Did Tomar King Rajpal Rule over Garhwal and Hardwar/Haridwar: A Historical Perspective

History of Garhwal (1223- 1804 AD) –part -15

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -260

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)

                 Historian Pundit Hari Krishna Raturi in Garhwal ka Itihas (page 338) states folklore about a Tomar King Rajpal ruling over whole of Garhwal including Hardwar/Haridwar. The folklore states that Bisarpa the minister of King Kshemraj of Dhilli or Delhi killed his King Kshemraj. The widow of Kshemraj ran to Badrikashram, Garhwal and she took shelter in a Rishi Ashram. She delivered a son named as Rajpal. Rishi trained Rajpal for weaponries. Rajpal became the King of Gadh Desh. Rajpal had one son Anangpal.  Anangpal Tomar did not have son but a daughter. Anangpal appointed his grandson Prithviraj Chauhan (son of Someshwar ) as his successor.

     However, there is no historical and other record to proof the above folklore or saying. Dr. Dabral mentions that no historians did mention a Tomar King as Kshemraj and Rajpal. This author also tried to search Tomar history and did not find any name Kshemraj and Rajpal as Tomar King.

           Even in Prithviraj Raso , there is no mention of Rajpal Tomar.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com6/2//2014

                                      References

1-Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1971, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag-4, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, Pauri Garhwal, India 

2-Harikrishna Raturi, Garhwal ka Itihas

3-Dr. Patiram, Garhwal Ancient and Modern

4-Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwal

5- Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

6- Bhakt Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

7-Foster, Early Travels in India William Finch

8-Upadhyaya, Shri Shankaracharya

9-Shering, Western Tibet and British

10-H.G. Walton, Gazetteer of British Garhwal

11-B.P.Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal

12-H.g Walton, Gazetteer of Dehradun

13- Vimal Chandra, Prachin Bharat ka Itihas

14-Meera Seth, Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas 

15-Furar, Monumental Antiquities

16-Haudiwala, Studies in Indo-Muslim History

17- Rahul Khari 2007, Jats and Gujjar Origin, History and Culture

18- Upendra Singh, 2006, Delhi: Ancient History, Barghahan Books

19- B.S. Dahiya, 1980, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A Clan Study) , Sterling Publications

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter          

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -261