*v*& ’v;' i’;.

TW&Jit -4 *

Sill
Mpl
*4IPi§

. >‘i
 Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018 with funding from
Public.Resource.Org

https://archive.org/details/chiefsleadingfamOOcsba
CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN

RAJPUTANA
CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN

C. S. BAYLEY

MMXII
ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
NEW DELHI ★ CHENNAI
ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
* 6A SHAHPUR JAT, NEW DELHI - 110 049
Tel. : +91-11- 26491586, 26494059 Fax : Oil- 26494946
email : aes@aes.ind.in

* 2/15, 2nd FLOOR, ANSARI ROAD,

D ARY AG AN J, NEW DELHI - 1100 02
Tel: +91- 11- 23262044
email: aesdg@aes.ind.in

* 19, (NEW NO. 40), BALAJI NAGAR FIRST STREET,

ROYAPETTAH, CHENNAI - 600 014
Tel. : +91- 44 - 28133040 / 28131391 Fax : 044 - 28131391
email: asianeds@md3.vsnl.net.in

www.aes.ind.in

Printed and Hand-Bound in India

© Asian Educational Services, 2012.

This book is protected by copyright, and no portion may be reproduced by any method
of printing, without the written permission of the Publisher. Anyone who pirates
this book would, inevitably, end up following foot-steps in the sand; so, be warned.

First Published : Calcutta, 1894.

First AES Reprint: New Delhi, 2004.
Second AES Reprint: New Delhi, 2012.

ISBN: 8120610660

Published by Gautam Jetley

For ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES,
6A, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi - 110 049.
Processed by AES Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi-110049.
Printed at Chaudhary Offset Process, Delhi - 110 051.
CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES

IN

RAJPUTANA.

CALCUTTA:
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA.
1894.
 PREFACE.
-1-

r j TUE materials for this work projected in 1890 by Colonel G. H.

Trevor, C.S.I., Agent to the Governor-General for Rajputana,

were collected from the several States of that province through the

Political Officers according to certain specified instructions with regard

to arrangement. They were afterwards compiled, at Colonel Trevor’s request,

and put into their present form by Mr. C. S. Bay ley, C.S., then Political

Agent, Bikanir, who has drawn on the Rajputana Gazetteer for the

historical extracts inserted to render clearer the position of the Chiefs

and leading families noticed. Por purposes of reference, the compilation

will, it is hoped, prove useful and supply a recognized want. It must

not be regarded as strictly accurate in all details of family history

which, as usual, have been supplied from interested sources. They have,

however, been checked as far as possible.

-
 INDEX

JODHPUR.

PiGB
The Chief. 7
Agewa, Thakur Bakhtawar Singh of 10
Akhay Singh, Maharaj . , . 8
Alniawas, Thakur Sheo Singh of . 11
Amar Singh, Rao Raja . 8
Amrit Lai, Mahta . ; . , 11
Arjun Singh, Kunwar . . 8
Askam Joshi ..... 11
Asop, Thakur Chain Singh of . . 9
Bberun Singh of . . , 10
Fath Singh of ... ib.
Zoiawar Singh of . . . ib.
Awa, Thakur Shimbhu Singh of ib.
Pratap Singh of ib.
Sheodan Singh of . . ib.
Bagri, Thakur of .... 9
Bahadur Singh, Maharaj 8
Bhadrajan, Thakur Sangram Singh of . 10
Pratap Singh of ib.
Bharat Singh, Rao Raja 8
Bherun Singh, Rao Raja . ib.
Bhupai Singh, Maharaj 7
Bijay Singh, Maharaj . . . . 8
Bishan Singh, Rao Raja ib.
Daulat Singh, Maharaj . . . . ib.
Fath Singh, Maharaj ib.
Fath Singh, Rao Raja .... ib.
Ganayats ..... 9
Gulab Singh, Rao Raja .... 8
Guman Singh, Kunwar . . ib.
Hanwant Chand, Bhandari 11
Hardayal Singh, Munshi, Rai Bahadur ib.
Hira Lai, Munshi . ... . ib.
Jiwan Singh, Maharaj . 8
Jiwan Singh, Rao Raja .... ib.
Jivanand, Pandit .... 12
Kalyan Singh, Rao Raja 8
Kantiala, Thakur Arjun Singh of . 11
Kherwa, Thakur Fath Singh of . . 10
Kishan Singh, Kunwar 8
Kishor Singh, Maharaj .... 7,8
Kishori Lai, Munshi, Rai Bahadur 12
LambiaD, Sheonath Singh of . . . 11
Mandiar, Barath of . . . , 9
Moti Singh, Rao Raja .... 8
Mul Singh, Maharaj .... ib.
Murardan, Kaviraj .... 11
Nimaj, Thakur Chatar Singh of 9
Prithwi Singh of . . . ib.
Pane Singh, Kunwar 8
Partap Singh Maharaj Sir, K.C.S.I., A.D C. 7
Pokaran, Thakur Mangal Singh of 9
Chain Singh of . . . ib.
11 INDEX.

Page
Pokaran, Sukh Singh of ........... 9
Raghunath Singh, Rao Raja. g
Raipur, Tkakur Hari Singh of .......... JO
Bane Singh of .
Bhabhut Singh of ......... ib.
Gobardhan Singh of ..
Madan Singh of .........
Ram Singh of # #
Soban Singh of ..........
Rama, Thaknr Sardar Singh of ........... ^
Ras, Thakur Fath Singh of ...........
Balwant Singh of ... ib.
Bhopal Singh of .......... .
Hamir Singh of ...... t ..... jj,
Han want Singh of . .. ib.
Mahtab Singh of ........... jj.
Ratn Singh, Kunwar . .. g
Rian, Thakur Bijay Singh of ............ jq
Bhagwat Singh of .......... ib.
Fath Singh of ........... n.
Himmat Singh of .......... ib.
Lachhman Singh of ........... j£.
Mul Singh of ...........
Rirmal Singh of ........... n.
Rohat, Ranjit Singh of ........... ib.
Sarayats ............... 9
Sardar Singh, Maharaj Kunwar ........... jr
Sardar Singh, Mahta ............. 22
Sardar Singh, Rao Raja ............ g
Sheo Singh, Maharaj ............. ,-j.
Sohan Singh, Rao Raja ...... ..... ib.
Sukhdeo Prasad, Pandit .... ......... 21
Tej Singh, Rao Raja ............ g
Zalim Singh, Maharaj ............. >j g
Zorawar Singh, Maharaj ............ g

BIKANIR.
The Chief .... 22
Abhay Singh, Mahta . 29
Ajitpura, Thakur of ............. 25
Amba Dan Charan ............. 29
Bachawat family ............ ■ . 16
Bagawat ,, ..............
Bahadaran, Thakur of ............. 25
Bae, Thakur Jagmal Singh of .......... 28
Baid family ............... ft,
Bararia family. 26
Bheron Dan, Kaviraj ............. 29
Bhukarka, Thakur Nathu Singh of . . . . . . . . 15, 27
Kan Singh of ............ 27
Bidasar, Thakur Hukm Singh of .......... 25, 17
Bahadur Singh of ............ 27
Bithnok, Thakur of ............ 24

Chatar Singh, Rao ............. 28

Chiman Singh, Thaknr ............ 29
Churu, Thakur Lai Singh of . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 18
„ Pane Singh of ...... .... 28
Dalu Ram Modi .............. 19
Dharm Chand Mushraf ............ ib.
Ganda Mai, Lala ......... ..... ti.
Gulab Singh, Babu ............. 20
Hamidulla, Kazi .............. 29
Hukm Singh, Sodhi, Rai Bahadur .......... ib.
Indraj Mai, Kochar ....... ...... ib,
Jaimalsar, Rao of ............ . 24
Jasana, Thakur of ... 15
 INDEX. Ill

