Kebania

Origin and Foundation of Kebania

The Istimrari estate of Kebania (also transliterated as Kibania) is a historical thikana located in the Ajmer-Merwara region of Rajasthan. It belongs to the Jodha Rathore clan of Rajputs, tracing its lineage back to Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur. The estate was founded when it was granted to Thakur Arjun Singh, the son of Thakur Nahar Singh of Deogaon Baghera. Thakur Nahar Singh was himself the son of Thakur Akhay Raj of Deolia, which is an offshoot of the prominent Bhinai estate—one of the premier Rathore houses in the Ajmer territory.

The British Period and Istimrari Status

During the British administration of Ajmer-Merwara, Kebania was classified as an Istimrari estate. Unlike ordinary jagirs, Istimrari estates were held on a permanent tenure with a fixed revenue tribute (mamla) payable to the government. Around 1875, the estate comprised four villages, yielding a substantial annual income of approximately 12,000 Rupees, from which a tribute of 1,484 Rupees was paid to the British Crown. The Istimrardars of the region enjoyed considerable administrative and judicial influence within their estates, governed under the local land regulations of the Ajmer province.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

Following India's independence in 1947 and the subsequent integration of princely states, the special land tenure systems of Ajmer-Merwara were reformed. With the passage of the Ajmer Abolition of Jagirs and Land Reforms Act, 1955, the Istimrari status of Kebania was formally abolished, and the agricultural lands were transitioned to the peasantry. Today, the descendants of the thikana maintain their ancestral heritage and cultural traditions in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan.