MahamahopadhayayaKaviraja Shyamaldas Dadhivadia (1836-1893), popularly referred to as Kaviraja (Hindi: king of poets) was one of the early writers involved in documenting the history and culture of what is now Rajasthan region of India.[1]
Authorship
Shyamaldas co-wrote ( with his father Kayamadana Dadhivadia ) the Dipanga Kul Prakash, an extended narrative poem on the Dodia Rajputs of Mewar.[2] Maharana Sajjan Singh, ruler of Udaipur (princely state), assigned Shyamaldas the task of compiling an authentic history of Mewar.[3] Titled Vir Vinod ( Hindi: Heroes' Delight ), this is the earliest known comprehensive history written in Mewar.[4] It reached the public only in 1930 as Maharana Fateh Singh ( Maharana Sajjan Singh's successor) was averse to its publication.[5]
Negotiator and mentor
Shyamaldas was also a confidant of Maharana Sajjan Singh and was entrusted with the delicate negotiations which resulted in a quick end to the Bhil rebellion of 1881.[6] Later, Shyamaldas' pupil, Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha also became a famed historian and writer.[citation needed]
Honors and awards
Shyamaldas was honored with the degree of Mahamahopadhayaya and conferred with the Kesar-e-Hind ( Lion of India) by the British Government.[7]
References
^Sharma, Dasharatha (1970) Lectures on Rajput history and culture p1 Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi
^Dadhivāṛiyā, Kāyamadāna; Śyāmaladāsa; Jāvaliyā, Brajamohana; Jāvaliyā, Śarada (1995). Dīpaṅga-kula-prakāśa: Saradāragaṛha ke Ḍoḍiyoṃ kā itihāsa. Rājasthāna gaurava granthamālā (in Rajasthani and Hindi). Pratāpa Śodha Pratishṭhāna (1. saṃskaraṇa ed.). Udayapura: Pratāpa Śodha Pratishṭhāna, Bhūpāla Nobalsa Saṃsthāna, Udayapura.