Page
Jaswant Singh, Mahavaj 12
Jawani Singh, Maharaj . . . ib.
Jethmal Sahni ..... 19
Jiwraj Singh, Thakur 18
Kachh Maharani .... 12
Kaviraj ..... 16
Kharbara, Thakur of . 14
Khet Singh, Maharaj 13
Eothiaris . 16
Lakhmi Chand, Kochar . 19
Mahajan, Thakur Bakhtawar Singh of . 17
„ Bhupal Singh of . ib.
„ Hari Singh of . ,
16 17
„ Ram Singh of 17
,, Sheonath Singh of . ib.
Mangal Chand Mahta . . 18
Man Mai Kochar . . . 19
Man Singh Mahta .... ib.
Milap Chand, Seth . ib.
Muhammad Ikbal Husain, Munshi . ib.
Nahar Singh, Maharaj . . 12
Narain Das, Lala . . . , 19
Nemi Chand, Seth . . . ib.
Pane Singh, Maharaj . . . 18
Parihar family . . 16
Pungal, Rao Mahtab Singh of 17
Rajpura, Thakur of . . 16
Rakhicha family .... 16
Ram Chandra, Dube, Pandit 19
Rampuria family .... 16
Rathis ...... ib.
Rawatsar, Rawat Man Singh of. 17
Sahni family . . . . . 16
Sandwa, Thakur Moti Singh of 18
Sankhla family . . . . . 16
Sankhu, Thakur of ... 16
Satasar, Thakur of ... 14
Sawai Singh, Maharao 18
Sidhmukh, Thakur of ... 16
Sohan Lai, Munshi, Rai Sahib . 19
Sugan Chand, Mahta . ib.
Sugan Chand, Kothiari . . . ib.
Tej Karan, Rampuria ib.

K1SI1ANGARH.

The Chief. , . 20
Akbar Ali, Saiyid Mir ...... 26
Bhambolao, Thakur Jet Singh of ... 23
Bahadur Singh of .... . . ib.
Govind Singh of . . . ib.
Nahar Singh of ..... • . tb.
Bihari Das, Munshi ...... 24
Bishan Das, Purohit ....... . , ib.
Chandi Dan, Barait ......
Chatar Singh, Rao ....... ib.
Chhagan Singh, Mohnot ..... 24
Chosla, Thakur Bairisal of . 23
Dhasuk, Maharaj Raghunath Singh of 22
Faiz Ali Khan, Munshi ...... 24
Fathgarh, Maharaj Man Singh of ... 22
Ghanshyam Saran Devji, Maharaj Sri . 25
Girdhari Singh, Mohnot ...... 24
Gothiana, Thakur Govind Singh of ... ib.
Bhanwar Lai Singh of ... ib.
Nonad Singh of. . . ib.
iv INDEX.

Page
Gothiana, Zorawar Singh of ... . 24
Govardhan, Joshi ...... 25
Govardhan, Pandit ..... i b.
Hari Datt, Joshi ...... ib.
Jchchha Dayal, Lala ..... . 24
Janki Das, Misir ...... 25
Jawani Singh, Maharaj ...... 20
Jay Lai, Kavishwar ...... 25
Karkheri, Maharaj Jawani Singh of 22
Kesri Lai, Lala .. 24
Kesri Singh, Lala ....... ib.
Khatanli, Thakur Sheonath Singh of 23
Bhim Singh of . . . . . ib.
Devi Singh of .... ib.
Gulab Singh of . ib.
Sardar Singh of . ib.
Sawai Singh of . . . . . ib.
Sultan Singh of . . ib.
Ujain Singh of . . . . ib.
Kotri, Thakur Hegh Singh of ... ib.
Bherun Singh of . ib.
Kalyan Singh of ... ib.
Krishna Gopal, Vyasa ...... 25
Madan Mohan, Bhatt ..... 24
Madan Singh, Maharaj Kunwar . . . . 20
Magni Ram, Purohit ...... 24
Mathura Das, Nag Pancholi . ib.
Mukund Das, Purohit ..... , ib.
Nandlal, Khoja ib.
.Naraina, Thakur Sawai Singh of . . . . 23
Biradh Singh of . . . . . ib.
Gopal Singh of .... ib.
Pandarwara, Thakur Ram Singh of . . . . ib.
Raghunathpura, Thakur Bharat Singh of . . ib.
Jawahir Singh of ... ib.
Raghunath Singh, Maharaj ..... 20
Ralaota, Raja Samrat Singh of .... 22
Lala of ...... 23
Nand Singh of ..... ib.
Zorawar Singh of . . . . ib.
Ramnath, Lala ....... 25
Ranjit Singh, Mahta ...... 24
Sahaskaran, Mohnot ...... ib.
Syam Suadar Lai, B.A., Babu .... 25
Sinodia, Thakur Govind Singh of ... 23
Sobhag Singh, Mahta ..... 24
Srinath Das, Purohit ...... ib.
Sujan Singh, Mohnot ...... ib.

UDAIPUR.
The Chief ........ 28
Amet, Rawat Sheonath Singh of . 33
Asin, Rawat Arjun Singh of .... 35
Banera, Raja Govind Singh of ... . 31
Akhay Singh of . . . . ' . 31
Ram Singh of ..... ib.
Bansi, Rawat Sakht Singh of . . . . 34
Bari Sadri, Raj Rana Eai Singh of 32
Bedla, Rao Kam Singh of . . . . . ib.
Gobind Singh of .... . ib.
Raj Singh of ...... ib.
Rup Singh of . . . ’ . ib.
Bednor, Thakur Govind Singh of . 34
Begun, Rawat Sawai Megh Singh of 33
Anup Singh of . . . . ib.
Bhainsrorgarh, Rawat Pratap Singh of 34
 INDEX. V

Page
Bhindar, Maharaj Kesri Singh of
34
Bhopal Singh, Kunwar
28
Bijoli, Kao Sawai Gobind Singh of .
33
Kishan Singh of
ib.
Deogarh, Rawat Kishan Singh of
ib.
Dilwara, Raj Rana Zalim Singh of
ib.
Gogunda, Raj A jay Singh of
34
Govind Singh of . ib.
Jujhar Singh of
ib.
Prithwi Singh of .
ib.
Govardhan Lalji, Goswaini Maharaj Sri 35
Kanor, Rawat Nahar Singh of
34
Karjali, Maharaj Surat Singh of 31
Himmat Singh of . ib.
Khuman Singh of ib.
Sukh Singh of ib.
Tej Singh of . . ib.
Korabar, Rawat Jet Singh of 35
Kishor Singh of . ib.
Ranjit Singh of . ib.
Sangram Singh of . ib.
Kotharia, Rawat Jawani Singh of 32
Mejha, Rawat Amar Singh of . 33
Raj Singh of . . ib
Panna Lai, Mahta, Rai, C.I.E. . 36
Parsoli, Rao Ratn Singh of 34
Abhay Singh of . . . ib.
Devi Singli of . . , ib.
Madho Singh of . . . ib.
Salumbar, Rawat Jodh Singh of . 32
Tej Singh of . . ib.
Sardargarh, Thakur Manohar Singh of . 35
Seorati, Maharaj Gaj Singh of . 31
Shahpura, Raja Dhiraj Nahar Singh of ib.
Sardar Singh of ib.
Ummed Singh of . . ib.
Sohan Singh, Maharaj . . 28
Svamal Das, Kaviraj, Mahamaohpadbya 36

DUNGARPUR.
Tee Chief .... 36
Bamasa, Thakur Path Singh of 38
Kishor Singh of ib.
Lai Singh of ib.
Bankora, Thakur Dalpat Singh of 37
Basant Singh of . 36
Gopal Singh of ib.
Kishan Singh of ib.
Parbat Singh of ib.
Biohiwara, Thakur Dhirat Singh of 37
Bijay Singh 36
Khuman Singh ib.
Kua, Thakur Ram Singh of' . 38
Amar Singh of . ib.
Zorawar Singh of . ib.
Lodawal, Thakur Kishor Singh of ib.
Anup Singh of ib.
Bhawani Singh of %b.
Sher Singh of . ib.
Mandor, Thakur Suraj Mai of 37
Bahadur Singh of . 38
Dalpat Singh of . , ib.
Jawan Singh of ib.
Nandli, Thakur Ummed Singh of 37
Amar Singh of <5.
Bhopal Singh of , . ib.
VI INDEX.

