Information

Dynasty	Shekhawat
Clan	Sadhani
State	Jaipur
Accession	1954
Revenue	₹ 800,000
Villages	355
Area	2,322 km2
Population	23,245 (1901)
Religion	Hinduism
Hindi Name	बिस्साऊ
Last Updated	14th Aug, 2022

Present Head/Ruler

Rawal SANJAI SINGHJI, Mamlaguzar Sardar of Jaipur State and Hereditary Tazimi Sardar of Jaipur, and 10^th and present Rawal Saheb of Bissau, since the 19^th July 1978. Born 15^th December 1957, educated at Bishop Cotton School at Shimla and the University of Rajasthan, earning a B.A. (Hons.), Proprietor and Manager of the Bissau Palace Hotel in Jaipur, married Rani Vasundhara Kumari, daughter of Raja Vishwaraj Pratap Singh of Kawardha, and his wife, Rani Shashi Prabha Devi daughter of Raja Ganga Pratap Singh of Maallahpur (U.P.), and has issue.

• Yuvaraj Eklavya Singh, born 4^th September 1985, educated at Lawrence School, Sanawar, at Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty and at Mayo College in Ajmer, he played Cricket and Football (Soccer) in Inter-State competitions and a keen horse rider, athlete and a keen artist having represented India in the National Art Competition by Camel Colours and won the Geography Prize for excellence at Mayo College. He has Graduated in History Honours from Jai Hind College Mumbai and worked with ITC Group of Hotels (Welcome Legionnaire Program). He is a keen promoter of Heritage & Culture and has worked with many Social Organizations. He has been honored by Rajasthan Chamber of Commerce & Industry for preservation of Art & Heritage Protection. He is currently the proprietor & Managing Director of Bissau Palace, Jaipur. Married on 27^th Nov 2020 to Yuvrani Saheba Yashwant Kumari of Chandawal.

Short History

House of Bissau-Surajgarh belongs to the Sadhani branch of the Shekhawat Rajputs, a branch of the Kachwaha Rajputs

Predecessors

• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Thakur KESHRI SINGH, 1^st Thakur Saheb of Bissau and Dundlod and Jhunjhunu 1742/1768, born 1729, fourth son of Thakur Shardul Singh of Jhunjhunu (Panchpana), he received 84 villages with a revenue of Rs.100000 lakh by his father and the ‘Nau Mahala’ (now Bissau Mahal or Surajgarh Mahal) in Jhunjhunu. After the the battle of Bundi in 1861-1865 between Jaipur and Bundi he was granted 60 villages in Kaanti-Bawal which he exchanged for 34 villages in the Singhana pargana and bestowed upon by a ‘Tazim’ by the HH Maharaja Madho Singhji I Bahadur of Jaipur in 1764. Now Bissau had 118 villages in total. He founded the estate of Bissau in 1746. He constructed the fort of Bissau in 1751 and it was completed in 1755, he also made a parkota of the city with 4 gates by 1762. He constructed the fort of Nua in 1743, the mud-fort of Adeecha in 1758 and the fort of Udaipuwati in 1761; married 1^stly, Thakurani Kanlotiji daughter of Sangram Singhji of Churu; married 2^ndly, Thakurani Jait Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Kushal Singhji of Auwa, she committed sati in 1768; married 3^rdly, Thakurani Bikawatiji of Bikaner; married 4^thly, Thakurani Birad Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Devi Singh of Pokhran and his wife Thakurani Padam Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Sangram Singh Bhati, she committed sati in 1768, and had issue, the families of Bissau, Surajgarh and Dundlod. He died 1768 at Jhunjhunu.
  • Kunwar Fateh Singh, died vpsp.
  • Thakur Hanumant Singh, he succeeded to the estate of Dundlod.
  • Thakur Suraj Mal, he succeeded in Bissau (qv)
  • Maharani Ummed Kumari, married to HH Maharao Umaid Singhji I of Kotah.
