Dhumal

Dhumal is a Maratha clan found largely in Indian state of Maharashtra and neighbouring states. They played an active role to establish the Maratha empire, which played the major role of finishing the Mughal empire in India and also made sure that India remains a Hindu country.^[1]

Notable members of the Dhumal family

• Sardar Babaji Hambaji Dohar Dhumal Deshmukh-Adhalrao, born in 1591, was a Deshmukh warrior of Velavand Valley who served Adilshah and Nizamshah dynasties. He further joined Chhatrapati Shivaji in his cause of Hindu Homerule.^[2]

• Sardar Dadajirao Hambaji Dohar Dhumal Deshmukh-Adhalrao, brother of Babaji, and succeeded to two third portion of Deshmukhi of Velavand Valley and grant made hereditary from Chhatrapati Shivaji after Babaji's death.^[2]

• Sardar khelojirao Hambaji Dohar Dhumal Deshmukh-Adhalrao, brother of Babaji, and succeeded to one third portion of Deshmukhi of Velavand Valley and grant made hereditary from Chhatrapati Shivaji after Babaji's death.^[2]

• Shrimant Shantaram Dhumal, Inamdar from Baramati whose daughter married to HH Shivajiraje Bhosale of Tanjavur Kingdom.^[3]

• Shankarrao Dhumal was an agriculturist with an industrial outlook, an Educationist, and a philanthropist. Shankarrao set up and became the Founder Director of Pravara, Asia's first co-operative sugarcane factory in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra, in 1945 by teaming up with world-renowned Indian economist, author, and mentor of former Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, Late. Shri. Dhananjay Ramchandra Gadgil and Balasaheb Vikhe Patil. The sugar factory had the unique distinction of becoming debt free within its first three years, in spite of doubling the capacity of the sugar factory from 600 tons to 1200 tons. He also teamed up with Late Shri. Bhaurao Patil to set up schools in the district for the poor and needy children in the rural areas, on what was commonly known as an ‘earn and learn school’. This institution has now grown to about 1200 schools in the state of Maharashtra. He established by his action that there was not only a big need to develop rural Maharashtra but also huge potential to do so. He had 10 children, 4 sons (Gajanand, Vishwas, Ram, and Ajay) and 6 daughters (Aasha, Ashwini, Neeta) .

• Prem Kumar Dhumal (born 10 April 1944), was the 12th chief minister of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. He is an Indian politician who has twice been Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, from March 1998 to March 2003, and again from 1 January 2008 to 25 December 2012. Prem Kumar Dhumal was born in a Rajput family to Capt. Mahant Ram and Phulmu Devi on 10 April 1944, in the Samirpur of Hamirpur District, Punjab, British India.^[4] He has two sons, named Arun Thakur and Anurag Thakur. The latter is also a politician and has been a member of the 14th and 15th Lok Sabhas. Dhumal started his career as an Assistant with the Life Insurance Corporation of India, having completed his post-graduate degree in English Literature and a degree in Law, while, first working with LIC and later as a teacher with the Panjabi University Evening College Jalandhar and then educated from Doaba College, Jalandhar city.^[5] His political career has started when BJP stalwart Thakur Jagdev Chand, the then-sitting MLA of Hamirpur, refused to contest from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency in 1984. Dhumal lost that election but won in 1989 and 1991.^[6] He represented Hamirpur until 1996, when he lost to Vikram Singh. Dhumal became a Member of the Legislative Assembly in March 1998 and was Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh also.He has two sons, named Arun Thakur and Anurag Thakur. The latter is also a politician and has been a member of the 14th and 15th.

• Vishwasrao Dhumal, son of Late. Legendary Shankarrao Dhumal (see above) and elder brother of Industrialist Ajay Dhumal (see below) is a retired IAS Officer, 1973 batch, Government of Maharashtra. Vishwasrao worked in various responsible positions such as Commissioner Sugar, Commissioner Agriculture, CEO MIDC and CIDCO, Principal Secretary, (Industries Dept.) before taking voluntary retirement in 2007 as Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra. Currently working as CEO, Raheja Corp, Mumbai. He has also started over 30 schools in the state of Maharashtra, with Vishwajyot High School located in Navi Mumbai as the flagship school.

• Ajay Dhumal (1957), son of Late. Legendary Shankarrao Dhumal (see above), is an industrialist based in Mumbai, India. Ajay is the chairman and Managing Director (CMD), KP Group, Mumbai. Ajay was born in Ahmednagar District in Maharashtra. During his college days he started construction of residential buildings in Mumbai in 1982 as a first-generation entrepreneur. In early 1990s, Ajay participated in the Government of Maharashtra encouraged scheme of developing export oriented aquaculture activity, by acquiring and utilizing thousands of acres of vast saline lands available with the Government of Maharashtra.^[7] After taking possession and developing the said Govt. land, the Hon.ble' Supreme Court of India banned aquaculture all over India. After the ban, imposed by the Hon.ble' Supreme Court of India, Ajay integrated the existing prawn farm with salt works. He then partnered with Tacke, a wholly owned subsidiary of ENRON to put up a wind energy project. He then acquired land from MIDC in Dhule, which is currently the most windy site in the State of Maharashtra, and successfully put up wind energy projects, both as developer and as an Independent Power Producer (IPP) by partnering with wind power giants such as ENRON, GE, Vestas, and Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica, and has put up around 200–300 MW of wind energy projects in various districts in the State of Maharashtra. K.P Group subsequently took over Tacke India after the exit of ENRON from India, as ENRON sold its wind energy business to GE, which was then not keen to operate in India. K.P Group through one of its subsidiary K.P Acqua Pvt. Ltd. acquired and developed another salt works with salt-washery and refinery in Baruch district, of Gujarat, the salt producing hub, and the new salt works managed to break the records by producing unprecedented output per acre and is currently producing nearly 100,000 tons (220 million lbs) of grade-one salt annually, matching the International standards to be readily used in various industries. The diversified K.P Group is active in various sectors such as wind energy, solar energy, cement manufacturing, infrastructure development, real estate, warehousing, salt manufacturing, and aquaculture activities.

Origin

The Dhumals believed to be the Rajputs from Maharashtra. Some even migrated to Himachal Pradesh in the Third Battle of Panipat. Dhumals are considered to be one of the most royal race. Source such as Maratha Kulancha Itihas by K. B. Deshmukh, states that Dhumals are of royal race, warrior blood and among pure Marathas and part of shahannav kulas (96 Kulis) of Maratha.^[8][9]

History

The Dhumal clan mainly hails from the Western Maharashtra region, in which they predominate Deshmukhi and Patilship and similar honors awarded to them by various ruling powers like Yadavas of Devgiri, Bahamani Sultanates as well as Chhatrapati Shivaji and his successors. The Dhumals enjoyed position of Deshmukh warriors of Velavand Valley, Bhor consisting 32 villages and were prominent among 12 Maval deshmukh warriors. Dhumals were active in many wars played in Chhatrapati Shivajis reign such as Battle of Pawankhind, 1659 along with Sardar Bajiprabhu Deshpandes Bandal Sena. They were also part of Maratha freedom fight against Aurangzeb (1682–1707), Chhatrapati Sambhaji, Chhatrapati Rajaram and Chhatrapati Queen Tarabai were supported by them for Swarajya Campaign and various battles. Under the rule of Chhatrapti Shahuraje Sambhajiraje Bhosale of Satara, Dhumals gained prominent positions as being Saranjam Inamdar, Jagirdars, Sardars for bravery in various campaigns like Pandavgad Battle, Janjira, Kalusta(Where Dhumals and Bhoites, Phadtares, Anants army was camped), Govalkot-Anjanvel forts campaigns etc. Peshwa Balaji Vishwanaths faithful Shiledar was Nathaji Dhumal who alonwith Pilaji Jadhav saved life of him. Peshwa successors like Baji Rao I, Nanasaheb Peshwa, Raghunath Rao, Madhavrao I etc. also entrusted upon them. Many wars like Third Battle of Panipat,^[10] Kharda, ^[11] were fought bravely by them and Ballads of their deeds are still played by people.^[12] Dhumals were honourified by Patil, Sardar, Inamdar, Deshmukh, Shiledar, Rao, Raje, Dohar and Adhalrao, Saranjamdar or Jagirdar, for distinguished service rendered to people and rulers whom they served and administered.

Locations

The locations alienated to them are Dhumalmala(kunjirwadi, tal-haveli, dist- pune) ,Kolhar, Nagar District, Veer(Taluka Purandhar), Pasure, Jogavadi, Brahmanghar (Taluka Bhor), Peth, Dhumalsthal near Khadakwadi (Taluka Ambegoan, Pune)Sonake, Karanjkhop, Nandgiri-Dhumalwadi(Taluka Koregaon), Adarki Budruk(Taluka Phaltan), Rethare Dharan, Mukhai(Jategaon-Mukhai), Kolhar, Ahmednagar District, Pimpale Dhumal(Taluka Shirur), Morachi Chincholi etc. along with many such villages, Wadis( Sub-villages), Dhumals are also found in Akole town with Taluka & Sangamner Taluka of Ahmednagar District and Shevga & Partur Taluka of Jalana District in Maharashtra State and also Alibag city of Raigad district. Mawadi Kade-Pathar Tal.Purandhar near Morgav-jejuri,(this family migrated from jogavadi villege of Tal Bhor, Pune at time of Bhatghar Dam built) ^[2]

Clan customs

The Dhumals follows religion Hinduism, clan name Dhumal, lineage Suryavanshi (Solar clan), kingdoms alienated were Nashik and Vijaydurg, red colour of throne, sign, canopy, and horse, heraldic sign (nishan) was sun on flagpole, clan Goddess is TuljaBhavani, Totem (Devak) is Kasav(tortoise)with panch jany shakh on its back, some where it is Halad(turmeric root or curcuma root) or Ketak (Pandanus odoratissimus or fragrant screw pine tree), Guru was Durvasa, Gotra is Kadam, Veda is Rigveda, Mantra is Gayatri Mantra.

Branches

Maratha Dhumals are recognised by the following surnames or their branches: Gurkhee, Guru, Gurakhe, Gete, Jalandhar, Jalgunj, Japedkar, Dhule, Dhure, Tagne, Borawle, Malchimne, Nagane, Weshe, Wekhande, RanaDhumal (Rawandale).

See also

• Maratha
• Maratha Empire
• Maratha clan system
• List of Maratha dynasties and states

References