Lachho Kanwar | Revered Figure | Rajpurohit History

Lachho Kanwar was a revered Rajpurohit woman from 19th-century Rajasthan, remembered for her devotion, bravery, and ultimate sacrifice as a Sati. She belonged to the Faundar gotra and was married into the Siddhap family of Fulasar village. Her story is celebrated in regional oral history as a symbol of womanly virtue and maternal courage. 

सुत गोदी लीनो सती, बैठी झाळौं बीच
देह होम दी लाछदे,‌ सत सृं शोणित खींच

Lachho Kanwar was born in the village of Arthandi in present-day Rajasthan to Jograj Singh Ji, a respected Rajpurohit elder. As the beloved daughter of her father, she grew up in a culturally rich and traditional household. She was later married to Gangasingh Ji Siddhap, son of Harakh Singh Ji, of Fulasar village.

The Siddhap family of Fulasar was prosperous, with ample cows (considered the main wealth at the time), horses, and agricultural land. Lachho Kanwar and her husband lived in an environment of honor and affluence. Gangasingh Ji and his brother Chaturbhuj Ji were well-known in the region for their valor and sense of duty. Gangasingh Ji, sword in hand, often patrolled to protect the family’s cows from raiders.

The couple had one son named Kunwar Khet Singh, affectionately called Khetu by his family and villagers.

When Khetu was just 10 years old, Gangasingh Ji passed away. The untimely demise of her husband deeply affected Lachho Kanwar. Stricken with grief and bound by the tradition of pativrata dharma (devotion to husband), she expressed her wish to perform Sati—the ancient practice of self-immolation upon the husband’s pyre. However, the villagers intervened and persuaded her to stay, mainly for the sake of her young son.

As years passed, Khet Singh grew into a courageous and noble young man. Like his father, he took responsibility for protecting the cows and honor of the village. It is said that thieves and bandits would flee upon hearing his name. His reputation as a warrior and protector spread across the region.

During one such incident, when Lachho Kanwar was visiting her parental home in Arthandi, the cows of Fulasar were attacked by looters. Khet Singh bravely confronted the invaders and repelled them, ensuring the safety of the cows. News of his valor reached Lachho Kanwar, and she immediately returned to Fulasar.

Having fulfilled her maternal duty and witnessing her son rise to greatness, Lachho Kanwar once again expressed her wish to become Sati. This time, no one stopped her. In the year Vikram Samvat 1831 (circa 1774 CE), Lachho Kanwar performed Sati, taking her son Khetu aka Khet Singh in her lap, thus becoming a symbol of divine sacrifice, devotion, and womanly strength.

Lachho Kanwar is remembered in regional folklore, ballads, and oral traditions as a Veerangna—a brave woman of great resolve and honor. Her story continues to inspire generations within the Rajpurohit community and beyond, representing a blend of rajputana valor, maternal pride, and devotion to dharma.