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Thakur SURAJ MAL, 2^nd Thakur Saheb of Bissau, Surajgarh, Udaipurwati and Jhunjhunu 1768/1787, born 1755, he was bestowed upon ‘Rs.44 as Dastur ‘and’ Siroh-Paav’ and ‘3 Thaan’ were presented to him by HH Maharaja Prithvi II Bahadur of Jaipur when he decided to serve him. He was one of the most outstanding warriors of his time, he was victorious in the Battle of Mandan in 1775 against the attack of Rao Raja Mitra Sen Ahir of Rewari and Piroo Khan Balochi, who, encouraged by the scattered Kaimkhanis of Jhunjhunu, invaded Shekhawati, where a fierce battle was fought resulting in the defeat of Rao Raja Mitra Sen Ahir and the death of Piroo Khan, he also fought in the victorious battle of Khatu in 1780 where Najabkuli Khan was sent by Badshah Ali Gauhar Shah Alam but was heavily defeated. He also Commanded and Led the victorious Rajputs and died valiantly fighting in the most famous battle of Jaipur State history in the Battle of Tunga in 1787 against the Marathas led by Mahadji Scindhia who were defeated; he founded Surajgarh in 1778, and demolished the old Mud Fort of Adeecha built by his father into the new fortified Surajgarh Fort in 1778; married Thakurani (name unknown), the daughter of Kunwar Dip Singh of Dhariawad, and had issue. He died 28^th July 1787 in the battle of Tunga, where the cenotaph later built by his son still stands on 25 Bighas of land gifted by HH Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singhji Bahadur of Jaipur in memory of his valiant sacrifice and Rs.1000/-was reduced from the nazrana to Jaipur state.
  • Thakur Shyam Singh (qv)
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Thakur SHYAM SINGH, 3^rd Thakur Saheb of Bissau, Udaipurwati, Jhunjhunu and Surajgarh 1787/1831, born 1771, the most famous of all the rulers of Bissau, he brought fame and fortune to the state of Bissau, he was considered among the best warriors of his time and aligned with the French in his constant battles with the British, he protected Kishan Singh Badagaon as he had run away from Jaipur hence Jaipur forces attacked Bissau but lost. This battle lasted 9 months and a treaty was signed in 1802-1803 which stated that Shyam Singh will have to put the Jaipur Flag on his Fort or give away his two sons to Jaipur. He quoted that ‘Till he was alive the Jaipur Flag will not hoist on Bissau Fort’ and hence making sure that Bissau Fort was never captured in several attempts by the British and Jaipur Forces. His two sons were taken away for imprisonment as damages to this battle. He helped HH Maharaja Jagat Singhji II Bahadur of Jaipur in the battle between Jaipur and Jodhpur in 1806 and was presented Rs.42442 by Jaipur State. He had also maintained very close ties with the Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Punjab and helped him in 1809 where he took his French General and forces to fight against the British and a treaty was signed before the battle could take place. He defeated Amarchand Surana of Bikaner as he was trying to loot Surajgarh in 1811. He defeated Amir Khan Pindari in 1811 as he wanted to conquer certain parts of Jaipur state territory. He also defeated Mohammad Shah Raza in 1812 from conquering the fort of Bhomgarh. He helped in signing the treaty between Bikaner and Churu in 1813 at Khasoli, where Bikaner had to pay Rs.25000 to Churu. In 1816 Shyam Singhji also captured Ratangarh in Bikaner. He captured the Dundlod fort and took over most of their lands because Dundlod helped Jaipur Forces who wanted to capture Bissau but could not. The Maharaja of Jodhpur also supported Shyam Singhji during this period. He then captured Bahal fort in Haryana and many villages in that area which were East India Company’s villages. Tain fort gates were taken back to Bissau after major forrester of the British Raj had destroyed it, he built the fort of Shyamgarh in Jhunjhunu in 1805, and even to this day there are many famous Hymns regarding him and his exploits. He maintained a Cavalry of 2500 horsemen during his time. Now Bissau had a total of 253 villages and a revenue of Rs.600000 lacs. He built the Gopinathji Temple in Jhunjhunu in 1828. He helped the two Khandela kingdoms to get back their thrones. Later he was invited by post in 1820 by Maharani Bhatiyani of Jaipur to protect her and her young son HH Maharaja Sawai Jai Singhji III Bahadur of Jaipur from the Raja of Narwar who was wrongly installed on the ‘Gaddi’ of Jaipur and look after the affairs of Jaipur State. The Maharani considered Shyam Singhji a father figure and respected him and used to tie him a ‘Rakhi’ every year. He rightfully installed the true future king of Jaipur and was presented with 1500 Gold Mohars by the Maharani and then he went back to Bissau. ;he married 1^stly, Thakurani Mertaniji of Jodhpur, married 2^ndly, Thakurani Bikawatiji, daughter of the Raja of Sankhu and had issue. He died 20^th July 1833 (Shrawan Sudi 4, 1890VS).
  • Thakur Chaand Singhji, died in Jaipur. He served for Jaipur state and hence was given the honour of ‘Ghanghoria cloth and Siro-Paav’ by Maharaja of Jaipur.
  • Thakur Gulaab Singhji, was sent in the duty of Jaipur state as well and died there.
  • Thakur Hamir Singh (qv)
  • Thakur Chain Singh, Thakur Sahib of Surajgarh 1833/-, married and had issue.
    • Thakur Chiman Singh, Thakur Sahib of Surajgarh -/1906, died 1906.
    • Thakur Govind Singh, Thakur Sahib of Surajgarh 1906/-, served with the Jaipur forces during 1857, married and had issue, four sons.
      • Thakur Chandra Singh (qv)
      • Kunwar Hari Singh, died sp.
      • Thakur Vijay Singh, Thakur Sahib of Surajgarh, married and had adoptive issue. He died sp.
        • (A) Maj. Rawal Raghubir Singhji (see below)
      • Thakur Jiwan Singh, Thakur Sahib of Surajgarh, born about 1862, died 1916.
  • HH Maharani Gulab Kanwar, married HH Maharao Ram Singhji of Bundi.
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Thakur HAMIR SINGH, 4^th Thakur Saheb of Bissau, Udaipurwati and Jhunjhunu 1831/1865, born 1806, married Rani Ranawatji and had issue, as well as adoptive issue. He built the Bissau Haveli in Jhunjhunu in 1848 which Rs.1468 were spent. He was bestowed upon a ‘Tazim’ by Maharaja of Jaipur in 1858. He supported the Shekhawati Brigade and wanted peace with the british and he wanted to stop the desperate loots by dacoits. He started the business of settling down big merchants in Bissau to make it more prosperous. He built the Shri Bihari Ji Temple in 1852 in front of Bissau Fort. He gave 2100 bighas of land for ‘Gaushala’ (for cow rearing and protection). He also built the ‘Dholpalia Johad’in 1846. He also helped Rao Bhairon Singhji of Sikar keep his kingdom against the revolt of his cousins. He Built the Fort of Tamkor (Bishangarh) in 1850. He married 1^stly daughter of the Thakur of (name unknown), married 2^ndly daughter of Raja of Neemrana. He adopted Kunwar Chandra Singhji of Surajgarh in 1865. He died 1865 two days after the adoption.
  • Maharaj Kunwar Jawahar Singhji, born 1828. He fought with his father and was against the British and hence he left Bissau and lived the rest of his life at Bishangarh (Tamkor Fort). He created his own police to look after the dacoits. He was given a ‘Khas-Chowki Tazim’ by HH Maharaja Ram Singhji II Bahadur of Jaipur and paid him Rs.50 per day as ‘Thaal Kharch’. He was also presented with an elephant and Rs.5000, an ‘achkan’ and a ‘leharia rumaal and dupatta’ on his way back to ‘Bissau Dera’ (now Bissau Palace hotel). He married the daughter of the Thakur of Agewa (Jodhpur), he died in 1862.
  • Maharaj Kumari (name unknown), married Thakur Gulab Singh of Nimaj.
  • (A) Kunwar Chandra Singhji, son of Thakur Govind Singhji of Surajgarh (see above), he succeeded as Thakur Chandra Singh, 5^th Thakur of Bissau (qv).
