Paradhin Gujarat (पराधीन गुजरात) is a historical novel written by one of the respected and a literary genius personality of Gujarati literature named Dhumketu (1892-1965). Author's pen name is Dhumketu while the original name is Gaurishankar Joshi. Here is his introduction - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhumketu_(writer)
 

Basic Details of the Novel

• Language – Gujarati
• Pages – Approx. 416
• Publication - Gurjar Granth Prakashan
• Topic - Establishment of Chavda (चावडा/चापोत्कट) dynasty in North Gujarat by ending the Rashtrakuta rule
• Period of the Novel – Around 750-775 CE

This novel is part of a series of historical novels named Chalukya Granthavali (चौलुक्य ग्रन्थावली). This novel is one of the sixteen novels of the series and very first in the chronological order.

Author is known for historical authenticity in his historical novels. For this book, he has taken support of historical accounts written by scholars in the courts of kings of Gujarat till early 13th centuries. Incidents and information are primarily sourced from two historical accounts - प्रबन्धचिन्तामणि and विचारश्रेणी, both by मेरुतुङ्ग (13th century).

Background

Around 750 CE, Ancient Gujarat was roughly divided among four zones having their own geographical identities:

• North Gujarat - आनर्त 
• North-West Gujarat - कच्छ 
• West Gujarat – सुराष्ट्र
• South Gujarat – लाट

These four zones were often ruled by different kings. West and North-West zones were controlled by मैत्रक dynasty while लाट was controlled by राष्ट्रकूट ruler of मान्यखेट (Today's Malkhed of Karnataka). Northern part of आनर्त (Today's Gujarat-Rajasthan border areas) was controlled by Bappa Rawal of Mewad and Nagabhat of Pratihar dynasty. These two kings were busy defeating Arab terrorists coming from Sindh during this period.

In North Gujarat at Panchasar (पञ्चासर) there was a small independent kingdom Jayshekhar/Jayshikhar. He was from Chavda dynasty. As a part of expansion, Rashtrakuta army defeats and kills Jayshekhar. His queen takes shelter in the nearby forest and waits for the right time to regain the kingdom. Rashtrakutas were eager to find out the queen and her son.

Significance of the Title

Title of this novel is पराधीन गुजरात which means "Dependent/Occupied Gujarat". Following points support this title.

• मैत्रक dynasty was controlling a large part of Gujarat but constant attacks and military pressure from Islamic terrorists (Arabs) from Sindh and Rashtrakutas from South, made them weaker and ultimately in 788 CE, Arabs killed the Maitrak ruler and sacked his capital Valabhi in सुराष्ट्र. So, during 750 CE, this once powerful dynasty was on decline.
• Between the end of Maitrakas and rise of Chavdas, Gujarat was politically unstable. Moreover, constant threat of Arab terrorists and Rashtrakutas were always looming. Before the establishment of Chavda rule, parts of Gujarat were occupied by/in control of Arabs and Rashtrakutas. They were not locals and if you don’t have a local rule then you are not independent.
• By establishing an independent Chavda rule in North Gujarat, by defeating mighty Rashtrakutas, Chavdas re-establishes the local glory. After the end of Maitrak rule in 788 CE, Chavdas becomes the prime force in Gujarat. This brings political stability and development in Gujarat.

Plot of the Novel

• Continuing from the background, Chavda queen raises his son Vanaraj (वनराज). She gets support from other royal supporters and tribals (भील). Tribals also help Chavdas in the battle against Rashtrakutas.
• Vanaraj, with help from these warriors and other brave royals, chalks out a strategy (कूटनीति). He surrenders to Rashtrakuta army and becomes one of the officers whose main job is to collect tax, money and skilled horses for Rashtrakutas. Gradually he gains confidence of Rashtrakuta royals and become influential.
• Meanwhile, other supporters, as per the plan, build a sizeable army with the help of merchants and warriors.
• Finally, at the right moment, Chavda army lead by Vanaraj attacks Rashtrakutas and badly defeats them.
• During this battle he not only protects but also gives safe passage to the Rashtrakuta queen to escape from the battlefield and shows his स्त्रीदाक्षिण्यता.

Capital City of Chavdas

During the entire episode, one person stands out in the eyes of Vanaraj by showcasing his immense qualities as a warrior and army management. He is अणहिल. So, after the victory, new capital city of Chavdas on the bank of Sarasvati River gets name अणहिलपाटक  i.e. today's Patan (पाटण) of North Gujarat. This city, Patan, then remains a royal seat for every Gujarat king for almost 500 years

Strategy of Chavdas

Coming to the strategy, Vanaraj knows that money power is necessary for army creation and also sustainability of his plan.

