Question

Rai Singh opened Sadra Rats due to ____________.
A) Flood
B) Drought
C) Famine
D) Earthquake

Answer 1

Hint: Rai Singh, born on 20th July 1541 AD, was the elder son of Kalyanmal Rathore. In Nagaur court held in 1570 AD. He joined the royal army of Akbar and shortly became Akbar’s loyal.

Complete Answer:
After the death of his father Kalyanmal Rathore on 25th December 1574 AD, Akbar appointed Rai Singh as Jodhpur chief in 1572 AD. Rai Singh became the ruler of Bikaner. Ibrahim Mirza revolted in Nagaur when Rai Singh was looking after Jodhpur’s administration. Rai Singh eliminated him in a village called Kathauli. A conflict took place between Bija Deora and Sirohi’s Deora Surtan. Rai Singh attacked Sirohi and forced Bija out of the state at that time. He placed half of the Sirohi region under the Mughal Empire and gave it to Maharana Pratap’s estranged step brother Jagmal who had come from Mewar. Surtan attacked the Mughals. And a battle took place between both the armies at a place called Dattani in 1583 AD. In the battle of Dattani, Surtan reoccupied Sirohi and Jagmal died. Being happy with Rai Singh, Akbar granted him the Junagarh region in 1593 AD. He granted him the jagir of Shamshabad and Noorpur in 1604 AD and entitled him as ‘Rai’.

During the reign of Rai Singh, Bikaner experienced a severe famine. Rai Singh opened ‘Sadra Rats’ at several places and arranged fodder for animals. The beginning of the Bikaner style of art is said to have begun during the reign of Rai Singh. Rai Singh died at a place called Burhanpur in South India on 21st January 1612 AD.

Thus, option (C) is correct.

Note: Between 1589-94 AD, Rai Singh built Junagarh fort (Bikaner) under the guidance of Prime Minister Karamchand and inserted a Prashasti named “Rai Singh Prashasti” over there.