Rajput clan: Shekhawat
Vansh	Suryavansh.
Descended from:	Dhundhar Dhundhar Dhundhar is a historical region of Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the districts of Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk and the northern part of Karauli District... , Amber Amber Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents... /Jaipur Jaipur Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
Sub-clan of:	Kachwaha Kachwaha Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727... /Kachawa/Kushwaha
Branches:	Bhojraj Ji Ka Bhojraj Ji Ka Bhojraj Ji Ka is Subsub Clan or branch of Shekhawat Clan of Kachawa Dynasty. The descendants of King Bhojraj of Udaipurwati are known as "Bhojraj Ji Ka" Shekhawats. Bhojraj Ji Ka Shekhawats ruled over two territories one was Pentalisa and another was Panchpana..... , Girdhar Ji Ka, Jagmal Ji Ka,Achaldas Ji Ka, Rao Ji Ka, Ladkhani, Bhairo ji Ka, Taknet, Ratnawat, Khejdoliya, Milakpuriya, Tejsi Ka, Jagmalji Ka, Sahasmalji Ka, Lunkaranji Ka, Ugarsenji Ka, Sanwanldasji Ka, Gopalji Ka, Chandapota, Parsuramji Ka, Tajkhani, Hariramji Ka etc.
Ruled in	Shekhawati Shekhawati Shekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India got its name from Shekhawat Rajputs....
Princely states:	Thikanas of Shekhawati Thikanas of Shekhawati Thikanas of Shekhawati - princely states in the region of Shekhawati in Rajasthan, India. All of them were ruled by a Rajput sub-clan Shekhawats.The thikanas can be classified by the 7 branches of Shekhawats...

Shekhawat is a sub-clan

Clan

A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...

 of Kachwaha

Kachwaha

Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...

 Rajputs found mainly in Rajasthan

Rajasthan

Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. The Shekhawat clan claims descent from the great rajput warrior Maharao Shekha Ji. The Shekhawats were the most prominent among all sub clans of Kachwaha

Kachwaha

Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...

s of Jaipur. Shekhawats were the rulers of Shekhawati.

History

The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati

Shekhawati

Shekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India got its name from Shekhawat Rajputs....

 region for over 500 years. The Shekhawats are the most prominent among all the sub-clans of the Kachwaha Dynasty of Jaipur. Sir Yadunath Sarkar in his book Fall of The Mughal Empire, wrote that Shekhawats were 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।।".

Another couplet on the bravery of the Shekhawats is famous throughout Rajasthan:

Raj Karbo Rajani
Khabo Peebo Khangani
Pan ladba Karba Shekhani
The couplet means that while the Rajawats are the best to rule, the Khangarots are the best for built and eatery habits but for bravery and warfare, none stand better than Shekhawats.

History also states that during a war between Jaipur and the Marathas, when a Maratha soldier executed a Shekhawat warrior for not giving him his horse, the Shekhawats, without the king's permission attacked the Marathas and killed more than 6000 of them, a Rajasthhani couplet explains the same:

Maratho Shekhe ne maariyo,je natyo ghodo deba soon
Lal bhai jaipar ki dharti, Shekha na dabya keba soon

The Shekhawat rulers constructed more than 50 forts and palaces in their Thikanas in Shekhawati and other thikanas. The Shekhawati region 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 the Shekhawat Rajputs in their Forts in Shekhawati. They were the first patrons of the wall painting tradition in Shekhawati.

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

Maharao Shekha ji

Maharao Shekha Ji from Dhundhar

Dhundhar

Dhundhar is a historical region of Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the districts of Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk and the northern part of Karauli District...

 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(Rao Rajendra Singh Saheb of Shahpura) is the Tikai of Shekhawat sub clan]. The Shekhawats conquered the Jhunjhunu, Fatehpur, Narhar of Kaimkhanis and established their rule on them.

Rao Suja’s younger son Raja Raisal was a brave king; he conquered Khandela from Nirban

Nirban

Nirban in Hindi निर्बान or निर्बान हीर also spelt as Narban or Nirwan is a big gotra of Yaduvanshi Ahirs of Haryana, some of the villages of Nirban are in Pataudi and in the Badli and Haidurpur villages of Delhi....

s and succeeded as the Raja Sahib of Khandela.Rani Hansa Kumari, of Jodhpur Royal Family married Raja Raisal Darbari and had issue, Maharaj Kumar Babu Kisan Dayaldas also had the title of 'darbari' and 'rajah' and his descendents are known as Darbari family. He had 12 sons among them 5 were died in battle.

Girdhar ji ka Shekhawats and Ladkhani's

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.
Thikana- Khandela, Royal, Jajod , Etawa, Mau, Mahroli, Samer

Raoji ka Shekhawats

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.

