Shekhawat

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Rajput clan: Shekhawat
Vanshi Suryavanshi
Descended from: Dhundhar,Amber/Jaipur
Sub-clan of: Kachwaha
Branches: Bhojraj Ji Ka, Ladkhani, Girdhar Ji Ka, Achaldas Ji Ka, Rao Ji Ka, etc.
Ruled in Shekhawati
Princely states: Thikanas of Shekhawati

Shekhawat is a sub-clan of Kachwaha Rajputs found mainly in Rajasthan, India. The Shekhawat clan claims descent from the great rajput warrior Rao Shekha Ji. Shekhawats were the most prominent among all sub clans of Kachwahas of Jaipur. Shekhawats were the rulers of Shekhawati.

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[edit] History

Main article: Thikanas of Shekhawati

The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years.

Shekhawats are most prominent among all the sub-clans of Kachwaha Dynasty of Jaipur. Sir Yadunath Sarkar in his book Fall of The Mughal Empire, wrote that Shekhawats the bravest among the sub-clans of Kachawaha Dynasty of Jaipur. This is clear from the following poetry on Shekhawats in Rajasthani language -


"आम ज उमदा नीपजे गेंहू अर गुड़ ताड़।",
"नर नाहर तो नीपजे शेखा घर ढ़ूंढ़ाड़।।".



The Shekhawat rulers constructed more than 50 forts and palaces in their Thikanas in Shekhawati and other thikanas. Shekhawati has many beautiful kaleidoscopic forts and magnificent Castles. The walls of the palaces and castles are richly painted. Frescoes were introduced first of all by Shekhawat Rajputs in their Forts in Shekhawati. They were the first patrons of the wall painting tradition in Shekhawati.

Shekhawati was established by Shekhawat Rajputs and it was ruled by them till India’s Independence.

Rao Shekha Ji from Dhundhar or Amer established his own independent kingdom with the capital at Amarsar; he was the first independent Ruler in Dhundhar after ruler of Amer. After him Rao Raimal, Rao Suja and Rao Lunkaran become the rulers of Amarsar. Rao Manohar succeeded his father Rao Lunkaran and founded Manoharpur later renamed Shahpura (The present ruler of Shahpura is the Tikai of Shekhawat subclan). Shekhawats conquered the Jhunjhunu, Fatehpur, Narhar of Kaimkhanis and established their rule on them.

Rao Suja’s younger son Raja Raisal was the brave king; he conquered Khandela from Nirbans and succeeded as the Raja Sahib of Khandela. He had 12 sons among them 5 were died in battle. His seventh son Raja Girdhar succeeded as the Raja of Khandela and his descendents are known as Girdhar Ji Ka Shekhawats. Raja Raisal’s elder son was Thakur Lal Singh, he was granted Khachariawas Thikana and his son Kesari Singh founded Khatu. As Akbar called Lal Singh Lad Khan, this name become famous, and his descendents are known as Ladkhani. Raja Raisal’s third son Rao Tirmal was the ancestor of “Rao Ji Ka” Sept of Shekhawats. He was granted the parganas of Nagore and Kasli (with 84 villages). Rao Daulat Singh son of Rao Jaswant Singh of Kasli, founded Sikar in 1687. Raja Raisal’s fifth son Rao Bhojraj was brave and a generous person; he received the Udaipurwati as his Jagir by his father. He was the ruler of Udaipurwati (The group of 45 villages of Udaipurwati was known as Pentalisa) and he was ancestor of the Bhojraj Ji Ka sept of Shekhawats. Descendents of Rao Bhojraj founded many Thikanas and ruled over them. Bhojraj Ji Ka Shekhawats ruled over two territories; one was Pentalisa and another was Panch Pana. Pentalisa comprised Jhajhar, Gudhagorji, Khirod, Chirana etc. and Panch Pana comprised the Thikanas of Khetri, Bissau, Mukandgarh, Nawalgarh, Dundlod,Mandawa, Mehansar, Alsisar, Inderpura, Malsisar, Mandrella, Arooka, Chowkari, Hirwa, Sigra, Surajgarh, etc. Thakur Shardul Singh, a descendent of Rao Bhojraj Ji, conquered the Jhunjhunu in 1730 from the Kayamkhani Nawabs. Thakur Shardul Singh had six sons, namely, Thakur Jorawar Singh, Thakur Kishan Singh, Kunwar Bahadur Singh (died in his Kunwarpadi), Thakur Akhe Singh, Thakur Nawal Singh Bahadur and Thakur Kesari Singh. Unfortunately, Bahadur Singh had expired in an early age. Later on Thakur Shardul Singh’s estate was divided into five equal shares among his five sons. These five shares were known as Panchpana. It was a second territory, ruled by Bhojraj Ji Ka. Panchpana comprised the Thikanas of Khetri, Bissau, Mukandgarh, Nawalgarh, Dundlod, Mandawa,mehansar, Alsisar, Malsisar, Mandrella, Arooka, Chowkari, Hirwa, Sigra, Surajgarh, etc. Akhe Singh died without issue, so his share was given to the other brothers. Thakur Shardul Singh’s sons and their descendents founded many new well planned and prosperous Thikanas.[1] Many Thikanas had their own flags and emblems. Shekhawats ruled over highest no. of Thikanas in Jaipur Rajwara.

