Atrauli

This lineage can be traced back to Bijay Singh Ponia, who led the Rauria sept of Ponia Jats, renowned for their strength, bravery, and numerical superiority. The Raurias had been displaced from their chiefdom, Rarah, by the Mughals. Bijay Singh entered the service of Rao Amar Singh Jat of Khair, a prominent figure in the Doab and a key leader in the Ram Dal. Amar Singh played a pivotal role in securing Atrauli and the neighboringparganas, establishing his stronghold in the center of the paragana and fortifying it as Bijauli (originally Bijaywali). Subsequently, Bijay Singh was appointed as the governor of the parganas along the Ganga river.

Amar Singh was eventually ousted from Khair by the Mughals, and Sobha Singh, his son, failed in his attempts to regain control. Following the downfall of his patron, Bijay Singh consolidated his position at Bijauli, successfully repelling Mughal raids, although he retained only the taluqa of Bijauli. His son, Rao Shri Veer Singhji, emerged as a formidable leader, asserting his control over Atrauli, a claim recognized by the Mughal Emperor Farukhsiyar. Veer Singh’s son, Rao Shri DurjanSinghji, further solidified the family’s prestige. He expelled the Megdwar Rajputs from taluqa Nah, seized control of Charrah and Bhikampur from the Sherwani Pathans, and constructed two formidable forts in the region. DurjanSinghji’s military prowess elevated him to greater prominence, particularly after his sister, Hans Kaur, married Maharaja Shri Surajmalji of Bharatpur. DurjanSinghji was subsequently appointed as the kiledar of Ramgarh (later Aligarh), the most formidable fort in the Doab. He valiantly confronted Ahmad Shah Abdali’s army during the Siege of Ramgarh(Aligarh), where his brother, Shahmal, tragically perished. DurjanSinghji also played a significant role in four sieges of Delhi.Despite these accomplishments, the family faced setbacks. Mirza Najaf Khan deprived them of Atrauli, Charrah, Rafatpur, Gangiri, Nah, Dhatawali, and Bhikampur in 1777. Bijauli was granted to Himmat GiriGoswani, while the descendants of Rao Durjan Singh were reduced to the status of zamindars of Bijaulikhas.