Barhath Kriparam Khidiya

Kripa Ram Ji Khidiya (1743—1833) was a famous Rajasthani poet of the 18th century. He is known for his soratha (and duha) on ethics (नीति) called 'Rajiya Ra Soratha' and 'Rajiya Ra Doha'. In addition to his ethical writings, the poet's other works are concerned with devotion to God and heroism. Kriparam was born to Jogaram Khidiya in 1743 in the village of Kharadi (Pali district). He enjoyed the patronage of Rao Raja Devi Singh and his successor Laksman Singh of Sikar. In 1790 (VS 1848) and 1801 (VS 1858), he was granted the villages of Maharajpur and Lichamanpura as his jagir in sasan, the latter of which became home to Kriparam's second son Kishnaji and the village came to be known as 'Kriparam ki Dhani'. The poet's published works include Kavitta Chalairaya ra, Sat Rut Varnan, assorted writings on the Gita, as well as Rajiya ra Soratha (a collection of 140 verses, edited by Jagdishsinha Gahalote, Hindi Sahitya Mandir, Jodhpur, 1934) and Rajiya ra Duha (a collection of 165 verses, edited by Narottamdas Swami, Bikaner).