History

INTRODUCTION

The Kshatriyas are an order form whom were born saints like Ram Krishana, Vishvamitra,Buddha, Jain Tirthankars and Sikh Gurus. The martial qualities of the Kshatriya Community is renowned throughout the world in warfare, in the act of fairplay and forgiveness which has been an integral part of its tradition. It is these qualities which have made history. Moreover, the qualities of giving one's life to keep a promise and give protection to those who seek it are legendary in the folklore of India and have been the foundation or Kshatriya ideology. Samrat Ashok, Samrat Vikramaditya, Raja Bhoj, Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan, Samrat Krishnadeva Raya, Maharana Partap, Chhatrapati Shivaji , are only some of these glorious names. It was the Kshatriyas who stood up against the Muslim in roads and many battles were fought to defend the culture and beliefs of the society. Even in the struggle for independence in 1857, Kshatriya warriors despite their inter-necine warfare had fought the outsiders and many 'fell' on the battlefield. In that period the ' Kshatriya Hitkarni Sabha' had created strong opposition against the imperialistic expansion of the British and revolts were organised in Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Balia Chhapra and in the Punjab.

AKHIL BHARTIYA KSHATRIYA MAHASABHA

In 1897 Raja Balwant Singhji of Awagadh took Leadership in coordination with Thakur Umarao Singhji of Kotla, Raja Uday Pratap Singhji of Bhinga in registering the Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Maha Sabha on 19 Oct 1997 to initiate for the first time in the history of india of creating a platform to promote the cause of the Kashatriyas. They even proposed launching a news letter called ' Rajput Monthly' on the 20 Feb 1898 under the presidentship of Judge Babu Sanwal Singhji of Benaras. The Maha Sabha had its first conference in the Rajput Boarding House at Agra. Thereafter, Maharaja Pratap Singhji of Jammu and Kashmir sponsored the launching of an Urdu Publication called the Rajput Gazette as a fortnightly form Lahore. it was edited by Thakur Sukh Ram Das Chauhan. Thereafter creating awareness through publicity and meetings in many parts of india were initiated. In the filed of education Raja Uday Pratap Singhji of Bhinga Built a College in Varansai named after himself Raja Balwant Singhji of Awagadh set up a college in Agra Sir Pratap Singhji of Idar set up the ' Chaupansni School ' for Rajputs in Johpur and several schools and boardings wre setup by former Rajput rulers in different states of India to give special attention to their Rajput bretheren. So, were the princely schools at Rajkot, Ajmer, Lahore, Raipur and Indore they set up. In the field of social upliftment, in the course of meetings and gatherings throughout India, directions were given to raise the level of education , to overcome the practice of debilitating vices, shake up the community from slothfulness and in general give inspiration to the society right down to the Panchayat level. Most of all the Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Maha Sabha has played a vital role in bringing about effective coordination between thousands of Kashatriya Organisations at the taluka and the district levels for grassroot Involvement.

THE KSHATRIYAS BEFORE INDEPENDENCE

The history of India would have been written differently had the Kashatriyas not played a vital role . Protecting the frontiers, defending the weak and establishing justice were the objectives of Kshatriya leadership throughout the history of India. The epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata reflect the most glorious chapters of the history of India and they represent the essence of Kahatriya Philosophy. Protecting the weak from the exploiter was what gave them the position to be accepted as rulers of the entire society. The people believed that only a Kashatriya can enforce law and order. Moreover, the generosity and tradition of giving of alms further endeared the Kshatriya rulers to the people. A thousand names of the great Kashatryas in the history of India could be listed who made an impact and influenced the life style of the people. Much of the Kshatriya down-fall came because of their stead- fastness of sticking to the truth, protecting the weak and standing by those who had be- friended them, The inroad of the Moguls, swept over India with fanatism followed by the British and the French who used their diplomatic skills in dividing the Kshatriya rulers by putting one against the other that, India became subjugated and over ruled by foreign powers. It was only because of lack of unity between Kashatriya powers that India lost its independence and thereby its cultural heritage of the past, One third of India continued to be ruled by Princes uptill independence and most of them were Kshatriyas. The 20th Centenary did bring about spontaneous support offered by the Kshatriya rulers for enchancing the well being of their kith in their own areas. The Kshatriya Zamindars of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh also helped in enhancing their well being.

