The Ratlam State of Malwa

Ratlam state, also written as the princely state of Ratlam, was a Rajput princely state of the Malwa region, in what is now Madhya Pradesh, ruled by a Rathore line of Jodhpur descent. Centred on its capital town of Ratlam, the state lay in the historic country of Malwa, a fertile plateau region of central India. The ruling house was founded, by tradition, by Ratan Singh, a noble of Rathore descent connected to the great Rathore house of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and the town is said to take its name from him. Unlike the neighbouring Maratha states of Malwa, Ratlam was a Rajput state, and it became known as a flourishing centre of trade, famed for its markets and above all for the celebrated snack known as Ratlami sev. As a Rathore Rajput principality, its story belongs to the wider world of the clans described in our guide to the Rajputs, and this account keeps to broadly established history where particular dates and details are uncertain.

Key Takeaways

• Ratlam state was a Rajput princely state of the Malwa region, in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
• It was ruled by a Rathore line of Jodhpur descent, unlike the neighbouring Maratha states of Malwa.
• Its capital was the town of Ratlam, in the historic plateau country of Malwa.
• By tradition the ruling house was founded by Ratan Singh, from whom the town is said to take its name.
• Ratlam became a flourishing centre of trade, famed for its markets and for Ratlami sev.
• Ratlam acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947.

Read on for the history, culture, and legacy in detail.

Quick Facts

Who Ruled the State of Ratlam?

Ratlam state was ruled by a Rathore Rajput line of Jodhpur descent, making it a Rajput principality amid the Maratha states of the Malwa region. The Rathore rulers of Ratlam traced their descent to the great Rathore house of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and they governed from their capital at the town of Ratlam in the historic plateau country of Malwa. As a Rathore Rajput house, the ruling family shared in the martial traditions and prestige of one of the most celebrated of the Rajput clans. The family upheld the customs and sense of lineage characteristic of the Rajputs. Governing from Ratlam, the Rathore rulers presided over a state that became a flourishing centre of trade. Their rule gave the state its distinctive Rajput character and its heritage, above all its reputation for markets and the celebrated Ratlami sev. The Rathore Rajputs of Ratlam thus occupy a notable place among the ruling houses of the Malwa country.

Where Is Ratlam Located?

Ratlam is located in the Malwa region, in the western part of present-day Madhya Pradesh in central India, on the historic plateau country long celebrated in Indian history. Malwa is a fertile upland region, distinct from the plains and the Deccan, with a long heritage of kingdoms, towns and trade. The town of Ratlam, which gave the state its name, served as its capital amid this setting. The position of Ratlam in Malwa placed it among the states of central India, in a region of fertile country and busy trade routes. The terrain and setting of the fertile plateau, together with the trade routes that crossed Malwa, shaped the life and economy of the state and its reputation as a centre of commerce. Ratlam’s location in Malwa is central to understanding its identity as a Rajput trading state. Its setting in the historic plateau country ties it closely to the wider history of Malwa in central India.

Who Were the Rathore Rajputs?

The Rathore Rajputs were one of the most celebrated of the Rajput clans, famed above all for their association with the kingdom of Jodhpur, or Marwar, in Rajasthan, from whom the ruling house of Ratlam descended. Renowned in tradition for their martial valour and their long rule over Marwar, the Rathores occupied a place of high honour among the Rajput houses of Rajasthan and beyond. The ruling line of Ratlam belonged to a branch of this distinguished clan, carrying the Rathore heritage into the Malwa country of central India. As Rathores, the rulers of Ratlam upheld the values, customs and sense of lineage associated with their clan. The connection to the great Rathore house of Jodhpur lent the state of Ratlam a distinguished and prestigious origin. The martial traditions and heritage of the Rathores shaped the character of the ruling house. The Rathore identity thus forms the proud ancestral foundation of the ruling house of Ratlam.

Who Was Ratan Singh, the Founder of Ratlam?

Ratan Singh is remembered in tradition as the founder of Ratlam, a noble of Rathore descent connected to the great Rathore house of Jodhpur, from whom the town is said to take its name. According to the traditions of the ruling house, Ratan Singh established the state in the Malwa region and gave his name to its capital, laying the foundation of the Rathore principality of Ratlam. The details of his life and the founding of the state belong to the traditions and genealogies of the Rajput houses and are treated by historians with appropriate caution rather than as exact record. What is clear is that the ruling line traced its origin to this Rathore founder of Jodhpur descent. The memory of Ratan Singh as founder is a cherished part of the heritage of Ratlam. In tradition, Ratan Singh occupies the honoured place of founder in the history of the state and its line of Rathore rulers.

How Did the State of Ratlam Originate?

Ratlam state originated as a Rajput principality established by a Rathore line of Jodhpur descent in the Malwa region of central India. According to the traditions of the ruling house, the state was founded by Ratan Singh, a noble of Rathore descent, who established his seat at the town that took his name and governed the surrounding country. This origin set Ratlam apart from the neighbouring Maratha states of Malwa as a Rajput state carrying the heritage of the great Rathore house of Jodhpur. The precise details of the state’s early history are drawn from the traditions and genealogies of the Rajput houses and are treated by historians with appropriate caution. What is clear is that the Rathore line established an enduring principality centred on Ratlam. The origin of Ratlam as a Rathore Rajput state connects it to the celebrated history of the Rathores of Rajasthan. The state thus took shape as a Rajput principality in the historic country of Malwa.

Why Was Ratlam a Rajput State in Maratha Malwa?

Ratlam was a Rajput state amid the predominantly Maratha states of Malwa because its ruling house descended from the Rathore Rajputs of Jodhpur, in contrast to the Puar and other Maratha clans that ruled the neighbouring states. The establishment of a Rathore line in Malwa, by tradition under Ratan Singh, brought the heritage of the Rajputs of Rajasthan into a region that later came largely under Maratha houses during the Maratha expansion into central India. As a result, Ratlam retained a distinctive Rajput character among its Maratha neighbours, carrying the traditions, customs and prestige of the Rathore clan. This distinctive origin gave Ratlam a special place in the political and cultural landscape of Malwa. The Rajput identity of Ratlam set it apart from the surrounding states. The character of Ratlam as a Rathore Rajput state in Maratha Malwa is one of the most distinctive features of its history in central India.

Why Is Ratlam Famous for Its Markets?

Ratlam is famous for its markets because the town grew into a flourishing centre of trade in the Malwa region, favoured by its position among the trade routes and fertile country of central India. The markets of Ratlam became known for their bustle and their variety of goods, drawing merchants and traders and making the town a notable centre of commerce in Malwa. This reputation for trade reflected the prosperity of the town and the importance of Malwa as a region of commerce and fertile agriculture. The markets of Ratlam contributed greatly to the wealth and character of the state. The reputation of the town as a trading centre became one of its most distinctive features. The commercial life of Ratlam, centred on its markets, remains a defining part of its identity. The fame of Ratlam for its markets is closely tied to its celebrated local foods, above all the snack known as Ratlami sev.

What Is Ratlami Sev?

Ratlami sev is a celebrated savoury snack associated with the town of Ratlam, a crisp fried preparation of gram-flour noodles seasoned with spices, which has made the name of the town known far beyond Malwa. Famed for its distinctive flavour and spicing, Ratlami sev is counted among the well-known regional foods of central India and is closely identified with the markets and culinary traditions of Ratlam. The snack reflects the commercial and culinary culture of the town, which grew as a centre of trade and good food. The reputation of Ratlami sev carried the name of Ratlam across the region and beyond, making it one of the best-known products of the town. The snack is a source of local pride and a distinctive part of the identity of Ratlam. Ratlami sev remains the most famous culinary emblem of the town, closely tied to its markets and its reputation as a flourishing centre of trade in Malwa.

