Laghadia

The ruler of Laghadia was the hereditary head of the Godara clan. The principality of Laghadia was founded by Rao Devrajji who was son of Dhunlaldharji Godara. Devrajji took control of a large tract of land in the Jangal country and founded the city of Devrajsar in 1179 A.D. The city was later name Sheruna(now a village in Durgangarh tehsil of Bikaner district). The sons and grandsons of Devraj added several villages to the principality. As there power was expanding in the Jangal tract, they came into conflicts with the neighbouring tribes. The Bhadus who’s centre of power was Khandela(now Bhanipura) once tried to murder Delhaji Godara, this resulted in full fledged war between the two tribes. At the decisive battle of Adsaar fought in 1185 A.D. the Godaras defeated Raja Bhadsen Bhadu and forever sealed there dominance in the Jangal tract. Over time the Godaras increased there possessions and 360 village fell under the jurisdiction of Sheruna and 360 under the jurisdiction of Runea(the other Godara principality). Rao Shri Somrajji shifted the capital from Sheruna to Laghadia at the end of the 14th century. The Godara principality saw relative high stability throughout 13th and 14th century. The outer territory was prone to attacked by the Juhias and rival tribes. The most popular ruler of the Laghadia was Rao Panduji, who happens to also be the last ruler of Laghadia. He was a wise man, kind of heart and a influential man. The founder of Bishnoi sect Jhamboji found a place a the durbar of Panduji, subsequently two of his sons even converted to Bishnoi sect. The abduction of Malki by Panduji led to the fall of the Godaras. The story of the abduction of Malki is narrated below

Pula Saran the chief of Bhadang was ruler of 360 villages, Pula’s wife’s name was Malki who was the daughter of Beniwal Sardar Raisal of Raisalana. On the other hand, Rao Pandu used to rule in Laghadia. Once, around year 1487, a dhadhi from Bhadang reached Laghadia. She was well received by Pandu and he donated a lot. When the same Dhadhi reached went to the court of Pula Saran, then Pula also made a handsome donation to her. But when Pula went to his palace, his wife Malki said in a sarcastic manner, “Choudhary, Dhadhi was to be given such a donation that would have earned you more fame than Godara Sardar Pandu’

Sardar Pula after listening to this became furious and started to beat his wife. While beating his wife with a stick, he said that if you are satisfied with Pandu, then go to him. Malki was very angry with this act of her husband and she stopped speaking to Pula. Malki, through his attendant, told Pandu Godara all the facts and urged him to come and take her away. Thus six months passed. One day all Saran Jats gathered for reconciliation between there Choudhary and Chaudhrain, which led to a tie-up. Here it was getting goth and on the other side Nakodar, son of Pandu Godare came to Bhadang with 150 camel riders and took Malki secretly. Pandu was old, yet he kept Malki in his house. But she got into trouble with Nakodar’s mother, Pandu’s first wife, so she went to live in the village Goplana. Later he established Malkisar in his name.

Pula Saran gathered other Jat chieftains for advice and assistance. In this, Kunwarpal Kaswan of Sidhmukh, Amra Sohua of Ghansia, Chokha Siyag of Sui, Rao Kanhadeva Poonia of Ludi, Raisal Beniwal of Raisalana and Narshingdas Jatu of Diwani were present. They attacked Laghadiya at night and destroyed it by burning it to ground. Many Godara Sardars and soldiers were killed in the battle, but Pandu and his son Nakodar somehow escaped. After burning of his capital, Rao Pandu shifted his capital to Sheikhsar. To save himself from outmost destruction he called Rao Bikaji Rathore for help. Bikaji and his uncle Khandal were already carving out a principality in the Jangal tract.

The elders of Sheikhsar and Runea were deputed to enter into terms with the Rajput chief, and to invest him with supremacy over the community, on the following conditions :-

1. To make common cause with them, against the Johiyas and other cantons, with whom they were then at variance.
2. To guard the western frontier against the irruption of Bhattis.
3. To hold the rights and privileges of the community inviolable.

On the fulfillment of these conditions, they relinquished to Bika and his descendants the supreme power over the Godaras; assigning to him, in perpetuity, the power to levy “dhooa”, or a “hearth tax” of one rupee on each house in the canton, and a land tax of two rupees on each hundred beeghas of cultivated land within their limits.

Apprehensive, however, that Bika or his descendants might encroach upon their rights, they asked what security he could offer against such a contingency ? The Rajput chief replied that, in order to dissipate their fears on this head, as well as to perpetuate the remembrance of the supremacy thus voluntarily conferred, he would solemnly bind himself and his successors to receive the tika of inauguration from the hands of the descendants of the elders of Shekhsar and Runia, and that the gadi (the chair) should be deemed vacant until such rite was administered.

To this day, the descendant of Pandu Godara applies the unguent of royalty to the forehead of the successors of Bika ; on which occasion, the prince places “the fine of relief”, consisting of twenty-five pieces of gold, in the hand of the Godara Jat.