Sengar rajputs ruling families

Sengar Rajput

Sengar Rajput

Sengar are a clan of Rajputs. One of the 36 clan Rajput Kshatriya, they are mainly found in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh states of India.

Origins    Etawah (UP) , Balia (UP) , Kannauj (UP) , Jalaun (UP) , Orai (UP) , Gwalior (MP) , Kirauli (Rajasthan) , some parts of Bihar and MP
Princely states:    Sarawan , Jagmanpur (Jalon) , Bhareh (Etawah) , Lakhnesar (Balia) , Rura (UP) , Ruruganj (UP) , Datia (MP) , Rewa (MP)

The exact vansh of Sengar is Rishivansh. According to an ancient story father of Lord Rama, Raja Dashrath had given his Sister 'SHANTA' in marriage to Shringi rishi. The vansh created from that marriage is Sengar rajput. Possible derivation of the 'sengar' name is (apart from 'Sringi' rishi) from 'Chattis-kul-Singar'(some name as Singraur)(the ornament or grand focal point of 36 kshtriya kul), a term often used by bards in praising the ruler. On his visit to the royal court or to a feudal lord, he recited the family's genealogy and also the deeds of the ruler's forefathers. In Mewar, along with other forms of glorification, a bard used terms such as Hindua Suraj (Sun amongst the Hindus), Gau Brahman Pratipal (Protector of Cows and Brahmans), and Chattis-kul-Singar (Ornament Amongst the 36 Rulers). Not only was this visit meant to keep the ruler informed about the good deeds of his ancestors but also a message that he should also follow suit. After reciting all these exaltations, he would bless the ruler, then take his seat in the Durbar. The traditions of the clan then interpose a period extending over some 135 generations, during which the clan emigrated first to Ceylon (Shri Lanka), thence to Malwa, and finally settled at Kanat in Jalaun, where was about 1065 A.D. on Bisukh Deo, or Sukh Deo, the founder of the fortunes of the Sengar house. "He married Deo Kali, daughter of Jaichand, the last Rathur Raja of Kannuj, And after his defeat by Shahbuddin Ghori in the year 1193 A.D. the power of the Sengar increased and the river Basindh was renamed Sengar in their honour. ( Source: Cooke's Tribes and Caste of N.W.P., Gazetteer for the Etawah District). After the fall of the kingdom of Kannuj, the Sengars under Bisukh Deo occupied the Eastern parganas of Etawah (Source:Vide Manual of Titles, Page 64, 1917 Edition) "Bisukh Deo was succeeded by Asajit, and he by Madan Deo, next came Ratahra Deo, and then singi Deo. The last had two wives, the one Chauhanin of Etawa, by whom he had Harjad Deo, the ancestor of the Bharah Rajas, and the other a Gaurani (Gaur lady) by whom he had six sons, from whom descended the Sengar Rajas of Patti Nakkat, Puri Dhar, Ruru, The Rao of Kakaotu and the Rawat of Kursi." (Source: Vide Gazetter N.W.P. Vol. IV, Part I, (Agra Division) page 276, 1878 Edition). "At any rate, the Sengar occupation of the south-eastern part of the district may with accuracy be dated in the early part of the 12th century A.D., when like the Chauhans, the clan drove out the Meos and took possession of the tract" (Source: Vide U.P. Gazatter Vol XI, page 69, 1911 Edition)

THE LAST REPUBLIC OF THE HINDUS
Many proofs have come to light of the existence, in the distance past, of the republican form of Government in India, and in fact is now so well established that it is not in the least necessary to enumerate them here. There were many republics in India about the beginning of the Buddhistic Period- particularly in several of those tribal areas which surround the birth -place of the great man- Siddarth Gautama, the Buddha (The Enlightened one). But to most of the readers of this article it will come as an agreeable discovery to learn that a republic existed in India till less than 150 years ago. This, however, has really been the case. It was the republic of Lakhnesar and was founded in the thirteenth century of the Christian era by a heroic little band of Sengar Rajputs who had fled from the irresitable onslaught of the Mohamedans. It lasted for about 500 years. This land now forms the pargana of the Ballia district of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, but the bulk of it- 83 per cent, according to the 1907 Gazetter of the district- is still owned and held by the Sengars in the bhaiyachara (literally brotherhood) form of tenure. Let us here reproduce a few lines from the “Gazetter” of the district. ”Among the earliest Rajput immigrants were the Sengars.” (Page 140) “Their history is remarkable, for at all times they were renowned for their strength and courage, but on no occasion do they seem to have had a common Raja, the republican nature of their institutions being illustrated by the fact that the 537 mahals into which the pargana (Lakhnesar) is now divided are all held in bhaiyachara tenure. Nevertheless their union was so complete that the Sengars were the only clan who preserved their property rights intact.” (Page 228) “The democratic sprit was not so strong in the case of the clans in other parganas.”
At any rate Lakhnesar was not the first republic of the Sengars, who now represent the ‘Singhoe’ mentioned by the Greek author and ambassador Megasthenes as being one of the people “which are free, have no Kingh and occupy mountain heights where they have built many cities.” These ‘Singhoe’ cannot but have been the Sengars of Bandhu (Rewah) and Kalinjar, which, according to the traditions of the clan, were among its strongholds in the remote past.

