Mod Singhji | Rajpurohit Encyclopedia Profile

Rajpurohit Statesman | Faujdar of Kharwa | Freedom Movement Contributor | Poet

Mod Singhji Rajpurohit (died 1961) was a prominent Rajpurohit noble, statesman, military commander, and poet from the princely Thikana of Kharwa, located in the Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. He played a decisive role in the administration and defense of Kharwa, particularly under the rule of Rao Gopal Singhji and his successor Rao Ganpati Singhji. Mod Singhji was also a notable contributor to the early phase of the Begun Kisan Andolan, a significant peasant uprising in pre-independent Rajasthan. He is remembered as a towering personality in the socio-political, military, and cultural landscape of 20th-century Rajasthan.

Mod Singhji hailed from the Sewad clan of Rajpurohits, whose ancestral seat was the Thikana of Tantoti. His lineage traces back to Pithaji Sewad, whose three sons—Sherji, Ramnathji, and Badrinathji—migrated from Tantoti following a dispute with the ruling Thakur. Around Vikram Samvat 1872 (circa 1815 CE), Rao Dev Singhji of Kharwa, facing a vacuum in the Rajpurohit line, invited the brothers to Kharwa.

While Badrinathji later settled in Gowaliya, Sherji and Ramnathji remained in Kharwa. Sherji had only one daughter, while Ramnathji had two sons, from whose lineage Mod Singhji was born.

A notable ancestor, Rajpurohit Baldevji, served as a close confidant and administrator under Rao Madhosinghji of Kharwa. Baldevji is credited with supervising several important construction projects and upholding the administrative integrity of the estate.

In the early 20th century, Mod Singhji played a pioneering role in the Begun Kisan Andolan, an agrarian revolt in the Begun Thikana. The movement paralleled the better-known Bijolia Kisan Andolan and sought to challenge exploitative feudal practices.

As noted by Ramnarayan Chaudhary in Vartaman Rajasthan, Mod Singhji, despite only receiving education up to grades 6–7, possessed a brilliant memory, natural oratory, and sharp political instincts. He was regarded as a people’s leader, laying the groundwork for organized farmer resistance. He became a trusted ally of Vijay Singh Pathik, a prominent figure in the Indian freedom struggle.

Mod Singhji’s persona was marked by a unique blend of royal etiquette, peasant sensibility, and philosophical depth. Despite his limited formal education, his grasp over oral traditions, statecraft, and diplomacy made him a sought-after advisor. He often held informal sessions with villagers, nobles, and military commanders, where he would engage in discussions ranging from policy to poetry.

He was a skilled poet, composing verses that captured themes of duty, justice, valor, and the human condition. His works, though largely preserved through oral tradition, are remembered for their depth and sincerity.

In his later years, Mod Singhji served as the President of the Rajpurohit Sabha of Pali-Marwar, where he worked toward unifying the Rajpurohit community, advocating for social justice, and reviving cultural heritage.

His leadership drew attention at the highest levels. Maharaja Hanwant Singhji of Jodhpur, recognizing Mod Singhji’s contributions, gifted him a jeep—a rare gesture at the time—so he could travel across Marwar with ease to continue his work.

He also took an active role in the documentation and preservation of Kharwa's royal and local history, ensuring that oral histories, customs, and temple traditions were recorded for posterity.

Mod Singhji passed away in 1961, at the age of 88. His contributions to administration, freedom movements, cultural preservation, and community unity have ensured his enduring legacy in both Rajpurohit and Rajasthani history.

The Raghunathji Temple, situated near Gopal Dwara outside Kharwa Garh, has long been under the care of Mod Singhji's family. Though the precise date of its construction is unknown, the temple remains a living symbol of the Rajpurohit clan’s spiritual and cultural responsibilities.

The east-facing courtyard hosts rituals, community prayers, and oral storytelling, reinforcing the family's sacred custodianship and cultural leadership.

• Sekhawat, Sujan Singh – Kharwa ka Vrahad Itihas

• Chaudhary, Ramnarayan – Vartaman Rajasthan

• Rajasthan mai Swatantrata Sangram ke Amar Purodha: Rao Gopal Singh Kharwa

• Rajasthan ka Swatantrata Sangram Kavya: Pratinidhi Rachnaye

• Unnisavi Sadi ka Ajmer