Symposium on “Mewar Dynasty and Literature” Held at Udaipur City Palace

Udaipur: A one-day symposium on the theme “Mewar Dynasty and Literature” was organized at the Conference Hall of Udaipur City Palace under the joint aegis of the Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi, Udaipur, and the Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation.
The symposium focused on the Mewar royal tradition and its significant role in the preservation and promotion of literature. Speakers highlighted the literary contributions of Mewar rulers, their cultural vision, and their efforts in safeguarding knowledge over the centuries.
At the inaugural session, Dr. Basant Singh Solanki, Secretary of the Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi, introduced the symposium, emphasizing that while Mewar is historically known as the land of valor, its contributions to literature must also be recognized. He noted that such events offer a fresh perspective on Mewar’s literary heritage.
Senior litterateur Dr. Vidya Paliwal described Mewar as “a remarkable land of Rajput pride” and underscored its historical and cultural significance. Reflecting on her research conducted in the 1980s, Dr. Paliwal expressed gratitude to the Mewar royal family for their support.
Prof. Madhav Hada, former Head of the Hindi Department at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, emphasized that understanding Indian literature and history requires an intellectual approach rooted in one’s own cultural tradition. He also discussed the impact of modernity and European influences on Indian thought.
Historian Dr. J.K. Ojha highlighted that despite political instability and increasing Maratha influence during the Maratha period, Mewar continued its rich tradition of literary creation. He noted that rulers provided patronage to arts and literature even under challenging circumstances, resulting in the production of many significant works.
Dr. Rajendranath Purohit, former In-Charge Officer of the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Udaipur, noted that the private libraries of the Maharanas played a key role in the establishment of the Udaipur branch. These manuscript collections were known as “Saraswati Bhandar” and “Sajjan Vani Vilas” under different Maharana reigns.
Dr. Manish Shrimali, Assistant Lecturer in the History Department at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, discussed Hindi journalism, referring to the publication of Sajjan Kirti Sudhakar during Maharana Sajjan Singh’s reign. He noted that the first Udaipur Gazette was published in 1868 and later, in 1878, was renamed Sajjan Kirti Sudhakar under Maharana Sajjan Singh’s patronage. This Hindi newspaper not only disseminated important government orders but also aimed to educate the general public of Mewar.
The symposium was conducted by Dr. Saraswati Joshi. At the conclusion, Dr. Swati Jain, Research Officer at the Maharana Mewar Research Centre, extended thanks to all participants and presented books on Mewar as gifts on behalf of the Foundation.