راوات موتي سنغ
n the 1840s, Rajah Rawat Moti Singh of Rajgarh stunned India by publicly embracing Islam.
There was no Muslim hegemony or pressure,and it was the age of British paramountcy, then why did this King of an orthodox Hindu Rajput house convert?
The Tale of Rajah Moti Singh (#Read)
In 1821, Rajah Rawat Nawal Singh of Rajgarh committed suicide, passing the throne to his nephew, Moti Singh.
Unbeknownst to all, Moti Singh was already a secret convert to Islam. When he had entered the Islamic fold, it was the time of Maratha Hindu supremacy in Malwa.
However, he hid his faith to escape the fatal retribution common in Rajput history for such a transgression. The Rajput history is filled with killing their liege lords for embracing Islam.
He strategically built a protective inner circle of Muslim guards and officials, fortifying his position. Finally, in 1841, he felt secure enough to stun the region by publicly announcing his conversion.
Madkand Nandshankar Mehta, described this in the following words in 1896:
"Rawat Moti Sinh had a great predilection for Islamism, and not only did he favour the followers of that creed, but himself embraced it and practised its rites in private, though ostensibly he remained a Hindu. This gave rise to a feud between the friends and relations of the convert Chief... Attempts were made to suppress the true state of things, and for some time these Government officials were kept in the dark. Afterwards Moti Sinh publicly avowed himself a true follower of Muhammad, and insisted upon the rite of circumcision being performed upon his youngest son... In December 1857 the India Government sanctioned the avowal of Islamism by Rawat Moti Sinh, and he, with his relations, was publicly and ceremoniously admitted within the pale of the Islam creed.”
———
Architectural Legacy (— Mehta):
“Moti Sinh caused large and elegant mosques to be erected in Biaora and Rajgarh and ordered the public observance of Roja (annual fasts) and Nimaj (daily prayer). The Mussalmans were then in the ascendant.”
———
Finally, in 1875, the British paramount government formally recognized his adopted faith and, in a manner reminiscent of Mughal fashion, conferred upon him a new name and title.
Nawab Abdul Wasih Khan Bahadur (Lord, the Servant of God, the Brave Prince)
Madkand Nandshankar Mehta, described:
“Moti Sinh afterwards proposed that he might be allowed to adopt the title of 'Nawab' in lieu of Rawat and that he may be styled by his Mahomedan name, Abdul Wasih Khan instead of his Hindu name, Moti Sinh. The Agent of Central India submitted a report to the Governor-General, who, on the 25th of June 1871, despatched a sanad to the Rajgarh Chief, conferring upon him the title of 'Nawab' and sanctioning his adoption of the new name of Abdul Wasih Khan.”
His youngest son, Bane Singh also embraced Islam with him and his descendants are Muslims till today.