THE KSHATRIYAS AFTER INDEPENDENCE

Within a year after independence in 1974, the Princes of India handed over the reigns of their administration to the people of India to meet with the demands of social progress and democracy based on adult franchise. It must not be forgotten that the greatest sacrifice that any community has made after independence in achieving this goal has been the Kshatriyas. Those who were princes gave up their traditional rulership which had been enjoyed for thousands of years and hundreds of generations without blood - shed, Those who were Zamindars did similary. Even the compensation they got was only notional and even these are now forgotten, Therefore , it must always be remembered that when the time comes and where there is a peoples' demand no other community in India will come forward to make such sacrifices and contributions as Kshatriyas have done. In all other corners of the would wherever such revolutions have taken place it has been with blood - shed and if there was no blood- shed in India, it was only because of the magnanimity, sagacity and the commonsense which every Kshatriya is endowed with. In the democratic setup also the Kshatriyas have played a vital role right from the Panchayat level to the Prime Ministership and it is well known that whether a Kshatriya has remained in political office for long or short or whether he has been successful in his career or not he always stood by his principles of being just and keeping scrupulously away from corrupt practices. Rajputs converted to islam are now proudly invited to be affiiliated as Muslim Rajput organisations both in India and abroad. Organisationally in fund collection the Kshatriya may lag behind which is obviously seen in the performance of the Kshatriyas social organisations today. However a positve trend is developing of working for effective coordination not only to support each other but also to create the needed infrastructure. New educational institutions. boarding houses, kanya chhatarwas, guest houses, pilgrim lodges, heritage hotels comprising of old palaces and forts, directories and research institutions have come up and more will certainly be setup in the years to come . The Kshatriyas are now coming up in every vacation and it is a very welcome sign to see certain dynamic families doing exceedingly well in the field of industries, trade, building construction, administration and civil services, transport business and most of all in disciplines which are traditionally theirs such as Army , Navy and Air Force and Police. As a fall out from the centenary celebrations of Oct 19,1997 a new spirit of optimism has grown amongst the Kshatriyas whereby the leadership qualities they have inherited shall be put to test and they shall come out with flying colours.

INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION

The spirit of adventure is ingrained in the Kshatriya ethos which has taken them to every corner of the globe more particulary the USA, UK, Africa and South East Asia where the Rajp8t more Particulary the USA UK, Africa and South East Asia, Where the Rajput Associations are alll active and ripe for effective coordination both inter-se and with sister organisations in India. The Akhil Bhartya Kshatriya Mahasabha ( ABKMS) strives to establish a meaningful rapport with all such organizations spread around the world. under the dynamc Ledership of its national President former union minister of India Raja Dr Digvijay Singhji ( Wankaner )

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Akhil Bhartiya Khastriya Maha Sabha Celebrated its centenary, on Oct 19,1997 at Lal Kila Maidan Delhi, under the dynamic ledership of its national President, former union minister of India , Raja Dr Digvijay Singhji ( Wankaner) Gujrat, on this occasion all the prominent Kashtriya leaders including five Chief Ministers, former minister, more than fifty royal princes and dignitaries from India and abroad participated, Sh Digvijay Singhji the then Chief Minister of Madya Prdesh was the Chief Guest and Dr Karan Singh former Union Minister of India was the Guest of Honour, on this occasion, It was resoled to unite and strengthen the organisation and unite the kashtriyas of India and abroad for the social economic cultural, educational and over all development of the Samaj, Raja Dr Digvijay Singhji ( Wankaner ) and office bearers of the Maha Sabha attended a numbers of meetings through out the country including Haridwar, Kurukshetra, ( Haryana ) 15/16 April 1995, 5/6 August 1995, Rajgir Bihar, 5/6 August 1995 U.P, Jammu ( J&K) Punjab, Chandigarh, Bhopal ( M.P) Bombay, Gujrat, Jaipur Rajisthan, and number of other state of India in connacation with Centenary Celebrations as a resulte of which more than Two Lac Kashitriyas attended the above said historic Sammelan, The National Kashitriya Milan Samaroh was Celebrated at Begam Hajrat Mehal Park Lucknow ( U.P) on 8 Nov 1998 under the leadership of its national Presedent Raja Dr Digvijay Singhji and its National working President Thakur Bhola Singhji, Dr Karan Singh former union minister, Jagadambika Pal former Chief Minister of U.P, Raja Bhaiya, Sanjay Singh Amethi former union minister and a number of National and State Kashatriya leaders attended the above said sammelan. On Oct 15, 2000 a Vishal National Kashtriya Milan Smaharo of Akhil Bhartiya Kashitriya Maha Sabha was Celebrated at Lal Prade Ground Bhopal under the leadership of Sh Digvijay Singhji, the then Chief Minister of Madhya Prdesh in which Aadi Shankaracharya of Kanchi Matha, Raja Dr Digvijay Singhji National President, Thakur Bhola Singh, National President, and all prominent national and state leaders of Kashtriya Maha Sabha as well as lacs of Kashitriyas participated in the sammelan and it was resoles to strengthen the organisation and Samaj and to give up social evils like Mrityu Bhoj etc. Akhil Bhartiya Kashtriya Maha Sabha has organisd the meetings of national executive, national core commtee, national sammelan etc. In more than twenty States of India i.e J&K Himachal, Punjab, Haryana , Chandigarh, Delhi, U.P, Rajsthan, M.P, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chatishgarh, orisa, Bangal, Gujrat, Maharastra , Karnatka, Tamilnadu, Andhra Prdesh, etc.

