Mursan

In the 15th century, Rawat Shri Lakhe ruled Adhangarh, a place located somewhere in the hills of Kated. Rawat Lakhe was a Jat ruler, and during his reign, he built a fort at Adhangarh. One of his notable orders was that whoever passed through the newly built fort should bring five buckets of mud, known as ‘Gilaiya,’ and add it to the new embankment of the fort.An incident occurred when a Muslim zenana palanquin caravan passed through that path. The keepers of the new fort asked the palanquin attendants to contribute to the embankment, threatening that their palanquin would not be allowed to pass otherwise. Under pressure, the attendants complied but later complained to the Sultan or the local governor.This incident led to a series of events where the high ramparts of the new fort were illuminated, and the women of the harem began to suffer. A complaint was made against Rawat Lakhe, and royal orders were issued to punish him. When told of the royal orders, Rawat refused to comply and agreed to meet the imperial forces on the battlefield. This determination led to the saying, ‘ लड़ने की ठानी ठान तबसे पद गया थेनुआ नाम.’As a result, Dhansur Singh, the son of Rawat Lakhe, fled from Adhangarh to save his life. He, along with his pregnant wife and six sons, crossed the Yamuna to reach Khokhia village in Jalesar Pargana. The family took refuge in a Jatav house, and in honor of the Jatavs of Khokhia, a decorated piece of leather was always added to the crown of the prince who sat on the throne of Mursan at the time of coronation.

The descendants of Dhansur Singh flourished in various areas. Gangaram established himself in Kheria and Ujrai, Rawat Kare took control of Turkia and Bastia, and Rawat Made established the taluka of Mai in the pargana of Mahavan. Sher Singh became a distinguished horseman in the service of the rulers of the Sultanate, establishing himself in Surakka. Khemkaran Singh founded Khemnagar, while the achievement of twin brothers Makhan Singh and Gokul Singh surpassed their elder brothers. Gokul Singh established Gorai in Koel Pargana, eventually becoming the headquarters of a pargana.Thakur Makhan Singh, the ancestor of the kings of Mursan and Hathras, is known as the architect of the rise of the Thenua dynasty. He founded the city of Jawar and built a fort at the site, where his descendants still live today. Makhan Singh married a woman from the Khokhen/Khonkhar Jats clan and received a share in dowry, which strengthened the Thenua dynasty’s position in the area.The line of succession after Makhan Singh continued with Thakur Garhwe, Thakur Vahan Singh, Thakur Darve, Thakur Sultan Singh, and Thakur Abhay Chand. These chieftains built forts at Gausna and Sindoora, with the sons of Abhay Chand capturing a large part of Jalesar Pargana and establishing Chhotua taluka, Sirua, and Tajpur talukas.The descendants of Thakur Sher Singh, the eldest of four brothers, also played significant roles in various areas. Dhan Singh became the next Thakur of Jawar, while Kirat Singh succeeded him. Kirat Singh’s four brothers founded Khanduli, Bona, Mumreja, and BarhaJagir. Thakur Mangu followed Kirat Singh, succeeded by Thakur Chandai. The descendants of Kirat Singh’s sons Veeru and Hambir are the Thakurs of Harrampur and Pilkhuniya, Sikathara, and Pachgai.

In 1627, the Mahavan rebellion started, changing the course of history. Thakur Chandai, along with the rebels of the Ram Dal, closed the royal highway, plundered the royal outposts, and established their police stations, resulting in an expansion of their personal fiefdoms. After a long struggle between the Ram Dal and the Mughals, the rebellion was crushed, but Thenua regained leadership in the region.Another revolt took place in the Doab in 1633, with Thakur Chandra Sen as its prominent leader. Iradat Khan, appointed Faujdar of Mathura, Mahavan, Kaman, and other parishes, eventually pacified the Jats with gifts and words of respect, stopping the revolt as their demands were met.Thakur Kanwar Sen succeeded Chandra Sen and made Tappa of Jawar part of the newly formed pargana of Sadabad. By the end of Shah Jahan’s rule, the Thenua gharana of Gorai controlled 24 villages in Koel Pargana, and the gharanas of Jawar and Mai controlled 87 and 6 villages, respectively, in Sadabad Pargana. These Thenua houses’ control in parts of Sadabad, Jalesar, and Koel Pargana laid the foundation for an independent principality for Thakur Shri Nandram, the ruler of Jawar.

