Umarkot

Origin and Foundation

The Umarkot Thikana (not to be confused with Umerkot in Sindh) represents a prominent branch of the Rathore dynasty in the Malwa region. The ancestor of this family was Maharaj Dalpat Singh, the younger brother of Maharaja Ratan Singh (the founder of Ratlam State) and the younger son of Kunwar Mahesh Das of Pisangan in Jodhpur. Through this lineage, the house of Umarkot traces its ancestry back to Raja Udai Singh (Mota Raja) of Marwar, establishing its deep-rooted connection to the royal family of Jodhpur.

Historical Context and the Malwa Settlement

During the 17^th century, the Rathores of the Pisangan branch migrated towards Central India. Kunwar Mahesh Das's eldest son, Maharaja Ratan Singh, distinguished himself in the Mughal imperial service and was granted the territory of Ratlam by Emperor Shah Jahan. Maharaj Dalpat Singh, alongside his brother, played a supportive role in consolidating the Rathore presence in the Malwa plateau. While Ratan Singh established the premier state of Ratlam, his brothers and descendants were granted various appanages and estates (Thikanas), of which Umarkot emerged as a significant seat of local authority.

The Maratha Era and British Protectorate

During the 18^th century, the decline of the Mughal Empire saw the rapid expansion of the Maratha Confederacy under the Peshwas, Scindias, and Holkars into Malwa. Like many neighboring Rajput fiefdoms, Umarkot faced turbulent times, navigating diplomatic pressures and tribute demands (tanka) from the Maratha chieftains.

With the dawn of the 19^th century and the signing of the Treaty of Mandasaur in 1818, the British East India Company established hegemony over Central India. The estates of the Rathore clan were stabilized under the oversight of the Central India Agency. Umarkot maintained its status as a recognized thikana, preserving its traditional administrative structure and cultural heritage under the British Raj while maintaining strong feudal and familial ties with Ratlam.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

Following India's independence in 1947, the ruling family of Umarkot acceded to the Union of India. The estate was initially integrated into the newly formed state of Madhya Bharat, which was later merged into Madhya Pradesh in 1956. Following the historical privy purse abolition in 1971 under the 26^th Amendment to the Constitution of India, the family transitioned into private life, continuing to preserve their ancestral heritage, historical records, and traditional Rathore customs in modern India.