NATION-WIDE RATH YATRA WAS ORGANISED FROM JAMMU TO KANYAKUMARI FOR RESERVATION ON ECONOMIC BASIS RATHER THAN ON CASTE BASIS

Akhil Bhartiya Kashtriya Maha Sabha resolved and demanded since 1980 the resarvation should be given on the basis of ecnomic condition and not on the basis of Cast or religion, In the year 2001 lacs of singnatures and memorandun containg lacs of signatures was submitted to Hon'ble Governors through District Collectors, demanding reservation on the basis of economic condition and not on the basis of caste or religion. Rath Yatra from jammu to kanyakumari for reservation on economic basis from 17/10/2010-13/3/2011 Akhil Bhartiya Kashtriaya Maha Sabha organised a nation - wide Rath Yatra from Jammu to Kaniya Kumari demanding reservation on the economic basis and not on caste basis from Oct 17, 2010 to 13 March 2011, Raja Dr Digvijay Singh National President Flagged off Rath Yatra From Hostoric Place Amar Kashatriya Bhawan Jammu on 17/10/2010 on the EVE of Dussehra day demanding reservation on economic basis instead of caste basis, eradication of Rampant Corruption and agriculture should be given tax free facilities like industry, Rath Yatra Reached Kanya Kumari on 14/01/2011 Passing through J&K, Himachal, Punjab, Haryana, Uttrakhand, U.P, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and there after reached Delhi on 13/03/2011 Passing Through Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Maharastra, Gujrat, Rajsthan, Uttar Pradesh, etc. on 13/03/2011. A meeting was held at Ram Leela Ground Delhi and after a demonstration at Janttar Manttar Delhi a Memorandum was given to Hon'ble President and Prime Minister of India, Hon'ble Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Smt Sonia Gandhi Chair Person of U.P.A. The above said Rath Yatra was given warm Welcome by all sections of society throughout the country. Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha alongwith Aggrawal and Brhaman and Punjabi communities Staged a Dharna at Jantter Mantter from 27 December 2011 to 02/01/2012 for the above said demands and again a memorandum was submitted to the above mentioned dignitaries.

New History

Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha was revived after 1947 under the President ship of Babu Ram Narayan, M.P. at the level of a common man and a national convention was held at Ujjain. A national executive meeting at Jhansi and Nangal Township (Punjab). Similarly Maha Rawal Laxman Singh Dungarpur as a President arranged a convention at Kanpur, where Maharani Kota was also present, Dehradun, Delhi, Jaipur, Jammu, Sonpur, Barwala, Thanesar and Gharounda in Haryana as well as many other places in India. Maha Raja Digvijay Singh, former Union Minister and National President of Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha arranged a number of meetings through out the country for strengthening the organization and a meeting of the national executive held at Haridwar and Kurukshetra (15-16 April 1995) decided to celebrate the Shatabdi Samaroh of Mahasabha in Delhi on 29th October 1997. Sh. Anand Mohan and his wife Smt. Lovely Anand organize a meeting at Rajgiri in Bihar for the same purpose and there after a number of meetings were held in Delhi on 25-6-1995, 27-8-1995, 14-11-1995 for making elaborate arrangements for the above said purpose. A number of meetings were also held at Bhopal (Madhya Pardesh), Jaipur (Rajsthan) and in many other states in the year 1996. A meeting of the nation executive was held at Bhopal on 30-3-1997 which was organized by Sh. Vijender Singh Sisodiya, Former Minister of Madhya Pardesh and some other meetings were also held in other parts of India. All the above said meetings were presided over by Former Union Minister and National President Dr. Digvijay Singh Wankaner.

After the celebration of Shatabdi Samaroh a national core committee of ABKM was found in Delhi and on 10th and 11 July 1999, 19-12-1999, 24-10-1999, 24-25 June 2000 important meetings of national executive were held at Delhi, Mumbai (Maharashtra). Dusshera Samelan at Hyderabad (AP) and 24-25 June 2000 at Hari Palace Jammu arranged by Sh. Daljeet Singh Charak and Thakur Diwakar Singh and 17-6-2002 at Amar Kshatriya Sabha Jammu. Similarly in 2002 meetings were held at Vishakapatnam, Vijyawara, Shree Shelam, Hyderabad (AP) and Mumbai. On 10-8-2003 Raja Mohan Singh Kanota arranged a meeting at Kanota House Jaipur and on 12-10-2003 Sh. Ajit Singh former M.P. arranged a meeting at Jagdish Nagar Chamarhara, Mehnar, Vaishali (Bihar). Similarly a number of meetings were held in Maharashtra, Rajsthan, Haryana, UP and Chandigarh etc. in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Maharana Partap Jyanti was celebrated by ABKM on 6-6-08 at Jagadhri (Haryana). Maharaja Hari Singh Pahadpur was the Chief Guest and Mahender Singh Tanwar presided over the celebrities. A number of meetings were held at Lucknow, Phagwara, Patna, Udaipur, Jaipur, Bhiwani, Pathankot, Guwalior and Kurukshetra in the year 2008 and 2009. All the above said programmes and meetings were held under the dynamic leadership and guidance of Former Union Minister and National President Dr. Digvijay Singh Wankaner.

