh and four daughters: (1) Pushpa Kr. who was married to Maharaj Air Commodore Bahadur Singh of Bikaner; (2) Tej Kr., who was married to M.Digvijai Singh of Sagrod Banswara; (3) Gayan Kr., who was married to Sadelkhedi in Madha Pradesh; and (4) Suresh Kr., who was married to Capt. Gajendra Singh Rawat of Haldwani. Capt. Rawat rose to be a Lt. Gen. in the Indian Army and retired as The Vice-Chief of the Indian Army. Gyan Kr. unfortunately passed away within a year of her marriage leaving behind a daughter. Mehtab Singh passed away in 1934.
Maharaj Keshav Singh (r. 1934-91)
Because M. Keshav Singh was a minor when he ascended the Bambolia gaddi, H.H.Maharao Umed Singh appointed Th. Mulayam Singh Jadon as manager of the jagir. The jagir was put in Court of Wards with Apji Takhat Singh of Kuradia as over-all in-charge. Keshav Singh was sent to Mayo College for schooling. But since Mehtab Singh passed away at an early age Keshav Singh was brought up in Kunadi by his aunt Daulat Kr., the wife of Raj Chander Sen of Kunadi. When Daulet Kr. passed away H.H.Maharo Bhim Singh invited Keshav Singh and his sisters to stay at the Umed Bhawan Palace at Kotah. M. Keshav Singh was a good sportsman, He represented Mayo College teams in cricket and tennis. After passing out from Mayo, Keshav Singh was given revenue training under Nazim Shri Ralaram Chaturvedi and then given charge of his jagir after his marriage. M. Keshav Singh was married to Sampat Kr., daughter of Th. Bhan Singh of Sankhu in Bikaner. Keshav Singh had one son, Abhimanyu Singh, and a daughter, Jayanti Kr. M. Keshav Singh passed away in Bikaner in January 1991, where he had been living with his wife and daughter.
M. Abhimanyu Singh (1991-present)
Abhimanyu Singh was recognized by H.H.Maharao Bhim Singh as Maharaja of Bambolia with rang-ka-dastoor 12 in September 1991 at the Umed Bhawan Palace. Abhimanyu Singh was sent for schooling to Mayo College in 1954 when he was six years old and passed out from school in 1965. He represented Ajmer House in basketball, hockey, and football. Abhimanyu Singh joined Govt. College Kota in 1965 and was elected as Vice President of Govt. College Kota Students’ Union in 1968 .He also served as class representative from 1965 to 1968.
Abhimanyu Singh joined the Govt. of Rajasthan Secretariat as Private Secretary to the Minister of Rajasthan Canals & Tourism, Kr. Narendra Singh Bhati, and subsequently as Private Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Public Relations, Kr. Devendra Singh of Barliyas, Bhilwara.
On 10 December 1981 Abhimanyu Singh was married to Kr. Meena Ranawat, daughter of Th. Raghubir Singh of Kakerwa, Chittaurgarh and grand daughter of Late Th. Jawan Singhji who was Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court. He has three daughters: Girija Kumari born on 4th Dec 1981, Neerja Kr. born on 7th July 1987 and Ojasvni Singh born on 5th July 1994.
In 1986 Abhimanyu Singh joined the Maharana of Udaipur Shriji Arvind Singh in public relations at Lake Palace Hotels & Motels Pvt. Ltd. While in Udaipur he was a member of the jury of the internationally recognized Maharana Mewar Foundation awards. After leaving Udaipur in 1993 he was appointed a Consultant to the Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur, by Maharaj Prithviraj of Jaipur. He is presently serving as: Trustee of Rao Madho Singh Museum Trust (City Palace) Kota; Vice President Ravinder Public School, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur; Consultant Hi Tech Gears Pvt Ltd , RIICO, Bhiwadi. In addition he has served as: Consultant,to Hindustan Pre-Fab Ltd. Government of India Enterprises, Jangpura, New Delhi Ltd.; Corporate Consultant, Meridian Minerals India Ltd, Indian subsidiary of Meridian Minerals Ltd. (Canada); DES Energy wing of DLF sole selling agents for Gas Turbines of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Bangalore; Asscociated Stone Industries Pvt. Ltd., Ramganj Mandi, Kota; Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Shahpur Jat, New Delhi; Aryaman Financial Services,(Merchant Bankers) Nariman Point, Mumbai; MGRM Pvt Ltd Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi.
Abhimanyu Singh has worked closely with local government officials in facilitating and implementing various government funded development schemes in Bambolia and the surrounding area. Such projects include developing a water scheme for cattle, improving the local school (which was upgraded to 10th standard in 2003 and further upgraded to higher secondary level in 2007), constructing a reservoir and having the Bambolia lift minor irrigation repaired after lying in diuse since its inception 20 years ago, and improving local public health through the realization of a Rs.50 lakh 13 public health care centre. With the widening to four lanes of the road from of Kota to Baran (reducing motoring time from Bambolia to Kota to 40 minutes) and its linking to the Jhansi-Allahabad national highway, Bambolia is at the centre of activity.
Footnotes
1Jagir: Territory with the right to collect revenue and taxes; legal and administrative duties come with the territory.
2Gaddi: Seat symbolising the head of the state; throne.
3V.S.: Vikram Samwat; an Indian calendar, but not the only one.
4Mansabdar: Was the generic term for the military-type grading of all imperial officials of the Mughal Empire. The mansabdars governed the empire and commanded its armies in the emperor’s name. Though they were usually aristocrats, they did not form a feudal aristocracy, for neither the offices nor the estates that supported them were hereditary. The term is derived from Mansab, meaning 'rank'. Hence, Mansabdar literally means rank-holder. Persons with mansabs between 7,000 to 3,000 were called Amir-i-Azam or the greater nobles.
5Sanad: was an official commission or a warrant or a grant. This was usually a sealed paper that authorised the sanad-holder to certain rights. A sanad was granted by an imperial authority, usually to collect taxes and maintain and develop allocated land.
6Jagirdar: is the person who has been granted the right to collect revenue and taxes, with legal and administrative duties over the jagir. He for all practical purposes is the ruler of the region. Though not meant to be a hereditary right, in practice it often was.
7Rakhi: A ceremony, often performed annually, where a woman, usually the sister, honours and recognises a man as her brother by tie-ing a thread or an ornate band on his wrist. The thread/band itself is called a rakhi.
8Traditional Indian homes had a men’s section and a women’s section. Zenana is the woman’s section. The men’s section is called mardana.
9Kshar bagh: A family of renown would have a place for the cremation of their dead. Often a monument called a chatri is constructed by the descendants on the spot where the person, usually a male, was cremated.
10Holi is a Hindu festival. It is commonly called the festival of colours and signals the arrival of spring.
11Chawar: An instrument which retainers standing behind an important person wave to keep him cool and keep the insects away; but more importantly it symbolises power. The instrument is a straight handle, often covered with ornate silver, with a bushy tail.
12Rang-ka-dastoor: a traditional ceremony performed to mark an important event.
13A lakh represents the number 100,000. (A crore represents the number 10,000,000)