Page
Nandli, Bijay Singh of . 37
Gopal Singh of ib.
Khuman Singh of ib.
Bam Singh of ib.
Takht Singh of ib.
Zorawar Singh of ib.
Oara, Maharaj Parbat Singh of, ib.
Parbat Singh ib.
Peifc, Thakur Zorawar Singh of 37
Sabli, Thakur Shimbhu Singh of 37
Shimbhu Singh 36
Sulaj, Thakur Pahar Singh of 38
Raj Singh of ib.
Thakurda, Thakur Ude Singh of ib.
Amar Singh of ib.
Chatar Singh of ib.
Dalpat Singh of ib.
Hanwaut Singh of ib.
Kishor Singh of ib.
Madan Singh of ib.
Prithwi Singh of ib.
Sangram Singh of ib.
Ummed Singh 37

BANSWARA.
The Chief. 39
Anup Singh, Thakur 41
Bakhtawar Singh, Thakur . ib.
Balwant Singh, Thakur, I . ib.
Balwant Singh, Thakur, II ib.
Dalpat Singh, Thakur ib.
Dule Singh, Thakur ib.
Fath Singh, Thakur ib.
Garhi, Bao Sangram Singh of . 42
Khandu, Maharaj Raghunath Singh of ib.
Kushalgarh, Bao Ude Singh of ib.
Jaswant Singh of . ib.
Ran jit Singh of ib.
Mola, Thakur Madan Singh of 41
Shimbhu Singh, Kunwar 39
Suraj Mai, Thakur . 41
Surya Singh .... 39
Surya Singh, Bhai . . . . 41
Ude Singh, Thakur ib.
PARTABGARH.
The Chief . . . . . 45
Achlaoda, Thakur Madho Singh of 47
Barlia, Thakur Lai Singh of . 46
Fauj Singh of ib.
Sanwant Singh of ib.
Unkar Singh of ib.
Chandan Singh, Dasund 45
Damotar, Thakur Kesri Singh of ib.
Hardeo Singh of 46
Madan Singh of ib.
Prithwi Singh of . ib.
Jhantla, Thakur Takht Singh of 47
Pratap Singh of ib.
Kalyanpura, Thakur Takht Singh of 46
Khushhal Singh, Thakur 45
Man Singh .... ib.
Raipur, Thakur Ratn Singh of 46

SHAHPURA.
The Chief 47
Bahadur Singh, Thakur ib.
 INDEX. Yll

Page
Bakhtawar Singh . 49
Birdaul, Thakur Nahar Singh of . ib.
Dhirat Singh, Thakur . 47
Kesri Singh, „ ib.
Khamor, Thakur Zorawar Singh of 49
Karndwara, Mahant of . . ib.
Sabal Singh, Thakur 47
Sardar Singh „ 48
Sundar Singh „ . 47
Thainal, Thakur Jawahir Singh of 49
Ummed Singh 48

BUNDI.
The Chief..
Bamangaon, Maharaja Eangraj Singh of ....... 54
Ban si, Maharaj Raghuraj Singh of . . , . . . . t e .54
Datonda, Rawat Lai Singh of ......... . 55
Mukund Singh of ........... , ib,
Dharra, Maharaja Mor Singh of. .......... ib,
Dungari, Maharaja Unkar Singh of ... ..54
Sheodan Singh of ...........
Sheoraj Singh of ............ ib,
Sheo Singh of ........... (b,
Gudha, Maharaja Arjun Singh of.ft.
Ranbir Singh of ........... ft.
Indur Singh, Raghu..
Jalodi, Maharaja Nand Singh of . 55
Mukand Singh of ............ ft.
Jitgarh, Maharaja Nath Singh of .......... 55
Harnath Singh of ,-j#
Khera, Raidhan Maharaja Indar Sal of ......... 54
Lilera, Thakur Ram Singh of..
Maghana, Maharaja Hanwant Singh of ......... 54
Kalyan Singh of ............ t*j.
Matonda, Maharaja Jagannath Singh of. ft,
Harnath Singh of ............ ft.
Randhir Singh of ........... ft.
Nimana, Maharaja Gordhan Singh of ..........
Pagara, Thakur Indar Sal of. ft,
Ari Sal of . ........... jj,
Sangram Sal of ........... . ft,
Samar Sal of ............. jg.

KOTAH.
The Chief ...
Antarda, Maharaja Devi Singh of. 57

Nand Singh of ............. ib.

Prithwi Singh of ..... .. ib.
Balwan, Maharaja Chhagan Sal of.. 56
Madho Singh of ........... ib,
Bamulia, Maharaja Jay Singh of ........... 58
Dabri, Apji Karn Singh of. 30
Balbhadar Singh of ........ . . ib.
Mor Singh of ............ ib.
Narain Singh of... r ..... ft,
Gainta, Maharaja Madho Singh of . ... . 66
Ghati, Rawat Chatar Sal of . ..59
Durjan Sal of ............ ib.
Girwar Singh of ............. ib.
Lachhman Singh of ........... . ib.
Nathu Singh of . ........... ib.
Zorawar Singh of ........... ib.
Indargarh, Maharaja Sher Singh of ........... 56
Kachnaoda, Thakur Moti Singh of .......... 59
Devi Sal of ...... . • .... ib.
Vlll INDEX

Page
Karwar, Thakur Subhag Singb of ... .57
Bhur Singh of ........... . £6.
Durga Das of ............. ib.
Kesar Singh of ............ ib.
Sardul Singh of .......... . . ib.
Khatoli, Maharaja Pratap Singh of ......... ‘ . 56
Kherli, Thakur Bhim Singh of ........... 60
Devi Singh of ............ ib.
Sabal Singlr of ............. £5.
Ude Singh of ............ ib.
Kherli, Maharaja Chatnrbhnj Singh of.,'J.
Arjun Sal of ............ . ib.
Mor Singh of ............. £5,
Koela, Apji Gobind Singh of. 57
Lachhman Singh of ............ 58
Kunari, Raj Bijay Singh of. £6.
Mundli, Maharaja Durjan Sal of..
Arjun Singh of ........... ib.
Devi Singh of ..... * ....... ib.
Lachhman Singh of ........... ib.
Nar Singh of ............. £jt
Ranjit Singh of ........... ib.
Simola, Maharaja Moti Singh of..
Chatar Singh of. ib.
Path Singh of.£J.
Palaitha, Apji Amar Singh, Rao Bahadur of. 55
Unkar Singh of .. £g.
Phasud, Thakur Bakhtawar Singh of. 57
Achal Singh of .. £J.
Baldeo Singh of ........... . ib.
Pipalda, Thakur Guman Singh of ........... ^
Rajgarh, Apji Kishau Singh of .......... . gg
Bairi Sal of ............ , ft.
Chotaji of . .... ib.
Gopal Singh of . . . ib.
Madho Singh of ..... ib.
Sarola, Pandit Ganpat Rao of .... 58
Mangesh Rao of . . . 59
Srinal, Thakur Bajrang Singh of ... 60
Chatar Singh of. ib.
Jawahir Singh of ..... ib

SIROHI.

