Khengarji I

Khengarji I (1496-1585) was a Rajput warrior Jadeja clan, who was ruler of Morbi from 1538-1585 and later became ruler of Cutch State, assuming title of Rao of Cutch, ruling unified Cutch from 1548 to 1585.

Khengarji I was son of Jam Hamirji of Lakhiarviro (Cutch), chief of eldest branch of Jadeja and descendant of Othaji, It is believed that Jam Rawal attributed the murder of his father Jam Lakhaji to Hamirji, as he was killed within the territory of Lakhiarviro, where he had been invited on the pretense of resolving the dispute between the two branches. Jam Rawal, in revenge treacherously killed his uncle Rao Hamirji in 1524 and ruled Cutch for more than two decades.

At the time of murder of Hamirji, his elder sons, Alioji and Khengarji both were in Ahmadabad and escaped the complete destruction of the royal family of senior branch. Further, the other two sons of Hamirji were saved from execution by wife of Jam Rawal. Khengarji was 15 years old when his father was murdered. He enlisted himself in to the army of Mahmud Begada and became his confidante. During one royal hunting party, Khengarji I killed a lion and saved the life of Sultan Begada for which he was asked to name his reward.

The prime ambition of Khengarji was to regain Cutch and hence he asked for support to fight Jam Rawal, whereby, he was given 1000 soldiers and fiefdom of Morvi and given a title of Rao by the Sultan Mohamad Beghda in 1538.

Rao Khengar now based at Morbi, with the support of army provided to him and well wishers within Cutch fought with Jam Rawal and slowly started gaining the territories of Rapar and nearby villages. As Khengarji was the rightful heir to the throne he was welcomed within Cutch.

On other hand, Jam Rawal,was finding himself squeezed in terms of manpower. He was ardent devotee of Ashapura the Kuldevi of Jadejas and folklore are that the Goddess indicated in a dream to Jam Rawal to leave Kutch and establish himself at Halar region and that she will support him in this venture. Jam Rawal, later escaped out of Cutch in 1548, when a large army was sent against him jointly by Mughals and Sultan Beghda to aid Khengarji. He set out for Saurashtra with his retinue, loyalist and soldiers faithful to him and established Nawanagar. Thus throne of Cutch was left to Khengarji in 1548, who was its rightful heir.

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