The Kingdom of Mewar

The Kingdom of Mewar : A premier princely state of Rajasthan, the erstwhile Rajputana till its merger into the union territory in 1948, Mewar has been celebrated in history and legend. In this far-famed region are best represented not only the Rajput chivalry and high sense of honour, but also their arts, architecture, and fabulous cultural traditions.
Developed from the author’s four year long intensive research, the book tries to reconstruct the unparalleled, glorious history of the world’s oldest ruling family: the house of Mewar now called the clan of Sisdios, in earliest times Guhilots. Tracing chronologically the entire course of events since their first known ancestor, Guhil, Irmgard Meininger here unfolds a compelling story of brave Rajput men and women, with an exaggerated sense of honour, pride and independence- the story of their triumphs and tragedies, and simultaneously of palace intreigues and rivalries, and of supreme sacrifices and treacheries. And yet in the main it is an exciting story of Mewar’s heroic resistance: first to Afghan adventures and Delhi Sultans and in the later days, to the Mughal imperialists.
Weaving into her narrative the legendary episodes around Maharani Padmini’s fabulous beauty, the dread rite jauhar, Panna Dai’s unique loyalty, and Princess Mira’s bhakti, among others, the author has been the repository not only of old Hindu traditions, but of the enchanting Rajput culture as well, and how Rajputs, notwithstanding their endless engagements in the battle field, were great patrons of art, architecture, literature and music.
Supported by numerous beautiful illustrations, bibliographic references and a glossary of non-English words, the book will fascinate anyone interested in India, particularly Rajasthan: whether as an inquisitive reader, tourist, historian, or a connoisseur of art.