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MA.NDfRVAR 151
In the Mutiny of 1857 one Sahibzada Firoz Shah, a member of the
Delhi house, raised his standard here and collected a considerable
following, among whom were a large number of Rohillas. As their
presence endangered the safety of Nimach, the Mdlwd field force
made a rapid advance on the fort, which was captured on November
21, 1857. A fierce fight took place three days later at the village
of Guradia, 5 miles north-west of Mandasor, in which the Rohillas
fought bravely; but their defeat broke up the forces of Firoz Shah
and completely cleared this part of the country.
In Mandasor itself and in the neighbourhood there are numerous
remains of archaeological interest. The village of Sondani (or
Songm), 3 miles to the south-east, contains two magnificent mono-
lithic sandstone pillars with lion and bell capitals. An inscription
incised on both of them records that Yasodharman, king of Mdlwd,
defeated at this spot the Huna adventurer Mihirakula, probably
in 528. Great importance attaches to these for their use in settling
the commencement of the Gupta era.
[J. F. Fleet, Indian Antiquary, vol. xv.]
Mandâ.wa_-Town in the Shekhawati nizdnanat of the State of
Jaipur, Rdjputana, situated in 28° 4' N. and 75° 9' E., about 9o miles
north-west of Jaipur city. Population (1901), 5,165. A combined
post and telegraph office and several schools are maintained here.
Manddwar.-Town in the District and tahsil of Bijnor, United
Provinces, situated in 29° 29' N. and 78° 8' E., 8 miles north
of Bijnor town. Population (1901), 7,210. It was identified by
St. Martin and by General Cunningham with the Motipura visited
by Hiuen Tsiang in the seventh century ; but this identification
rests entirely on its distance from various places, and no excavations
have been made'. According to tradition, some Agarwal Banias
settled here in the twelfth century, when they found the place
deserted. The town was captured by Timnr in 1399, and was the
capital of a mahctl or paibwna under Akbar. In 1805 it was pillaged
by Amir Khan, the Pindari, and during the Mutiny it suffered at the
hands of Jdt marauders. A mound half a mile square rises some
io feet above the rest of the town, containing large bricks. The
Jdma Masjid stands on this, constructed from the materials of a Hindu
temple. North-east of the town is another large mound, and there
are two tanks in the neighbourhood. Mandawar is administered
under Act XX of 1856, with an income of about Rs. 1,2oo. There
is a small industry in papier mâché ; and boxes, pen-trays, paper-
knives, &c., are made. A primary school has 126 pupils, and two
aided schools have 85 pupils. The American Methodist Mission
has a branch here.
1 flrclaaeotogzcal Survey 1i'gorts, vol. i, P. 248.
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