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Dhaat:

It is a geographical echo zone spreads over three states of two countries including south-eastern Sindh in Pakistan, rest of most comes in wester Rajasthan while remaining thin area also touches to northern parts of Gujarat touching South-eastern Thar desert in Sindh, Pakistan and west-southern of Thar desert in Gujarat. Hence it can be said that the area is made up by intermingling of three key cultures of different three states in two countries. The area is rich in its culture which is remained as the rich resource of cultural manifestation as well as historically integral part of then Rajputana

Historic Background of Dhaat:

Dhaat is an ecological and geographical zone which historically remained part of then nine kotis of Rajputana. The geographies of the area are encircled by Marwad from its east, Gujarat from the south, Laar region of Sindh from west, central Sindh from North and Saraeki belt (of Sindh & Punjab) from its north-east. Historically this geographical zone remained pathway among various regions of Rajasthan Gujarat and Sindh. Due to having its geographical position in middle of these three culturally rich regions, Dhaat has had historically served the purpose of buffer zone and pathway among Sindh, Gujarat and Rajputana, thus carried strategic importance regionally. Dhaat not only shares its culture with these three regions but it there are overwhelmed commonalities in landscapes, wildlife, arts and crafts, textiles and jewellery, architectural wealth, folklore, music, religions and cuisine/foods. Administratively, Dhaat with its capital in Amarkot (now in Sindh) mainly have had ruled by Parmar Soomras (later converted to Islam), Hindu Sodhas, Muslim Baloch Talpurs and Kalhoras during previous nearly one thousand years before the British era, while throughout British rule the area was remained under changing administrations of Kutchh/Gujarat, Mumbai/Mahrashtra and Hyderabad Sindh (Tejsingh Solanki). After independence and partition of India the region had divided into two parts –the major portion became part of Sindh in Pakistan while its eastern extensional edges retained adhered as western peripheral parts of Barmer and Jaisalmer districts (mainly intruding into Malani area) in Rajasthan. Moreover, significant number of Hindu Dhaati masses migrated to Rajasthan during India/Pakistan wars of 1965/71 and afterwards. The area of Dhaat mainly had been inhabited by Marwadi and Gujarati origin people who led by Sodhas entered in this area through Rato Kot situated at west of Jaisalmer; in around tenth century A.D and finally gained ruling of Amarkot –while on other hand Baloch Talpurs (rulers in Hyderabad Sindh) later in eighteenth century A.D managed to settle different Baloch tribes in area bordering with Gujarat and Rajputana in Dhaat region from the border security point of view (Captain Stanley Napier Raikes). With the passage of time Dhaat emerged up as unique region with Dhaati as different dialect and finally the unique language. Hence, the Dhaati language carries a history of distinct and rich culture conserved in a treasury of diverse folklores. Going further into insight, it could also be referred that Dhaati as an independent language has had been evolved with mixture of Marwadi, Sindhi, Gujarati and Balochi languages, as the region has had been inhabited by and remained in interaction with people belonging to all these above quoted origins. Indeed the contemporary Dhaat and its language adhere an interesting rich culture much closer to but significantly distinguished from the Sindhi, Rajasthani and Gujrati pattern. Indeed the Dhaati language in many parts of the area has its own vocabulary but yet it lacks to have a separate script which though has been attempted by few individuals that may have finally to be in place in days to come. Subject to this given scenario, the Dhaat has had eventually evolved as an exemplary rich culture with intangible strengths of shared traditions, religious harmony, peace and tolerance.

Devotional Music and Dhaat:

History witnesses that the people of area have had remained under influence and inspiration of saints and Sufis. Sant Kabir, Meera Bai, Pir Pithoro, Rama Pir, Shah Latif Bhittai and many other such saints and Sufis are being sung in very soul touching way by the local artists in traditionally developed pleasant mode. Shah Latif Bhittai, a renowned Sindhi poet has written two of his Surs in Shah-Jo-Rasalo on two famous folk characters associated with Dhaat including Moomal-Rano and Umar-Marvi manifesting the in-depth of patriotism, love, affinity besides the power of devotion and resistance in people of area. Perhaps it is the influence of devotional music which is key reason of making this region peculiar in power of patriotism, pluralism and peace.

Dhaat and Marwad Relations:

Historically both the regions have had remained deeper cultural bonds and human relations. Dhaat was also remained an integral part of nine forts (Noun Kothi) of Parmar times –others include Karado, Parkar, Lodarvo, Jalore, Abu, Pungal, Nagor and Mandore (Marwad ra pargna ri vigat by Mounot Nainsi) Sodhas of Dhaat and Rathores of Jodhpur/Marwad have had remained connected in matrimonial relations since generations back. Even the Sodhas also fought as part of Rathores/Marwad armies in their wars with different foes and were also got slain in battles (Pabu Parkash & G.H Ojha). Moreover, people from Marwad region of Rajasthan historically used to migrate seasonally during droughts and famines to riverine belts of Sindh with their livestock while same was reciprocated by from communities of Sindh during rains and grasses germination in desert land. In this seasonal exchange of populations the numerous families from Rajasthan permanently settled in Sindh while Sindhi origin populations also settled in borderland of Rajasthan. Furthermore, since 1783 to 1813 (for around 30 years) Dhaat also remained under governing control of Jodhpur during the times of Mahraja Vijay Singh, Bhem Singh and Man Singh. It was also the then Mahraja of Jodhpur who first time initiated his train to connect Rajasthan with Sindh through the region of Dhaaat. Interestingly looking into all these historic connections the current Mahraja of Jodhpur Shri Gaj Singh ji deserves special tribute to continue the legacy of Jodhpur Pariwar in order to maintain the relations with Dhaat, its people and the culture. In this regard under patronage of Mahraja Shri Gaj Sindh ji the Mehrangarh Museum Trust and UJAS led by Shri Hindu Singh Sodha first time in recent past decided to bring together the dhaati talent of folk and devotional musicians and giving them opportunity to showcase their cultural and spiritual significance in World Sacred Spirit Festival organized on 13th-16th Feb, 2020 at Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur.

Scope to promote culture and resources of Dhaat in Rajasthan:

While revisiting all the valuable cultural manifestations of Dhaat exist in western Rajasthan it unearths that there are numerous worthy cultural potentials embodied into Dhaati community particularly staying on western geographical ridges in Rajasthan, need to be harness for acquiring wider limitless benefits.