The Rai Dynasty was a Hindu Brahman^[1] dynasty of Sindh, from c. 489–690 AD. The influence of the Rai empire extended from Kashmir in the east, Makran and Debal (Karachi) port in the west, Surat port in south, Kandahar, Sistan, Suleyman, Ferdan and Kikanan hills in the north, ruling an area of over 600,000 square miles.

The Emperors of this dynasty were great patrons of Hinduism and Buddhism. They established a formidable temple of Shiva in present-day Sukkur, Pakistan, derived from original Shankar, close to their capital in Al-ror.^[2] This is consistent with the historical accounts from the times of Emperor Ashoka and Harsha because Indian monarchs never sponsored a state religion and usually patronized more than one faith.

Sources of Information[link]

B. D. Mirchandani writes, "Our knowledge of the Rai dynasty, which is not a great deal, is derived entirely from three Muslim chronicles of Sind."^[3] For the history of the Rai and Brahman dynasties we are, therefore, almost entirely dependent on the Muslim chronicles, especially the Chachanama and Shahnama.^[4]

The history of the Rai dynasty are entirely based upon Muslim chronicles such as the Chach Nama and the Shahnameh, thereby dating them to about the 5th century.^[5]

They rise to power in the time period of shifting political scene with the wane of the Sassanid influence in the wake of the Hepthalite (White Hun/Huna) invasions, and with the rulers issuing silver coins bearing their likeness by the 7th century.^[5]

Background[link]

The Rai dynasty is recorded as ruling Sindh, from their capital Aror upon the banks of the Indus River, north to Kashmir for a period spanning 202 years.^[5][6]

The Chachnama provides a detail of the extant of Rai Sahiras domain.

Chronology of Rai rulers of Sindh[link]

Wink reports on the possibility of the corruption of the Sanskrit names and renders them as related in parenthesis in the following chronology of the Rai rulers of Sindh:^[5]

• Rai Diwa ji (Devaditya)

He was a powerful chief who forged alliances and extended his rule east of Makran and west of Kashmir, south to the port of Karachi and north to Kandahar.^[8]

• Rai Sahiras (Shri Harsha)
• Rai Sahasi (Sinhasena)
• Rai Sahiras II

Died battling the King of Nimroz.^[9]

• Rai Sahasi II

The rule of Rai Sahasi II[link]

Rai Meharsan second had a war with Nimruz of Fars in which he was killed due to injury of an arrow in his throat. After him Rai Sahasi second became the king. He ordered the appointed four Governors (Maliks) in his kingdom to protect the interests of the country and the people, to look after the repairs of the (State) buildings, and to keep the feudal assignees and estate-holders happy. In his whole dominion, there was not a single refractory or rebellious head who perversely opposed the measures passed by him or (transgressed) the boundaries fixed by him. Owing to his excellent policy and majestic dignity, Rai Sáhasi brought the kingdom under his firm control. The subjects and original residents of the country enjoyed much respect, and lived a happy life.

He had a wazir, by name chamberlain Rám. Rám was well acquainted with the various departments of knowledge. Once, when the chamberlain Ram, the Brahman wazir, had come to his office, a Brahman named Chach, son of Selaij, came to visit him to pay respects to the chamberlain Ram. The wazir was impressed by the talents of Chach and appointed him assistant. In a short time, he became prominent in the correspondence department of the council.

Once Sahasi Rai second fell ill. Some letters from the district of Siwistan having arrived, the secretary Rám was called. But he had not yet come to the council office. The minister sent his munshi (book-keeper) Chach for this purpose. The wisdom of Chach of Alor influenced the king and he appointed Chach to look after the palace as Assistant Secretary. This way he got free entry into the palace. After the death of Ram, Rai Sáhasi called Chach to himself and conferred on him the office of Chamberlain and Secretary.

In 644, after Conquering Persian Empire, Rashidun army entered Makran and defeated the army of Raja Rasil in a decisive Battle of Rasil, and annexed Makran and eastern Balochistan. Caliph Umar (634-644) however for the time being, disapproved of any incursion beyond the Indus river and ordered his commander to consolidate their position west of Indus.^[10] During the reign of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (644-656) Muslims captured Qanzabil, a main military garrison of Rai dynasty in northern Sindh and until 662, when during Ummayad Caliphate it was retaken by Rai kingdom, it served as eastern most garrison town of Rashidun army.

End of the Rai Dynasty[link]

After the Arabs defeated the Sassanid allies of Persia (641 AD), the Arabs prepared for the Islamic conquest of the Indian Subcontinent, an area where Buddhism and Hinduism flourished.

