The Princely State of Kushalgarh was amongst main native states during the rule of the British Empire in India. In the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect rule of the British administration. At present, Kushalgarh is a town in Rajasthan state, India. The region is situated in the district of Banswara, around 65 km south of Banswara city. The princely state existed until the year 1949, after which it was merged with the Republic of India. Kushalgarh state was scattered over a total area of 340 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 41,153 in the year 1941. The princely state was under the Rajputana Agency (Mewar and Southern Rajputana States Agency).
The Princely State of Kushalgarh was bounded by Banswara in the north, by Ratlam in the northeast, by the territories of Sailana in the east; by Jhabua in the south, and the British Province of Bombay in the west. The state included 334 villages, which were mostly inhabited by Bhils. According to local legends, the state was named after the Rao of Banswara, Kushal Singh. He occupied the territory from the Bhils and handed it over to Akhai Raj. It is also believed that the region is named after the Bhil chief Kushla. Kushalgarh state was a non-salute state and the title and style of the native ruler of Kushalgarh was Rao. The chiefship of Kushalgarh was a feudatory of Banswara and was not an autonomous state. The Rao exercised civil and criminal powers under the supervision of the authorities of British Government of India. The native ruler of the state annually paid tribute to Banswara and Ratlam for the Jagir of Khera, which consisted of 60 villages, granted by that state in 1782.
The Rathor Rajputs were the ruling family of the princely state of Kushalgarh, who were the sub-clan of the Ramawat. The Rao or the native ruler held the jagir of Khera and Ratlam was their earliest possession. Emperor Aurangzeb granted the region of Kushalgarh to Akhai Raj (Askaran), who was the grandson of Rao Jodha of Marwar. The princely state of Kushalgarh was merged into the Banswara district in Rajasthan. After Indian independence, the erstwhile princely state of Kushalgarh was merged with the newly formed Union of India. Although the former rulers had no rights to rule Kushalgarh but still they resided in the territory.
Rulers of Princely State of Kushalgarh
The chronology of the rulers of the princely state of Kushalgarh are mentioned below-
* Thakur Maldeo (Founder of Jodhpur)
* Thakur Ram Singh (Founder of the Ramawat dynasty)
* Thakur Jaswant Singh
* Thakur Amar Singh
* Thakur Akhai Raj
* Thakur Ajab Singh
* Thakur Kalyan Singh
* Thakur Kirat Singh
* Thakur Dal Singh
* Thakur Kesri Singh
* Thakur Achal Singh
* Thakur Bhagwant Singh
* Rao Zalim Singh
* Rao Hamir Singh
* Rao Zorawar Singh
* Rao Udai Singh
