KARAMCHANDRA BACHAWAT

KARAMCHANDRA BACHAWAT
Karamchandra Bachawat was the last and the most influential and powerful Diwan of Bikaner State in the Bachawat dynasty. From the time of Bachraj, after whose name the dynasty was known as Bachawat and who was the Prime Minister and closeassociate of Rao Bika, the founder of Bikaner (1488) his ancestors were Diwans of the rulers of that State and had performed many important religious deeds. After Bachraj his sons Karam Singh and Varsingh were the Ministers of Rao Loonkaran and Jaitsingh. Thereafter Nagraj, son of Varsingh, was the Diwan of Jaitsingh.Sangram son of Nagraj was the trusted Diwan of Rao Kalyansingh. He had led a Sangh for the pilgrimage of Shatrunjayaji and otherplaces to which Maharana Udaisingh hadaccorded reception at Chittor. After the deathof Kalyansingh while Rao Raisingh becamethe ruler of Bikaner in 1573, he made Karamchandra Bachawat, son of Sangram, as his Diwan.Karamchandra was sharply intelligent,diplomat, far sighted and a very brave andcourageous person. Rao Raisingh was anincapable and extravagant ruler. Theredeveloped a financial and administrative crisis during his rule. Karamchandra triedhis best to put him at right path by hissincere advice and efforts. Not appreciatinghis loyalty and sincerity Raisingh on thecontrary got displeased with him and becameenemy of his life. He suspected thatKaramchandra was in collusion with Dalpatsinghand Ramsingh against him. HelplessKaramchandra left Bikaner and took refugeunder Emperor Akbar who appreciated hisvirtues and gave him a respectable place inhis Court. Raisingh continued his enemitywith him.Karamchandra Bachawat has been widelyfamous for hisjreligious deeds. He had givena hearty reception to Acharya JinchandraSuri at Bikaner in 1575. He had providedfood to the hungry people, meeting the expenditurehimself, in the severe famine inBikaner in 1578. He had recovered manyJain images numbering about 1050 fromthe possession of Mohammedans and placedthem in Chintamaniji Jain Temple of Bikaner.He had introduced several reforms among theOswals. At the instance of KaramchandraAkbar had invited Acharya Jinchandra Surifrom Khambat and received him ceremoneouslyat Lahore in 1592.Soonafter the death of Akbar in 1605Karamchandra fell sick. Raisingh came tohim and insisted to go back to Bikaner withhis family. Even though his sons wereprepared for returning back Karamchandrahad no trust in cunning Raisingh. Whiledying he instructed his sons not to goback to Bikaner. Even on death bed in 1611 Raisingh instructed his son Sursinghto bring back Karamchandra's family toBikaner anyhow and take revenge from them.In 1613 Sursingh became successful inbringing back Bhagchandra and Lakshmichandra,the simple hearted sons of Karamchandra,to Bikaner. Later he beseiged their house. All the 500 persons including familymembers of the Bachawats and their servantsetc. fought bravely and lost their lives.The ladies had burnt themselves by observing'Jauhar'. As a pregnant lady of thefamily was away at her mother's place inKishangarh the Bachawats are in existence in the country.