Jhansal
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Jhansal (Hindi:झांसल) is an ancient village in Bhadra tehsil of Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan, India. It is located in north eastern corner of the district adjoining Haryana border. It is about 20 km in north-east of Bhadra (Hanumangarh) on Bhadra-Hisar road. As of 2001 census its population is 5389 out of them 1419 are Schedule Caste people.
[edit] History
According to Thakur Deshraj it was capital of Puniya republic prior to Annexation of it by Rathores in Jangala Desh region of Rajasthan. The republic of the Puniyas spread from Jhansal (on the boundary of Modern Hissar, to Marod. Marod is 12 kos south of Rajgarh. The folk legends tell us, that one Sadhu told a Puniya leader, that whatever land he could cover on a mare, that will be governed by the Puniyas. The Mare was let loose and at Sunset , she reached Marod and died. At that time the Puniyas Sardar (chieftain) said:
- “The journey from Jhansal ended at Marodh. The mare died but no regret.”
Traces of the old capital of the Puniyas, Jhansal where there was their fort, can still be found. Such traces are also still found in Balsamand.[1]
According to James Tod as mentioned in his book "Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (1829)" the Jangladesh region was inhabited by Jats or Jits, who had for ages been established in these arid abodes. At every stage of invasion to India the invaders had to encounter with the Jats of this region. At what period the Jats established themselves in the Indian desert is not known. By the 4th century they had spread up to Punjab in India. Nearly the whole of the territory forming the boundaries of present Bikaner was possessed by the six Jat cantons namely:—
1. Poonia, 2, Godara, 3. Saran 4. Asiagh 5. Beniwal 6. Johiya, or Joweya
Each canton bore the name of the community, and was subdivided into districts. Number of villages in Poonia canton and Districts included in them were as under :
Poonia : Villages - 300 Districts : Bhadra, Ajitpura, Sidhmukh, Rajgarh, Dadrewa, Sankhoo, etc. [2]
