Sodha

Sodha (also known as Sodhi) are a Hindu Rajput clan residing in Pakistan and India.

History

They are off-shoot of Parmara Rajputs, who once controlled regions of Malwa and later North-West parts of Rajasthan. The area around Suratgarh was called ' Sodhawati ' and south - east of Bhatner was once occupied by the Sodha Rajputs before being evicted from these regions by Bhatti Rajputs, after which moved their base to Thar desert.^[1][2] Sodha Rajputs, based in Umerkot district of Pakistan's Sindh, are one of the clans, which are off-shoots of the Parmar Rajput dynasty that reigned over Malwa in central India from the 9th century onwards till 13th century.^[3] The Sodhas controlled Tharparak (Thar) in the southeast of the Sindh province in Pakistan.

Umerkot Fort of Sodha Rajput

Sodha Rajputs are one of few Hindu Rajput clans still living in Pakistan. Umerkot province was ruled by Sodha Rajput clan from medieval times until 1947 Partition of British India. The city held prominence during the Mughal Empire Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar and the British Raj. Mughal Emperor Akbar The Great was born in Amarkot 14 October 1542 when his father Humayun fled from the military defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri.^[4] Rana Parshad, the Sodha Rajput ruler of Umarkot, gave him refuge.^[5] Umerkot Kingdom ruled by Sodha Rajputs was annexed by Jodhpur State in the 18th century and its rulers were reduced to Vassals. Umerkot area and its fort was later handed to the British in 1847 by the Maharaja of Jodhpur in return for reducing the tribute imposed on Jodhpur State by Rs.10,000. and the territory came under direct rule of British India, and the Ranas were reduced to category of Jagirdars^[6] The history of Sodha Rajput is also recorded in book named "Sodhayan" authored by Chimanji Kavia published in 1887 (Jodhpur)^[7]

Pakistan

Umerkot was the only area with a Hindu majority population of Sodha Rajputs and including the ruling family that acceded to Pakistan and are still residing there. Rana Chandra Singh, a federal minister and the chieftain of the Hindu Sodha Rajput clan and the Umerkot Jagir, was one of the founder members of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Umarkot, seven times with PPP between 1977 and 1999, when he founded the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP).^[8][9] Currently, his politician son Rana Hamir Singh is the 26th Rana of Tharparkar, Umarkot and Mithi.^[10][11][12]

They still follow the age-old tradition of getting their daughters married to Rajput families in the border districts of India's Rajasthan. As they only inter-marry with other Hindu Rajput clans, every year they come to Rajasthan, to choose their bride and groom. Both Government of India and Pakistan have made special visa provisions and created a special diplomatic channel to facilitate the cross-country marriage of Sodha Rajputs, despite the strained relations between both countries.^{[3][13][14][15][16]}

India

Sodha Rajput's some population in India is found scattered around North West regions of Rajasthan.^[1]

In Kutch district, Sodha Rajputs are the most recent migrants from Sindh, Pakistan. Due to the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the Sodhas fled Sindh and were settled into government village camps in Rapar and Bacchau districts of Kachchh where they continue to live. Sodhas are one of several sub-groups of the larger Hindu Rajput community and retain strong links with Sindh through intermarriages. Fiercely patriarchal customs and traditions characterize this traditional protector-warrior community. Control over the movement of women in public has led to various ironic role reversals, such as men fetching water for the women from the village well.^[17][18][19]

References