Tomara clan

For people with the surname Tomar, see Tomar (surname).

Tomara (also called Tomar, Tomer, Tanwar and Tuar) is a clan, some members of which ruled parts of North India at different times. People belonging to the Tomara clan are found among the Rajputs,[1] Jats[2] and Gurjars [3] of northern India.

The area of Morena, Bhind and Gwalior in northern Madhya Pradesh is referred to as "Tomarghar" meaning "Home of Tomars" due to its large population of Tomar Rajputs.[4]

History

The Tomara Rajput-Gurjar clan claim descent from the mythical Chandravanshi dynasty, numbering the Mahabharata warrior Arjuna among their forebears. They ruled in Delhi from around 736CE - 1115CE and also in Gwalior (1438-1486) and Rajasthan.[5]


Delhi

The establishment of Delhi as a political centre during the early medieval period was the work of the Rajput Tomara ruler Anangpal Tomar (Anangapala), although Rajasthani bardic stories that claim the involvement of Vasuki, a serpent demon, in the process are myths. Evidence of their time in Delhi still exists; for example, a fort and dam in the village of Anangpur and the remains of Lal Kot, which was later enhanced by the Chauhan rulers who supplanted the Tomars.[6] Other possible evidence is less certainly attributed and the Mehrauli pillar that is traditionally said to have been erected by a Tomar ruler may in fact have been moved to its present location from elsewhere.[7]

Kosli village was established by Kosal Dev Singh in 1193 A.D,[8] grandson of Anangpal Tomar and a son of Ausan Singh.

The Tomara dynasty of Delhi lasted until the demise of Anangpal Tomar, who was responsible for the construction of Lal Kot, a fortified wall around the city, likely in reaction to the raids of Mahmud of Ghazni. This is one of the oldest defence structures in Delhi.[9] Anangpal Tomar appointed his grandson (daughter's son, and son of King of Ajmer), Prithviraj Chauhan, as the heir-apparent The Chauhan dynasty of Ajmer was able to firmly establish control by the mid-12th century.[9]

Gwalior

Members of the Tomara clan ruled an area north of Gwalior known as the Tonwarghar tract. The most notable of these rulers was Man Singh Tomar (1486-1517).[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mayaram, Shail (2003). Against History, Against State: Counterperspectives from the Margins. Columbia University Press. p. 22. ISBN 9780231529518.
  2. ↑ Sociological Bulletin. 2004. p. 404.
  3. ↑ Rahul Khari (5 January 2007). Jats and Gujars: origin, history and culture. Reference Press. ISBN 978-81-8405-031-8. Retrieved 28 September 2011. In the contemporary Delhi, there are about 75 villages inhabited by the Gujars out of which 12 villages happened to be in Mehrauli where Gurjar belonging to Tomar clan dwell, who call themselves 'Tanwar'.
  4. ↑ "Guns rule 'badlands' of Bhind-Morena". Zeenews. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  5. ↑ Singh, David Emmanuel (2012). Islamization in Modern South Asia: Deobandi Reform and the Gujjar Response. Walter de Gruyter. p. 55. ISBN 9781614511854.
  6. ↑ Singh, Upinder, ed. (2006). Delhi: Ancient History. Berghahn Books. pp. xii, xx. ISBN 9788187358299.
  7. ↑ Singh, Upinder, ed. (2006). Delhi: Ancient History. Berghahn Books. pp. 179–180. ISBN 9788187358299.
  8. ↑ Sarban Singh; Haryana (India). Gazetteers Organisation (2004). Haryana State Gazetteer: Lacks special title. Haryana Gazetteers Organisation, Revenue Dept. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  9. 1 2 Ashri, Shashi Bhushan (2010). Delhi: A city of cities. Delhi, India: Anubhav Prakashan. p. 8. ISBN 978-93-8005-320-2.
  10. ↑ Kolff, Dirk H. A. (2002). Naukar, Rajput, and Sepoy: The Ethnohistory of the Military Labour Market of Hindustan, 1450-1850. Cambridge University Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-52152-305-9.
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