What Was the Capital Town of Ratlam Like?

The capital town of Ratlam, which gave the state its name, lay in the Malwa region of central India and served as the seat of the Rathore ruling house. The town was the political, administrative, cultural and commercial centre of the state, adorned with the palace and residences of the ruling family and known above all for its bustling markets. As the capital of a Rathore Rajput state and a flourishing centre of trade, Ratlam had a distinctive character combining Rajput heritage and commercial life. The town was a centre of court life, governance, trade and craft within the state. Its heritage reflected both the status of the ruling house and the prosperity of its markets. As the capital, Ratlam was the focus of the life of the state. The town of Ratlam remains the enduring centre of its heritage and identity, known for its markets, its Ratlami sev and its Rathore traditions in the Malwa country.

What Was the Culture of Ratlam Like?

The culture of Ratlam combined the Rajput traditions of its Rathore ruling house with the commercial and culinary life of a flourishing trading town of Malwa. The court of the Rathores fostered the martial and cultural traditions of the Rajputs, while the markets of the town nurtured a lively commercial and culinary culture, celebrated above all in the famous Ratlami sev. The traditions of the Rajputs, the devotional culture of the region and the bustling trade of Malwa all shaped the cultural life of Ratlam. The patronage of the ruling family supported temples, festivals and the traditions of the court, while the markets made the town a centre of commerce and good food. This blend of Rajput heritage and trading culture distinguished Ratlam among the states of central India. The culture of Ratlam remains one of the most distinctive aspects of its heritage in the Malwa region.

What Was the Architecture and Heritage of Ratlam Like?

The architecture and heritage of Ratlam embrace the palace of its Rathore ruling house, temples and the bustling markets of the trading town, reflecting the character of a Rajput state of Malwa. The palace and residences of the capital were built in the traditions of the Rathore house, while the temples of the town represent the devotional heritage of the region. The markets and commercial streets of Ratlam, famed for their trade and for Ratlami sev, give the town a distinctive heritage as a centre of commerce. The building traditions drew on the styles of Malwa and the Rajput heritage of the ruling house. This combination of palace, temple and market gives Ratlam a rich and distinctive heritage. The artistic and commercial traditions of the state reflect both the Rathore rulers and the trading life of the town. The architecture and heritage of Ratlam remain among the notable aspects of the Malwa country of central India.

How Was Ratlam Governed?

Ratlam was governed by its Rathore ruling house through a system that combined the authority of the ruler with the service of nobles, officials and local functionaries who managed the affairs of the state. At the head stood the ruler, supported by ministers and officers responsible for revenue, justice and the general administration of the territory. The state comprised the capital town and the surrounding country of the Malwa region. Revenue came from the land and the produce of the fertile plateau, as well as from the trade that flourished in the markets of the capital. The nobility and local chiefs held responsibilities within this structure, a common pattern among the princely states. Within the framework of British paramountcy, the administration of the state developed over time. This system of governance allowed the Rathore dynasty to maintain its rule over the Malwa country for generations. The administration of Ratlam reflected the traditions of a Rajput principality set in the trading country of Malwa.

What Were Ratlam's Relations with the Great Powers?

Ratlam, as a Rajput state of Malwa, engaged over its history with the great powers that rose and fell across central India, including the Mughals, the Marathas and later the British. As a Rathore state set amid the Maratha houses of Malwa, Ratlam navigated the shifting balance of power through a combination of alliance, accommodation and the preservation of its own authority over its territory. During the eras of Mughal dominance and later of Maratha and British ascendancy, the rulers of Ratlam managed their relations with these powers to safeguard the interests of the state. Its position in the trading country of Malwa shaped these dealings. These engagements were shaped by the wider politics of the age and by the distinctive Rajput character of the state. Through such dealings, the dynasty preserved its rule over Ratlam. The state’s relations with the great powers form an important strand in its history within the wider order of central India.

