SHEKHAWATI

'Shekhawati' (Hindi: 'शेखावाटी', IAST: '') is a semi-arid region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India. It encompasses the administrative districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar. From the administrative and geographical point of view Shekhawati is limited to Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts only. Its area is 13784 square kilometers.^[1]

Contents

Origin of Shekhawati

History

Shekhawat Rule

Thikanas of Shekhawati

Forts and Palaces

Before Shekhawats

Climatic conditions

Inhabitants of Shekhawati

Towns and cities of Shekhawati

Famous villages

Grand havelis and frescos

Role of Marwaris

Shekhawati Dialect

The famous Marwari industrial houses

Feudalism in Shekhawati

Farmers of Shekhawati

References

Further reading

External links

Origin of Shekhawati

Shekhawati gets its name from the Rajput Kachhwaha chieftain Rao Shekha Ji. The descendants of Rao Shekha Ji are called Shekhawat. The story of Shekha's birth is rather interesting to understand the origin of Shekhawati. Mokal JI and his wife were much troubled as they had no son for several years. They heard about the miraculous powers of the Sheikh Burhan, a Muslim Saint. They decided to pay the man a visit. After they received the blessings of the Sheikh, a son was born to the couple. In honour of the mendicant, the couple named his son Shekha.

History

Shekhawati means Garden of Shekha or Land of Shekhawat Rulers. Shekhawati was established by Shekhawat Rajputs and it was ruled by them till India’s Independence. 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. 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.

Shekhawat Rule

Shekhawats were brave Rajputs; they established many Thikanas, towns and villages in Shekhawati and built many Forts, Castles, palaces and Havelis. Maharao Shekha Ji established his own independent kingdom with the capital at Amarsar; he was the first independent Ruler. 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 sub clan). Rao Suja’s younger son Rajah Raisal was the brave King conquered the 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 Rajah 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. Akbar called Lal Singh as Lad Khan, this name become famous, so 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 The 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. 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, Thakur Bahadur Singh, Thakur Akhe Singh, Thakur Nawal Singh 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 Panch Pana. 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 planed and prosperous Thikanas. Bhojraj Ji Ka Shekhawats had mainly two Territories; one was 'Pentalisa' comprised the Jhajhar, Khirod, Gudha etc and second was 'Panchpana' comprised the Thikanas of Khetri, Bissau, Mukandgarh, Nawalgarh, Dundlod, Mandawa, Mehansar, Alsisar, Malsisar, Mandrella, Arooka, Chowkari, Hirwa, Sigra, Surajgarh etc. The Bhojraj Ji Ka subsub-clan of Shekhawats was the most prominent among Shekhawats. They built many magnificent forts in their Thikanas. Bhojraj Ji Ka Shekhawats ruled over highest no. of Thikanas in Shekhawati. Many Thikanas had their own flags and emblems.
'Source Books' - Jaipur album, Udaipurwati Digdarshan,Rao Shekha.

Thikanas of Shekhawati

The Thikanas of Shekhawati was prosperous. Sikar was the Largest & wealthiest Thikana and the Khetri was the second wealthiest Thikana of Jaipur State. All Thikanas in Shekhawati was ruled by Shekhawats. Every Thikana in Shekhawati is the site of the Fort and Shekhawati was richest and the most happening place.

Forts and Palaces

Shekhawati has more then 50 forts and Palaces built by Shekhawat Rajas in their Thikanas in Shekhawati.

