Tripti Deo

Charans in Medieval Rajasthan Tripti Deo

Charans were one of the most important bardic communities who enjoyed a high and a favorable position in the Rajasthani society during the 17th-18th centuries. They were men of letters who played an extremely significant role in legitimizing authorities at different levels of Rajasthani society. Clan and descent played a very peculiar role in the process of state formation of Rajasthan. We notice an intimate relationship between language and identity formation. Language and oration of Charans incorporated the political processes of the period and therefore it becomes a tool to construct the period itself. Charans contributed in making and unmaking of different traditions prevalent within the society. They were men of literature and drew up caste and kinship genealogies of their patrons. As the custodians of both speech and history, they occupy the second rank in the hierarchical social order, after their Rajput patrons. This work attempts to study this significant community in the light of various complexities it is grappling with in Medieval Rajasthan.