Thakur Shri Nandram, a prominent figure in the annals of Indian history, left a significant mark on the political landscape of his time. Born into a lineage of rulers, he inherited a jagir of 87 villages from his father and, spurred by a sense of rebellion against the Mughal Empire, joined the Ram Dal. Through his prowess and leadership, Nandram ascended to lead the Ram Dal by 1657, a position from which he orchestrated strategic moves that expanded his influence.Under Nandram’s leadership, the Poruch Rajas of Anirudhpur and Mendu became his vassals, solidifying his regional power. Notable among his conquests was Tocchigarh, which he seized from the Jadons. Despite occasional conflicts, Nandram’s diplomatic acumen shone through when he signed a peace treaty with the formidable Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1660, showcasing his adeptness in balancing power dynamics.His role as Fauzdar in the Sarkar of Koel further exemplified Nandram’s ability to navigate complex political terrains. In the 1680s, he rebelled once more, expanding his territories by conquering the parganas of Sadabad, Nuh, Mat, Mahawan, Kabul Khurd (Khandoli), Jalesar, and Etah. Notably, his victory at the Battle of Tocchi/Tocchigarh in 1686 against the Mughals further solidified his reputation as a formidable leader. However, Nandram’s life was not without tragedy, as he succumbed to wounds sustained in battle, leaving behind a legacy that endured through his many descendants. His fourteen sons included Zulkaran, Jai Singh, and Bhoj Singh, who played significant roles in shaping the future of their respective lineages.

Thakur Shri Nandram’s lineage branched into the Mursan family through his eldest son, Zulkaran. Zulkaran, unfortunately, passed away before his father’s demise in 1695, leaving behind a son named Khushal Singh. Raised by his mother in Rahatpur and Mánkraul, villages granted to him by his uncle, Khushal Singh later earned the favor of the Oudh Vazír, Saadat Khán, as he matured into adulthood. Kushal Pal Singh, inheriting Rahatpur and Makrol villages from his uncle Thakur Bhoj Singh, expanded his domain by acquiring territories from various clans, including the Khonkhers, Bamrolias, Dhatra Jats, and his Thenua kinsmen. His rule saw the construction of a formidable fort at Mursan, further consolidating his power. Kushal Pal Singh’s reign ended in 1749, leaving behind a legacy of territorial expansion and fortification.

Raja Shri Pohap/Bhup Singh Bahadur succeeded Kushal Pal Singh, ruling Mursan from 1749 to 1798. Notably, he expanded the family estate by annexing properties from the descendants of Thakur Bhoj Singh and other jagirdars in the middle Doab, particularly the Poruch, Gahlot, and Janghara Rajputs. Despite facing expulsion from Mursan by Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur in 1757 and briefly losing control to Najaf Khan in 1766, Bhup Singh Bahadur reclaimed Mursan in 1785 and even established a second capital at Sasni.The legacy of expansion continued under Raja Shri Bhagwant Singh Bahadur, who ruled Mursan from 1798 to 1824. He annexed Madem and Sonkh Khera in jagir from the British Government in 1795 for his service in Lord Lake’s campaign. Bhagwant Singh Bahadur’s military exploits included a war against the Britishers in alliance with Raja Dayaram of Hathras and Raja Hari Kishen Singh of Beswan. However, his kingdom was reduced to a jagir after Sasni was attacked and dismantled by the Britishers in 1803. Shri Tikam Singh Bahadur, C.I.E., succeeded Bhagwant Singh Bahadur, ruling Mursan from 1824 to 1878. Born in 1801, Tikam Singh Bahadur was honored with the title of Raja Bahadur in 1859 for his assistance during the 1857 uprising. He was also conferred with the C.I.E. shortly before his death in 1878.The Mursan family’s history is a saga of territorial expansion, strategic alliances, and resilience in the face of challenges, shaping the region’s political landscape for generations.