Bisen

The Bisen dynasty (also spelled Visen, Vishen, Viswen, or Biswen) is an ancient Kshatriya lineage derived from the name Vishwasen, an important Raja of this clan. They trace their ancestry to Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Ram, and his son Chandraketu, who is believed to have ruled the ancient Malla Mahajanapada. Their chief seat was Majhauli Raj in Deoria, located in the region formerly known as Malla Mahajanapada.

Many powerful taluqdari and zamindari estates in Awadh and surrounding areas were ruled by Rajput chieftains of this clan, with Gonda being among the most prominent. Other estates included Kalakankar and Bhadri in Pratapgarh, Mankapur in Gonda, and Bhinga in Shravasti, all in present-day Uttar Pradesh.

The Bisens are primarily from central to eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and just like other Kshatriya clans, practice community endogamy but clan exogamy — marrying within the broader Rajput community but outside their own clan. They frequently intermarry with other Rajput clans native to the region.

Bisen Rajputs and the Aftermath of the 1857 Revolt

Following the Revolt of 1857, many Rajput taluqdars and estate holders, including members of the Bisen clan, faced severe retribution from the British colonial administration. Those who actively supported or participated in the uprising were stripped of land, burdened with excessive taxation, and subjected to confiscation of property. Among the prominent victims of this repression was Raja Hanumant Singh, the Chief of Kalakankar—a notable estate held by the Bisen Rajputs.

Raja Hanumant Singh, who had extended support to the revolutionaries during the revolt, was heavily penalized and dispossessed of several of his ancestral properties. Disillusioned by British injustices and recognizing the need for collective representation of Kshatriya interests, he took a visionary step toward political organization. In 1857, he joined forces with other Taluqdars of Oudh to establish the Ram Dal, an early socio-political association dedicated to safeguarding the dignity and rights of the Rajput community.

In 1860, the Ram Dal was renamed the Kshatriya Hitkarni Sabha, reflecting its expanded mission to defend and promote the social, political, and economic rights of the Kshatriyas. The Sabha played a pivotal role in uniting feudal lords and nobles of Rajput lineage across northern India,

This movement gained further momentum in the late 19th century. In 1897, the Kshatriya Mahasabha emerged as the successor to the Hitkarni Sabha, under the leadership of Raja Balwant Singh of Awagarh, with the support of key aristocrats such as Thakur Umrao Singh of Kotla, Raja Rampal Singh of Kalakankar, and Raja Uday Pratap Singh of Bhinga—the latter two also being prominent Bisen Kshatriyas.

On 19 October 1897, this growing movement culminated in the foundation of the Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, which became a national platform advocating for the rights, status, and political empowerment of Rajputs i.e. Kshatriyas, across India. The Mahasabha represented a significant step in the political awakening of the Rajput aristocracy, marking a transition from traditional feudal roles to organized socio-political activism- one that included efforts to unite and uplift all strata of the Kshatriya community.