Information

Dynasty

State

Saurashtra

Accession

15th April 1948

Villages

13

Area

34 Square Kilometers km²

Population

3,659 (1921)

Privy Purse

INR 30,000

Hindi Name

खिरासरा

Also known as

Khirasara

Last Updated

11th Feb, 2015

Present Head

Thakore Shri PRABATSINHJI SURSINHJI, 10th Thakore Shri of Khirasra, born .
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History

The Taluka, a Seventh Class State, is an offshoot of the Dhrol State. Kaloji of Dhrol had seven sons of whom Sangoji was the eldest, Bhimji the second and Junoji the third. On Kaloji's death Sanjoji succeded to the Gadi of Dhrol, the other brothers having been provided with suitable appanages. Sangoji died while fighting on the side of Nawanagar State with a Mahomedan army and had no issue. The succession accordingly devolved on Bhimji but he abdicated in favour of his younger brother Junoji, himself remaining content with his appanage of Khirasara and 12 other villages. At that time Khirasara was a small castle fortress. Succession is ruled by Primogeniture. The Jurisdictional Powers of the State are: Criminal - fifteen days of rigorous imprisonment and fines up to 50Rs, Civil - None.

It is recorded that Khirasara Palace was built by Thakore Ranmalji, an illustrious and mighty descendent of Thakore Bhimaji, during the Ghori Empire. Thakore Ranmalji, who played a major role in redefining the regional history, started restoration of Khirasara Castle with 350 masons. Mysteriously, in spite of the sustained efforts the masonry work used to collapse in the evening. Thakore Ranmalji visited 'Nale-Sat-Pir', a Sufi fakir from Sindh, dwelling nearby to the north of the castle. When asked about the mysterious happenings at the site, the Pir said, 'Son, the world is a forest full of dangers and difficulties, a beguiling place - a maze. If you want your castle unbeaten, for Allah's sake construct an enchanting place here. Then you will be blessed and your worldly structure will last forever.' Thakore Ranmalji interpreted those esoteric words and constructed a grand structure to the north of the castle, where two to four hundred people could reside. The Pir and his retinue stayed in that abode for many years and the castle remained unbeaten. Even today there are tombs of the Pir and his descendents Aaras Mahmad Pir and Hakimbai present in the abode.

The restorated Palace was looked with disfavor, distrust and envy by the enemies, especially Mohbatkhan, the Nawab of Junagadh. He attacked the Khirasara Castle twice - but his forces could not stand the strategy and bravery of Thakore Ranmalji. As memories of those victories, two canons of Junagadh artillery were mounted on the eastern gate of the castle. Once Meraman Khawas of Jamnagar attacked Khirasara but the Castle again remained undefeated.

In the government treasury one big Kettledrum of two and half mounds was constructed as a symbol of victory. Thakore Ranmalji and his victories have remained a favorite theme for the writers and the poets.

At one point of time in history, the state of Khirasara was so influential that the rulers could have expanded the borders of the state, but Thakore Ranmalji - a loving and kind soul remained friendly with all the neighboring states. He breathed his last at the Gondal ruled 'Gomta' village.

The Seventh generation, Thakore Sursinhji made efforts to resurrect and rebuild Khirasara Palace. In great tradition of his fore fathers, he tried to regain the honour and riches of Khirasara by improving the conditions of the farmers, increasing the production, establishing the agencies for the benefits of the common people. He introduced Khirasara to the post-independence development and progress.

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Genealogy

  • Thakore BHIMJI KALOJI, 1st Thakore Shri of Khirasra, son of Thakore Kaloji Panchanji of Dhrol, married and had issue.
    • Thakore Sangaji Bhimji (qv)
  • Thakore SANGAJI BHIMJI, 2nd Thakore Shri of Khirasra, married and had issue.
    • Thakore Ranmalji Sangaji (qv)
  • Thakore RANMALJI SANGAJI, 3rd Thakore Shri of Khirasra, married and had issue.
    • Thakore Hathiji Ranmalji (qv)
  • Thakore HATHIJI RANMALJI, 4th Thakore Shri of Khirasra fl.1808, married and had issue.
    • Thakore Dungarji Hathiji (qv)
  • Thakore DUNGARJI HATHIJI, 5th Thakore Shri of Khirasra, married and had issue.
    • Thakore Jijibhai Dungarji (qv)
  • Thakore JIJIBHAI DUNGARJI, 6th Thakore Shri of Khirasra -/1872, married and had issue.
    • Thakore Raisinhji Jijibhai (qv)
    • Kumar Shri Bhavsinhji Jijibhai
    • Kumar Shri Khengarji Jijibhai
  • Thakore RAISINHJI JIJIBHAI, 7th Thakore Shri of Khirasra 1872/-, born , he succeeded to the gadi on 1st January 1872, married and had issue. He died after 1891.
    • Thakore Balsinhji Raisinhji (qv)
    • Kumar Shri Takhatsinhji Raisinhji
    • HH Maharani Nand Kunverba, married 1905, HH Maharaja Rao Bhavsinhji II Takhatsinhji of Bhavnagar.
    • HH Maharani Yeshwant Kunverba, married HH Umdae Rajhae Buland Makan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sir Madan Singhji Bahadur of Kishangarh.
  • Thakore Shri BALSINHJI RAISINHJI, 8th Thakore Shri of Khirasra -/1920, married and had issue.
    • Thakore Shri Sursinhji Balsinhji (qv)
    • [?A lady of Khirasra and niece of the Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, married 17th April 1914, Col. HH Raj Rishi Shri Sawai Maharaja Sir Jai Singhji Virendra Shiromani Dev Bharat Dharam Prabhakar of Alwar.]
  • Thakore Shri SURSINHJI BALSINHJI, 9th Thakore Shri of Khirasra 1920/- , born , educated in England and in the Imperial Cadet Corps at Dehra Dun, succeeded to the gaddi 24th Feburary 1920, attended His Majesty's Coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1911, married and had issue.
    • Thakore Shri Prabhatsinhji Sursinhji (qv)
    • Rani Pratap Kunwar, married (as his second wife), Rao Bir Singh Ju Deo of Bihat, and had issue.
    • Shrimati Thakurani Anand Kumari, married 1935, Thakur Shivraj Sharan Singh of Jamli, and had issue.
    • Kumar Shri Pratapsinhji Sursinhji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1950).
    • Kumar Shri Digvijaysinhji Sursinhji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1953).
    • Kumar Shri Diljeetsinhji Sursinhji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1964); married Kumari Parveen Kanwar, daughter of Maharaj Banney Singhji of Raoti, and his wife, Rani Rasal Kanwar, and has issue, two daughters.
      • Kumari Soniya Kumari, born , married Thakur Laxman Singhji of Ransigaon.
      • Kumari Hansprabha Kumari, married Kumar Shri Jagdipsinhji Gohil of Haliyad in Bhavnagar.
  • Thakore Shri PRABHATSINHJI SURSINHJI, 10th Thakore Shri of Khirasra (see above)
OTHER MEMBERS:
  • Kumar Shri Prakramsinhji, married and had issue.
    • Kumar Shri Mulrajsinhji Prakramsinhji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1945), married and had issue.
      • Kumar Shri Harishchandrasinhji Mulrajsinji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1977)
    • Kumar Shri Kiratsinhji Prakramsinhji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1947).
    • Kumar Shri Pravinsinhji Prakramsinhji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1949).
    • Kumar Shri Mahipatsinhji Prakramsinhji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1953).
    • Kumar Shri Jaipalsinhji Prakramsinhji, educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot (1964)..
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Videos

Map

Khirasra map
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