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Sauda (Devnagari: सौदा चारण; IAST: Saudā) (also spelled Soda, Souda) is a clan of the Charanas. They are also known as Sauda-Barhath. Sauda Charans came to prominence in the kingdom of Mewar with the establishment of Sisodia dynasty in 1326.

History

The founder of the Sauda clan was Baruji, a Charan from Khod village of Kutch (Gujarat). Baruji was a wealthy horse trader. When the Guhilot dynasty was displaced from Mewar following an invasion by the Delhi sultanate at the turn of the 13th century, Baruji provided military assistance to Rana Hammir and lent 500 of his horses. Baruji and his men fought alongside Rana Hammir in the invasion of Chittor.

After successfully capturing Chittor, Rana Hammir awarded the position of Prolpat (Barhath) of Mewar kingdom to Baruji, to be held by his descendants "for posterity".

Baruji's descendants came to known as 'Sauda', a title given by Rana Hammir as they were large horse traders (saudagar). In Mewar, the descendants of Baruji reside in Antri, Panod, Barwara, Soniyana (near Kankroli), Tallai, Bikakheda and Rabachha.

Notable people

• Thakur Kesari Singh Barhath
• Thakur Zorawar Singh Barhath
• Kunwar Pratap Singh Barhath

References

1. Gahlot, Sukhvir Singh; Dhar, Banshi (1989). Castes and Tribes of Rajasthan. Jain Brothers. ISBN 978-81-85287-00-3.
2. Choudhry, P. S. (1968). Rajasthan Between the Two World Wars, 1919-1939. Sri Ram Mehra. The Sodas for example were the polpatras of the Maharanas of Mewar.
3. Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
4. Bahadur), Har Bilas Sarda (Diwan (1935). Speeches and Writings. Vedic Yantralaya. Baru was a rich dealer in horses and had a large number of them in his stables. He purchased some more and making up the number came to Kailwara. Hammir was waiting for the caravan and at once took the horses and treated Baru with respect, and gave him the confidential post of " Keeper of the gate." He made him his Barhat and bestowed on him the village of Antri with several other villages, which are still enjoyed by his descendants.
5. Gadhvi, Priyvrat (2020-05-26). "HISTORICAL REFERENCES TO THE HORSE IN INDIA". Influx of the Kathiawari into Mewar was historically older, and apart from Charan traders regularly horse trading (a sub-class of Charans are known as 'sauda' barhats, such as those from Soniyana village in Mewar), a big example of the coming of Kathiawari horses into Mewar and beyond is the myth of the help provided by the Charan devi Aai Varvadi to Rana Hammir singh of the Sisodia clan when he reclaimed Chittor from Maldev of Jalore (under whom it was placed by Alauddin Khilji after sack of Chittor), by sending an army of 500 Kathiawari cavalry under her son Baruji to assist Hammir Singh in retaking Chittor. This was in early 14th century. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
6. Jain, Pratibha; Śarmā, Saṅgītā (2004). Honour, Status & Polity. Rawat Publications. ISBN 978-81-7033-859-8. The Charans who occupied significant positions in the courts of the rulers were known as Barhats. In Mewar, the descendants of Baru Charan, who came to be known as Sauda Barhats, acquired prominence on account of Baru's timely military assistance to Hammir in regaining his lost throne.
7. Mehta, Balwant Sinha; Mehta, Jodh Sinha (1971). Pratap, the Patriot: With a Concise History of Mewar and Its Missing Links. Pratap Institute of Historical Research. Baru, too, accompanied Hamir and after independence of Mewar, he was made the Barhat (the premier Charan) whose descendants are known as Sauda Barahats of Mewar.
8. Mahārāṇā Pratāpa ke pramukha sahayogī (in Hindi). Rājasthānī Granthāgāra. 1997.

• Charan
• Surnames of Indian origin
• Ethnic groups in India
• Charan clans