An Unpublished Copper Plate Grant of V.S. 1165 from Rajasthan
By Ratna Chandra Agrawala
Summary
Publishing an inscription for the first time, the article presents a V.S. 1165 (A.D. 1108) copper plate discovered in Rajasthan. The plate, inscribed in Nagari script, records a royal land grant, detailing the boundaries, recipient and exemptions. The author transliterates and translates the Sanskrit text, noting references to local geography and genealogy. By comparing the script and formulae with other inscriptions, he attributes the grant to a ruler possibly linked to the Chauhan dynasty. The article discusses the legal and socio‑economic implications of the grant, such as tax exemptions and administrative responsibility. It emphasises the importance of such documents for reconstructing medieval Rajasthani history and encourages further publication of unpublished plates.
Conclusion
The newly published V.S. 1165 copper plate enriches the corpus of medieval Rajasthani inscriptions. It sheds light on land‑grant practices, regional administration and genealogies, underscoring the value of epigraphic discoveries for historical reconstruction.