The Rai Emperors fought many battles with the invading Muslims, resisting invasion of the Northwest region of the Indian Subcontinent. The numerous wars left a drain on the economy and the empire disappeared. Dr. R.S Sharma suggests in Shahnameh, the dynasty retreated to the Himalayan mountains with Hepthalite allies during the Islamic conquest where the rest of their history in Indian literature remains a mystery.

See also[link]

• Chach Nama
• Shahnameh
• Jat
• Punjab
• Persia
• Sikandar
• India
• Scythia
• Aryan
• Vedas
• Aishwarya Rai

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Thakur Deshraj: 'Jat Itihas, Delhi, 1934
• The Chach-nama. English translation by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg. Delhi Reprint, 1979.
• Wink, Andre, Al Hind the Making of the Indo Islamic World, Brill Academic Publishers, Jan 1, 1996, ISBN 90-04-09249-8 pg.
• Elliot, Henry Miers, The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. The Muhammadan Period. Volume 1, Adamant Media Corporation, ISBN 0-543-94726-2

External links[link]

• Chach Nama
• Al-Hind: the making of the Indo-Islamic world, Volume 1 By André Wink

Rai may refer to:

Acronyms

• RAI, radioactive iodine, in the medical context of the treatment of thyroid problems
• RAI, Radiotelevisione Italiana, Italian public broadcasting
• Praia International Airport in Cape Verde, IATA airport code
• Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
• Rijwiel Automobile Industrie, which gives its initials to Amsterdam RAI railway station in south Amsterdam and the nearby conference complex Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre
• Islamic Republic of Iran Railways is abbreviated as RAI

Fictional characters

• Rai (comics), fictional character from Valiant Comics
• Rai Bakuoh, one of the characters from the fighting game Waku Waku 7
• Rai, the protagonist of the anime Ginga Sengoku Gun'yūden Rai.

Geography

• Rai (area), a traditional Thai unit of area, equaling 1,600 m²
• Rai, Orne, a commune of the Orne département, in France
• Rai, South Khorasan, a village in South Khorasan Province, Iran

People

• Rai (Indian), an Indian surname
• Rai (Punjabi surname), a Punjabi surname
• Rai (surname) (Kanji 雷, Hiragana らい), a Japanese surname derived from the Chinese Lei (雷)
• Aishwarya Rai, (born 1973) Former Miss World (1994) and Indian Actress
• Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, or Beshara Rai, incumbent Maronite patriarch in Lebanon
• Bali Rai, young-adult fiction novelist from Leicester, England
• Kayyar Kinhanna Rai, Kannada writer and activist in India
• Lakshmi Rai, South Indian actress
• Lala Lajpat Rai, an Indian author, freedrom fighter and politician (1865-1928)
• Prakash Rai, South Indian actor
• Priya Rai, Indian American porn star
• Raí, Brazilian football (soccer) player
• Amit Rai Film Director
• Kalpnath Rai politician
• Acharya Kuber Nath Rai Writer
• Viveki Rai Hindi Writer
• Kusum Rai Politician
• Ram Bahadur Rai Journalist
• Jharkhande Rai Ex. MP
• Gauri Shankar Rai Ex,MP

Social and ethnic groups

• Rai (ethnic group), an ethnolinguistic group of Nepal
• Rai (Indian), a title in India, with various related meanings and compound forms of Rajput & Bhumihar caste

Other uses

• Rai (also Raï), a form of folk music that originated in Oran, Algeria, from Bedouin shepherds (evolved into a popular genre)
• Rai languages, Dhanwar Rai language
• Rai University, a university in India
• Rai stones, a kind of stone currency used in Yap (Caroline Islands)
• Rai (also Raai), the Hindi term for Mustard seeds
• rai (paradise) a term for paradise found in Slavic languages.

See also[link]

• Raï (disambiguation)
• Ray, Iran

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Martin Laurent Picandet (French pronunciation: [maʁtɛ̃ pikɑ̃dɛ]) (born 22 September 1976), better known under his stage name Martin Solveig, is a French electronic music DJ and producer from Paris. He also hosts a weekly radio show called "C'est La Vie" on stations worldwide including FG DJ Radio in his homeland. His label is called Mixture Stereophonic. Martin Solveig had been ranked 29^th in the 2011 DJ Mag Top 100 DJs popularity poll.^[1] He has collaborated with Dragonette, Kele of Bloc Party, and Madonna.

History[link]

As a child, Martin Solveig joined the choir of the Petits Chanteurs de Sainte-Croix de Neuilly,^[2] where he had a classical music training and became soprano soloist under the direction of François Polgár. At the age of 18, he became a DJ and then started to work in famous Parisian nightclubs : L'Enfer, Le Queen, Les Bains Douches.