The Chief. 60
Ajari, Rajsahiban Zorawar Singh of .......... 62
Amar Singh of ...........
Bhatana, Thakuran Raj Sri Bharat Singh of ........ 63
Dabani, Thakur Ajit Singh of.
Jawahir Chand Singhji..
Jawal, Thakuran Raj Sri Megh Singh of. *5
Kalandri, Thakuran Raj Sri Prithwi Raj of ... ib.
Madar, Raj Sri Prithwi Raj of. 62
Sheonath Singh of ........... £5
Manadar, Raj Sahiban Tej Singh of .. ib.
Dalpat Singh of ........... ib.
Man Singh of. £5.
Mandwara Thakur Dungar Singh of ........... 63
Motagaon, Thakuran Raj Sri Lachhman Singh of ....... . 63
Nadia, Raj Sahiban Jet Singh of. 62
Achal Singh of .. ib.
Nimaj, Thakuran Raj Sri Himmat Singh of ......... 63
Padiv, Thakuran Raj Sri Mai Singh of ......... 62
Rohna, Thakuran Raj Sri Ajit Singh of. . 63
Sarayats. 61
Sarup Singh, Mabaraj Kunwar ...60
 INDEX IX

JAISALMER. Pagb.

The Chief— .... 67

Baragaon, Thakur Madho Singh of 68
Barsalpur, Rao Dhanji of . * ibj
Meghji of. . . ib.
Moti Singh of ib.
Baru, Thaknr Bakhta-war Singh of ib.
Panjiof . . . . ib.
Bhadli, Thakur Lalji of ib.
Bikampur, Rao Khetsi of ib.
Abhay SiDgh of . ib.
Amar Singh of ib.
Bikasar, Thakur Balidan of. ib.
Chelak, Thakur Hemji of ib.
Dangri, Thakur Lachhman Singh of ib.
Satidan of. ib.
Deoran, Thakur Balidan of . ib.
Eta, Thakur Man Singh of . 67
Girajsar, Thakur Amar SiDgh of . 68
Jag ji wan Mahta .... ib.
Jaswant Singh, Thakur 67
Jawahir Singh .... ib.
Jhinjinyali, Thakur Balidan of 68
Khuri, Thakur Rai Singh of ib.

Khushhal Singh ♦ 67
Lathi, Thakur Khushhal Singh of . ib.
Dan Singh of . ib.
Lunar, Thakur Anand §ingh of 68
Machna, Thakur Sultan Singh of . 67
ModhaU1! Tb*akur Ranjit Singh of . 68
Nathmal Mahta .... 69
Nawa Tala, Thakur Pratap Singh of' 68
Rajgarh, Thakur Jodh Singh of . ib.
Rindhan, Thakur Bakhtawar Singh of ib.

Salim Singh. 67
Salim Singh, Thalftir . ib.
Satyaya, Thakur Path Singh of . 68
Sheodan Singt .... 67
Sheodan Singh, Thakur ib.

Sirran, Thakur Kan Singh of . 68

Nawal SiDgh of . ib.
Sultan Singh . ... 67

KARADLI.

The Chief . . , •
69

Bhum Pal ib.

Pazl Rasul Khan, Jamadar ib.

Lakhpat Singh, Raja Bahadur ib.

Moti Pal ib.

Sujan Pal . . . ib.

Surjan Pal i6.

JAIPUR.

The Chief. 72

Achrol, Thakur Kesri Singh of 7-

Kishan Singh of. - . ib.

Ramnath Singh of . ib.

Bagru, Thakur Sanwant Singh of ib.

Hari Singh of ib.

ib.
Jaswant Singh of
Pratap Singh of 77
X INDEX.

Page
Banskho, Thakur Bairi Sal of .... 77
Kan Singh of .... ib.
Sheo Singh of ..... ib.
Bisan, Thakur Jtfgat Singh of . 79
Chomu, Thakur Qobind Singh Bahadur, Kao Bahadur of 75
'Dhula, Rawat Bane Singh of .... 78
Digi, Thakur Devi Singh of .... 76
Dudu, Thakur Sheonath Singh of ... 78
Duni, Rao Raja Lachhman Singh of ... 77
Gijgarh, Thakur Kanh Singh of . 78
Goner, Thakur Mukund Singh of ... 79
Isarda ....... 78
Jhalai, Thakur Nahar Singh of ... 75
Kanaota, Thakur Zorawar Singh of ... 79
Bhim Singh of ..... ib.
Gambir Singh of .... ib.
Narain Singh of . . . ib.
Kanti Chandar Hukharji, Rao Bahadur, C.I.E. 80
Khandela, Rao Hamir Singh of ... 76
Khetri, Raja A jit Singh of . . ib.
Maharaj Kishan, Pandif .....
80
Mahendra Nath Sen, Babu . . . . .
ib.
Manoharpur, Rao Pratap Singh of
76
Moti Lai, Pandit ......
80
Muhammad Ali Khan, Haji ....
ib.
Naila, Thakur Fath Singh of
78
Gurnan Singh of .....
79
Rup Singh of .....
ib.
Patan, Rao Mukund Singh of ....
ib.
Bakbshi Ram of .....
80
Samod, Rawal Fath Singh of ..
75
Seora, Thakur Chand Karn of ,
78
Deo Karn of ......
ib.
Indar Karn of .....
ib.
Sikar, Rao Raja Madho Singh Bahadur of
76
Surajgarh, Thakur Jiwan Singh of
79
Udikis ..... ( .
74
Uniara, Rao Raja Guman Singh of
75

ALWAR.

The Chief.
80
Bara Kotris ......
81
Bijwar, Thakur Madho Singh of
84
Gobind Singh of ...
ib.
Gyan Singh of .
ib.
Raghunath Singh of
ib.
Bijwar, Thakur of ....
82
Chamraoli, Thakur of . , . .
ib.
Garhi, Thakur Mangal Singh, Rai Bahadur of
83
Hanwant Singh of ...
ib.
Hathi Singh of ...
ib.
Karm Singh of .
ib.
Kesri Singh of
ib.
Jadli, Thakur Duijan Singh of
82
Khera, Thakur of ....
ib.
Khora, Thakur Daulat Singh of .
84
Devi Singh of
ib.
Zorawar Singh of . . .
ib.
Nimrana, Raja Janak Singh of
82
Nizamnagar (Pai), Rao Gopal Singh of .
83
Nahar Singh of
84
Narain Singh of
Ram Singh of
• ib.
ib.
Palwa, Tbakur of . . .
. 82
 INDEX. XI

Page
Panch tikanas .... 81
Para, Thakur of . • 82
Salpur, Tkakur of • . ib.
Srichandpura, Thakur Ganga Singh of 83
Sukhmeri, Thakur of . 82
Thana, Thakur Surtan Singh of 83
Earn Singh of ib.
Tatarpur, Thakur of 82
Wajid Ali, Shaikh . 84

JHALAWAR.

The Chief. '. 86

Amrit Kheri, Thakur Zalim Singh of . 89
Bamori, Thakur Man Singh of . 88
Chain Singh of . . ib.
Ganga Singh of . . . ib.
Chatur Bhuj, Purohit. 89
Dhanoda, Thakur Takht Singh of 88
Fathpur, Thakur Chatar Sal of . 87
Bhawsyji Singh of . ib.
Gajwara, Thakur Anar Singh of . 88
Sheodan Singh of . . ih.
Harlal, Dhabai ..... 89
Kalicharan, Munshi . 89
Kolah, Thakur Arjun Singh of . 87
Kotra, Maharaja Indar Sal of . 88
Chatar Sal of ... ib.
Durjan Sal of . ib.
Kundla, Rao Sawai Singh of 87
Pratap Singh of . ib.
Sardul Singh of ib.
Mangal, Thakur Abhay Singh of . 89
Phul Singh of . . ib.
Narsingh Bas, Seth • . ib.
Partap Sahai, Rao Raja 90
Pipakheri, Maharaja Balbhadar Singh of 88
Ram Charan, Pandit .... 90
Saadat Ahmad, Hakim, Khan Bahadur 89
Sanwant Singh, Raja ., 90
Sarthal, Thakur Sheodan Singh of 87

BHARTPUR.

