“An order had shortly before been issued that no officer was, on any pretext whatever, to make terms with mutineers as long as they had arms in their hands. This precaution was undoubtedly necessary in some instances, where incompetent men might have done the State incalculable injury by an injudicious exercise of independent authority; but exceptions ought to have been made; and certainly, an officer who was considered fit to hold the responsible position of representative of the British Government at the court of an independent sovereign, should have been entrusted with power to do as he thought best in an emergency of the kind alluded to.” (Pritchard)

After ridding themselves of Lieutenant Conolly, the Jodhpur Legion recommenced their march. Midway between Erinpura and Pali lay the territory and stronghold of a fiercely independent chief, the Thakur of Auwa. He was not in particular favour with the court of Jodhpur, nor, indeed, did he seek it. He had, well before 1857, started his own rebellion against the erstwhile court at a time when another Lawrence was in Rajputana, Sir Henry.

The Thakur of Auwa, Kushal Singh

Sir Henry, when agent to the Governor-General for the Rajputana States had, as throughout his career, made it his policy to protect the lower classes from unwarranted oppression and encroachments by the uppers—while this might have found him favour in the Punjab, it was not necessarily the wisest policy in a region as turbulent as Rajputana. Feudal customs, though viewed as backwards and barbaric by Lawrence, were accepted as the right of law, but Lawrence would have his way. One of the customs that he so objected to was that no artisan or “serf” could leave the territory of his own Thakur and settle somewhere else without the Thakur’s permission.
“These men formed, in fact, part of the property inherited by the feudal lords from their ancestors and were regularly attached to the soil. Sir H. Lawrence was determined to put a stop to a custom that rendered the condition of the lower classes so analogous to one of slavery, and directed the various political agents at the different courts to exert themselves to break down this remnant of barbarism and barrier against the march of civilization, with all possible firmness and forbearance.”
His determination fell foul of the Thakur of Auwa.
In his territory lived two men who had eked out a living, not as tillers of the soil but as tradesmen, and by all accounts, not as particularly successful ones. Heavily in debt, the two decided the only way to escape their creditors was to up and leave.
“…they accordingly packed up their goods and chattels one fine morning, and went off to a neighbouring estate, where they settled themselves to their trade, confiding in the power and influence of the Governor-General’s agent to protect them from any evil consequences that might result from their transgression of an old-established feudal custom, under which their fathers and forefathers had lived for countless generations.”
Resentful of this interference with his privileges, the Thakur took up his case directly with the Maharaja at Jodhpur. If he expected Takht Singh to place himself against Henry Lawrence, he was wrong. Furious and unsupported, the Thakur of Auwa threw off his allegiance with the court and refused to pay his revenues until his grievances were addressed. It was by far not the only insult levelled against the proud Thakur.
News of the disturbances in northern India had long since reached even a far-flung place like Auwa. It was well known that Kushal Singh was making his plans, collecting arms, men, and supplies in his fort, putting his defences in order and, as such, showing “warlike intentions.” Whether the defences were for his own protection or for other devices, no one could say. Rumour was rife that he had sent messages to the Jodhpur Legion before they mutinied, calling on them to rise and join his cause; however, none of this was substantiated by proof. Yet, as soon as the Legion marched, there was no doubt they would go straight to Auwa and encamp outside his fort.

“The Thakur, a man of a long and proud lineage, of great repute throughout the country, was unwilling to enter into any bond of alliance with men whom he regarded as the revolted hirelings of the European. But revenge is sweet. And he, probably the second man in importance in Marwar, believed that his wrongs cried out for vengeance. A rebel against his Raja, he was likewise to that extent a rebel against the British suzerain of that Raja.”

However, the Legion did not, as was expected, throw themselves at the Thakur — instead, they began to negotiate. “It was said they could not come to terms, and it was supposed that the Thakoor was afraid to admit so strong a party of armed men inside his fort, which would be placing himself completely in their power, without having some guarantee for their good behaviour. On the other hand, the mutineers had much to gain by placing at their head a chief whose name, family, and position in the country would give them prestige, which they could not otherwise possibly hope to have.”
While he kept them waiting for an answer, Kushal Singh sent an emissary to Monck Mason at Jodhpur.
Monck Mason received him with all courtesy, but as it was, his hands were tied. Not only the government he served, but by the Maharaja himself. Canning’s proclamation was clear—there would be no coming to terms with rebels in arms, and under the current rules, the Thakur was a rebel. The Maharaja was just as resounding: as long as the Thakur did not pay his dues and “threw himself upon his mercy, confessed his error, and made the only practical reparation he could, by paying his arrears of revenue, now amounting to a considerable sum, no communication whatever should pass between them.” As it was, the emissary had been ordered to only speak to Monck Mason and not the Maharaja or the court. All the captain could do was listen as the man very politely informed him that if the Thakur was absolved, he would keep his gates closed to the Jodhpur Legion; he would cooperate with any force sent his way and would open fire on their camp at Monck Mason’s behest. However, if his terms were not met, he would throw away his scabbard, enlist the men of the legion and wage war against Jodhpur. Monck Mason could only listen. Canning’s directive was clear on the one hand, and on the other, he risked incurring the wrath of the Maharaja, who had not “empowered Mock Mason to hold any friendly communication with him (the Thakur) or to offer or accept any terms.”
Monck Mason was powerless to act, and the emissary left empty-handed. The next news from Auwa was hardly surprising—the Thakur had found his ground with the Jodhpur Legion.