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Thakur CHANDRA SINGH, 5^th Thakur Saheb of Bissau, Udaipurwati and Jhunjhunu 1865/1878, born 1847, son of Thakur Govind Singh of Surajgarh (see above), he was adopted by Thakur Hamir Singh and succeeded by adoption, married and had issue. He built the Chandra Mahal in Bissau Fort in 1868. He was a very important member of the Jaipur Council and hence Raja Fateh Singhji of Khetri who had now received the “pargana of kotputli” by the british asked Chandra Singhji to help him to make Khetri a separate state which would not come under Jaipur anymore but the Jaipur State did not allow that to happen. He married 1^stly daughter of Thakur Sangram Singhji of Bhadrajun, married 2^ndly daughter of the Thakur of Basni (Jodhpur). He died 1878.
  • Thakur Jagat Singh (qv)
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Thakur JAGAT SINGH, 6^th Thakur of Bissau, Udaipurwati and Jhunjhunu 1878/1893, born 1875, married Sireh Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Devi Singh of Auwa, and his wife Thakurani Kishan Kanwar, daughter of Ranawat Thakur Ranjit Singh Amarsinghjot of Shahpura (Mewar) and had issue. He was poisoned to death in mysterious circumstances by conspirators in 1893 as he was rightfully eligible for the throne of Dundlod aswell which was later given to Rawal Harnath Singhji, son of Thakur Chattar Singhji of Malsisar.
  • Rawal Bishan Singh (qv)
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Lt.Col.Rawal BISHAN SINGHJI, 7^th Rawal Saheb of Bissau, Surajgarh, Udaipurwati and Jhunjhunu 1893/1945, born 21^st February 1892, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer, in 1939 Surajgarh and Bissau were amalgamated in the person of his son who was adopted into Surajgarh. He was bestowed upon by the personal title of ‘Rawal’and later ‘Liutenant Colonel’by HH Maharaja Sawai Madho Singhji II Bahadur of Jaipur. He gave 500 bighas for building an airport at Bissau as HH Maharaja of Jaipur was visiting Bissau & 1100 bighas in Surajgarh for an aerodrome. He made the ‘Vishnu Natye Parishad(Vishnu Theatre)’. Rs.2500 were spent to make the ‘Raghubir Club’ for sports activities in 1936. He gave over Rs.30000 to the poor during his son’s coronation. He declared a new rule for Bissau Thikana to ensure that only the older son will be given full rights to his estate and the younger son or daughter will be given certain amount of villages to ensure there are no property disputes in the future; he married 1^stly, Rani Abhay Kanwar, younger daughter of Maharaj Fateh Singhji of Raoti and his wife (name unknown) daughter of Maharaj Chattra Singh of Lathi, married 2^ndly, 1913, Thakurani Anand Kanwar, daughter of Rao Bahadur Thakur Girdhar Singh of Chandawal, and his wife, Rani Indra Kanwar daughter of Rawat Jait Singh of Kurabar, and had issue. He died 31^st December 1945.
  • Maj. Rawal Raghubir Singhji (by Thakurani Anand Kanwar) (qv)
  • Maharani Sheetal Kanwar [Maharani Sahiba of Khatoli] (by Rani Abhay Kanwar), married the Maharaj Balbir Singhji of Khatoli in Kotah.
  • Rani Kamala Raje [Rani Sahiba of Masuda] (by Thakurani Anand Kanwar), married as his first wife, Rao Narayan Singh of Masuda, and had issue.