Bhojraj ji ka Shekhawat's

Raja Raisal’s fifth son Thakur Bhojraj

Thakur Bhojraj

Roa Shri Bhojraj Singh Ji Saheb, was born in 1567 , Rao Bhojraj Ji was the ruler of Udaipurwati 1621/1640, a generous, brave and noble person. He was the son of Raja Shri Raisal Ji Saheb of Khandela and his 4th wife, Rani Hansa Kanwar Mertani Ji Sahiba of Merta...

 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

Bhojraj Ji Ka

Bhojraj Ji Ka is Subsub Clan or branch of Shekhawat Clan of Kachawa Dynasty. The descendants of King Bhojraj of Udaipurwati are known as "Bhojraj Ji Ka" Shekhawats. Bhojraj Ji Ka Shekhawats ruled over two territories one was Pentalisa and another was Panchpana.....

 sept of Shekhawats. Descendents of Thakur 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

Pentalisa

Pentalisa

Pentalisa was a territory which was located in the region of Shekhawati, India. The group of 45 villages under Udaipurwati was known as Pentalisa...

 comprised Jhajhar

Jhajhar

Jhajhar is situated in the erstwhile province of Shekhawati of Rajasthan, India. It is located in the district of Jhunjhunu, approximately 7 km from Nawalgarh...

, Gudhagorji

Gudhagorji

Gudhagorji is one of the ancient towns in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, India. The town is named after Saint Gudheshwar Maharaj, and a very religious and wise Thukurainji, named Gorji. Today, Gudhagorji is one of the important commercial towns in the Jhunjhunu district...

, 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, Harsoli etc.

Panchpana thikanas

Thakur Shardul Singh

Thakur Shardul Singh

Maharao Shardul Singh Shekhawat was born in the year 1681 and was the ruler of Jhunjhunu . He conquered Jhunjhunu in 1730 from Rohilla Khan "Raseela" who was the last Nawab of Jhunjhunu.Shardul Singh was as brave as his ancestor Rao Shekha ji was, It was by dint of his Subtle political Demeanour...

, a descendent of Rao Bhojraj Ji, conquered Jhunjhunu

Jhunjhunu

Jhunjhunu is a town in the state of Rajasthan in India, and the administrative headquarters of Jhunjhunu District. It is located a 180 km from Jaipur and 245 km from Delhi. The town is famous for the frescos on its grand Havelis, a special artistic feature of this region.- Etymology...

 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

Thakur Nawal Singh

Thakur Shri Nawal Singh Shekhawat Ji Saheb Bahadur was the ruler of Nawalgarh and Mandawa , born in 1715, he was fifth son of Thakur Shardul Singh of Jhunjhunu, and his third wife, Thakurani Bakhat Kanwar, he was granted the title of Bahadur and a mansab of 3000 zat and 2000 sawars in 1775, built...

 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,Tain, Mandrella, Arooka, Chowkari, Hirwa, Sigra,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.
Many Thikanas had their own flags and emblems. The Shekhawats ruled over the highest number of Thikanas in Jaipur Rajwara.

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

Shekhawati

Shekhawati was the largest Nizamat of the 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

Tazimi

Tazim was a medieval system of respect given to some noble person in India. During medieval period, gold was not allowed to be born by every person. However, some castes were allowed to bear gold, but they too were not allowed to bear the gold in foot, except for the ladies. A Tazimdar was allowed...

 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.

Demographics

The Shekhawat population is concentrated all over the Shekhawati(Sikar,Partial Churu,Jhunjhunu),Alwar and Jaipur.

Notable Shekhawats of yesteryears

• Maha Rao Shekha
  Rao Shekha
  MahaRao Shekha was a Rajput chieftain belonging to the Kachwaha clan of Amer/Jaipur. He ruled over Amarsar, The Shekhawati gets its name from him, comprising the districts of Sikar and Jhunjhunu in the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan...
  
  
• Maharao Shardul Singh, ruler of Jhunjhunu
• Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri
• Raja Raisal Darbari,
• Thakur Bhojraj
  Thakur Bhojraj
  Roa Shri Bhojraj Singh Ji Saheb, was born in 1567 , Rao Bhojraj Ji was the ruler of Udaipurwati 1621/1640, a generous, brave and noble person. He was the son of Raja Shri Raisal Ji Saheb of Khandela and his 4th wife, Rani Hansa Kanwar Mertani Ji Sahiba of Merta...
  
  , ruler of Udaipurwati and ancestor of “Bhojraj Ji Ka
  Bhojraj Ji Ka
  Bhojraj Ji Ka is Subsub Clan or branch of Shekhawat Clan of Kachawa Dynasty. The descendants of King Bhojraj of Udaipurwati are known as "Bhojraj Ji Ka" Shekhawats. Bhojraj Ji Ka Shekhawats ruled over two territories one was Pentalisa and another was Panchpana.....
  
  ” Shekhawats
• Thakur Nawal Singh
  Thakur Nawal Singh
  Thakur Shri Nawal Singh Shekhawat Ji Saheb Bahadur was the ruler of Nawalgarh and Mandawa , born in 1715, he was fifth son of Thakur Shardul Singh of Jhunjhunu, and his third wife, Thakurani Bakhat Kanwar, he was granted the title of Bahadur and a mansab of 3000 zat and 2000 sawars in 1775, built...
  
