Katheriya Rajputs and Kathayat
Who are the Katheriya? About the middle of the twelfth
century the Katheriya seem to have established themselves firmly in the
Bareilly region with Kabar and Aonla as their chief centers. They appear to
have started as vassals of the Rashtrakutas of Vodamayuta (Badaun) but on the
latter's downfall (1195 AD) they declared independence. The Katehriyas are to
be noted for their conspicuous role in persistently resisting the onslaught of
the Delhi rulers till as late as the time of Akbar. The origin and the rise of
the Katehar Rajputs in the region are a mystery and matter of
controversy." According to the tradition the foundation of the town of
Bareilly may be dated sometime in the first half of the sixteenth century. It
is said that one JagatSingh katehriya founded a village called Jagtpur about
the year 1500. In 1537 him two sons Bas Deo and Barel Deo were responsible for
founding Bareilly. The place was named after the two brothers as bans Bareilly.
The name Jagatpur is still retained by one of the mohallas of the old city.
During the region of Akbar the Katehriyas rose in revolt but it was crushed by
the Mughal general Almas Ali Khan. Bas Deo of Bareilly who was then ruling over
a considerable extent of territory was killed and Bareilly was annexed in the Mughal
Empire. However the Mughal authority did not become effective here till the
afghan nobles who were entrenched in these were overthrown. As Per medieval
history Rampur was the part of Delhi and was divided between Badaun and Sambhal
districts. Being situated on upperside of Rohilkhand, it was known by the name
Kather and was ruled by Katheria Rajputs. The Katheria Rajputs fought for about
400 years with the rulers of Delhi and later with Mughals. They fought with
Naseeruddin Mahmood in 1253, Gaisuddin Balwan in 1256, Jalaluddin firoz in
1290, Firoj Shah in 1379 & Sikander Lodhi in 1494. In the beginning of
Moghal period the capital of Rohilkhand was changed from Badaun to Barely and
hence the importance of Rampur increased. Before independence, Rampur was an
Estate ruled by Nawabs. The estate of Rampur was established by Nawabs Faizulla
Khan on 7th October, 1774 in the presence of British Commander Colonel
Champion. The stone of Rampur city was laid in 1775 by Nawab Faizulla Khan.
Originally it was a group of 4 Villages named Kather on the name of Raja Ram
Singh. Kathayat These People say that they are Katheria Rajputs of Kather and
come here (Kumaon) during the reign of the Bom king of SOR!. Some say they are
Chauhans. Kashyap Gotra Bhim Kathayat was famous minister of the Katuaris. NILU
Kathayat was great commander of the Katuaris. Later his descendant acted as
darogas (superintendent) of the kitchen. This is a historical Clan"@ Who
was Nalu Kathayat? A large bird which he saw flying away with something in its
talottS, The bird proved to be a vulture, the Garur or Garuda, the bird and
carrier of Vishnu, which had been carrying away a great snake. The Emperor was
so pleased with the Raja's skill that he not only granted his petition to have
and to hold the land lying along the foot of the hills as far as the Ganges,
but directed him henceforth to assume the name of Garur Gyan Chand. The Raja
returned to Kumaon and took possession of the present Bhabar and Tarai. As this
Raja reigned from 1374 to 1419 A.D. he may have met either Mahmud Tughlak when
be came on a hunting expedition to the foot of the hills in 1410 or 1412, or
Daulat Khan Lodi, who paid a similar visit in the following year. However this
may be, the Madbawa-ke-mal, corresponding to the Tallades Bhabar, was shortly
afterwards seized and occupied by the Musalman governor of Sambhal. Gyan Chand
dispatched a force against the intruders under his favorite officer Nalu
Kathayat, who expelled the Musal- maus and recovered the entire tract. Gyan
Chand recognized the services of Nalu by presenting him with a dress of honor
(kumdya siropo) and a sanad conferring on him the possession of several
villages in the Bhabar and twelve jy^las of land in Dhyanirau in tenure of
rot,^ besides carving a tablet to be inscribed and set up in Nalu's own {that)
village of Kapraoli commemorating his success and ability in the campaign
against the MIechehhas. These unusual honors gave offence to one Jassa of
Kamlekh, a Favorite servant of the Raja, and he took means to poison the mind
of his master against Nalu. The first consequence was that Nalu Was ordered to
proceed to the Bhabar and reside there- as governor. The climate was then as
now malarias in the extreme and unfit for a prolonged residence, and Nalu
without putting on his dress of honor resolved to seek an interview with the
Raja and protest against his being^ sent to the Mai. Jassa saw him coming and
told the Raja that Nalu was intentionally disrespectful in coming to the
interview granted by the Raja to the families of persons who had perished his
service, and when given to a lairing man was held to express the Raja's opinion
that the man had done such deeds of bravery that it was wonderful that he
survived: consequently the grant of land in ' rot ' was considered one of the
most honorable rewards that a man could receive. The ordinary form of grant in
reward for services was in jigir. Without permission and without wearing the
dress that had bee it given him and so aroused the Raja's anger that an
audience was refused and Nalu was sent away in disgrace. His wife, a Mara lady
of Sirmola, thereon sent her two sons Suju and Baru to induce their uncle, the
chief of the Maras at Champawat, to make peace between Nalu and the Raja, but
the lads missed their way and fell into the hands of Jassa, who induced the
Raja to believe that they had arrived with the intention of murdering him. The
Raja ordered the boys to be thrown into prison and there blinded them. When
news of this event came to Nalu's ears he roused the Maras throughout the
country and attacking the Raja, captured Jassa^ whom he slew. He then sacked
Jassa's village and fort of Kamlekja, the ruins of which exist to the present
day. The Raja was spared by the conqueror but ill requited their generosity by
causing the death of Nalu, sometime afterwards. This episode of Nalu shows that
the rivalry of the several factions had not diminished and that it was
dangerous for even the Raja to offend the chiefs of the parties. Gyan chand
died in 1419 A.D. after a reign of 45 years and was succeeded for a few months
by his son Harihar Chand. As we have already mentioned Katehriyas appear to
have started as vassals of the Rashtrakutas of Vodamayuta (Badaun) but on the
latter's downfall (1195 AD) they declared independence. The Katehriyas are to
be noted for their conspicuous role in persistently resisting the onslaught of
the Delhi rulers till as late as the time of Akbar. The origin and the rise of
the Katehar Rajputs in the region are a mystery and matter of
controversy." So before 1195 AD According to the N.C. Sen in his book
History of Rohilla Rajputs is written that There is another book “Kshatriya
Vartman” by Thakur Ajit Singh Parihar of Balaghat, Madya Pradesh, in which ,we
find a mention of a clan called ‘Rohil’. Two verses by an unknown Hindi Poet
have been given therein. They are reproduced: (i) “The Yadavas, Chandels,
Jhala, Tomars and Koch Rohil Banafar belong to the Chandra Vansh” Page 97. (ii)
“Yadavas, Chandels, Jhala, Tomar and koh Randhel Banafar are from the Chandra Vansh”
– Page 263.
