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{{Short description|Estate of Rathore Rajputs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{orphan|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox former country
| native_name = कुशलगढ़ ठिकाना
| conventional_long_name = Kushalgarh Thikana
| common_name = Kushalgarh
| year_start = 1670
| year_end = 1947
| event_end = Accession to the Dominion of India
| today = Rajasthan, India
| capital = Kushalgarh
| established = 1670
| stat_area1 = 881
| stat_year1 = 1901
| stat_pop1 = 16,222 (1901)
}}

'''Kushalgarh Thikana''' was a Rajput princely thikana ([[Feudal state|feudal estate]]) in present-day [[Banswara district]] of [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. It was historically part of the [[Rajputana Agency]] during the [[British Raj|British]] colonial period and was ruled by the Ramawat Rathores, a branch of the [[Rathore dynasty]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cMeN-yV74_gC&q=kushalgarh+thikana |title=Census of India, 1991: Dungarpur |date=1994 |publisher=General Administration Department, Government of Rajasthan |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bayley |first=C. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7nwUqnwj4h4C&dq=kushalgarh+estate&pg=PA42 |title=Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana |date=2004 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-1066-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ajmer-Merwara (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dfo4AQAAMAAJ&dq=kushalgarh&pg=PA15 |title=Report on the Administration of Ajmer-Merwara |date=1902 |language=en}}</ref>

==History==

According to traditional accounts, Kushalgarh was founded in the 16th century. There are two main narratives regarding its origin:

* The '''[[Banswara state|Banswara]] version''' claims that the territory was conquered from the Bhils by Kushal Singh of Banswara and granted to Akhai Raj for his service.<ref>James Tod, ''Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan'', Vol II. Oxford University Press, 1920, pp. 472–475.</ref>

* The '''local Kushalgarh account''' holds that Akhai Raj himself defeated the Bhils and their chief Kushla, after which the territory was named Kushalgarh in his memory.<ref>Dasharatha Sharma, ''Rajasthan Through the Ages'', Vol. III: Feudal Polity. Rajasthan State Archives, 1990, p. 15</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=G. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3PrkAAAAMAAJ&q=kushalgarh |title=Socio-cultural Environment of Tribal Landscapes |date=1992 |publisher=Arihant Publishers |isbn=978-81-7230-010-4 |language=en}}</ref>

Although initially under the suzerainty of Banswara State, Kushalgarh gradually acquired a degree of autonomy while maintaining tribute and ceremonial obligations.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tORAAQAAMAAJ&dq=kushalgarh&pg=PA152 |title=Provincial Series: Central Provinces |date=1908 |publisher=Superintendent of Gevernment Printing |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gANt-dn7O98C&q=kushalgarh |title=Memoranda on the Indian States, 1940 (corrected Up to the 1st January 1940). |date=1940 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography and administration==

As of 1901, Kushalgarh Thikana spanned about 881 square kilometers and included 60 villages. The population was 16,222, and the estate earned an estimated annual revenue of ₹16,000.<ref>''Imperial Gazetteer of India'', Vol. 15. Clarendon Press, 1908, p. 154.</ref> The estate’s capital was the town of Kushalgarh, near the present-day border with [[Madhya Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Office |first=Great Britain India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=quU-AAAAYAAJ&dq=kushalgarh&pg=RA1-PA318 |title=East India (famine): Papers Regarding Famine and Relief Operations in India. 1899-1900 |date=1902 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |language=en}}</ref>

==Ruling family==

Kushalgarh was ruled by the '''Ramawat Rathores''' of the '''Barsinghot sub-clan''', descended from Rao Barsingh of the Rathore lineage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rathore |first=Abhinay |date=2013-02-02 |title=Kushalgarh (Princely State) |url=https://www.indianrajputs.com/view/kushalgarh |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Rajput Provinces of India |language=en}}</ref> The estate followed customary Rajput norms of hereditary rule.

==List of rulers==
It was established in 1671 when Thakur Akhairaj, a descendant of the Mertia Rathore clan, was granted the jagir of Kushalgarh. The Mertia Rathores trace their lineage back to [[Rao Jodha]], the founder of Jodhpur.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hooja |first=Rima |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tosMAQAAMAAJ&q=kushalgarh |title=A History of Rajasthan |date=2006 |publisher=Rupa & Company |isbn=978-81-291-0890-6 |language=en}}</ref>

*Thakur Akhairaj – Granted the jagir of Kushalgarh in 1671.

*Thakur Ajab Singh – Son of Akhairaj.

*Thakur Kirat Singh – Son of Ajab Singh.

*Thakur Achal Singh – Son of Kirat Singh.

*Thakur Bhagwat Singh – Son of Achal Singh.

*Rao Zalim Singh – Son of Bhagwat Singh; received the title of "Rao" from Maharana Bhim Singhji of Udaipur.

*Rao Hamir Singh – Adopted son of Zalim Singh; originally the son of Kunwar Salam Singh.

*Rao Zorawar Singh – Son of Hamir Singh; ruled until 1891.

*Rao Udai Singh – Son of Zorawar Singh; ruled from 1891 to 1916.

*Rao Ranjit Singhji – Son of Udai Singh; born on 2 May 1882, succeeded in 1916.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sherring |first=Herbert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-hYVyPVmrqkC&dq=kushalgarh&pg=PA210 |title=The Mayo College, "the Eton of India": A Record of Twenty Years, 1875-1895 |date=1897 |publisher=Thacker, Spink and Company |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajputana (Agency) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8aZCAAAAIAAJ&q=kushalgarh |title=List of Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages |date=1938 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref>

*Rao Harendra Singhji – Son of Ranjit Singhji; born on 11 May 1924, ruled until 1967.

==Post independence==

After India gained independence in 1947, Kushalgarh was merged into the Indian Union. Like other princely and jagirdari estates, it lost its political privileges with the implementation of land reforms and the abolition of feudal tenures in the early 1950s.

==Present day==

Today, Kushalgarh is a town and municipality in Banswara district. According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 Census of India]], it had a population of 10,096.<ref>Census of India 2011, ''District Census Handbook: Banswara'', Government of India.</ref> The region is primarily inhabited by Bhil tribal communities, and the main languages spoken are Vagdi and Hindi.

A notable religious site is the '''Andeshwar Parshwanath Jain Temple''', located atop a hill in Kushalgarh tehsil. The temple features 10th-century inscriptions and houses a black stone idol of Parshwanath dating to the 12th or 13th century.<ref>Kailash Chand Jain, ''Ancient Cities and Towns of Rajasthan: A Study of Culture and Civilization'', Motilal Banarsidass, 1972, p. 243.</ref> An annual fair is held here on Kartik Purnima.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Princely states]]
[[Category:Banswara district]]
[[Category:Rajput estates]]

Kushalgarh Thikana - Revision history

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