A national convention of ABKM was held at Darul Safa Lucknow and the election of national executive was held on 16th and 17th April 2010. The meetings of ABKM were held at Delhi, Motihari (Bihar) and Una (HP) and a historic decision was taken in the meeting of national executive at Motihari (Bihar) to launch a movement against reservation on caste basis and in favour of a reservation on economic basis as well as against the rampant corruption in the country and for bringing tax free agriculture with the industry like facilities.

A meeting of the national executive was held at Delhi on 12-13 February 2011 and a Dharna for reservation on economic basis rather than on caste basis was held at Jantar Mantar Delhi. On 10-3-2011 a Dharna was held at Rajghat for the above said purpose. And there after a week long Dharna was held from 28-12-2012 to 2-1-2013 at Jantar Mantar New Delhi for the above said purpose. The above said Dharna was presided over by Former Union Minister and National President Dr. Digvijay Singh Wankaner. Further Aggarwal, Brahman, Punjabi and other communities participated in the above said Dharna. more a meeting of the national core committee was also held on 18-19 July 2012 at Ujjain (Madhya Pardesh) and a national convention of ABKM was held on 21-22 August 2012 at Shirdi (Madhya Pardesh). On 18-6-2013 a Prithvi Raj Chouhan Jyanti was celebrated at NDRI Karnal and Sh. Mahender Singh Tanwar National Working President presided over the meeting.

Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha strongly protested through out north India against the ill treatment and injustice done to the than Chief of the Army Staff of India General V.K. Singh. A Vishal Dharna and demonstration was organized by ABKM on 6th May 2012 in support of Generla V.K. Singh for the cause of eradication of rampt corruption in the country. Youvraj Kesri Singh Wankaner participated in the Dharna and demonstration and a memorandum to the President of India was submitted to this effect.

Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha launched a nation wide movement against Jodha Akbar serial telecast and a Vishal Rally was arranged at Chandigarh where about 10000 persons participated and thousands Kshatrya were arrested and hundreds out of them were badly injured by the police Lathi Charge and a criminal case u/s 307 IPC as well as many other sections of IPC was registered against the National Working President Sh. Mahender Singh Tanwar, Sh. Sukhdev Singh Rana, President Union Territory Chandigarh and three other leaders of ABKM. Again a Vishal Rally, Dharna and demonstration was organized on 18-8-2013 by ABKM at Jantar Manter New Delhi and more than 15000 people participated under the leadership of former Union Minister and National President Maharaja Digvijay Singh Wankaner. Hundred of peoples were injured in the police Lathi Charge and a criminal case under various section of IPC was registered against Maharaja Digvijay Singh Wankaner and Sh. Mahender Singh Tanwar National Working President. Sh. Mahender Singh Tanwar was arrested alongwith 20 persons by police station Parliament Street New Delhi. Similarly meetings and demonstrations were held at Mumbai, Ujjain, Indore, Lukhnow, many parts of Haryana and through out the country. A deligation of ABKM lead by Sh. Mahender Singh Tanwar met Sh. Manoj Tiwari Minister for Information and Broadcasting and consequently many objectionable scenes were removed from the serial.

ABKM has placed a vital role in Lok Sabha and Assembly election for arranging party tickets of different political parties for Rajput candidates, as a result of which more than 100 Rajputs are members of Parliament of India today. The ABKM for the first time launched the movement against caste based reservation and raised slogan 'reservation should be economic basis rather than on caste basis'. Now we see there is a nation wide debate everywhere in favour of reservation on economic basis. A national convention of Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha was held on 18-19 April 2015 at Ujjain and a national executive was unanimously elected Maharaja Dr. Karan Singh of J&K, Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodpur, Maharaja Raghubir Singh Sirohi Rajsthan were unanimously elected as Sanrakshak. And Maharaja Digvijay Singh Wankaner as National President and Sh. Mahender Singh Tanwar as National Working President. Sh. R.N. Singh of Kanpur and Sh. Anil Singh Chandel of Ujjain (MP) were unanimously elected as General Secretary. It was also unanimously resolved to maintain the previous national executive as such.