| Sumario: | This article examines the biography of Rao Gopal Singh (r. 1872-1939), Ṭhākur of Kharwa (now in the Indian state of Rajasthan), through the lens of songs men sing in his honor. The subject of women's songs honoring Rajput heroes martyred centuries ago is a concern of recent scholarship. However, in focusing solely on women's songs, scholars have elided the question of whether a complementary men's tradition exists and, if so, how their songs differ in thematic content, language, and performance from that of women. Also dissimilar to the narratives of Rajput heroes that scholars have so far examined, Rao Gopal Singh's story is rooted in the colonial era; he was a nationalist whose struggle to liberate India from the British inspired his involvement in violent acts of rebellion.
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