THE HISTORY OF AUWA AS TOLD BY THE PRESENT THAKUR SURENDRA SINGH JI , AUWA:

Thakur Kushal Singh Ji was adopted from Lambia. He had an independent mind and was very brave. In 1857, he gathered other brother Thakurs with him and was joined by the Indian soldiers  of the British armies who were on way to Delhi, from the cantonments of Deesa in Gujrat and Erinpura in Marwar, in the 1^st war of Independence, (also called the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 in India).

He had established correspondence with Nana Fadanvis, Tatia Tope and others who were working to oust the British from India, when the British came to know about this, they asked Jodhpur state to send forces to Auwa to put down this uprising, Lt. General Lawrence, who was the A.G.G. (Agent of Governor General) at Ajmer for Rajputana, also came with some forces to attack Auwa. His three different attacks were repulsed with determination. The Jodhpur state forces also did not achieve anything, as Auwa Village was protected on the west, to some extent on the North by a fortification wall on the East was protected by a high earth mound, so the outside attack by cannons could not do any damage, as the cannonballs were absorbed by the earthen mound. Capt. Mason, who was the British Residency Officer at Jodhpur, was coming towards Auwa on a camel was shot dead and his head was cut-off and was hanged at the fort-gate. To this day people in the villages still recite this story and the brave fight put up by Th. Kushal Singh, against the British to the children and singing songs during spring festival of Holi, about Capt. Mason’s head being strung at the fort gate, and about Th. Kushal Singh’s bravely fighting the British and Jodhpur state forces.

The siege of Auwa lasted from September 1857 to January 1858. When in January 1858, Th. Kushal Singh had gone out from the east side which was safer to venture out to get more help from the Rawat and Bhil tribes living in the Aravali hills about 10 minles (15 to 16 kms.) to the east and from his in-laws at Roopanagar, Mewar state, The British and Jodhpur officer came to know that he had gone, His elder brother Thakur Prithvi Singh of Lambia and Champawat Sagat Singh of Sinali who were left to carry on the fight till he would return with more help.

The British officer made contact with one Sardul Singh and told him that he and Prithvi Singh will be given the Jagirs of Auwa and Balathora between the two, Auwa was 37.5% and Balathora 62.5% of Auwa Jagir, so Sardul Singh advised Th. Prithvi Singh to leave Auwa, one early morning they left Auwa, opened gates before Th. Kushal Singh could come back with help. Ladies and children had been sent out some time earlier in the night. Coming back with more help they were met by Th. Kushal Singh, he was shocked to know that they did not hold on for 1 or 2 days more and had abandoned the fort and Auwa village.

The two who were promised the Jagirs of Auwa and Balathora were also not given according to the promises. The Jagir of Auwa & Balathora was confiscated by Jodhpur State. The British forces destroyed all the buildings in the fort and all the houses of the villages. They cut down all trees, only temples and other places of worship were left standing. This kind of treatment was not even meted out to Jhansi fort and town. Th. Kushal Singh and family went into Mewar (Udaipur) state and the Rao, ruler of Kotharia gave them shelter. After some years the family moved to Udaipur city. After sometime he died in Udaipur and was succeeded by his minor son Th. Devi Singh, when he was married in 11 years old pricess of Shahpura in Mewar.

THAKUR DEVI SINGH

After few years Th. Devi Singh moved into Sirohi state, South-West Rajasthan, in whose area was Mount Abu, a hill station, where the A.G.G. and other British officers used to come to pass the hot summer. To find a place to stay near Mr. Abu, he married the daughter of Thakur of Kalandhri and stayed there. From there he contacted the British officers and they said as peace was restored, and Queen Victoria was proclaimed empress of India, you can go and reoccupy Auwa, now the dispute is between you and Jodhpur State. Then Sagat Singh of Sinali sent a letter to the resident at Jodhpur, which was given to him at Mt. Abu by the British officer. The resident gave permission to take over the Jagirs confiscatedm though the state government of Jodhpur was not willing, from Jodhpur Devi Singh Mertia came to Rohat, Th. Sultan Singh sent help with him and in November 1868, he came and reoccupied Auwa and drove away Jodhpur state officers and few soldiers who were at Auwa. In February of 1869 Th. Devi Singh himself came back to Auwa. He rebuilt one building with wooden roofs with two floors, which we latter called as Devi Bhawan. After 3 or 4 years the case against Auwa was completed at Ajmer for fighting against the British and Jodhpur state. The 62½ of Jagirs comprising of Balothora and other village was confiscated and Auwa with 12 villages comprising the 37½ Jagirs was left to Th. Devi Singh. He expired in September/October 1877, aged about 33 years.

The above historical information is best of my knowledge. There may be minor mistakes.
Surendra Singh
6-April-2007
(Thakur Surendra Singh of Auwa)