Arrangement of Money
Vanaraj, decides to raids the wealthiest merchant of one rich village with his friends in the dark night to fund his military ventures against Rashtrakutas. However, while searching inside the house, he suddenly asks his friends to leave the mansion, though they get battled they follow his instructions immediatelyHe explains later that when he put his hand inside a clay pot assuming that there must be hidden jewelry inside he finds yogurt. Since his hands touched food item, he can't loot the wealthy couple (Indic tradition). Looting them would be like a sin. Next morning, wife of the merchant observes an impression of Vanaraj's hand imprint inside the pot of Yogurt. She reaches out to one highly learned ब्राह्मण named सोमशर्मा and gets confirmation that this hand is of a royal person who is destined to rule, not loot. सोमशर्मा is not a normal ज्योतिषी but is also a पुरोहित of erstwhile ruling Chavdas. She, along with her husband, finds out Vanaraj and joins his cause and assures that to eradicate राष्ट्रकूट rule from Gujarat, their entire wealth is at feet of Vanaraj. Recall the episode of भामाशाह and महाराणा प्रताप. History gets repeated after ~800 yrs in Mewar (Rajasthan).
An amazing statement that underscores this episode is - "Country where वैश्य are not in support of their राजा, पराधीनता (Slavery) comes and kills the moral of प्रजा". Straight, simple yet profound.
 

Military Power
Once money power is secured, Vanaraj and supporters decide to raise and regroup dejected Chavda warriors to recapture the lost kingdom from Rashtrakutas. This responsibility was given to two क्षत्रिय. One is अणहिल (Young and energized warrior) while the other is रणमल्ल (Aged and seasoned warrior).
Abilities of these two warriors are noteworthy. अणहिल is a son of लांछनदेवी, leader of female army unit of Chavdas, who was instrumental in delaying the defeat of Chavdas in the earlier battle against Rashtrakutas. Her valour was an inspirational tale for Chavda female warriors. अणहिल is master in army management and expert in building secret hideouts. रणमल्ल is a seasoned and wise warrior who took part in the earlier battles and whose mere presence is enough to lift the moral of entire army. He is Commander (सेनापति) of Chavda army. His role is to guide, train and protect warriors. अणहिल and रणमल्ल are two central to developing good strategies and plans. Ultimate success always hinged on their plans.

Resources
Now वनराज has following resources

• Money Power
• नगरपति - श्रेष्ठी जशवीर (Wealthy Merchant)
• सेनापति - रणमल्ल चापोत्कट
• सेनानायक – अणहिल
• पुरोहित - सोमशर्मा

Now he needs a minister (मंत्री) who has बल and बुद्धि to execute the entire plan and keep everybody tightly placed. His name is जाम्ब. He is a वणिक but also well versed in horse riding, warfare and archery. He is also धीर, बुद्धिमान and विवेकी.
So, मंत्री of Chavda dynasty is a good choice for a young and inexperienced Chavda prince Vanaraj to guide him to defeat a powerful enemy. Entire plan and subsequent कूटनीति to defeat राष्ट्रकूट in their own backyard was proposed by जाम्ब only. Thus वनराज, even before becoming a real king, forms his राजसभा. An apt parallel to अर्थशास्त्र for a king to start his political journey !

Strategy
To defeat Rashtrakutas-

• वनराज plans to surrender to Rashtrakutas and become a money collector.
• Acquiring trust by collecting as much money as possible.
• During this time, रणमल्ल and अणहिल will raise, train and hide army units to safe places.
• Merchant couple to convince others to support Vanaraj in money collection activity to win the trust of Rashtrakutas.
• जाम्ब to take other officers in confidence for eliminating hurdles to make this plan a success.

कूटनीति can taste success only when you have support from enemy camp. जाम्ब मंत्री knows this well so before executing his plan, he approaches an officer (धवल) who is trusted and influential to Rashtrakutas. धवल was earlier placed in चावडा army only. Dhaval agrees to play an important role in establishing Vanaraj as the money collector.