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Maj.Rawal RAGHUBIR SINGHJI, 8^th Rawal Saheb of Bissau, Surajgarh, Udaipuwati and Jhunjhunu 1945/1971, born 28^th December 1913 (#1), adopted by Thakur Vijay Singh of Surajgarh on 19^th August 1915, thus uniting Bissau and Surajgarh, hence the revenue of Rs.1200000 lacs was increased by Rs.600000 lacs and 102 villages were added to 355 in now in total, educated privately by his tutor, F.A. Jones M.A., C.B.E. and New College Oxford and at Mayo College, Ajmer, and with the Sawai Man Singh Guards of the Jaipur State Forces; A.D.C. to the Maharaja of Jaipur; he was the noblest of all the rulers of Bissau, he brought Bissau back to its place of prominence after clearing the debts of the previous rulers. He was active both socially and politically and was immensely popular with all. He was a winning candidate all 3 times he participated,1^stly in 1952 elections for RRP(Ram Raj Parishad) from Khetri constituency,2^ndly in 1962 for SWA(Swatantra Party) from Mandawa constituency and 3^rdly in 1967 for SWA (Swatantra Party) from Khetri constituency. He was made the Party President by Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur and he was bestowed upon the hereditary title of ‘Rawal’ and a personal title of ‘Major’ by HH Maharaja Man Singhji II Bahadur of Jaipur; he married 21^st February 1932, Rani Komal Kumari, daughter of HH Sri Raj-i-Rajan Maharawal Sir Prithvi Singhji Bahadur of Banswara, and his wife Maharani (name unknown), daughter of Maharana Sri Jaswantsinhji of Danta had issue. He died 21^st September 1971.
  • Rawal Chakrapani Singh (qv)
  • Baiji Lal Sugan Kumari who died in her teens just before her marriage to the Raja of Bakhatgarh(Madhya Pradesh).
  • Kunwar Ajatshatru Singh, born 4^th May 1937, educated at St. Xavier School, Jaipur and at Siddhartha College, Bombay earning a B.Com. degree. He was given a jagir of Manota Kalan of 12 villages (revenue: Rs.157000/-) by his father and grand-father so that there wont be any family disputes in the future; he married Kunwarani Anand Kumari, daughter of Capt. Rao Manohar Singh of f Bedla, and has issue.
    • Baiji Lal Priyadarshini Kumari, born 28^th January 1965, married Rajkumar Ranbir Singh of Karjali.
  • Baisa Durgesh Nandini, married 26^th January 1961, Yuvaraj Saheb Harish Chandrasinhji of Jambugodha in Gujarat.
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Rawal CHAKRAPANI SINGHJI, 9^th Rawal Saheb of Bissau, Surajgarh, Udaipuwati and Jhunjhunu 1971/1978, born 1^st December 1933, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and at the Institute of Science and Technology in Manchester, U.K., converted Bissau House at Jaipur into a successful Heritage hotel in 1965, married 5^th February 1955 at Nagpur, Rani Sharda Kumari, daughter of Maj. Raja Bahadur Birendra Bahadur Singh of Khairagarh, and his wife, Rani Padmavati Devi daughter of Raja Bahadur Pratap Singhji of Pratabgarh (U.P.), and had issue. He died 19^th July 1978.
  • Rawal Sanjai Singh (qv)
  • Thakur Pranai Singh, born 10^th July 1961, educated at Bishop Cotton School, Simla, at St. Xavier College, Bombay and at Mayo College, Ajmer (1979); married 27^th April 1990 in Simla, Kunwarani Purnima Kumari, daughter of Rajkumar Rajendra Singh of Bashahr, and his wife, Rajkumari Rajendra Kumari daughter of HH Maharaja Sir Brijnath Singh Ju Deo Bahadur of Maihar, and has issue.
    • Kunwar Aanjneya Singh Bissau, born 30^th November 1992, educated at Mayo College, a state-level basketball player, district-level cricket player, horse rider and member of the general knowledge team Ajmer, having passed out in 2012 and receiving his International Bacclaureate, presently (2015) pursuing a Bachelors of Business Administration in Event, Sports and Entertainment Management at Glion Institute of Higher Education, Switzerland. Interned for Encompass Pvt. Limited, Gurgaon, Percept Entertainment Delhi, Travel Plan Jaipur and Villa Group Resorts, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
    • Kunwar Kartikeya Singh Bissau, born 26^th August 1998, presently (2015) undertaking the Cambridge Board in Jaipur.
• Siddh-Shri-Rajshree-Rawal SANJAI SINGHJI, 10^th Rawal Saheb of Bissau, Surajgarh, Udaipurwati and Jhunjhunu (see above).