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Jethmal Ji Badridasot
Jethmal Ji was a valiant Rajpurohit warrior and a distinguished military commander from the princely state of Bikaner. A scion of noble lineage, he was the sixth and the youngest son of Badridas Ji and grandson of Thakar Rughnath Ji Harnathot, descendants of a family long celebrated for its unwavering loyalty and service to the Bikaner royal house.
Jethmal Ji was born into a respected Kanot lineage known for its martial traditions and unwavering loyalty to the Bikaner royal house. He was the youngest among his 6 brothers. His grandfather, Rughnath Ji Harnathot, was the Thakar of Desalsar and a distinguished military general, celebrated both for his unmatched bravery in battle and his contributions to regional architecture and infrastructure.
His father established the village of Dhirdesar after leaving Desalsar, and just like his grandfather, Harnath Ji Kanot, he also expelled the Bhati Rajputs from this village.
From a young age, he was mentored and profoundly influenced by his grandfather, Rughnath Ji and under his guidance, Jethmal Ji received rigorous training in swordsmanship, horsemanship, archery, and the art of warfare. These early lessons shaped his character and prepared him for a life of service and valor. His natural prowess, combined with disciplined training and strategic acumen, soon earned him a respected place in the Bikaner army, where he rose rapidly through the ranks.
These early influences forged Jethmal Ji into a skilled warrior and a natural leader, setting the foundation for his rise as one of Bikaner’s most respected military commanders.
Jethmal Ji’s most iconic moment came during the Battle of Ratangarh, fought on Shravana Shuddha 14, Vikram Samvat 1873 (August 19, 1816). This crucial engagement saw the Bikaner forces confront an invading army led by the Nawab of Fatehgarh.
बेटा बदरी दास रा, रंगा हो जेठा रंग।
रत्नगढ भी ले लेवतां, आडो फिरियो अंग ॥पो उगते बीकाण पति रंग दिया राठौड़।
जवरो रण गुरु (प्रीहित) जैसल सैव रंग सिसौड़ ॥
Despite being heavily outnumbered, Jethmal Ji demonstrated extraordinary leadership and composure under immense pressure. As the battle raged and morale faltered, several prominent feudal lords, including the Thakars of Gopalpura and Sandwa, ran away from the battlefield. Amid this crisis, Jethmal Ji took decisive command and rallied the disheartened troops.
With unyielding resolve, he led a daring cavalry charge deep into enemy lines. In a dramatic and fateful encounter, Jethmal Ji personally engaged Alaf Khan, the enemy commander. With a single, mighty strike from horseback, he slaughtered Alaf Khan in two pieces with his horse, just like Maharana Pratap slaughered Bahlol Khan and this act turned the tide of battle and marked a defining moment in Bikaner's military history.
In the final moments of the battle, Jethmal Ji attained martyrdom; his head was severed in combat. Yet, in an extraordinary and divine occurrence, his headless body continued riding, slaughtering the enemies, and reached the village of Dhirdesar, where his father, Badridas Ji, resided after leaving Desalsar. This miraculous journey elevated Jethmal Ji to the status of a Jhunjhar, a legendary warrior spirit whose sacrifice transcends death.
प्रीहित रण में पोहित्यों, ठावी पाई ठौड़।
अमला विरिया अपने, सैसल रंग सैवोड़ ॥चूर से जेठु चढियो, अश्व नाखिया उड़ाड।
बेटा बदरी दास रा लोह बांका लंकार ॥दाम सरिसां देसियों, रणां कुँसमा (सुं) अडिया।
मारी सैसां मेवाड, जग कीरत जोड़िया ॥अच्छ झेल भरती अमंग, नैण घम मेहेहरा।
रत्नगढे रण पोहित्या, दीपक जेठु देशरा ॥
To honor his supreme sacrifice, the Rajasthan Government allocated 100 bighas of land at the very spot where Jethmal Ji’s head was severed in battle, marking it as a sacred chabutra (memorial platform). His chhatri (cenotaph) at Ratangarh stands as a timeless monument to his courage and devotion.
In recognition of his unmatched valor, his son Keshavdas Ji was granted a 5,000 bigha jagir at Desalsar village by Maharaja Surat Singh of Bikaner, an extraordinary gesture that reflected the immense respect the royal house held for Jethmal Ji’s service and lineage.
His cenopaths are still present today at the Ratangarh battlefield, village of Desalsar, as well as the village of Dhirdesar.
ोधारां जंग जाहारं, कोटां (गढ़) आगल करन।
जहां जेठा जुंझार, हार मोतियां विछोटा ।।
जठे जेठो जुंझार, हार मोतियां विछोटा
जोधाणहां जुहार कोटा आगल करनलरा ।।
Such is the reverence for Jethmal Ji that even today, the Indian Railways altered their route to preserve the sanctity of his chhatri, a rare tribute to a warrior’s legacy. His name echoes in Rajasthani folklore and regional ballads, remembered not just as a military hero but as a divine protector and an enduring symbol of Rajpurohit valor.
Jethmal Ji’s life and martyrdom remain a powerful testament to the spirit of Rajputana, defined by loyalty, sacrifice, and fearless dedication to dharma and duty.
Bikaner Rajya ka Itihas – by G.S. Ojha
Cenotaph and inscription of Jethmal Ji at Desalsar village
Cenotaph and inscription of Jethmal Ji at Dhirdesar village
Inscription and cenotaph of Jethmal Ji at Ratangarh
Official records of the former princely state of Bikaner
Village records (Bahi) of Desalsar and Dhirdesar