How Did Ratlam Become a Princely State under the British?

Ratlam became a princely state within the framework of British paramountcy that took shape across India during the nineteenth century. As British power extended over central India, many ruling houses, including the Rathores of Ratlam, entered into arrangements that recognised their rule over their territories while acknowledging the overarching authority of the colonial power. Under this system Ratlam was counted among the princely states of central India, retaining its own ruler, administration and internal governance. This status allowed the Rathore dynasty to continue governing the Malwa country as the ruling house of a recognised state. The princely-state framework shaped the modern history of Ratlam until the independence of India. Within this arrangement the state preserved its Rajput traditions, its markets and its distinctive identity. Ratlam’s standing as a princely state of central India is an important part of its story in the era before independence.

How Did Ratlam Join Independent India?

Ratlam, like the other princely states, acceded to the Indian Union after the independence of India in 1947, when the states were integrated into the new nation. With the end of British paramountcy, the rulers of the princely states joined India, and their territories were brought into the republic through the great process of integration that reshaped the political map of the subcontinent. Ratlam became part of independent India and was absorbed into the structure of the region that later formed the state of Madhya Pradesh. This transition ended the era of Ratlam as a separately governed principality, though the ruling family retained its historical standing and heritage as a Rathore Rajput house. The integration of the states was one of the defining achievements of the early years of independent India. Ratlam thus became part of the modern nation and of the reorganised map of central India, while remaining a flourishing centre of trade.

Ratlam Today

Ratlam is remembered today chiefly as a flourishing centre of trade in Malwa, famed for its bustling markets and above all for the celebrated snack known as Ratlami sev, which carries the name of the town across the region and beyond. The palace, temples and markets of the town reflect its heritage as a Rathore Rajput princely state set in the trading country of central India. The former ruling family retains its historical association with the state and its heritage. The commercial and culinary life of the town, centred on its markets and its famous sev, continues to shape the identity of Ratlam. For readers of Indian history, Ratlam offers a vivid example of a Rajput trading state amid the Maratha country of Malwa. Its legacy endures in its markets, its Ratlami sev, the memory of its Rathore house and the heritage of its capital in the Malwa country of Madhya Pradesh.

Sources & Further Reading

• Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in).
• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh (mptourism.com).

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Ratlam state?

Ratlam state was a Rajput princely state of the Malwa region, in present-day Madhya Pradesh, ruled by a Rathore line of Jodhpur descent. Its capital was the town of Ratlam, and the state became a flourishing centre of trade, famed for its markets and for the snack known as Ratlami sev.

Who ruled Ratlam?

Ratlam was ruled by a Rathore Rajput line of Jodhpur descent, which traced its origin to the great Rathore house of Marwar in Rajasthan. This made Ratlam a Rajput state amid the predominantly Maratha states of Malwa.

Who founded Ratlam?

By tradition, Ratlam was founded by Ratan Singh, a noble of Rathore descent connected to the great Rathore house of Jodhpur, from whom the town is said to take its name. The details of the founding belong to the traditions and genealogies of the Rajput houses.

What is Ratlami sev?

Ratlami sev is a celebrated savoury snack associated with the town of Ratlam, a crisp fried preparation of spiced gram-flour noodles. Famed for its distinctive flavour, it is counted among the well-known regional foods of central India and has made the name of Ratlam known far beyond Malwa.

Why is Ratlam famous for its markets?

Ratlam is famous for its markets because the town grew into a flourishing centre of trade in Malwa, favoured by its position among the trade routes and fertile country of central India. Its bustling markets drew merchants and traders and are closely tied to its famous local foods.

What happened to Ratlam after independence?

Ratlam acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947 and was integrated into the region that later formed the state of Madhya Pradesh. This ended its era as a separately governed principality, though the ruling family retained its heritage as a Rathore Rajput house.