The Chief ...92

A jit Singh, Rao. ............. 93
Akhay Singh.' . . . . iJ.
Ballabhgarh, Faujdar Devi Singh of.«.ib.
Balram. . .............. ib.
Bir Narain .............. ib.
Bhawani Singh . • . • • • ’ < • • . • « • • . ib.
Dalel Singh .............. zb.
Devi Singh" ...... ......... ib.
Jodh Singh .............. ib.
Khushbal Singh .............. ib.
Lai Singh. ib.
Man Singh ............... ib.
Mukund Singh ...... ....... ib.
Partap Singh.ib.
Raghunath Singh ............. 92
Ram Kishor ........ ....... 93
Ram Pal.., ■ • • ib.
Sita Ram ib.
Sultan Singh .............. *6.

DHOLPUR.

The Chief.. . . 93
Abbas Husain, Hakim 94
 ••
XU INDEX

Pagb
Abid Ali, Mir..
Achu Miyan . ib.
Bhora Prasad, Rai.ib.
Bidkheria family. 93

Bishan Sarup, Rai Bahadur..

Brijlal, Lala .............. ib.
Fath Singh, Lala. 16.

Indarbir Singh .. ib.

Rajaunia, Rao Bhup Singh of ..ib.
Bhamorji f of ........... ib.
Bhamorji II of .. ib.
Ram Singh, Kunwar. 93

Ratn Singh, Kunwar..

Rup Singh', Kunwar . 93
Sir Muttra, Rao Ranjit Singh of .......... . ib.
Sundarlal, Munshi ............. 94

Talib Husain, Mir..

Uma Charan Mukharji, Babu. ib.

TONK.

The Chief. 95
Abdu-l-Hafiz Khan, Sahibzada.... ib.
Abdu-l-Halim, Kazi, Sayyid .... 98
Abdu-l-Hamid Khan, Sahibzada 96
Abdulla Kban, Sahibzada ..... ib.
Abdu-l-Latif Khan, Sahibzada . 98
Abdu-l-Wahab Khan, Haji, Sahibzada . 96
Abdu-l-Wahid Khan, Sahibzada ib.
Abdu-r-Rahman Khan ..... ib.
Abdu-r-Rashid Khan. 95
Abdu-s-Samad Khan, Sahibzada .... 96
Afsandyar Khan, Sahibzada 97
Ahmad Kban ...... 98
Ahmad Khan, Sahibzada ....
97
Ahmad Sher Khan.
98
Ahmadulla Khan, Sahibzada ....
97
Ahmad Yar Khan, Sahibzada .... ib.
Ahsanulla Khan ... . . 98
Balwant Singh, Thakur .....
ib.
Farukh Ali Khan, Sahibzada .... 96
Fath Rai ........
98
Gauhar Ali Khan. 97
Ghaus Muhammad Khan ..... 98
Ghulam Akbar Khan. ib.
Ghulam Ghaus Khan ...... ib.
Ghulam Hazrat Khan ..... ibt
Iftikhar Ali Khan, Sahibzada .... 96
Irshad Husain Khan, Saiyid .... 97
ISTIMBARDABS. 95
Amar Singh ...... ib.
Fath Singh ....... ib.
Kesri Singh, Rao ...... ib.
Lachhman Singh, Rajawat. ib.
Lachhman Singh, Solankhya .... ib.
Prithwi Singh . . ibt
Rup Singh. ib.
Sardar Singh ....... ib.
Kalyan Singh, Raja ..... 98
Karim Bakhsh, Shaikh, Mir Saman 97
Magni Ram Bhabhut Singh, 6eth 98
Mahmud Kban, Sahibzada. 96
Masnd Ali Khan, Sahibzada .... ib.
Muhammad Abdu-r-Rahman Khan, Sahibzada ib.
Muhammad Akram Khan, Sahibzada ib.
Muhammad Ali Khan, Mirza .... 97
 INDEX, XIII

PzGK
Muhammad Dastgir Khan .... 98
Muhammad Irfan, Sayyid .... 97
Muhammad Ishak Khan, Sahibzada . . . 96
Muhammad Ismail, Saiyid .... 97
Muhammad Khan, Sahibzada, I . ib.
Muhammad Khan, Sahibzada, II . ib.
Muhammad Kban, Bahadur .... 98
Muhammad Najif Khan .... 97
Muhammad Otaidulla Khan, Sahibzada, C.S.I. . 96
Muhammad Rafik Khan, Sahibzada . . ib.
Muhammad Saadat Ali Khan, Sahibzada 95
Muhammad Sadik Khan, Sahibzada 96
Muhammad Usman Khan, Sayyid . . . 97
Muhammad Yusaf, Sayyid .... 98
Kahmatulla Khan, Mir Shaban 97
Shafiulla Khan, Sahibzada .... 96
Turab Ali Khan, Sahibzada .... ib.
Usman Ali Khan, Sahibzada . . . ib.
Vinayak Rao, Babu, Rao Bahadur 93
Yar Muhammad Khan .... 98
Zabr Ali Khan, Sahibzada .... 96

AJMER.
Bagsuri, Thakur Lachman Singh of . Ill
Baudanwara, Rao I, an jit Singh of ► . . 109
Gaj Singh of .... ib.
Barli, Thakur Moti Singh of ... 111
Bhinai, Raja Udai Singh of .... . 101
Deogaon-Baghera, Thakur Sardar Singh of . 110
Deolia, Thakur Mod Singh of . . . . . 108
Dudiana, Mir Inayatulla Shah, Jagirdar of 113
Muhammad Ayub»Ali Khan of . . . ib.
Muhammad Ismail Ali Khan of ib.
Muhammad Yakub Ali Khan of . . . ib.
Gangwana, Raja Bijay Singh, Jagirdar of . . ib.
Ghiyasu-d-din Ali Khan, Diwan . . . . 112
Gobindgarh, Thakur Sankarlal Singh of . . 110
Jharwasia, Mir Mihrban Ali, Jagirdar of . . 113
Junian, Rao Kalyan Singh of ... 108
Kbarwa, Rao Madho Singh of . . . . . ib.
Gopal Singh of .... . ib.
Khuman Singh, Bakhshi, C.S.I. . . 114
Masuda, Rao Bahadur Singh of . 105
Mehron, Thakur Devi Singh of . 109
Gajadhar Singh of .... ib.
Bara, Thakur- Sangram Singh of ... . 110
Pisangan, Raja Kandarpa Sen of . 106
Ramcband Das of . . ib.
Rajgarh, Raja Chandra Singh, Jagirdar of Ill
Sarwar, Thakur Ummed Singh of ... 105
Shamsu-d-din Ali Khan, Nawab .... 113
Seths. ib.
Cband Mul, Seth, Rai..... 114
Mul Chand, Soni, Seth, Rai Bahadur ib.
Samir Mul, Seth, Rai Bahadur . «. 113

Tantoli, Thakur, Bbabhut Singh of 111

■

.
 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES
IN

RAJPUT ANA.

CHAPTER I.
INT RODUCTION.