   Bahadur, ruler of Nawalgarh and Mandawa
• Thakur Zorawar Singh
  Thakur Zorawar Singh
  Thakur Jorawar Singh, was the eldest son of Thakur Shardul Singh ,the ruler of Jhunjhunu. He was born at Kant, married and had children. He died in 1745. He built Jorawargarh fort and in present day houses some Govt. offices in the city of Jhunjhunu. He was the ancestor of the families of Taen,...
  
  , eldest son of Shardul Singh(Ruler of Jhunjhunu), His Successors Founded and ruled over the Thikanas of Malsisar,Taen,Mandrella,Chowkari,Gangiyasar etc.

The Legends

• Maharao Shekhaji - Founder of the Shekhawat clan of Kachwaha Rajputs
• Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri- Well known for his association with Swami Vivekananda
• Raja Madhav Singh Shekhawat of Sikar.

Outstanding Shekhawats- Modern times

• Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
  Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
  Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was the 11th Vice-President of India. He served in that position from August 2002, when he was elected to a five-year term by the electoral college following the death of Krishan Kant, until he resigned on July 21, 2007, after losing the presidential election to Pratibha...
  
  , Indian politician; former Vice-President of India is the most prominent name not only in Shekhawats but the whole Rajput class of India.
• " Sh.Bachan Singh Shekhawat" from Shanusar (Ramgarh Shekhawati) Retd. Asst Commandant (BSF),Award- - POLICE MEDAL on Jan2000, Certificate byPresident of india, Best Seva Medal,
• CHM Piru Singh
  Piru Singh
  Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat was a Shekhawat Kachwaha Rajput. He was soldier in the British Indian Army. He died in service during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947...
  
   Shekhawat, Gallantry Honour ; Param Vir Chakra
• Admiral V.S.Shekhawat, Chief of the Indian Navy
• Bishan Singh Shekhawat, Journalist; Politician was a younger brother of Senior Indian politician Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
• Kripal Singh Shekhawat
  Kripal Singh Shekhawat
  Kripal Singh Shekhawat was a renowned craftsman of India. He was famous for his skills in Blue Pottery and is credited for the revival of that art in India...
  
  ,awarded PadmaShri for the revival of blue pottery in Shekhawati
• Lt.Col. Saurabh Singh Shekhawat (21 para Special Forces- Indian Army's elite commando unit), awarded Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his various acts of gallantry and distinguished services. He holds the distinction of climbing Mt.Everest for a record number of three times. His ancestral village is Dhani Daulat Singh, Alwar.
• Deependra Singh Shekhawat
  Deependra Singh Shekhawat
  Deependra Singh Shekhawat is a senior congress leader in the Rajasthan and present Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly since 2 January 2009....
  
  ,Present Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly since 24 Jan 2009.
• Saubhagya Singh Shekhawat,Eminent Writer of Rajasthani/Dingal Literature:Ex Chairman Rajasthani Bhasha Sahitya Evam Sanskriti Academy,Awarded Maharana Kumbha Award 1983-84

ravi banna 009 (wahidpura) jhunjhun

• Brig Durg Singh Shekhawat-(Chirana)served in Army Medical Corps and commanded the Military Hospital johpur.
• Nagendra Singh Shekhawat(Sulatana) is serving the society in the field of education.
• Gopal Singh Shekhawat (Edwa) Member Of Parliament Of 15 Lok Sabha

Further reading

• Thakur Ranbir Singh Shekhawat(Dundlod) History of Shekhawats,Jaipur,2001 ISBN 81-86782-74-5
• Rao Shekha (Thakur Surjan Singh Jhajad)
• History of Jaipur
• Shekhawati Ka Itihas
• Jhunjhunu Mandal Ka Itihas
• Sikar Ka Itihas (Pt Jhabar Mal Sharma)
• "Shekhawati Ke Veer Geet" (Thakur Saubhagya Singh Shekhawat,Bhagatpura)
• "Khetri Ka Itihas" (Pt Jhabar Mal Sharma)
• "Brief History of Jaipur" (Rawal Narendra Singh Jobner)
• "Annals and Antiquities of Rajputana" (James Tod)
• "Veer Bhogya Vasundhara"(Thakur Saubhagya Singh Shekhawat Bhagatpura)
• ram singh shekhawat ex -sarpanch, hathideh hardas ka bas, sikar rajsthan
• Kr. Dharamveer Singh Shekhawat (Bagriyavas, ShriMadhopur, Sikar)
• Kr. Virendra Singh Shekhawat Airforce (Bagriyavas, ShriMadhopur, Sikar)
• Brig Japan singh Shekhawat ji- (luhakana khurd)- served Indian Army and presently giving his support in school education at his village.

External links

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