Dhanla

Origin and Foundation of Dhanla Thikana

Dhanla Thikana was established as an aristocratic estate (fiefdom) within the princely state of Marwar (Jodhpur). It was granted in 1597 AD by Maharaja Soor Singh (Sawai Raja Sur Singh) of Marwar to Thakur Bhim Singh. Thakur Bhim Singh was the son of Thakur Trilok Das and the grandson of the legendary Marwar general, Rao Kumpa, who was the progenitor of the Kumpawat clan of Rathores. Initially, the estate was a prestigious grant consisting of 12 villages. Over generations, due to administrative restructuring and territorial divisions among descendants, the Thikana was reduced to 5 villages, generating an annual revenue of Rs. 5,000/- during the colonial period.

The Legacy of the Kumpawat Rathores

The rulers of Dhanla belong to the illustrious Kumpawat clan of the Rathore dynasty. This branch traces its origin to Rao Kumpa Mehrajot, one of the most celebrated military commanders of 16^th-century Rajputana. Alongside Rao Jaita, Rao Kumpa was the co-commander of the Marwar forces under Rao Maldeo. He famously led the Rajput army in the historic Battle of Sammel (Giri Sumel) in 1544 AD against the Afghan Emperor Sher Shah Suri. The sheer bravery of the Kumpawats in this battle nearly cost Sher Shah his empire, prompting his famous quote: "For a handful of bajra (millet), I had almost lost the empire of Hindustan."

Following this heroic legacy, Rao Kumpa's descendants were granted various jagirs across Marwar as a reward for their unwavering loyalty and military service to the Jodhpur crown. The grant of Dhanla to Thakur Bhim Singh in 1597 was a continuation of this royal patronization under Maharaja Soor Singh's reign.

Mughal and British Periods

During the Mughal period, the nobles of Dhanla, as feudatories of Marwar, participated in various imperial campaigns led by the Maharajas of Jodhpur on behalf of the Mughal emperors. The Rathores of Dhanla maintained a highly trained cavalry unit to assist the Jodhpur State forces during times of external invasion or internal rebellion.

With the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of Maratha incursions in Rajputana, Dhanla faced economic strain like many other minor estates in the region. In 1818, Jodhpur State entered into a treaty of alliance with the British East India Company. Under the British Raj, Dhanla was recognized as a minor thikana under the Jodhpur State administration. The British period brought relative stability, allowing the Thakurs of Dhanla to focus on local governance, agricultural development, and maintaining social order within their five villages.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

Following India's independence in 1947, the princely state of Jodhpur acceded to the Dominion of India. Under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the state was integrated into the newly formed state of Rajasthan in 1949. With the passage of the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act, 1952, the feudal system was formally abolished, and the revenue-collecting rights of the Thikana were transitioned to the democratic government of India.

Today, Dhanla is located in the Pali district of Rajasthan. The descendants of the Thikana family reside in Rajasthan and other parts of India, preserving their ancestral heritage, local temples, and historical records. The village of Dhanla continues to retain historical structures, including traditional cenotaphs (chhatris) and old stepwells that date back to the era of the Kumpawat chieftains.