[ Contributed by Sir Alfred Lyall, K.C.B., to the Gazetteer of Rajputana, dated 1879. ]

T KE faint outlines which can be traced of the condition of the country now called
Rajputana, for one or two centuries before the Muhammadans invaded Upper India,
indicate that it was subject for the most part to two or three very powerful tribal dynasties.
Of these, the dynasty of the Rahtor family, which ruled at Kanauj, appears to have had the
widest dominion; for the early Arabian Geographers make the frontier of Kanauj conterminous
with Sind, and Al-Marudi styles the Kanauj monarch one of the Kings of Sind. However this
may be, it seems certain that the Kanauj territory extended far westward beyond the Jumna
into Rajputana, while much of the south-western part was included within the limits of
another great kingdom which had its capital in Gujarat. Other tribal dynasties succeed¬
ed; and in the eleventh century, about the period of the first Muhammadan inroad into the in¬
terior of Northern India, the leading tribes were the Solankhyas of Anhilwara in Gujarat, the
Chauhans at Ajmere, and the Rahtors at Kanauj. The Gehlot clan had established itself in the
Mewar country which is still held by the Sesodias, a sept of the Gehlots. The Rahtors
and Sodas held the north-western deserts where they are still dwelling, and the Kachhwaha clan
had occupied the eastern tracts about Jaipur, now their Chief’s capital.
The desert which lies between Sind and Rajputana appears to have sheltered the tribes
from any serious inroads of the Arabs who reigned in Sind, but from the north-west their
territory was more exposed. Thus the first Musalman invasions found Rajput dynasties
seated in all the chief cities of the north and ruling large territories throughout tbe rich
Gangetic plains, at Lahore, Delhi, Kanauj, and Ajudhya. Mahmud of Ghazni marched to
Kanauj in 1017 A.D. and reached Muttra; a few years later he subdued Lahore, and in 1024
he made bis celebrated expedition to Somnath in Gujarat, marching from Muttra across the
Rajput countries to Ajmer. The Solankhyas of Anhilwara were overcome; but the Rajputs
barred Mahmud’s return by Ajmer, and he was forced to find his way back through the Sind
deserts.
In 1170 a furious war broke out between the,Solankhyas of Anhilwara and the Chauhans
of Ajmer, in which the former were defeated; and about the same time began the famous
feud between the Chauhans and the Rahtors of Kanauj. These dissensions weakened the dy¬
nasties; nevertheless when Shababu-d-din began his invasions, the Chauhans fought hard
before they were driven out of Delhi and Ajmer in 1193 A.D. Next year Kanauj was taken
and the Rahtor princes, utterly broken in tbe Gangetic Doab, emigrated to the country
which they have since ruled in North-Western Rajputana. But Ajmer was still sharply dis¬
puted, though Kutbu-d-din, Shahabu-d-din’s Governor in India, managed at last to drive back
the tribes united to contest his occupation of the middle countries, and to force his way through
them again into Gujarat. Ajmer and Anhilwara, the former Rajput capitals, were garrisoned
by his troops, and the Musalmans appear gradually to have overawed, if they did not entirely
reduce, the open country between and about these two places, having garrisoned the fortresses
and secured the natural outlets of Rajputana toward Gujarat on the south-west and the
Jumna on the north-east. The effect was probably to press back the clans more into the
2 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

outlying districts where a more difficult and less inviting country afforded a second line of
defence against the foreigner, a line which they have held successfully up to the present day. The
existing capitals of the modern States indicate the positions to which the earlier Chiefs
retreated. One clan (the Bhatis) had before this founded Jaisalmer in the extreme north-west,
having been driven across the Sutlej by the Ghazuavi conquerors. The Rahtors settled down
among the sands of Marwar; the Sesodias pushed inward from north-east and south-west
concentrating on the Mewar plateau behind the scarps of the Aravalis; while the Jaduns
were protected by the hills and ravines that lie along the Chambal. From these and other
migrations and settlements grew up gradually, with varying features and constantly shifting
territory, the States now governed by the Rajput Chiefs, the non-Rajput States being of a
very different and much more recent formation. The larger States represent the acquisitions
of the more powerful and predominant clans; the smaller States are either the separate
conquests of a sept that parted company from the main clan or the appanage of some Chief
who set up independently. They have all, in fact, a very similar origin. When the domi¬
nant families of a clan lost their dominion in the fertile regions of the north-west, one part
of the clan seems to have remained in the conquered country, while another part, probably
the defeated Chief's kinsmen and followers, went off westward and carved out another, though
much poorer, dominion. They were gradually hemmed up into parts of the country pro¬
ductive enough to yield food and rent, and defensible against the great armies of the foreigner.
Having then made a settlement and built la city of refuge, each clan started on an intermix
able course of feuds and forays, striving to enlarge its borders at the cost of its neighbour.
When the land grew too strait for the support of the Chief's family and of the increased clan,
a band would assemble under some new leader and go forth to plant itself elsewhere. In this
way the whole of Rajputana appears to have been parted off among the clans which we find
there now, and the territories that have been gradually rounded off and consolidated by inces¬
sant friction are now called States, under the rule of the Chief of the clan dominant. Of course
the original type of tribal dominion has been modified; towns have grown up round the
ancient forts and the Chiefs have, in some instances, modernized their status towards the
likeness of a territorial King. Nevertheless, on the whole, these States are still essentially the
possessions of clans, and, as such, can be defined and distinguished territorially; nor is the
political nature or tenure of these States properly intelligible without bearing their origin in
mind. Setting aside, then, the two Jat States and the Muhammadan principality of Tonk, we
may describe Rajputana as the region within which the pure-blooded Rajput States have main¬
tained their independence under their own chieftains, and have kept together their primitive
societies ever since their principal dynasties in Northern India were cast down and swept away
by the Musalman irruption. Of the States of Rajputana eighteen belong to the first rank in
the Empire, being under treaty with the Imperial Government, and of these eighteen, fifteen
are still ruled by the Chiefs of Rajput clans or families, two of the other three belonging to
Jat families and one to a Muhammadan dynasty. A sixteenth Rajput State is Shahpura
which has no treaty with the Empire, and which differs from the others both as to its origin
and as to the nature of its political connections .... The Chief of Shahpura holds his
lands by distinct grants from two different superiors, the Rana of Mewar and the Empire.
The sixteen Rajput States may be arranged according to the different clans which founded
them, and to which the ruling family of necessity belongs, in the following manner -

Clan. Subdivision or sept. State.

Jodhpur (Marwar).
Rahtor .... Bikanir.
l Kishangarh.

)
Mewar (Udaipur).
Banswara.
Sesodia .... • • Dungarpur.
Pertabgarh.
Shahpura.

Chauhan % sl Hara
Deoria
....
....
Bundi.
Kotab.
Sirohi.
Jadun .... . Bhati ....
5 K arauli.
l Jaisalmir.
( Jaipur.
Kachhwaha . , .
1 Naruka .... • Alwar.
Jhala . • Jhalawar.
 INTRODUCTION. 3

The small Chiefship of Khetri in the Shaikhawati district of Jaipur is held on a double
tenure of the same kind as that of Shahpura, as the Chief holds one part of his territory, the
pargana of Kot Putli, by a grant made on behalf of the British Government by Lord Lake in
1803 and subsequently confirmed as a free gift in perpetuity. On the eastern border of Raj-
putana, beyond the States of Bundi and Kotah, are seven estates called the seven Kotris
held by seven Rajput families of the Hara clan which belong to a peculiar political
arrangement.* .... There are other minor Chiefs of a similar class in different
parts of Rajputana, who claim some kind of privileged status and separate jurisdiction
under the ruling power of the State within which their lands are included. This claim
is usually by virtue of having descended from a distant stock, or of having originally
conquered and maintained their lands without aid or commission from the State’s ruler, but on
their own score and venture ; they nevertheless pay tribute to the State’s Chief and are subject
to his general authority. Such are the Chiefs of Sikar in Jaipur, of Nimrana in Alwar, of
Fathgarhin Kishangarh (though he pays no tribute), and of Kushalgarh in Banswara, though
the last-mentioned Chief (who also holds lands of Ratlam) has been withdrawn from direct
subordination to Banswara. The Bhil Chiefs of the Mewar hill tracts belong to a slightly
different category, though they assert internal independence of Udaipur; and the Thakur of
Lawa, a small feudatory, has, for peculiar reasons, been declared separate from Tonk, to which
he was subordinate up to 1870. Besides these minor or mediatized Chiefships, there are other
gradations of status and privilege; but their classification becomes indistinct as it descends
shading off into the great estate-holder and head of a branch family of the Chief’s blood, with
high rank and formal hereditary privileges rather than separate political jurisdiction.

