The desert fortress where a marketplace became a battlefield
In short: In 1755, two volunteers disguised themselves as traders to infiltrate an army and assassinate a powerful Maratha leader. This act of deception in the Nagaur district created a proverb still whispered today about voracious hunters and fallen demons.
Nagaur has long served as a strategic pivot point in Rajasthan, situated on trade routes connecting Gujarat and Sindh to the Indus crossing at Multan. Its defense was historically dictated by the military and economic strength of its rulers. From the 12th century, it was held by the Chauhan clan under Prithviraj Chauhan, before eventually falling to various invaders including Balban, who was granted an estate centered on this desert town.
The region's history is a complex tapestry of Rajput dynasties and Islamic influence. The Nagaur Fort, built by Parmar Rajputs in the early 12th century, saw centuries of shifting control: it fell to the Sisodiya Rajputs of Mewar in 1455, was governed by Amar Singh Rathore as an imperial representative in the 17th century, and later saw palatial additions by Bakht Singh of Marwar. This architectural evolution reflects its status as a premier example of Rajput-Mughal design.
The most dramatic shift occurred during the mid-18th century. In 1755, Jai Appa Sindhia attacked Nagaur, surrounding the fort and cutting off supplies. To break the siege, Maharaja Vijay Singh ji commissioned two volunteers—Gaji Khan Khokhar and Kan Singh—to eliminate the Maratha leader. They spent two months observing the enemy as merchants before striking with daggers on July 25, 1755. While they succeeded in killing Sindhia, both were martyred in the ensuing fight, leaving behind a lasting cultural proverb regarding the 'voracious' Khokhar.
Beyond warfare, Nagaur is a center of spiritual synthesis. It hosted early Sufi shrines where disciples like Hamiduddin integrated Hindu principles into their teachings, such as practicing strict vegetarianism and rearing cows. Today, the district remains an economic hub, notably hosting one of Rajasthan’s largest cumin markets in Merta City.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Nagaur
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