The locations in which Sengar rajputs dominate are in western UP, eastern UP, western Bihar and adjoining districts of MP -
Baraulli (about 80 KM from Kannauj, UP)
Noorpur (about 25 km from Orai, UP): The place has a rich population of Sengar thakurs (about 5000 thakur families).
Sarawan (about 17 km from Jalaun city, UP): A large fort was built by Raja Shravan Dev of the Sengar rajput clan nearby the Yamuna river. Other nearby sites are Lanka tower, Chourasi Gumbad, etc.
Jagmanpur (9 km from Rampura, UP): Once the headquarters of the Sengar rajputs under Raja Rup Shah, also houses a large masonry fort. The confluence of five rivers nearby, known the "Panch Nada" is an added attraction for the tourist. The two forts can be visited with due permission from the owners. and some of the village there shekhpur bujurg, hadrukh, sirsa, madogrh, etc.
kurshi (near Etawah): Under Akbar’s reign the place probably comprised the bulk of the old pargana of Bidhuna, and to the south of it lay the mahal of Phaphund, whose local limits probably corresponded roughly with those of the pargana which was broken up only in 1894. Then, as now, Phaphund appears to have been occupied for the most part by Sengar rajputs and to judge from the amount of revenue it paid in proportion to its size, it must have been a well cultivated and populated tract of country. Its cultivated area is recorded as 111,546 bighas paying a revenue of 5,432,391 dams, its military contingent being 2,000 infantry and 300 cavalry. The family of Sahar was founded by one Sadan Singh who shared in the proprietary right to the village Mau. " He made himself useful to the Oudh Governor, Almas Ali Khan and Raja Bara Mal, and through their influence and his own industry collected together the nucleus of a taluka just before the cession of the district to the British. He was succeeded by his son Chandan Singh who had two sons one Mahipal Singh who was given the Malhausi Estate and other Chhatar Singh who succeeded his father at Sahar. Mahipal Singh had two sons Chimna Ju and Lokpal Singh both of them were without issue and hence after their death the Malhausi estate was redirected to Chhatar Singh's grandson Drigbijai Singh son of Tej Singh. Drigbijai Singh was successed by Lal Narayan Singh and he by his son Lal Harbansh Singh. The Malhausi estate is at present being held by Rohit Sengar along with his son Dhruv Sengar and daughter Ishita Singh. late rawat shri khadak pal sing gave his state to his smallest son rawat shri ashok singh sengar. since 1992 kurshi estate is controlled under rawat ashok singh s/o khadak pal singh sengar.
Lakhnesar: At about the same time the Sengar rajputs in eastern UP were opposing the tyranny of Balwant Singh nazim of the sirkars of Jaunpur, Varanasi, Ghazipur and Chunar. Balwant Singh made it a habit of destroying the power of the local chieftains who offered resistance to Balwant Singh but in only one instance were their efforts successful. This exception was provided by the Sengars of pargana Lakhnesar, who not only treated his demands with contempt but adopted an attitude of open hostility. Not content with the refusal to pay revenue, they attacked and pillaged his treasuries so that eventually, in 1764, he was compelled to proceed against them in person with a large force. Rasra (in pargana Lakhnesar) was then most inaccessible by reason of the jungle which surrounded it and because the houses of the Sengar rajputs were all built with a view to defence. After two day’s conflict in which hundreds of lives were lost, Balwant Singh’s troops managed to set Rasra on fire, forcing the Sengars to withdraw; but so obstinate was their resistance that Balwant Singh had to enter into a compromise. The Sengar rajputs being left in possession of their estates at a low but fixed revenue.

Some of the Sengar rajputs are also in Haswa in Fatehpur district(78 KM from Kanpur).
Status of Sengar ruling families in the year 1921
Sengar rajputs ruling families
S.No    Name of Kingdom    Location    Title of the owner    Year of establishment
1    Jagamanpur    Jalaun, Etawah and Kanpur    Maharaja Dhiraj Bahadur    936
2    Bhareh    Etawah    Maharaja Dhiraj    1220
3    Ruru    Etawah    Raja, Rais Azam    1240
4    Sarawan    Jalaun    Deewan    1200
5    Hardoi    Jalaun    Raja    1220
6    Kakhawatu    Etawah    Rao    1240
7    Reneya    Jalaun    Rao   
8    Bikhira    Etawah    Rao   
9    Kursi    Etawah    Rawat    1240
10    Malhausi (Sahar)    Etawah    Lal Sahab    1775
11    Kantha    Unnao    Thakur-Talukedar    1527
12    Pargana Lakhnesar    Balia    Clan Republic    1250
13    Bicharhata (Mau)    Rewa    Raja    588
14    Nai Gardhi    Rewa    Thakur, Lal    1560
15    Gangev    Rewa    Thakur, Lal    588
16    Intar    Rewa    Thakur, Lalu Sahib    588
17    Kalyanpur    Karauli- Rajputana    Thakur   
18    Lahari- Sanvlata    Jodhpur, Marvard- Rajputana    Kaptan- Thaakur    1827
19    Atrauli    Jalaun    Rawal    1744
20    Phadi    Rewa    Thakur, Lal   
21    Jodhpur    Rewa    Thakur, Lal   
22    Umari    Rewa    Thakur, Lal   
23    Hinaiti    Rewa    Thakur, Lalu Sahib   
24    Derah    Rewa    Thakur, Lal   
25    Saliya    Rewa    Thakur, Lal   
26    Paturkhi    Rewa    Thakur, Lal   
27    Shahpur    Rewa    Thakur, Lal   
28    Samereyah    Rewa    Thakur, Lal   
29    Rampur Manjha    Gazipur    Thakur    1770