In 19th century Sikar was the largest & wealthiest Thikana and the Khetri was the second wealthiest Thikana of Jaipur State.

Shekhawati was the largest Nizamat of Jaipur State, almost the whole of which is occupied by Shekhawats. The Shekhawat chieftains of the region retained a nominal loyalty to the Kachwaha Rajput’s capital state of Jaipur, who in turn honoured them with the hereditary title known as Tazimi Sirdars. The Rulers of the Shekhawati’s Thikanas were the Shekhawat sub clan of Kachwaha Dynasty of Jaipur Princely State. Shekhawats was the most prominent among all the Kachawas of Jaipur. Col. J.C. Brooke in his book Political History of India wrote that for the recruitment of Horse-army there is no region in India at par with Shekhawati.

[edit] Demographics

The Shekhawat population is concentrated in all over the Shekhawati and in Jaipur.

[edit] Prominent Shekhawats

[edit] Historical

[edit] Modern

  • Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Indian politician; Vice-President of India
  • Lt. Gen Kundan Singh Shekhawat
  • Rawal Madan Singh, ruler of Nawalgarh
  • Piru Singh Shekhawat, Indian soldier; winner of Param Vir Chakra
  • Admiral V.S.Shekhawat, Chief of the Indian Navy
  • Major Dalpat Singh Shekhawat, Hefa Hero
  • Major Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, winner of Shaurya Chakra
  • Bishan Singh Shekhawat, Journalist, Politician, Social Worker
  • Zorawar Singh Shekhawat, Awarded the Mahaveer Chakra.
  • Sriram Singh Shekhawat, awarded Arjuna award and PadmaShri.
  • Kripal Singh Shekhawat,awarded PadmaShri.
  • Raghubir Singh, of Khatu ruling family, awarded the Padma Shri and the Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh Award (posthumously)
  • Subedar Major Sukh Singh Shekhawat, awarded the Mahaveer Chakra.
  • Ranveer Singh Shekhawat, winner of Shaurya Chakra.
  • Lt. Col. Govind Singh Shekhawat (Khudi, Sikar, awarded Vir Chakra.
  • Lt. Col. Sumer Singh Shekhawat (Gangiasar, Jhunjhunu), awarded Vir Chakra and Seana Medal.
  • Brig. J.S. Shekhawat (Luhakana), awarded Sena Medal
  • Ajeet Singh Shekhawat IPS, Police medal
  • Col.Mahaveer Singh Shekhawat (Bhorki,Teh;udaipuwati,Dist;Jhunjhunu)
  • Col.Sumer Singh Shekhawat (Bhorki,Teh.Udaipurwati,Dist.Jhunjhunu)
  • Th. Surender Singh Shekhawat(Bhorki,teh.Udaipurwati,Distt.jhunjhnu)

[edit] Further reading

  • Ranbir singh Shekhawat(DUNDLOD) History of Shekhawats,Jaipur,2001 ISBN 81-86782-74-5
  • Rao Shekha
  • History of Jaipur
  • Shekhawati Ka Itihas
  • Jhunjhunu Mandal Ka Itihas
  • Sikar Ka Itihas
  • Kalia Mahal (Bhorki,Teh.Udaipurwati,Distt.Jhunjhunu )

[edit] External links

  • Shekhawat Dynasty, Indian Princely States, Genealogical Gleanings Royal and Noble Lineages.