Can anyone imagine a small group of Rajput Bondilis, who are from Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh, but have made Coimbatore their home? Yes, the descendants of these migrants now reside at Sukrawarpet, R.S. Puram, and Ramanthapuram.

While most of them are engaged in making Tanjore paintings, some have moved to other vocations like law and business. The art works are exhibited at R.S. Puram’s Tanjore Art Gallery. Speaking to Covai Post, Yuvaraj Singh, a lawyer by profession and member of the Rajput Bondil Association, Coimbatore, said that there are about 150 families and 500 to 600 members in the city.

Tracing the history of Rajput Bondilis, he said that in the 8th century, Rajput warriors began to replace the Kshatriyas of the Indo-Aryan dynasties, as the ruling class. Rajputs were the direct descendents of the famous Hindu Kings of ancient India. They began to settle down in various parts of the country from their original homes of Rajputana and Budh, establishing a number of fighting clans and binding them together with a common code.

According to the Madras (formerly composite state of Madras and Andhra Pradesh) Presidency Census Report, 1891, the Bondilis are said to have derived their name from BUNDHELKHAND, which is a hilly town in Banda District of Uttar Pradesh. It is from Bundhelkhand did their ancestors migrate to the southern part of India. This was confirmed by the Director of Rajasthan State Archives, Bikaner. Although they claim to be Rajputs, they had degenerated in the course of time due to the political situation then.

There were thirty six (Chatis) Rajkul among the Rajputs, that had been divided into three great dynasties (viz) (1) Suryavamshis (the clan of solar dynasty) descended through Manu, Ishvaku, Harischandra, Raghu, Dasaratha and Sri Rama, (2) Chandravamshis or Somavamshis (the clan of lunar dynasty) descended through-Yayati, Devanusha, Puru,
Yadu, Pandu, Yudhistra, and Sri Krishna, and (3) Agnikula (the clan of fire dynasty) descended from Agnipala, Sevacha, Mallan, Gulunsur, Ajpala and Dolai Rai.

Yuvaraj expressed concern that Bondil community people do not have any representation in either the central or state governments they are not rich persons, industrialists, business magnets, or politicians. But for inclusion of their community in the list of Backward classes, there is no patronage for them as such. A movie named ‘Gulal,’ released in 2009, dealt with Rajputana, the origin of Rajput Bondil.

Recently, the Rajput Bondil Association held their 32nd annual meet in the city wherein over 100 members from across Tamil Nadu took part. A book portraying the valour of Maharana Pratap Singh, titled ‘The History of Maharana Pratap,’ was released, and a matrimonial web portal for the community (www.dakshinrajputmatrimony.com) was launched at the meet.

Jitendra Singh Jaysingh Rawal(former President Maharashtra Rajput Kshatriya Sangh), Mainpalsingh Raghav, and A.K.S Chauhan (Akil Bharatiya Rajput Samiti, Delhi) were the luminaries at the meet. Dr. K. Balaji Singh (Professor of Surgery and Associate Dean, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai) was the guest of honour. Pratap Singh K.
Nargund, district president of Bondil Association presided over the function.

Prizes were distributed for the toppers of Class X and XII exams. Financial assistance was given to economically backward members of their community. Senior citizens of the community were honoured at the event.