The Shudra rulers of India

Rulers from maternal side lower caste descendents

• Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III – He was former ruler of Baroda State. His biological father, Kashirao Bhikajirao Dada Sahib Gaekwad was from cadet branch descends from a morganatic marriage of the first Raja of Baroda. Pilajirao Gaekwad was married to a lower caste women and Sayaji’s family descended from the child of that marriage. Sayajirao was known as a great reformer, known for building Baroda State into modern state and patronizing people, e.g – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Sri Aurobindo, etc.
• Mahapadma Nanda – Though he was Kshatriya by his father’s lineage but his mother was a Shudra from barber community. He was son of Mahanandin, king of Shishunaga Dynasty.
• Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia – He was also an adopted son of Tarabai, the widow of Jankojirao Scindia II. Jayajirao’s family was also descended from a morganatic marriage of Scindia rulers.

Disputed origins 

• Chandragupta Maurya – Founder of Maurya Empire and one of the greatest emperors in Indian history. Though there are various disputes about his lineage. According to Hindu Puranas he belongs to lower caste family, Jain texts says, he belongs to a family of peacock rearers, Buddhist texts Digha Nikaya mentions that he belongs to Moriyas of Pippalivan (a Shakya Kshatriya), Greek and Latin writers describes him of humble origin and Sanskrit drama Mudrarakshasa as Mauryaputra or the son of Mura (Shudra woman). Buddhist texts are most earlier but it may have late interpolations may be after Emperor Ashoka, who became Buddhist but Chandragupta was a Jain. Many castes like Kushwahas (Koeris), Dalits, Rajputs, Koli, etc claims their lineage from Mauryas.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh – Founder of Sikh Empire. He is mostly claimed as Sikh of Jatt origin but have diputes related to his clan. Some even claimed is a Warraich Jatt some from other Jatt clans. But originally Ranjit Singh belonged to Sandhwalia Jatts. But many historians beleive that he belonged to Sansi (Dalit) caste. Ranjit Singh was also claimed as Bhatti Rajput but if we see the genealogy of Sansis, they also originate from Bhattis who became nomad after their defeat from Muslim rulers. Sandhwalias are Jats of Sansi origin and they lived in a place called Raja Sansi. So it’s highly probable that Maharaja was of Sansi origin.
• Raja Phani Mukut Rai – He was founder of “Nagvanshi kingdom of Chotanagpur”. Though it’s beleived that he was son of Pundrika Naga and adopted by Madra Munda, a tribal chief of Jharkhand. But the story is said mostly a myth and defuncted by many historians. The only source of his lineage is Nagvanshavali, which was converted into an abstract by the Rakhal Das Haldar (former manager of Chota Nagpur Raj) which is based on beleifs. It’s highly probable that he was also from the Munda tribe.

Rulers from direct untouchable’s descendents

• Avanti Varman – The founder of Utpal Dynasty of Kashmir. In Ain-i-Akbari by Abu Fazl (pg.400) it is mentioned that he was from Chamar caste.
• Raja Chintamoni Dhoba – Ruler of Dhalbhum and established capital at Ambikanagar (W.B).
• Raja Mayurdhwaj – Former ruler of Shravasti. His genealogy can be traced through writings of Alexander Cunningham, based on the traditional accounts of Tharu Rajas of Gonda.
• Raja Suheldev – Ruler of Shravasti and was son of Raja Mayurdhwaj. He defeated and killed the Ghaznavid general Ghazi Salar Masud in conquest of Bahraich. He is mentioned in the 17th cen. Persian-language historical romance ‘Mirat-i-Masudi’. Amish Tripathi wrote a novel, Suhaldev and the Battle of Bahraich based on him. Though Suheldev’s lineage is claimed by many castes, e.g – Rajbhars & Pasis of U.P, Bais Rajputs, some claims him as Nagvanshi,etc.
• Raja Dal Dev – He was ruler of Rae Bareli region and had capital at Dalmau, which was named after him.
• Raja Satan Pasi – Ruled around the regions of Unnao-Sitapur and had capital at Satankot (Bangarmau). He fought war bravely against Jai Chand and Alha-Udal in which Bijli Pasi died. Later he fought in Battle of Bahraich against Ghazi Salar Sahu, brother in law of Ghaznavi and became successful. He was killed in an uprising at Jaunpur.
• Raja Bijli Pasi – The bravest king of Pasi Dynasty who ruled Central U.P. He fought war against Rajput king, Jai Chand and Alha & Udal (military generals of Chandel kings) in which he got martyred. Bijli Pasi’s former capital was at Bijnor and later at Natvagarh.
• Lakhan Pasi – He was the ruler of Central U.P and founded the capital city, Lucknow which was named after him ‘Lakhanpur’.
• Raja Jas – A Pasi chieftain and founder of Jasnaul which after the Muslim conquest of the region, came to be known as Bara Banki (in U.P).

