Deo Raj

Zamindari estate

Deo Raj, was a zamindari (estate) situated in what is now Aurangabad district of Bihar.[1] The Deo Raj family were notable for being the protectors of Deo Sun shrine (Deo Surya Mandir).[2]

## Origins

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In the 14th and 15th century, there was a migration of Sisodia Rajputs from Mewar to South Bihar. These migrant Rajputs along with local Hindu Rajas played an important role in freeing the numerous Hindu shrines and temples from the Muslim rule [3] They eventually became the founders of the Deo Raj estate.

The Deo Sun temple which was patronised by the Deo Raj family

The Deo Rajas were among a number of Rajput migrant groups to arrive in Southern Bihar and they replaced the previous Umga chiefs who had fallen to Muslim invasion.[4]

## Relations with the British

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The zamindars of the Deo estate generally maintained cordial relations with the British.[5] They refused to join other rebellious zamindars in the 1781 rebellion and the 1857 rebellion. They also refused to join the nearby tribal uprisings including the Santhal rebellion.[5] It is notable that the Rajas of Deo did not provide help to Kunwar Singh despite Raja Fateh Narayan Singh, the then ruler of Deo, marrying his daughter of to Kunwar Singh.[6]

## See also

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* Zamindars of Bihar

## References

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1. ^ Anirudha Behari Saran; Gaya Pandey (1992). Sun Worship in India: A Study of Deo Sun-Shrine. Northern Book Centre. p. 30\. ISBN 978-81-7211-030-7.
2. ^ Srivastava, Priya. "Deo Sun Temple". Times of India. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
3. ^ Anirudha Behari Saran; Gaya Pandey (1992). Sun Worship in India: A Study of Deo Sun-Shrine. Northern Book Centre. pp. 49–50. ISBN 978-81-7211-030-7.
4. ^ Gyan Prakash (30 October 2003). Bonded Histories: Genealogies of Labor Servitude in Colonial India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0-521-52658-6.
5. ^ a b R. N. Prasad (1976). "The Role of the Rulers of Deo Estate in the Anti-British Movements in Bihar (1781-1858 A.D.)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 37: 352–353. JSTOR 44138974.
6. ^ Datta, K. K. (1957). Biography of Kunwar Singh and Amar Singh. K. P. Jayaswal Institute. p. 20. Retrieved 7 April 2019.