das, (Hindi) a male domestic servant; an illegitimate son who was treated as such. See SERVANTS IN FEUDAL MEWAR.

Dasehra: see DUSSEHRA FESTIVAL.

dasi, (Hindi) a maidservant, an illegitimate daughter (male, das). See SERVANTS IN FEUDAL MEWAR.

Daula Miyan, one of the Maratha chieftains that Maharana ARI SINGH II (1761-1773) called upon to help him in his fight against the Pretender to the Mewar throne, Kunwar RATAN SINGH.

Daulat Rao Sindhia, Maratha ruler, nephew of Mahadaji (Madhav Rao) SINDHIA. He signed a peace treaty with the British in 1818, according to which Rajputs, whom the Marathas had dominated till then, were also free to make treaties with the British. He died in 1827. See also BRITISH, THE.

Daulat Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Athoon (Poorawat); Bassi (Choondawat); Bavlas (Sisodia); Boheda (Saktawat); Daulat-gadh (Choondawat); Karjali (Ranawat); Kelwa (Jaitmal Rathore); Loonda (Choondawat); Sanwar (Ranawat), and Shahpura (Sisodia) whose Raja Dhiraj Daulat Singh usurped the leadership of Shahpura and was not what could be called 'a loyal subject of Mewar': When Emperor Aurangzeb attacked Maharana Raj Singh, Daulat Singh was attached to the Mughal army. His more loyal son, Bharat Singh, succeeded him at Shahpura.

Daulat-gadh (Choondawat, offshoot of Deogarh), 189 km. from Udaipur, in Bhilwara District; jagir of the descendants of Daulat Singh, fourth son of Rawat Gokuldas of DEOGADH. Maharana Amar Singh II (1698-1710) gave Daulat-gadh to Daulat Singh, who died along with his son, fighting Ranbaj Khan near Bandanwara.

Genealogy: Daulat Singh; Jagat Singh; Ishwardas; Bishan Singh; Vijai Singh; Raghunath Singh; Naval Singh; Madan Singh; Umaid Singh.

Davenport, Hugh, author of THE TRIALS & TRIUMPHS OF THE MEWAR KINGDOM (b. 1907, England). Davenport came to India in 1927 as a member of the Christa Seva Sangh Ashram, Poona (Pune), where he married a local girl, Ruplabai. Between 1929-30, he was an educator in ancient languages with an English Anglo-Catholic monastery. During World War II, he saw service in the British Indian Army (Transport) gaining the rank of Major. In 1945, he worked for the Department of Labour, planning the resettlement of troops and discharged war workers. In 1947, Davenport became a citizen of independent India at the invitation of Sardar Patel, and served as Director of Employment in the Ministry of Labour until 1960. He then spent several years as an adviser to the United Nations on Manpower Planning and Employment Services. He retired in 1969 to Udaipur where, only four months later, his wife of thirty-five years died. He did part-time public relations work in association with the Lake Palace Hotel and the Maharana, BHAGWAT SINGH MEWAR who commissioned Davenport to write Trials and Triumphs, which was published in 1975.

Davilal Samar, Padam Shri, founder of Udaipur's famous BHARTIYA LOK KALA MANDAL folk museum.

Dayanand Sarswati, Rishi, the founder of the ARYA SAMAJ sect (ca 1875). Maharana SAJJAN SINGH (1874-1884) invited him to Udaipur in order to hear his religious sermons and to be educated by Dayanand in the MANU-SMRITI and philosophy.