RAS question
'Nainsi ri Khyat' and 'Marwar ra Pargana ri Vigat', important historical texts of Rajasthan, were written by:
Correct answer: (C) Muhnot Nainsi.
Muhnot Nainsi was the seventeenth-century Diwan of Maharaja Jaswant Singh I of Jodhpur. He wrote the important Rajasthan historical works Nainsi ri Khyat and Marwar ra Pargana ri Vigat.
Explanation
Muhnot Nainsi (1610-1670) served as the Diwan of Maharaja Jaswant Singh I of Jodhpur. He wrote both Nainsi ri Khyat and Marwar ra Pargana ri Vigat. Nainsi ri Khyat is a historical chronicle of Rajputana, whereas Marwar ra Pargana ri Vigat is regarded as a gazetteer of Marwar. The bibliography of a SAGE article on seventeenth-century Marwar lists both works under Muhnot Nainsi's name. Together, these details identify Muhnot Nainsi as the only fitting answer. His contribution is why he is remembered as the 'Abul Fazl of Rajputana'.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Suryamall Mishran wrote other works; Nainsi ri Khyat and Marwar ra Pargana ri Vigat are not associated with him.
- (B) Kaviraj Shyamaldas is associated with Vir Vinod, whereas Nainsi ri Khyat and Marwar ra Pargana ri Vigat are associated with Muhnot Nainsi.
- (D) Dayaldas is associated with the history of Bikaner, not with Nainsi's Marwar chronicle and pargana account.
Concept
This question tests the ability to identify the authors of major historical sources of Rajasthan, especially the chronicles and administrative records used to study Marwar. Such questions recur in RAS because these works are important evidence for Rajasthan's political, social and regional history.