# Fierce Wars Fought Over Watermelons and Pumpkins: The Extraordinary Tales of Rajasthan and Moradabad's Strange Historical Clashes

> Indian history holds remarkable instances where trivial disputes escalated into devastating military conflicts. The 'Matire Ki Raad' fought over a single watermelon between Bikaner and Nagaur, alongside the 1857 'Kaddu Gardi' riot in Moradabad over a pumpkin's price, remain two of the most astonishing chapters of regional history.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Culture · **Published:** 2026-09-02 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/culture/tarabuja-aura-kaddu-ki-mamuli-rnjisha-men-bahi-thi-khuna-ki-nadiyan-janen-rajasthan-aura-moradabad-ki-aitihasika-jngon-ki-anokhi-d-26264 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Indian History, Matire Ki Raad, Kaddu Gardi, Bikaner History, Moradabad Riot, Amar Singh Rathore, King Karan Singh

Historical archives contain several extraordinary episodes demonstrating how seemingly minor disagreements can balloon into catastrophic, deadly confrontations. Events unfolding within a local boundary often produce ripples that resonate across distant regions and eras. In Indian history, two particularly intriguing incidents stand out, where disputes over the legal ownership of a fruit and a vegetable led not only to formal military deployments but also to substantial casualties. The first of these is the famous 'Matire Ki Raad' of Rajasthan, a battle fought between the princely states of Bikaner and Nagaur over a single watermelon. The second occurred in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, remembered as 'Kaddu Gardi', where a disagreement over the price of a pumpkin triggered a two-day bloody riot. According to historian Dr. Rajiv Saxena, both occurrences highlight how fragile local peace could be when pride, territorial borders, and minor disputes intersected.

## A Boundary Vine and the Watermelon Dispute
The history of Rajasthan's 'Matire Ki Raad' traces back to the 17th century. During this period, the kingdom of Bikaner was ruled by King Karan Singh, while the neighboring state of Nagaur was governed by Amar Singh Rathore. Amar Singh Rathore remains celebrated in historical accounts for his fierce bravery, most notably for beheading Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's brother-in-law inside the imperial court itself. The borders of Bikaner and Nagaur lay directly adjacent to one another. The final border village belonging to Bikaner was Silwa, which directly adjoined the village of Jakhaniya in Nagaur state.

The catalyst for conflict emerged when a farmer in Bikaner's Silwa village planted a watermelon vine on his agricultural land. In North India, the fruit is widely known as tarbooj, whereas local dialects in Rajasthan refer to it as matira. As the vine matured, it crept beyond the farm boundary and extended into a field located inside Jakhaniya village under Nagaur's jurisdiction. In due course, a large, ripe watermelon grew on the portion of the vine that rested inside Nagaur territory.

Upon discovering the substantial fruit on his land, the Nagaur farmer attempted to harvest it. However, the Bikaner farmer promptly arrived to intervene. The Bikaner farmer maintained that because the root of the vine had been sown in his soil and nurtured by him, full ownership of any fruit produced belonged exclusively to him. Conversely, the Nagaur farmer argued that regardless of where the root originated, the physical fruit had developed inside his field and within his state's borders, granting him sole rights to harvest it.

## From Farmers' Quarrel to Royal Armies Clashing
What began as a localized debate between two individual farmers rapidly expanded. Within hours, residents of both villages joined the fray. The inhabitants of Silwa rallied behind their local farmer, while the villagers of Jakhaniya took up the cause of theirs. As tensions escalated beyond village boundaries, official administration on both sides was alerted, ultimately bringing the matter directly to the attention of both reigning monarchs.

When news of the border dispute reached King Karan Singh of Bikaner and Amar Singh Rathore of Nagaur, the atmosphere along the frontier was already charged. At that juncture, Amar Singh Rathore was stationed in Delhi serving Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and was not physically present in Nagaur. Nevertheless, state military commanders from both principalities mobilized their respective forces. Royal troops met face-to-face along the border, triggering a fierce and bloody armed conflict. Severe casualties were sustained on both sides before the army of Bikaner eventually secured victory on the battlefield. Following the confrontation, the contested watermelon was retrieved and formally presented to King Karan Singh of Bikaner.

## The Moradabad Clash Over a Pumpkin's Price
Mirroring the absurdity of the watermelon war, the event known as 'Kaddu Gardi' in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, represents another notable historical anomaly. This conflict transpired around 1857, during the intense period of the Great Revolt. Troops belonging to the Nawab of Rampur were stationed in Moradabad to assist in maintaining order and securing essential supplies. These soldiers routinely visited local markets to purchase grain, vegetables, and provisions for their units.

On one such occasion, a local farmer was selling pumpkins in a Moradabad bazaar. A Pathan soldier serving under the Rampur Nawab approached the vendor to purchase a pumpkin. Upon hearing the quoted price, the soldier considered the rate excessively high and demanded a discount. The farmer stood firm, explaining that growing produce required significant labor and insisting on receiving a fair market price before parting with his produce.

## Two Days of Rioting and an Inconclusive End
The pricing argument quickly turned hostile. As the Pathan soldier pressed his demand, fellow soldiers from the Rampur Nawab's garrison gathered at the scene to support him. In response, local market vendors and townspeople assembled in solidarity with the farmer. The verbal altercation rapidly devolved into open violence, with both factions using weapons and sticks in the crowded marketplace.

Historical records regarding the precise toll of 'Kaddu Gardi' contain varying accounts. While some chroniclers state that the dispute was quickly mediated, multiple historical sources, including accounts noted by British historians, record that rioting engulfed the city of Moradabad for two full days. Approximately 40 individuals lost their lives during the violence. The upheaval yielded no political or material resolution; the rioting eventually subsided only after a prominent local Thakur exerted his personal influence and authority to restore calm.

Historian Dr. Rajiv Saxena notes that both the 'Matire Ki Raad' of Rajasthan and the 'Kaddu Gardi' of Moradabad serve as vivid historical evidence of how trivial matters have triggered immense bloodshed in the past. These accounts illustrate how easily minor provocations can escalate into major historical conflicts when stubbornness supersedes diplomatic reason.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which two princely states fought the 'Matire Ki Raad' battle?
The battle was fought in the 17th century between the princely states of Bikaner (ruled by King Karan Singh) and Nagaur (ruled by Amar Singh Rathore) in Rajasthan.

### 2. What was the main cause of the watermelon dispute?
A watermelon vine planted in Bikaner's Silwa village grew across the border into Nagaur's Jakhaniya village, leading both farmers to claim ownership based on the vine's root and fruit location respectively.

### 3. What was the outcome of the 'Matire Ki Raad' war?
The army of Bikaner emerged victorious in the military battle, and the contested watermelon was delivered to King Karan Singh of Bikaner.

### 4. When did the 'Kaddu Gardi' incident take place in Moradabad?
The incident occurred around 1857 during the Great Revolt, when soldiers of the Nawab of Rampur were stationed in Moradabad.

### 5. How many casualties were reported in the 'Kaddu Gardi' riot?
According to several historical records, approximately 40 people were killed during two days of rioting triggered by the pumpkin price disagreement.

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