Siwas

Origin and Foundation of Siwas Thikana

The historic estate of Siwas was granted as a Thikana (fiefdom) in 1708 AD by Maharaja Ajit Singh of Marwar to Thakur Sardar Singh. This grant was bestowed during a highly significant period in Marwar's history. Following the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, Maharaja Ajit Singh initiated a decisive campaign to reclaim Jodhpur from Mughal control. To consolidate his power and reward the unwavering loyalty of his chieftains, the Maharaja distributed land grants (pattas). Thakur Sardar Singh, a valiant noble of the Kumpawat clan, was among those rewarded for his military allegiance during these turbulent wars of liberation.

The Kumpawat Lineage and Martial Heritage

The rulers of Siwas belong to the Kumpawat sub-clan of the Rathore dynasty, which traces its ancestry back to Rao Kumpa, one of the most legendary generals of medieval Rajputana. Rao Kumpa, alongside Rao Jaita, famously commanded the Rathore forces of Rao Maldeo against the Afghan Emperor Sher Shah Suri at the historic Battle of Giri-Sumel in 1544 AD. Thakur Sardar Singh, the recipient of Siwas, was the grandson of Thakur Ugrasen, who was himself a great-grandson of Rao Kumpa of Marwar. Throughout the Mughal and Maratha eras, the house of Siwas upheld its ancestral tradition of military service (Chakri) to the parent state of Jodhpur.

British Era and Modern Transition

With the signing of the treaty of 1818 between Maharaja Man Singh of Jodhpur and the British East India Company, Marwar entered into a period of colonial protection. Under this administration, Siwas maintained its feudal status and local revenue-collecting authority. This socio-political structure continued until the mid-20^th century. Following India's independence in 1947, the princely state of Jodhpur merged into the United State of Greater Rajasthan. Under the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act of 1952, the traditional jagirdari system was formally abolished, transitioning Siwas from a feudal estate into a democratic village within the Pali district of Rajasthan.