Solveig chose his pseudonym as an homage to the French actress Solveig Dommartin.^[3]

In 2011, Solveig was officially named as one of the producers for Madonna's new studio album, MDNA.^[4]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Compilations[link]

Singles[link]

"Hello" became Martin Solveig's breakthrough song in the world, used in a Trident Gum commercial in 2011. The song earned popularity and eventually became his first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 43. The song also reached number one on dance charts around the world as well as on the Dutch Top 40.

Other singles[link]

Notes:

• ^A - Solveig was credited as Africanism.

References[link]

External links[link]

• TwistedHouse.com Martin Solveig Interview
• Martin Solveig Interview (Ibiza,Spain)2006
• Martin Solveig biography
• Top 40 charts record for Martin Solveig
• Martin Solveig İstanbul

Pradeep Kumar (born Pradeep Batabyal; 4 January 1925 - 27 October 2001) was an Indian actor in Bengali and Hindi films.^[1][2]

Career[link]

When Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. His started his film career in Bengali films. His notable roles in Bengali films were in Alaknanda(1947) directed by renowned filmmaker Debaki Bose and in '42 (1951).

Kumar then shifted to Bombay and Filmistan studios, and had an important role in the film Anand Math (1952). He played the lead role with Bina Rai in Anarkali (1953) and with Vyjayanthimala in Nagin (1954). Both films were very popular and had songs that added to the movies success. He had a spate of releases in the second half of the 1950s. He did not enjoy as much success in the 1960s, though Ghoonghat (1960) , Taj Mahal (1963) and Aarti were successful. He worked with Meena Kumari in 7 films i.e. Adil-E-Jahangir, Bandhan, Chitralekha, Bahu Begum, Bheegi Raat, Aarti & Noor Jahan & with Mala Sinha in 8 films i.e. Naya Zamana, Hamlet, Baadshah, Detective, Fashion, Ek Shola, Duniya Na Maane, and Mitti Mein Sona.

He did not get to act in lead roles with the newer heroines of the 1960s like Sadhana, Saira Banu, Babita or Sharmila Tagore, though he did work with Asha Parekh in Ghoonghat and Meri Surat Teri Aankhen & with Waheeda Rehman in Raakhi(1963). In 1969, he moved to character roles with Sambandh and Mehboob Ki Mehndi, but did not have many visible roles till Jaanwar and Razia Sultan in 1983.

He won the Kalakar Award-Lifetime Achievement Award (1999).^[3]

Pradeep Kumar died in Calcutta on 27 October 2001, at the age of 76. He is survived by his daughters Reena, Meena and Beena who plays character roles in movies and TV serials including Uttran, son Debiprasad and granddaughters Tanisha, Riya and Hrishita.

Filmography[link]

Bengali[link]

Pradip kumar played the role of BANDIT MOHAN ( Dosshu Mohan in Bangla) a character based on a very popular bangla crime thriller series Dossu Mohan

Hindi[link]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Aakhri Insaf (1979)

Aarti (1961)

Adalat (1958)

Adl-E-Jehangir (1954)

Afsana (1966)

Amar Shakati (1978)

Anand Math (1952)

Anarkali (1953)

Anjaan (1956)

Apsara (1955)

Arab Ka Saudagar (1956)

Badshah (1955)

Bahu Begum (1966)

Batwara (1961)

Bheegee Raat (1965)

Chaitali (1975)

Chambal Ki Kassam (1979)

• Chitralekha (1964)

Detective (1958)

Do Anjaane (1976)

Do Dilon Ki Dastan (1967)

Duniya Na Mane (1959)

Dur Naheen Manzil (1972)

Durgesh Nandini (1956)

Ek Jhalak (1956)

Fashion (1957)

Gateway Of India (1957)

Ghunghat (1960)

Harishchandra Taramati (1970)

Hawas (1974)

Heer (1956)

Hill Station (1957)

Jab Se Tumhen Dekha Hai (1963)

Jagte Raho (1956)

Jalte Badan (1973)

Kagaz Ki Nao (1974)

Kalabaaz (1977)

Kranti (1981)

Lok Parlok (1979)

Mahabharat (1965)

Mangetar (1972)

Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1970)

Mere Armaan Mere Sapne (1963)

Meri Surat Teri Ankhen (1963)

Miss India (1956)

Mitti Me Sona (1960)

Modern Girl (1960)

Nagin (1955)

Naya Sansar (1959)

Noor Jehan (1967)

Palaniyappa Kalluri (2007)

Purana Mandir (1984) Parmatma (1976)

Passport (1961)

Patrani (1956)

Police (1957)

Pyar Ki Rahen (1959)

Raat Aur Din (1966)

Raj Hath (1956)

Rakhi (1962)

Saheli (1965)

Sambandh (1968)