Before Shekhawats

Shekhawati’s some part like Jhunjhunu, Fatehpur, Narhar was controlled by the Kaimkhanis but later on Kaimkhanis was defeated by Shekhawat Rajputs. Shekhawats conquered the Jhunjhunu, Fatehpur, Narhar and established their rule on them. Kaimkhani is a branch emerged from Chauhans. The first progenitor of Kaimkhanis was Karamchand born in the family of Moterao of Chauhan clan; the ruler of Dadrewa Firuz Shah Tughluq converted him to Islam and named him Kaimkhan. Thus his descendants were called Kaimkhani.
Prior to this, Shekhawati in the Desert area of Rajasthan has a special importance in the history of India. Shekhawati has been first time mentioned in the book ‘Bankidas ki khyat’.^[2] Contemporary of Bankidas was Col. W.S.Gardener, who used the word Shekhawati in year 1803. Later Col James Tod wrote history of Shekhawati first time. Shekhawati word has been used in ‘vamsh bhaskar’ many times. This shows that Shekhawati word came in use about two and half centuries back.^[3]
About origin of word Shekhawati 'Hakim Yusuf Jhunjhunuvi' gives another view. According to him Shekhawati derives its name from Persian language word ‘Sheekh’ which means ‘Sand deposited on the coastal area of sea’. This indicates that this area has been inundated with seawater long back and converted to sand dunes over thousands of years^[4][5][3]
In ancient times Shekhawati was not limited to present two districts only but during Vedic times it was known as Matsya desha extending up to Saraswati River, so the Vedas were supposed to be written and compiled on this very land.^[7][8] During ancient times this region was divided in to several janapadas. Every janapada was a free republic state. The development of janapadas in Rajasthan started with habitation of Aryan.^[9]
The northern part of Rajasthan was known as Jangladesh (Bikaner and Nagaur) during Mahabharata period.^[10] and eastern part Jaipur-Alwar were called Matsya. Pandavas had spent one year of their vanishment in Virata Kingdom as their abode, to live in anonymity, after the expiry of their twelve-year long forest life.^[11] According to Vimal Charanlal, Matsya extended from Jhunjhunu to Kotkasim 109 km in the north, Jhunjhunu to Ajmer 184 km in the west, Ajmer to Banas and upto confluence of Chambal River 229 km in the south. The capital of Matsya was Bairat.^[12][8]
About millions of years back this land was inundated with sea water.^[14][15][16] As per Mr Gorki it needs no evidence as fossils found in the area confirms that this area was a sea at one time.^[17] Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha believed that the desert area of Rajasthan was earlier an ocean but due to earthquakes and other climatic reasons the seabed rose and the water receded southwards leaving behind a sand mass, which later came to be known as ''marukantar''. The presence of shells, conch etc found in stone form in this area is clear evidence that this was a sea earlier.^[11][8]
It is not clear when these seas dried up and receded but the desert was created due to the receding of the sea. Many historians have considered this region included in Matsya. Rigveda also provides certain evidences in this matter.^[20][11] Manusmriti has called this land as ‘brahmrishi desha’.^[22]
Shekhawati region was included in ‘marukantar desha’ up to Ramayana period. Out of 16 mahajanapadas prior to Buddha, only two janapadas namely avanti and matsya were counted in Rajasthan area. Matsya was also influenced by avanti but later on Nandas of Magadha defeated avanti. Historians believe that Mauryas obtained the Rajasthan from Nandas.^[23]

Climatic conditions

The natural climatic conditions in the region are very harsh and extreme. The temperature ranges from sub-zero Celsius in winters to more than 50 °C in summers. The summers bring hot waves of air called ''loo''. Annual rainfall is very low, of the scale of 450 to 600 mm. The ground water is as deep as 200 feet (60 m), and at places water is hard and salty. The people in the region depend on rainwater harvesting. The July and August rainwater is stored in pucca tanks and used throughout the year for drinking purposes.^[24] Bawdis and johads are traditionally constructed for storing water received from rainfall in this arid region of Rajasthan. The bawdi is constructed in such a design that it gets narrower as we go down. The water stored in it is very cool and used for drinking purposes. On an average the region faces every third year as a dry year and every eighth year as a famine year. The famine of 1899 is considered to be the most severe. During famine years it becomes very difficult for animals to survive and the cattle population goes down drastically.

Inhabitants of Shekhawati

Inhabitants of Shekhawati are brave, sacrificing and hard working people. The region provides the highest number of persons to the Indian Army. The Shekhawati region has produced large number of Marwaris who are driving the economy of India. This region has been recognised as the fresco-land of Rajasthan and the world’s largest “open-air art gallery”.

Towns and cities of Shekhawati

Villages and towns of Shekhawati are most developing places of Rajasthan. The major towns and cities of the Shekhawati region are as follows:

★ Nawalgarh

★ Gudhagorji

★ Dundlod

★ Mukungarh

★ Jhunjhunu

★ Chirawa

★ Khetri

★ Pilani

★ Parsurampura

★ Baggar

★ Mandawa

★ Mahansar

★ Jakhal

★ Sikar

★ Khatushyamji

★ Fatehpur

★ Ramgarh Sethan

★ Laxmangarh

★ Salasar Balaji

★ Alsisar

★ Malsisar

★ Bissau

★ Khandela

★ Neem ka thana

★ Shri Madhopur

★ Danta Ramgarh

★ Khoor

Famous villages

★ In Jhunjhunu district- Gudhagorji, Jhajhar, Chirana, Khirod, Sultana, Jakhal, Gura, Paunkh, Keharpura Kalan etc

★ In sikar district- Khandela, Divrala, Mehroli, Khoor etc.

