Bais: Brave Soldiers of Badaun

Abstract

This is a translated excerpt from the Hindi book Badaun ke Ranbankure Rajput which is written by Surendra Mohan Mishra in 1993. Each chapter of the book gives a detailed analysis of each clan of brave Rajputs of Badaun. The present translated version is about Bais Rajputs who are counted among the thirty-six princely clans of Kshatriyas. Colonel Tad did not consider them important as there was no special mention of this caste in the texts "Raso" and "Kumar Pal Charitra". Bais people were living under the majestic kingdom of Kannauj by making their own small kingdoms. No details of this period are available. When the sun set for the great glory of the Gaharwar kings of Kannauj, then the descendants of Maharaja Jaichand took refuge in distant safe places. A group of Bais Rajputs migrating from Kannauj region also came to Badaun district of Rohilkhand. Five miles south of Bisauli, they built their own huge fort named Kot Shalivahan. It is said that once Bais was the fort of Rajputs. The name of this fort was Bishan and Bais Raja Gaj built it. Dunde Khan had only repaired it. The East India Company sold this Bisauli fort to Donald Saheb, an Englishman of Bilsi. These Bais Rajputs fought the fourth war in Nardauli. With them, the low flag Bardar had come in the army, he was given this village after winning it. Even today, these people are called flag bearers.