| Honorific Prefix: | Kaviraj Mahamahopadhyaya Kaisar-i-Hind |
| Shyamaldas | |
| Birth Date: | 1836 |
| Birth Place: | Udaipur, Mewar |
| Death Date: | 1893 |
| Death Place: | Udaipur |
| Occupation: | Historian, Prime Minister of Mewar |
| Notable Works: | Vir Vinod |
| Mahamahopadhyaya | |
| Spouse: | 2 |
| Children: | 4 |
| Mother: | Aijan Kanwar |
| Father: | Kamji Dadhwadiya |
| Honours: | Kesar-e-Hind (Lion of India) |
Mahamahopadhayaya Kaviraja Shyamaldas Dadhivadia (1836-1893), popularly referred to as Kaviraja (Hindi: king of poets) was one of the early writers involved in documenting the history and culture of what is now Rajasthan region of India.[1]
Shyamaldas co-wrote (with his father Kayamadana Dadhivadia) the Dipanga Kul Prakash, an extended narrative poem on the Dodia Rajputs of Mewar.[2] Maharana Sajjan Singh, ruler of Udaipur (princely state), assigned Shyamaldas the task of compiling an authentic history of Mewar.[3] Titled Vir Vinod (Hindi: Heroes' Delight), this is the earliest known comprehensive history written in Mewar.[4] It reached the public only in 1930 as Maharana Fateh Singh (Maharana Sajjan Singh's successor) was averse to its publication.[5]
Shyamaldas was also a confidant of Maharana Sajjan Singh and was entrusted with the delicate negotiations which resulted in a quick end to the Bhil rebellion of 1881.[6] Later, Shyamaldas' pupil, Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha also became a famed historian and writer.
Shyamaldas was honored with the degree of Mahamahopadhayaya and conferred with the Kesar-e-Hind (Lion of India) by the British Government.[7]