The remaining three States of the first class, not being under Rajput Chiefs, are of
a different origin and growth. The State of Tonk was formed out of the convention which
allowed the famous Amir Khan to hold certain lands which he possessed in 1817; it consists
of six separate districts, of which three only are within the administrative province of Raj¬
putana. The Jat States of Bhartpur and Dholpur are the other two ; the first is governed
by the descendant of the bold and adroit land-holders who raised themselves to the rank and
power of territorial Chiefs during the confusion of the eighteenth century ; the second, Dhol¬
pur, is the territory remaining with a family that had gained distinction earlier, though it first
acquired political independence in the same century and under similar circumstances. But,
whereas the Bhartpur Chief kept his territory intact, and even increased it during the contest
between the Mabrattas and the English at the beginning of this century, the Dholpur Chief
in the same period lost a great part of his acquisitions. These two States, lying as they do
outside Central India, did not fall within the range of the treaties of 1817-18. These States,
therefore, are governed each by a family of the Jat tribey which gives to that particular tribe
a sort of precedence and privilege in the State, but their constitution is by no means tribal in
the meaning with which that word applies to the territory of a Rajput clan. In Tonk the
descendant of Amir Khan is an autocratic Nawab of the ordinary Indian type.

It has been explained that the existing Rajput States trace their historic descent from
the ancient tribal settlements in this part of India; and as they differ in origin from the great
majority of States in other parts of the Empire, so do they in political constitution. A Raj¬
put State, where its peculiar structure has been least modified, means the territory over which
a particular clan or division of a clan claims dominion for its Chief and political predominance
for itself by right of occupation or conquest. A Rajput Chief is the head of a clan which
have for many centuries been lords of the soil, or of the greater part of it, lying within the
State’s limits, and, as a ruler, instead of being an absolute despot, he exercises a jurisdiction
more or less limited over an aristocracy consisting principally of his kinsmen and connections,
while in the cities and throughout the districts not within the estates of the great fief-holders
his authority is absolute. In the Western States, where the original type is best preserved, the
dominant clans are still much in the position which they took up on first entry upon the land ;
and there we find all the territory (with exceptions in favour of particular grantees) still parcelled
out among the Rajputs; mainly among the branch families of the dominant clan and their
offshoots.All over the west it would be difficult to find a single important
estate not held by a Rajput. The supreme governing authority in a Rajput State is, of course,
in the hands of the hereditary Chief of the dominant clan, who is supposed to be the nearest

See page 55.

a 2
4 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPTTTANA.

legitimate descendant in direct male line from the founder of the State, according to the
genealogy of the tribe.But even primogeniture has been required to qualify
up to a low standard of competency; and when direct heirs fail, the Chief may be chosen
from any branch of the stock group, the choice sometimes going from one branch to another
according to critical needs and circumstances. The right of adoption by a Bajput Chief of his
successor according to law and customs, on failure of natural heirs, has been formally recog¬
nized by the British Government.When the succession is disputed the Imperial
Government is often forced to step in and arbitrate and decide. The interior economy of a
complete Rajput family has often suggested the analogy of feudalism, though in fact there
are essential differences. There is, however, a chain of mutual authority and subordination
which runs from the Chief by gradations downwards to the possessor of one or more villages.
The lands are for the most part divided off and inherited among the branch families
of the domiuant clan; some considerable estates being held by families of a different
clan who have come in by marriage or by anterior settlement in the country. Very large
estates are held by the hereditary heads of the branch septs which have spread out from the
main stock and by kindred families which are as boughs to the great branches.
These estates are owned and inherited by Chiefs who much resemble the State Chief in minia¬
ture, where they are strong and independent. The relations of these minor Chiefs to the State
Chief differ very much in different States ; in the best-preserved States of the west and south¬
west they exercise almost complete jurisdiction each within his own domain proper y and
their obedience to any unusual command of the State Chief depeuds on his power to enforce it.
They pay him certain dues or assessed contributions rated upon their income and regulated by
immemorial custom; they are bound to render military service against the foreigner and
against rebels, to make additional emergent contributions in war time; and their lands are
usually rated at so many horsemen or footmen to be furnished yearly for the ordinary public
service. The number of followers to be maintained may depeud on the value of the land
and upon the rank and consequence of the estate-holder. At every succession to an estate the
heir is bound to do homage to the Chief and to pay a fine of some value—these acts being
essential to entry into legal possession of his inheritance. He also pays some customary dues
of a feudal nature and is bound to personal attendance at certain periods and occasions. In
the States of the west, belonging to the Rathor and Sesodia clans, the domains of all the sub¬
ordinate Chiefs are rated at a certain valuation of annual rent-roll; and for every thousand
rupees a certain number of armed men must be provided for the State’s service. In some
States this service has been commuted for cash payment, but the great land-holders have
usually resisted this change, which obviously tends to increase the Chief’s power and to lessen
their own. Disobedience to a lawful summons or order involves sequestration of lands, if the
Chief can enforce it; but it is rare that an estate is confiscated outright and annexed to Crown
lands, as the whole federation of minor Chiefs would be against such an absorption if there
were any practical alternative. So long as the minor Chiefs fulfil their customary obligations,
they hold their estates on conditions as well founded and defined as those on which the ruling
Chief governs his territory, and their tenure is often just as ancient, and their authority within
their own limits often as absolute.

In fact the system upon which the land is distributed among the branch families and
other great hereditary land-holders is the basis of the political constitution of a Rajput State
and forms its characteristic distinction. And this system is not, speaking accurately, feudal,
though it has grown in,certain States into something very like feudalism. The tenure of the
great clansmen involves military service and payment of financial aids, but its source is to be
found in the original clan occupation of the lands and in the privileges of kinship and purity of
descent from the original occupants or conquerors. The subordinate Chiefs really claim to be
coparceners with the rulers in their right to dominion over the soil and to the fruits of it. Of
course this constitutional principle has been much changed in practice in many of the States,
especially since the Mahrattas disorganized Rajputana at the end of the last century. In the
Eastern Rajput States, which were most exposed to the attacks of Mughal, Mahratta, and
Pathan, the clan system has been much effaced politically, and some Chiefs have centralized
their power so as to obtain almost absolute jurisdiction over the whole of their territories;
moreover, the Rajputs are very few among the population of some of these States. In Kotab
 INTRODUCTION. 5

the clan system was almost extinguished by Zalim Singh, who brought the land mainly under
direct fiscal management aud substituted his own armed police for the feudal contingents. In
Bundi some relations of the Chief still hold large grants, but without any independent jurisdic¬
tion. Bhartpur and Dholpur are Jat States in which the Chief’s power is supreme, and in the
Muhammadan State of Tonk the Bajput land-holders have been inevitably depressed while the
government is of the ordinary Muhammadan type. So that, whereas in the north and west
a ruling Chief would hardly break through the compact front which his clansmen could at
once oppose to any serious political encroachment and has a dubious jurisdiction within the
domains of his leading kinsmen, in the east and south a Chief has his State more or less
directly under his own executive power and a people of whom his clansmen form a small part.
In the small Eastern State of Karauli, however, the clan system is still vigorous.