★ In churu district- sandwa,salasar,kanuta,

Grand havelis and frescos

In Shekhawati first of all, Frescoes were introduced by Shekhawat Rajputs in their Forts. The towns of Shekhawati region are known for their painted havelis. This region has been recognised as the "open art gallery of Rajasthan" having the largest concentration of frescos in the world. Most of the buildings of the Shekhawati region were constructed during 18th century to early 20th century. During the British occupation, traders would adapted this style for their new buildings.^[25] The havelis are noted for their frescos depicting mythological and historical themes. The frescos include images of gods, goddesses, animals, life history of Lords Rama and Krishna, profusely painted on the havelis in this region.

Role of Marwaris

The development of the frescos in Shekhawati region is linked with the history of the Marwaris, the influential business community from the Shekawati region (Originally from Marwar thus called Marwari). The Marwaris prospered until the beginning of the 19th century, because of the caravan routes that crossed the area to reach the ports of Gujarat. But from 1820 onwards, many left their families behind and migrated to Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, which were gaining importance as main trade centers. There they had great financial success. The descendants of these rich merchants have permanently settled down in the towns where their ancestors immigrated.
Between 1830 and 1930, they erected buildings in their homeland, Shekhawati, as evidence of their success. As the ultimate symbol of their opulence, the Marwaris commissioned artists to paint those buildings.
The Shekhawati region has produced large number of Marwaris who are controlling the economy of India. About 80 percent of big industrial houses are managed by Marwaris. India's richest industrialists of the century, such as the Birlas, are Marwaris. Today, the main trading and industrial houses of India have their roots in Shekhawati.
Marwaris have played an important role in the development of Shekhawati region. Their major contribution to the Shekhawati region is in the field of education. Marwaris have also played a leading role in Indian Independence Movement. They provided financial help in running the freedom movement.

Shekhawati Dialect

Shekhawati is a dialect of the Rajasthani language and is spoken by about three million speakers in Churu, Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts of Rajasthan. Though a very important dialect from the grammatical and literary points of view, yet very little work is carried out on it. In 2001 A descriptive grammar of Shekhawati has been published.^[26] Shekhawati, like Bagri dialect of Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts, has parallel lexicon which make it very rich from the lexicographical point of view.
Word order is typical SOV and there is existence of implosives. Beside presence of high tone at suprasegmental level classify it with other dialects of Rajasthani. It has contributed a lot to the development of Rajasthani language and linguistics.
…

The famous Marwari industrial houses

Some of the famous Marwari industrial houses are as follows:
Bagari,
Bajaj,
Birla,
Chandgothia,
Dalmia,
Ganeriwal,
Goyanka,
Jaipuria,
Jaju,
Jalan,
Jhujhunuwala,
Kanoria,
Khetan,
Kothari,
Lohia,
Mittal,
Modi,
Murarka,
Parasrampuria,
Poddar,
Ruia,
Rungta,
Singhania,
Agrawal/Agarwal,
Sanghi,
Somani,
Sudrania,
Surana,
Dujodwala,

Feudalism in Shekhawati

The feudalism functioned as an over-riding politico-administrative, social and economic formation undermining even the institution of caste. The feudal mode of social relations as a dominant force guided everyday life of the people of Shekhawati region in Rajasthan. One could trace some continuity of the past social formation in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal in the form of 'semi-feudalism' as characterised by some scholars, but such a situation is not traceable in the present day Rajasthan which was a prominent stronghold of feudalism prior to independence.^[27]
Today a remarkable discontinuity in distributive processes and social relations, simultaneous occurrence of the processes of upward and downward social mobility and a self-perpetuating process of social transformation could be witnessed in the Shekhawati region.^[27]

