Indian Mutiny of 1857 & Fort Auwa:

The revolt of Auwa was an out-come of general dis-satisfaction against the British. It was not an isolated incident caused by the arrival of the mutineers from Erinpura. It was joined by the chief of Goder, Alaniyawas, Asop etc. and their contingents.

The Jagir of Auwa was confiscated and handed over to Shivchand but the confiscation remained a dead letter because Auwa could not be conquered for a long time; A military expedition was taken against the Thakur of Auwa (i.e. Khusal Singh). The British Troops besieged Auwa Fort. The villagers also fought against the British,. The first fire came from the villagers. Khusalsingh excaped unhurt at night and his brother Prithi Singh and his followers also left the village. The village was occuiped by the British. It seems that even after the departure of Thakur  Kushal Singh and the occupation of the fort by the British, the people of Auwa went on fighting because a second expedition was also undertaken by colonel Holmnes who besieged the fort again and ultimately re-occupied it. Even this expedition seems to be of little weight becuase in Vaisakh V.S. 1912 another party consisting of Madho Singh and other nobles of note had to be sent. They failed to suppress the revolt and re-inforcements were sent under Vijaymal. Even then the Jodhpur troops failed to crush the Thakur completely, who fled towards Godwar and in Bhadow V.S. 1915 another force was dispatched under Jaswant Singh to crush the Auwa chief but the policy of repress on failed to crush the people of Auwa completely who according to Hakikats, went on creating troubles even upto V.S. 1918.

According to the report submitted by Nixon, Thakur Kusal Singh continued to plunder the Marwar territory but ultimately he settled quietly at Kotharia, a village in Mewar. He secured the British help in his recall and surrendered himself to the British at Neemuch on the 8th August 1860. At the trial which opened at Ajmer, quite a large number of witness were examined and the Thakur was ultimately acquitted.

It was heroic charge made by the Auwa cavaliers numbering 2000 which routed the British artillery men at Chelawas. The fighting took place for more then one pahar and the mutineers had to divide themselves in three parties. The right wing consisting of five hundred cavaliers was commanded by Thakur Shivnath Singh and Junjhar Singh and the left wing consisting of six hundred cavaliers was lead by the leaders of the Eranpura mutineers. The rear guard consisting of eight hundred persons of Auwa Thakur, was under the charge of Champawat Sagat Singh. These three parties fell upon the British tropps and a horrible fight took place. The British army was made to retreat towards Angdos, leaving behind quite a large number dead and wounded soilders.

With a view to suppress the revolt and wreak a vengence, Holmes invaded Auwa with a huge army consisting of nearly 30,000 troops on the 20th January 1858. Auwa chief made defence perprations and handed over the charge of his troops to his younger brother Prithvi Singh of Lambiya, who was assisted in his operations by Musahibkhas Sadul Singh and Kileder Bhan Singh Champawat. The walls of The Auwa fort were equipped with 50 artillery pieces.The Auwa chief could not put in the field more than 5,000 troops. The fighting went on four days. The Thakur had gone to mewar with a view to gather more troops. The fighting continued six days, the besieged were reduced to sheer helplessness and, the stratagem organised by the Jodhpur troops who persuaded the Killedar of Auwa to betray, the fort was vacated.

The British troops were not satisfied with the occupation of the fort. They plundered the village mercilessly, brought above a complete annihilation of the fort and the palace. Even the temples and their statues were not spared. So fierce was the spirit of vengeance that merciless torture was meted out to the villagers and even trees were cut down.

The Auwa chief had to struggle hard against the enemies for a period of 12 yrs. He wandered from place to place and made strenuous efforts to occupy the fort. He invaded Auwa many a time and even tried to contact Tantiya Tope.

His son Devi Singh attacked Auwa with the assistance of Pokaran, Nimbuj, Raipur, Ras, Khejralm and Chandawal and succeeded on Magsar badi 7 of V.S. 1925 in capturing Auwa. Gradually he brought under his swey the areas of Balotra, Rinya, Saran etc.

The militery tribunal setup by the British ordered for the confiscation of 10/16 of Auwa Thikhana. Balotra, worth as annual rekh of Rs. 22400/- were confiscated. The Thakur of Lambian lost Isali, Guda Mukan Singh and Bhando. The Thakurs of Banta, Bhimanlia, Badsan, Rajoda, Sonei Koopawatan, Radawas, Shapuni, Sovaniya, Sela and Nerawas lost half of their jagirs.

The heavy punishment inflacted on the Auwa Cheif his associated and subjects was due to the serious view taken by the paramount power. These rebels were pardoned because they could not be crushed and also because they had made it impossible for the Jodhpur Ruler to carry on his administration.