Conflict over the Jaipur’s Amagarh Fort
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
History & Culture
- Published
31st Jul, 2021
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Context
Amagarh fort in Jaipur has become the center of conflict between the tribal Meena community and the local Hindu groups.
About the History of the Amagarh fort
- The Amagarh Fort was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur.
- On another side, it is also said that the fort was built by a MeenaSardar from the Nadlagotra, which is now known as BadgotiMeenas.
- Sardars from the Meena community ruled the large parts of Rajasthan till around 1100 AD.
- Prior to the Rajput rule by the Kachhwaha dynasty, the Jaipur and its nearby regions were ruled by Meenas, who had political control over that region.
Meena community in Rajasthan
- According to Census 2011, STs constitute 13.48% of the state’s population.
- The community has substantial representation in the legislature (27 MLAs).
- The community is also well represented in the bureaucracy.
- Due to a scattered population across the state, the community can influence election outcomes in unreserved seats, too.
- Meenas worship ancestors.
- Amba Mata was such an ancestor, a living person, and not a god.
- Amba Mata is not related to AmbikaBhawani or Durga.
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What is the dispute?
- Members of the Meena community claim that the Amagarh Fort was built by a Meena ruler which predated the Rajput rule in Jaipur.
- It was considered to be a holy site by the Meena community for centuries.
- According to the community, they used to worship Amba Mata and other deities in the fort.
- Last month idols were being vandalized and the saffron flag was hoisted at the fort.
SawaiJai Singh II
- He was the ruler of the Kingdom of Amber, who founded the fortified city of Jaipur and made his capital in 1727.
- He was the 29thKachwaha ruler born of Amber.
- Initially, Jai Singh served as a vassal ofthe Mughal Empire.
- He was given the title of Sawai by Aurangzeb in the year 1699, who summoned him to Delhi, and was impressed by his wit.
- Sawai" means one and a quarter times superior to his contemporaries.
- In 1721, the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah bestowed upon him the title of Saramad-i-Rajah-i-Hind,Raj Rajeshvar, ShriShantanuJi, and Maharaja Sawai.
- He also performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice, an ancient rite that had been abandoned for several centuries.
- Jai Singh had a great interest in mathematics, architecture, and astronomy.
- He commissioned the JantarMantar observatories at multiple places in India, including Jaipur, Delhi, Ujjain,Mathura, and Banaras.
- He also got Euclid's "Elements of Geometry" translated into Sanskrit.
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