Farmers of Shekhawati

The Marwaris dominated the cities and towns of Shekhawati region. The rural areas of the Shekhawati region are dominated by farming communities. The farmers of the Shekhawati region are considered to be the most advanced in the state of Rajasthan, second only to farmers from Ganga Nagar and Hanumangarh districts. The Shekhawati region has the highest literacy in the state.^[29]
The predominant farmer communities in the rural areas of Shekhawati are the Jats: they comprise the largest single caste in the state (9 per cent), and were, in the 1930's and even earlier, the most self-conscious and prosperous among the peasant castes. In 1935 their claims to certain privileges led to a series of clashes between them and the Rajputs, who resisted their attempts to revise accepted signs of status.^[30] The Rajput community who were the jagirdars before independence still play very important role in society. The Brahmans and Harijans also play an important role in the area. The farmers of the region have done great struggle to come to the present status.
Before independence, the farmers of the Shekhawati region were exploited and oppressed by the Jagirdars during British Raj. During that time, Jagirdars would burden farmers, known as Kisans, with various taxes, a large part of which was to be paid to the British government.^[31]

References

1. Taknet, D.K, Marwari Samaj Aur Brijmohan Birla, Indian Institute of Marwari Entrepreneurship, Jaipur, 1993 p 78 ISBN 81-85878-00-5
2. Mukutji: Jaipur rajya ka bhugol, page 46-47
3. Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-1
4. Hakim Yusuf Jhunjhunuvi: Jhunjhunu ka Itihasa, Vol III page-10
5. Mansukh Ranwa ‘Manu’, Amar Shaheed Lotu Jat, J C Ranwa Prakashan, Sikar, 2001 p-13
6. Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-1
7. Satapatha Brahman 13/5/9
8. Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-2
9. Prithvi Singh Mehta: Hamara Rajasthan (1950), page 27
10. Prithvi Singh Mehta: Hamara Rajasthan (1950), page 28
11. G H Ojha: Rajputane ka Itihasa (Part I), page 83
12. G H Ojha: Rajputane ka Itihasa (Part I), page 86
13. Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-2
14. Devi Singh Mandawa: Shardul Singh Shekhawat, page 17
15. Rajputane ka uthala samudra, page-21
16. FE Partiger: Ancient Indian historical tradition, page-260
17. Parmeshwar Solanki: Rajasthan marupradesh ka iti vritatmak vivechan, page 16
18. G H Ojha: Rajputane ka Itihasa (Part I), page 83
19. Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-2
20. Sukh Sampati Raj Bhandari: Bharat ke deshi rajya, Jaypur rajya ka Itihas, page 3
21. G H Ojha: Rajputane ka Itihasa (Part I), page 83
22. Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-3
23. Prithvi Singh Mehta: Hamara Rajasthan (1950), pages 30-31
24. Busquet, Carisse and Gerard ''Impressions of Rajasthan'' 2003, Editions Flammarion, ISBN 2-08-011171-X
25. Henderson, Carol D, ''Cultures and Customs of India''; Greenwood Press 1992, ISBN 0-313-30513-7, pg. 92
26. Lakhan Gusain. Shekhawati. Munich: Lincom Europa (2001)(LW/M 385)
27. K.L. Sharma: Caste, Feudalism and Peasantry: The Social Formation of Shekhawati, Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd. New Delhi, 1998
28. K.L. Sharma: Caste, Feudalism and Peasantry: The Social Formation of Shekhawati, Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd. New Delhi, 1998
29. Dr RP Arya, Jitendra Arya, Dr Gayatri Arya, Anshuman Arya, Rajasthan Road Atlas, Indian Map Service, Jodhpur 2005
30. Princely States Report
31. Dr Natthan Singh, ''Jat-Itihas'', (Jat History), Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad, F-13, Dr Rajendra Prasad Colony, Tansen marg, Gwalior, M.P, India 474 002 2004

Further reading

★ Rao Shekha

★ Shekhawati Prakash

★ Jhunjhunu Mandal Ka Itihas

★ Sikar Ka Itihas

★ Ranbir singh Shekhawat(DUNDLOD) ''History of Shekhawats,''Jaipur,2001 ISBN 81-86782-74-5

★ Ghansyamdas Birla: ''Bikhare Vicharon ki Bharonti,'' New Delhi, 1978

External links

★ Language Family Trees

★ Marwari language

★ Shekhawati Information

★ Shekhawati language

★ Online Rajasthani-English Dictionary