Garabdesar

Origin and Foundation of Garabdesar Thikana

The rulers of Garabdesar Thikana are proud descendants of the Garsot clan of the Rathore dynasty, tracing their lineage back to Rajkumar Garsiji (Garsi Singh), the son of Rao Naroji, the second ruler of Bikaner. Rajkumar Garsiji was the founder of the neighboring Thikana of Garsisar. The estate of Garabdesar was subsequently carved out as an independent fiefdom and granted to his descendant, Thakur Saheb Devi Singhji, establishing a prominent branch of the Bikaner nobility.

The Royal Grant and Chronology

According to regional administrative records, the estate of Garabdesar, consisting of seven villages, was granted to Thakur Saheb Devi Singhji by Rao Lunkaran, the ruler of Bikaner. While traditional accounts often record the grant in the year "1563 AD", historical analysis suggests this date corresponds to the Vikrami Samvat (VS) 1563, which translates to 1506 AD in the Gregorian calendar. This chronological alignment perfectly matches the reign of Rao Lunkaran (who ruled Bikaner from 1505 to 1526 AD), cementing the Thikana's establishment in the early decades of the 16^th century.

Feudal Standing and Court Etiquette in Bikaner State

As highly respected nobles of the Bikaner State, the Thakurs of Garabdesar occupied a position of high distinction. In the Bikaner Royal Darbar, they were seated on the prestigious left-hand side of the throne (known as the Bayañ Dīvān). The Thikana was honored with elite court privileges, which included:

• Ikladi Tazim: A ceremonial honor where the Maharaja of Bikaner stood up once to welcome the Thakur of Garabdesar upon his arrival in the court.
• Banho Pasanv: A gesture of royal intimacy and favor where the sovereign extended his arms to embrace or receive the noble.

In return for these honors and the territorial grant, the Thikana maintained a loyal military and financial commitment to the state of Bikaner. It provided a yearly Rekh (tribute) of 5 and a Chakari Asvar (military service obligation) of 8 armed cavalrymen to the state army during times of war and peace.

Modern Era and Distinguished Service

In the post-independence and modern era, the family of Garabdesar transitioned from feudal administrators to highly decorated defenders of the nation, producing brilliant military officers, sportspersons, and public servants. Prominent among them are:

• Brigadier Jagmal Singh Rathore, VrC, VSM: An illustrious military commander who served with great distinction in the Indian Army. He was awarded the prestigious Vir Chakra (VrC) for his gallantry and exceptional leadership during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
• Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, AVSM: A highly celebrated soldier, Olympic athlete, and politician. He brought global glory to India by winning the silver medal in the Men's Double Trap shooting event at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, marking India's first individual Olympic silver medal in the post-independence era. After a distinguished military career in the Army, during which he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), he entered public service and went on to serve as a Member of Parliament and a Cabinet Minister in the Government of India. More information about his achievements can be found on his Wikipedia Profile.