Durgadas Rathore
A commemorative postage stamp on the 350th Birth Anniversary of Durga Das Rathore, savior of Marwar from Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb :
Issued by India
Issued on Aug 26, 1988
Description of Designs : The 60p stamp is designed by India Security Press, Nashik Road. The first day cover depicts a painting on Durgadas Rathore the transparency of which was provided by the Veer Durgadas Rathore Smriti Samiti, Jodhpur. The cancellation is designed by Smt. Nenu Gupta.
Type : Stamp, Mint Condition
Colour : Single colour
Denomination : 60 Paise
Overall size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.
Printing size : 3.55 X 2.54 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Imported unwatermarked P.G. matt coated gummed stamp paper
Number Printed : 10,00,000
Number per issue sheet : 35
Printing Process : Photogravure
Printed : India Security Press
Name : Durgadas Rathore
Born on Aug 13, 1638 at Salwa Kallan, Jodhpur District, Rajasthan, India
Died on Nov 22, 1718 at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India
About :
- Durgadas Rathore, the son of a Rajput noble of Marwar, Askaran Rathore, was born on 13th August 1638 at Salwa. He led a quiet, uneventful life with his mother in village Lunawa near Salwa Kalan. But in 1655 he killed the official herdsman who looked after the king’s camels for speaking insolently about the king. This act of loyalty changed the course of his life.
- Aurangzeb became the Emperor of Hindustan and, gaining the loyalty of Jaswant Singh I, ruler of Marwar, appointed him Governor of Kabul. Durgadas served Jaswant Singh throughout his life-time and after his death, in 1678, he shouldered the task of safeguarding the freedom of Marwar and the life of its young king, Ajit Singh, son of Jaswant Singh.
- The task was not easy one, beset as he was with court intrigues and faced with the might of the Mughal Emperor. Battles, skirmishes and diplomatic manoeuvres kept Durgadas busy till 1708, when finally he restored Ajit Singh to the throne of Marwar.
- His soldiers were men of various castes and creeds. His zeal roused the fervour of many Rajputs bringing them together under one flag in an unprecedented manner. His chivalry towards women was well known, as is seen from his protection of Aurangzeb’s grand-daughter.
- On 22nd November 1718, on the banks of the Sipra at Ujjain, Durgadas passed away. What he left behind him was a shining example of loyalty, chivalry and courage.
- Material for text, courtesy: Veer Durgadas Rathore Smriti Samiti, Jodhpur.
