Bohera

Origin and Foundation

The Thikana of Bohera was a prominent second-class estate (jagir) located in the princely state of Udaipur (Mewar) in Rajasthan. The rulers of Bohera belong to the illustrious Shaktawat sub-clan of the Sisodia dynasty of Rajputs. The Shaktawats trace their patrilineal descent from Maharaj Shakti Singh, the brother of the legendary 16^th-century warrior king of Mewar, Maharana Pratap.

The estate of Bohera was officially established in 1803 AD. During the reign of Maharana Bhim Singh of Mewar, the land was granted as a fiefdom to Rawat Fateh Singh in recognition of his loyalty and noble lineage. As a second-class noble of Mewar, the Rawat of Bohera held a distinguished seat in the royal court (Darbar) of Udaipur, exercising administrative and judicial authority within the limits of his jagir.

The Shaktawat Clan and Courtly Influence

In the socio-political hierarchy of Mewar, the Shaktawats, along with their traditional rivals, the Chundawats, formed the backbone of the state's nobility. The rivalry and cooperation between these two clans shaped much of Mewar’s domestic history. The Rawats of Bohera actively participated in the state’s defense and administrative councils, maintaining strong ties with other prominent Shaktawat estates such as Bhinder and Bansi.

Maratha Incursions and the Treaty of 1818

At the time of Bohera's foundation in 1803, Mewar was undergoing a period of severe political instability, largely due to devastating raids by Maratha forces under Holkar and Scindia, as well as Pindari plunderers. The local nobles, including the Rawat of Bohera, faced immense challenges in maintaining law and order within their respective territories.

This period of turbulence subsided after Maharana Bhim Singh signed a treaty of alliance with the British East India Company in 1818, establishing British suzerainty over Mewar. The treaty, negotiated on the British side by the political agent Colonel James Tod, restored peace and stabilized the borders of the Thikanas. Under the British Raj, the Rawats of Bohera shifted their focus from constant warfare to civil administration, agricultural development, and local governance.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

Following India’s independence in 1947, the state of Mewar merged into the United State of Rajasthan, eventually becoming part of the modern Indian state of Rajasthan. Under the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act, 1952, the traditional jagirdari system was abolished, and the administrative powers of the Thikana were dissolved.

Despite the loss of their feudal privileges, the descendants of the Bohera royal family have preserved their cultural heritage. The historic Bohera Fort, along with ancestral temples and family archives, remains a testament to the Thikana's historical role in the legacy of Mewar. Today, the family members are involved in agriculture, business, and preserving the local history of the region.

References and Historical Sources

• For more details on the history of Mewar and its nobility, see Colonel James Tod's seminal work, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan.
• Information regarding the noble clans of Udaipur can be found in the historical records of the Rajasthan State Archives.