Execution of Strategy
As per plan, Vanaraj surrenders and becomes an officer. Along with Dhaval, he collects high quality horses and money from traders and merchants for Rashtrakutas and uses them in a war against Rashtrakutas. Vanaraj applies four उपाय to accomplish his task - साम, दान, भेद, दण्ड. These four tricks are mentioned in all of the texts of अर्थशास्त्र.

Within no time, Vanaraj wins the trust of Rashtrakutas and becomes "head of security" of none other than Rashtrakuta queen herself who is coming to Gujarat from Deccan. This was the moment Chavdas were waiting for.

Chavdas had two big factors in their favor -

• Vanaraj as the chief security officer of Rashtrakuta queen’s trip
• Dhaval, being a trusted, as the chief organizer of Queen's trip

Rashtrakutas lost half of the battle here by trusting two locals in such an important event. Ancient texts of अर्थशास्त्र specifically warned not to employ foreigners on important posts in army. Foreigners are also barred from taking part in royal plots unless essential. Rashtrakutas forgot this learning and Chavdas thrived on this error.
As per the plan, Dhaval decides the route of Rashtrakuta queen in such a way that Rashtrakuta army gets trapped. Chavda army, along with भील warriors, attacks baffled Rashtrakuta army at a pre-planned spot and rattles them easily. Majority of Rashtrakuta army gets slain.

Here, Vanaraj shows his quality as a धार्मिक king by letting Rashtrakuta queen escape unharmed with her few royal supporters. Killing a woman in the battle is a blot on any warrior’s life. He knew this and he didn't want to start his kingship with this blot. He proved that he is a धर्मविजयी king.

Post Victory

It is to be noted that Chavdas had ~ 4000 high quality horses which Vanaraj seized from horse traders in the name of Rashtrakutas and also extorted money from wealthy merchants. These resources were used in army building.

After winning the battle, Chavdas under able leadership of young Vanaraj, assemble under a Banyan tree where some of them once took a vow to recapture the lost kingdom. It was a time of celebration but Minister जाम्ब is cautious. He warns Vanaraj that मैत्रक dynasty is still ruling over the vast area of Gujarat. Even if Maitrakas are not enemies, Chavdas shouldn't be careless. To avoid unwanted conflict from Maitrak king in this changed scenario, He advises Chavdas to remain grounded by not celebrating this victory. Vanaraj agrees. On other side, Maitrak king was also happy to see retreat of Rashtrakutas from Gujarat. Both of them knowingly unknowingly followed राजमंडल (Circle of Kings) concept of Kautilya for own prosperity.

Climax

Finally, after a year, Vanaraj performs शिलान्यास of a new capital city अणहिलपुरपाटण of चापोत्कट dynasty on the bank of river सरस्वती in North Gujarat. Later the same Vanaraj Chavda establishes another historical town चाम्पानेर in Central Gujarat and expands his kingdom.

Concluding Remarks

By around 800 CE, entire North Gujarat comes under the control of Vanaraj Chavda. New city Patan then remains the royal seat of almost all Gujarat kings for another ~500 yrs. Chavda dynasty goes on to produce worthy descendants who sustains legacy of Vanaraj for another ~200 years.

It is to be noted that Chavdas ruled in the time when Pratiharas in North-West, Palas in South-East and Rashtrakutas in South-West parts of India were ruling over vast geographies and also trying to expand their territories which were not far from the border of Chavda kingdom. Even pressure from Islamic terrorists (Arabs) from west coast of Gujarat and Sindh were also very much threatening. Despite all these, Chavdas sustained. Even in 942 CE, after almost 200 years of successful rule, Chavda dynasty never faced any defeat in a battle. But the dynasty was brought to an end after other royals through a well-executed plan removed an unworthy Chavda king. In short, this novel has enough potential to ignite curiosity in the minds of a serious readers and propel them to study the political scenario of Gujarat of 8th century.

Converting fragments of history, legends and oral stories into a well written novel keeping historical elements as true as possible is a remarkable achievement for any writer. Imaginative plots, if any, are also written so lucidly that they are reflecting the ancient tradition of polity rooted in Dharma. Novel also stresses importance of having support from all classes of people for a king to win a battle and rule. Researchers and learners can draw many parallels from Kautilya's Arthashastra which are beautifully woven into this novel by Dhumketu.

From literary perspective, many Gujarati idioms and sayings are aptly used by Dhumketu which can satiate literary thirst of serious Gujarati readers. Language is highly refined and a good flow in maintained in the entire novel.

Option of translating this wonderful novel into other languages should be explored by interested people.

Image provided by the author.