Kinwar

Kinwar Rajputs^[1] (not to be confused with Kinwar Bhumihar) [ Hindi: केनवार or किनवार ] is an Indian clan whose members belong to the Rajput caste and worship Hindu goddesses Kulkula Mata or Durga Parameshwari Mata as their Kuldevi.^[2] They principally resided in the states of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Many have now migrated to other parts of India and other countries. However, some population of Kinwar Rajputs can still be found in Balia District and nearby areas. Most Kinwar Rajputs use Singh as their surnames but some use Kinwar or Kenwar also.

It is believed that the word Kinwar (also spelled as Kenwar) takes after the Ken River.^[3] The ancestors of the Kinwar Rajputs came from Ken river basin. According to Rajput historians, the Ken river basin Rajputs were offshot of Sengar Rajputs.^[4]

Kenwar literally means guardians of the Ken river. Ken river basin was the stronghold of Rajputs during medieval times. There are ruins of several castles along the banks of 427 KM long Ken river. The Kinwar Rajputs were likely the guardians (and probably the owners) of many of these castles. These castles were vital in defending Rajput territories against the Muslim invaders for a long time but ultimately fell to Mughal empire.

Not much is available in terms of recorded history about Kinwar (Kenwar) Rajputs migration out of Ken river basin. It is likely, most of them were killed defending their territory against the Mughals. Like the other Rajputs of the time, they would have been sworn to defend their territory with life. Upon the death of their husbands, the wives would have committed sati as was the unfortunate practice at that time. However, there are some documented evidences that at least two teenage Kinwar princes were given refuge by Raja of Benaras (present day Varanasi). One of them was Baijul Singh Kenwar. Most present day Kinwar Rajputs are descendants of Baijul. According to Saiyad Hasan Ansari (1986) in "Evolution and Spatial Organization of Clan Settlements: A Case Study of Middle Ganga Valley", Baijul commanded the army of Raja Guhurwar (the Raja of Benaras. Also spelled as Gaharwar) and married Raja's daughter.^[5] Their descendants are what remains of the Kinwar Rajput clan.

References[]

^ Fox, Richard Gabriel (1971). Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-01807-5.
^ Rathore, Abhinay. "Kuldevi of all Rajputs". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
^ Aloney, Hitesh. "Ken River". upscwithnikhil.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
^ "राजपूतों की वंशावली - क्षत्रिय राजपूत इतिहास". kalgati.wikidot.com. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
^ Ansari, Saiyad Hasan (1986). Evolution and Spatial Organization of Clan Settlements: A Case Study of Middle Ganga Valley. Concept Publishing Company.

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[1] Fox, Richard Gabriel (1971). Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-01807-5.

[2] Rathore, Abhinay. "Kuldevi of all Rajputs". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

[3] Aloney, Hitesh. "Ken River". upscwithnikhil.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.

[4] "राजपूतों की वंशावली - क्षत्रिय राजपूत इतिहास". kalgati.wikidot.com. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

[5] Ansari, Saiyad Hasan (1986). Evolution and Spatial Organization of Clan Settlements: A Case Study of Middle Ganga Valley. Concept Publishing Company.

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