Busi

Origin and Foundation of Busi Thikana

The Thikana of Busi (located in the present-day Pali district of Rajasthan) was established as a feudal estate in the year 1592. The estate was granted by Maharana Amar Singh I of Mewar to Thakur Bairisal. Thakur Bairisal was a prominent Rajput warrior of the Kumpawat clan of Rathores. He was the son of Thakur Udai Singh of Ranawas, and the grandson of the legendary Rao Kumpa of Marwar, one of the most celebrated generals of Rajwarra who died heroically in the famous Battle of Sammel (Giri Sumel) in 1544.

The original grant consisted of three strategic villages. The allocation of this estate to a Rathore noble by a Sisodia ruler of Mewar highlights the complex inter-state alliances of medieval Rajasthan. During the late 16^th century, several Rathore nobles took service under the Maharanas of Mewar to resist Mughal expansion, leading to various land grants in the border regions between Mewar and Marwar.

Geopolitical Significance and the Godwar Region

Busi was situated in the historic Godwar region, a fertile tract of land lying at the foot of the Aravalli Range. Because of its strategic location, the Godwar region was historically a bone of contention between the Kingdom of Mewar (Udaipur) and the Kingdom of Marwar (Jodhpur).

While Busi was initially granted under the suzerainty of Mewar in 1592, the administrative control of the Godwar region shifted over the centuries. In the late 18^th century, during the reign of Maharaja Bijay Singh of Marwar, the region of Godwar was permanently transferred from Mewar to Marwar. Consequently, the thikana of Busi transitioned into the fold of the Jodhpur State, while retaining its ancestral Kumpawat Rathore lineage and local administrative privileges.

The Kumpawat Rathore Lineage

The rulers of Busi belonged to the Kumpawat branch of the Rathore dynasty, which traces its ancestry back to Rao Kumpa, the governor of Didwana and Kharwa. The Kumpawats were renowned for their military prowess and acted as the vanguard forces for the Rathore clans. The Thikana maintained close kinship ties with other prominent Kumpawat estates in the region, such as Ranawas, Asop, and Kantaliya.

British Period and Modern Era

During the British Raj, following the treaty of 1818 between the East India Company and the Jodhpur State, Busi existed as a recognized jagir under the Jodhpur Durbar. The Thakurs of Busi exercised judicial and revenue-collecting powers within their estate, contributing feudal levies to the Jodhpur State Army when required.

Following India's independence in 1947, the princely state of Jodhpur merged into the United State of Greater Rajasthan in 1949. With the subsequent passing of the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act in 1952, the feudal privileges and jagirdari rights of Busi Thikana were formally abolished. Today, Busi is a vibrant town in the Pali district, preserving its rich historical heritage and Rajput architectural legacy.