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Secondary sourceBook1829–1832

Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan

James Tod · 1829–1832

A 19th-century British history drawn from Mewar bardic sources that shaped the romantic, heroic image of Pratap Singh and his horse Chetak.

Shaped the romantic, enduring image of Pratap Singh and his horse Chetak drawn from Mewar bardic tradition.

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Back cover of a dark navy blue hardbound book. A white library barcode label at top left reads 'UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO' with barcode number 3 1822 00719 8328. A dark patch and light blue label appear on the left edge.
James Tod, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, 1829–1832.

About this source

What it is

Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan is a work by James Tod, published between 1829 and 1832, based on materials he collected on the history and geography of Rajasthan, including bardic traditions from Mewar.

Why it matters

Tod's account drew heavily on local bardic sources and helped create the lasting romantic image of Pratap Singh, his horse Chetak, and his minister Bhamashah that later shaped nationalist memory of Mewar's resistance to the Mughals. It is a secondary, later retelling rather than a contemporary record, written by a British official rather than someone who witnessed the events.

Look closer

  • Why might a British official in the 19th century have been interested in collecting Rajasthani bardic traditions?
  • How might stories passed down through bards differ from official court chronicles?
  • What does it mean that this romantic image became part of later nationalist memory?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Maharana Pratap on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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