Spelled in Hindi as ढांढणिया, the word Dhandhania means "the people of Dhandhan". Dhandhan is a small town located in the Fatehpur tehsil in the Sikar district of the royal state of Rajasthan, India.
Wikipedia link: Dhandhan
In old times, quite a few Dhandhania families moved northeast to the nearby town of Surajgarh and built havelis (a large building designed to house the entire clan under one roof). Three Dhandhania havelis, a temple, and a school survive to this day in Surajgarh.
Dhandhanias have come a long way from their humble origins. Today, members of the family have attained aspirational levels of education, most notably in Finance, Engineering, and Business. They are spread across the globe with known members residing in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Singapore, the US and the UK. While largely comprised of small business owners, Dhandhanias have also excelled in a variety of professions and industries including accounting, consulting, and banking.
Wikipedia link: Surajgarh
During the British rule, many business communities from all across India moved to Kolkata, the then economic and political capital of the country. Late Gangadharji Dhandhania was the patriarch of two out of the three Dhandhania havelis of Surajgarh. His grandson, Late Harmukhrai ji's descendants ventured to Kolkata, most of whom continue to call the city their home. The family of the other grandson, Late Ramchandra ji remained in Surajgarh.
The descendants of Late Sanehilal ji, the patriarch of the third Dhandhania haveli of Surajgarh, moved to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and continue to live there to this day.
Much like his grandfather, Late Harmukhrai ji was a prominent figure in the local society of Surajgarh. His descendants comprise the largest and the most prominent branch originating from Surajgarh. Most sub-families moved to the eastern part of India. The newer generations, however, are spread all over the world.
While the roots remain firmly in Surajgarh, several sub-families, particularly the newer generations are now located across the major economic centers.
The Kanpur branch is a close-knit family who are well regarded for their deep fraternal bonding.
*** Dhandhan Sati Dadi ki jai ***
This website was developed by Vineet and Nirman with help from various family members