Rulers from direct tribal/adivasi descendents

• Yalamber – The founder of Kirat Kingdom in Nepal around 800BC. Kiratas are also mentioned in Hindu epic, Mahabharata as Maleccha tribes.
• Eklavya – A Nishada prince and son of Vyatraj Hiranyadhanus, the king of Nishadas. He was also commander-in-chief of Jarasandha’s army.
• Rao Poonja Bhil – Raja of Bhomat (hilly tract of Mewar) and fought in Battle of Haldighati with Maharana Pratap with his 400 archers.
• Raja Kotiya Bhil – He was ruler of Akelgarh (Kota) and after his death in war Kota was founded and named after him.
• Raja Bunda Singh Meena – First ruler of Bundi and named the area as “Bunda-Ka-Nal”.
• Raja Jaita Meena – Ruler of Bundi and was son of Bunda Meena. Later, he got defeated by Hada Rajputs. Jaita Meena also constructed Jait Sagar in Bundi.
• Rao Bada Meena – Raja of Naen (Nayan) and built of fort which was destroyed by Kacchwaha Rajputs & Mughals.
• Raja Alan Singh Chanda – First ruler of Dhundhar (Jaipur region). He built the first structure of Amer Fort which was earlier known as Khogong and then built Aasawari Devi Temple in Jaipur. He was overthrown by Kacchwaha Rajputs with the help of Dhola Rai, a Rajput orphan raised by Chanda Meenas themselves.
• Raja Asha Bhil – He was ruler of Ashaval, present day Ahmedabad and the hillock near Astodia Darwaja was known as ‘Asha Bhil-no-Tekro’. He was defeated by Chalukya king, Karna.
• Raja Manohar Bhil – He was ruler of Manohar Thana and also built a fort their. Later his son, Chakrasen Bhil also ruled the area.
• Raja Bansiya Bhil – He was founder and ruler of Banswada (Rajasthan).
• Raja Jaitsi Parmar Bhil – He was former ruler of Arbuda (Mount Abu) and belongs to Parmar clan.
• Raja Vishwasu Bhil – A tribal ruler of Odisha and he was the person who kept Jagannathpuri’s Neelmadhav statue as their kin god and later the idol was placed at Jagannath Temple.
• Raja Mandalik – He was the ruler of Idar (Sabarkantha). He patronized the Guhilot dynasty or the first founder of Mewar by placing Guhaditya in his Idar kingdom. Guhaditya lived in the palace of raja and rode with Bhil boys. Raja Mandlik gave some land and forest to him, later he became the king of the Idar. Later, the 4th Guhilot raja Nagaditya fought war against Bhils but got defeated and Bhils regained power in the area.
• Raja Niladhwaj – Founder of Khen dynasty in Assam. His son Shukaldhwaj and Nilambar the kingdom and expanded in till Mymensingh and undivided Kamrup. Last king was defeated by Alauddin Hussain Shah, the Sultan of Bengal. They belonged to tribal Koch caste of Bengal.
• Maharaja Biswa Singha – Founder and first ruler of Koch Dynasty (undivided) after the fall of Kamarup Kingdom. He defeated Baro-Bhuyans and ruled the area making it a buffer state to Kingdom of Gaur and Ahoms.
• Maharaja Nara Narayana – Second ruler of Koch Dynasty and son of Biswa Singha. He captured whole North East defeating Ahoms, Jaintia, Tippera and Kachari rulers. He was overthrown by Sultan of Bengal, Suleiman Karrani. He gave Srimanta Sankardeva, the first royal patronage to Ekasarana Dharma.
• Chilarai – He was step-son of Biswa Singha and commander-in-chief of Koch Dynasty. Under his control kingdom reached to it’s zenith, he was the first ruler who used guirella warfare and built destroyed portions of Kamakhya Temple.
• Maharaja Laxmi Narayan – He was founder of Koch Behar kingdom after the split of Koch Dynasty. Laxmi Narayan was son of Nara Narayan and ruled Cooch Behar State. Maharani Gayatri Devi was daughter of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan of the kingdom and she was married to Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur State.
• Maharaja Raghudeva – He was ruler of Koch Hajo dynasty, an eastern split of Koch Dynasty. He was adopted son of Chilarai and Raghu’s som Parikshit Narayan later ruled the state and the kingdom was defeated by Islam Khan I and Amil of Sylhet, Muhammad Zaman Karori of Tehran.
• Raja Chandra Narayan – He established Bijni kingdom and was son of Koch Hajo ruler, Parikshit Narayan.
• Malharrao Holkar I – He was commander of Maratha Empire under Peshwas and founder of Holkar Dynasty. He belonged Dhangar caste and his descendents ruled Indore State.
• Raja Jadurai – He was founder of Garha-Mandala kingdom of Gonds after disposing Kalachuris.
• Sangram Shah – He was 48th ruler of Gond Dynasty (Garha-Mandala) and conquered half of the Central India including 52 forts. He also built Chouragarh Fort at Narshinghpur.
• Dalpat Shah – He was 49th ruler of the Garha-Mandala Gond dynasty and was husband of Chandel Rajput princess, Rani Durgawati who fought against Mughals after his death.
• Raja Jatba – Founder of Deogarh Gond Dynasty.
• Raja Bakht Buland Shah – He was ruler of Deogarh Gond Dynasty and founded the city of Nagpur. He got converted into Islam but married among Gonds.
• Raja Khandkya Ballal Shah – Ruler of Chanda Gond Dynasty, who later shifted his capital at Chandrapur from Ballarpur. He also built Anchaleshwar Temple, Chandapur Fort and Chandrapur Mahakali Temple.
• Narsingh Rai – The founder of Kherla Gond Dynasty.
• Maharaja Medini Ray – The 13th ruler of Chero Dynasty who captured Bihar, Jharkhand & some part of U.P. Chero Dynasty was founded by Nagvanshi tribal king, Ghughulia. Medini Ray also built Palamu Fort and fought war against Mughal general, Daud Khan. Cheros aslo fought wars against Mughal generals, Shaista Khan, Man Singh, Khawas Khan, Nagvanshis of Navratangarh and also against Ujjainiya Rajputs.
• Nareshchandra Singh – Raja of Sarangarh State (Chattisgarh) and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
• Maha Manikya – He was founder of Kingdom of Tripura and belongs to indigenous Tripuri tribe.