Samjhauta (1972)

Sanjog (1961)

Shirin Farhad (1956)

Subah Ka Tara (1954)

Taj (1955)

Taj Mahal (1963)

Ustadon Ke Ustad (1963

Sindbad Alibaba & Aladin (1964))

Wahan Ke Log (1967)

Zindagi Aur Maut (1999)

References[link]

External links[link]

• An article from rediff.com
• Pradeep Kumar at the Internet Movie Database

This article about an Indian actor or actress is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Bina Rai (4 June 1936 – 6 December 2009), (Hindi: बीना राय, Urdu: بِن رے), (aka Beena Roy) was a leading actress primarily of the black and white era of Hindi cinema.^[1] She is most known for her roles in classics such as Anarkali (1953), Taj Mahal (1963), and won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film, Ghunghat (1960).

Early life[link]

Bina Rai born as Krishna Sarin. Bina Rai lived in Kanpur until she moved out for acting. She had to convince her parents to allow her to act in films, she claimed that she went on a hunger strike in order to convince her disapproving parents to let her join films, and they finally relented.

Career[link]

Bina Rai was a first year student of Arts in the Isabella Thoburn College of Lucknow in 1950^{[citation needed]}, when she came across an advertisement for a talent contest, she applied and received a call from the sponsors. Although she had been active in college dramatics, a film career was never within her field of vision. Nevertheless she went Bombay, to participate in the contest where she won along with the 25,000 rupees in prize money^{[dubious – discuss]} a leading role in Kishore Sahu's 'Kali Ghata' (1951), which became her film debut, and also featured Kishore Sahu in the lead role ^[2][3].

In the 1950s she married actor Prem Nath, whose sister Krishna was married to the actor-director Raj Kapoor, was part of the Kapoor family. ^[4] They had acted together in some films, the first movie in which he was paired with Bina Rai was Aurat (1953) , a Bollywood version of the tragic Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah (1949). The film was not a hit, but Bina Rai and Prem Nath fell in love with each other. They married and soon set up their own production unit, known as P.N. Films. Their first film from P.N. Films was Shagufa (1954) and they had pinned high hopes on it, but audiences rejected it. Neither Bina Rai’s elfin charm nor Prem Nath’s sensitive portrayal of the role of a doctor could save "Shagufa" from being a flop. And the films that followed "Shagufa" — Prisoner of Golconda, Samunder and Watan disappeared almost as soon as they hit the theater screens. Thus the Prem Nath-Bina Rai pairing never clicked on the screen.^[5]

However, her films with leading man Pradeep Kumar remain her best-remembered performances, where she played the title role in Anarkali (1953), Taj Mahal (1963 film) and Ghunghat (1960 film) for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress ^[6]

In the 1970s, her son Prem Krishen became an actor and had one big hit Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye (1977), but couldn't sustain the momentum so he turned producer, with the Cinevista banner, which went on produce TV series such as Kathasagar, Gul Gulshan Gulfam and Junoon. He launched his daughter Akanksha Malhotra as an actress in 2002 in his home production, claiming that she reminds him so much of his mother Bina Rai.

Bina Rai stopped acting in films many years ago, claiming that women of a certain age don't get good roles. She also talks fondly of her husband Prem Nath who had died on 3 November 1992. In 2002, their son, Kailash (Monty) Nath released a tribute album, to his father on the occasion of his 10th death anniversary and 76th birth anniversary, titled Amar Premnath, released by Saregama ^[7][8]. His grandson, Siddharth Malhotra directed the successful TV series on doctors, Sanjivani (2004) ^[3].

Death[link]

Bina Rai died on the 6th of December 2009.

Awards[link]

• Filmfare Award
  • 1961: Filmfare Best Actress Award: Ghunghat

Filmography[link]

• 1951: Kali Ghata
• 1952: Sapna
• 1953: Anarkali^[9]
• 1953: Aurat
• 1953: Gauhar
• 1953: Shagufa
• 1953: Shole
• 1954: Meenar
• 1954: Prisoner of Golconda
• 1955: Insaniyat
• 1955: Madh Bhare Nain
• 1955: Marine Drive
• 1955: Sardar
• 1956: Chandrakant
• 1956: Durgesh Nandini
• 1956: Hamara Watan
• 1957: Bandi
• 1957: Chengiz Khan
• 1957: Hill Station
• 1957: Mera Salaam
• 1957: Samundar
• 1957: Talaash
• 1960: Ghunghat
• 1962: Vallah Kya Baat Hai
• 1963: Taj Mahal
• 1966: Daadi Maa
• 1967: Ram Rajya
• 1968: Apna Ghar Apni Kahani^[10]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Bina Rai at the Internet Movie Database

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