HISTORY OF BHILALA RAJPUT

In the year 1165, a Rajput of the Chauhan dynasty, Singh Prithviraj, came from

Rajasthan to conquer Omkareshvara-Mandhata. It pushed back in parallel the conquests

of the Muslim Muhammadan troops coming from the north. He captured the city, hitherto

under the authority of its governor, Nathu Bhil, probably while marrying his daughter.

The descendants of this marriage exogamy, between a Rajput prince (of the  kshatria*

caste) and a Bhil princess (adivasi), formed the local caste of Bhilalas. The descendants

of Nathu Bhil and Rajput Chauhan are now the heirs and the curators of the city-temple

on the island of Mandhata. Today, they are always present and are called ―Rajah‖ by

custom, whereas their rank and their official title is that of  ―Bhilala Rao Sahib of

Mandhata.‖

Since 1296, the Muslim conquerors tried to take the Rajput city of Omkareshvara

and the other cities of East-Nimar on their way towards the south of India. But the

Chauhan Rajputs of Rajasthan supported the local kingdoms and protected the area from

Muslim influence. In other battles, the Rajput troops fought with the gond kings (ethnic

group of the Gonds), populating the east of the valley (Russel, 1997).