Around and below the great minor Chiefs and families are the kinsfolk who belong to the
same sept of the clan; and who hold land of more or less extent, either independently of their
head or on a sort of grant from him. In Western Rajputana there are large tracts of lands
held by groups of Rajput proprietors, who represent a settlement anterior to, or at least coeval
with, that of the dominant clan, which settlement may have been either that of an alien clan
that has kept its lands undisturbed, or of a distinct sept belonging to the ruling clan. Some
of the alien clans have been brought in later by marriage alliances or by having come as a
contingent to aid the Chief of the country in some hard-fought war or distant expedition,
services for which they received an allotment of land. The heads of these alien families
often hold high rank in the State.
The administrative business of a State usually falls into several different departments,
which are under hereditary officials—a very important class, of which the members almost
always belong to particular castes and families—rarely to a Rajput clan. In some States
the highest offices belong by heritage to a great kinsman of the Chief; though these
offices are apt to become honorary, as they have become in Europe, and the real power gets
into the hands of very acute instruments of the Chief’s good pleasure. It is often imprudent
to place much authority in the hands of a leading noble; nor are the Thakurs usually
oualified for the transaction of affairs, while they would rather look down upon official
duties unless accompanied by very substantial rank aud influence. In fact, the condition
of internal government in Rajputana much resembles what has passed in Europe ; the ruler
seeks to strengthen himself at the cost of the nobles; the nobles are on the watch against
the encroachments of the ruler ; and the officials are the astute men of business, the gens de
la robe of Europe, expect in law and finance, whose aid in such times has always been so
essential to the ruler..As the tendency of all office in Rajputaua is to
become hereditary, and as the right of the children and relations of an official to be provided
for in the public service is universally recognized, the Chief is always surrounded by a crowd
of qualified claimants.Several of the official families are descended from
persons of the writing or commercial caste, who accompanied the earliest immigration of the
ruling Chiefs into the country.

The great estate-holders, called the Thakurs, live most of the year in their forts on their
own lands, and in the west they manage their own domains with little State interference,
distributing justice and collecting their taxes and rents. When some complainant has interest
enough to get an appeal seriously taken up at head-quarters, or when some disorder or deed of
notorious violence has created scandal, the ruling Chief interposes vigorously, though the matter
is usually settled by a fine or a present. Where the Thakurs are most independent they go
little to court, though there is usually a fixed period when each man of rank is bound to
attend on his Chief, and on great occasions they all assemble.

Where their separate status and power have been much reduoed, they gravitate towards
the level of privileged courtiers, whose places in the Chief’s presence and at ceremonies are
regulated by very minute etiquette. But a turbulent noble of the old school does not much
enjoy a visit to court, where there are usually long outstanding accounts to settle with astute
officials; he goes there well attended by kinsfolk, and fences himself in his town house, where
he occasionally stood a siege in the last generation, and was sometimes murdered. It may be
said that all the internal disorders of Rajputana since 1818, which were serious and wide¬
spread, up to recent years, have been caused entirely by disputes between the ruling Chiefs
and their nobles; the Chiefs striving to always depress and break down the power of the
6 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJFUTANA.

great kinsmen, the nobles being determined to restrict the strength of their ruler. The
Mahratta invasion and usurpations had much diminished the strength of the State’s ruler; on
the other hand, the English supremacy is favourable to him, and the inclination of an English
Government is naturally toward support of the central administration. Nor has the time of
armed resistance by nobles to their Chief yet passed* away in the west and south-west, where
a Thakur will still, if aggrieved, hold out as long as he can in the ancestral fort, and if the fort
is made too hot for him, take to the wilds with his kinsmen and become an outlaw and leader
of banditti. Usually these proceedings end in compromise and reconciliation.

* This was written in 1879.

 RAHTOR STATES—JODHPUR. 7

CHAPTER II.
RAHTOR STATES.

[ Jodhpur—* Bikanir-—Kishangarh.]

As mentioned in the last chapter the original capital of the Rahtor clan was Kanauj.

u* » «. 0q the caPture o£ this city by Shahabu-d-din in

1194 A.i)., the dynasty which according to tra¬
dition ruled for fourteen centuries was expelled and Sivaji, the grandson or nephew of
Jay Chand the last Chief, started on a pilgrimage to Dwarka. On his way he halted at Pali
in Marwar, where, having won the favour of the local Brahmans by repelling bands of
marauders, he eventually settled. He and his descendants grew in lands and power until
Chanda, the tenth in descent from Sivaji, was strong enough in 1382 to acquire Mandor, then
the chief town of Marwar, by marriage from the Parihar ruler. Chanda was succeeded by his
son Rirmal and his grandson Jodha, who in 1459 founded the city of Jodhpur which has since
been the capital of the Marwar State. From Rao Jodha’s fourteen sons and twenty-three
brothers are descended the Chiefs and the principal nobles of Marwar and Bikanir, and by them
and their followers the dominion of the Rahtors was established throughout the greater part of
the territories now comprised in these States. From Raja Udai Singh (1583—-1594), the fourth
in descent from Jodha, are descended the Chiefs of Kishangarh in Rajputana and of Ratlam and
Sitamau in Central India, and from Maharaja Ajit Singh, the great-great-grandson of Udai
Singh (1681—-1725) are sprung the ruling families of Idar and Ahmadnagarin Gujarat.

JODHPUR.

I.—The present Chief of Marwar or Jodhpur is His Highness Raj Rajeshwar Maha-
raj Adhiraj Maharaja Sir Jaswant Singh Baha¬
Present Chief.
dur, G.C.S.I., the head of the Rahtor clan. His
Highness, who was born at Ahmadnagar in Gujarat in 1838, succeeded his father, the late
Maharaja Takht Singh, G.C.S.I., in March 1873. Maharaja Takht Singh, Chief of Ahmad¬
nagar, had obtained the Chiefship of Marwar by the choice of the widows of his predecessor
Maharaja Man Singh and of the principal nobles and officials of the State. On the succession
of Maharaja Takht Singh, Ahmadnagar was transferred to the Chief of Idar, from which
State it had been separated in 1784. Maharaja Jaswant Singh has contracted eight mar¬
riages, the first being with the daughter of the Jam of Jamnagar, a Rajput of the Jarecha
clan. By Rani Puarji (Pramarji) of Narsingarh in Central India, His Highness has one son,
Maharaj Kunwar Sardar Singh, who was born in 1879 and is heir-apparent of Jodhpur.
The Maharaj Kunwar was married in February 1892 to a daughter of the late Maharao
Raja of Bundi.
The Maharaja has five brothers, of whom the
Near relatives.
eldest—
(1) Maharaj Dhiraj Sir Pratap Singh, K.C.S I., is now (1893) forty-nine years of age*
He is a Colonel in Her Majesty’s Army and an Aide-de-Camp to His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales. He was Musahib Ala or Chief Minister of Marwar in 1878 and 1879. In
1880 he accompanied the mission to Afghanistan, and in recognition of his services was created
a Companion of the Star of India. On his return, he resumed his duties as Chief Minister of
the State, and has since been to England on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Jubilee. He was
promoted to a Knight Commandership of the Star of India on the 1st January 1886. During
Sir Partap Singh’s tenure of office the administration of the State has made great progress.
Sir Partap Singh receives a fixed salary and holds no jagir.

(2) Maharaj Kishor Singh, the third brother, aged forty-three years, is Commander-in-
Chief of the State forces. He holds a jagir of six villages.

(3) The fifth brother, Maharaj Zalim Singh, was educated at the Mayo College, and
holds the appointment of Assistant Musahib Ala (Chief Minister), He has a jagir of five
villages.
The remaining brother is Maharaj Bhupal Singh.
8 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPT7TANA.

In addition to the above, His Highness has thirteen illegitimate uncles, brothers and
nephews who are known by the title of Rao Raja.* * * §
Of the Maharaja’s legitimate brothers, Mabaraj Bhupal Singh has four sons,f Mahara j
Zalim Singh two sons,J and Maharaj Kishor Singh one son.§
One deceased brother, Maharaj Zorawar Singh, has left four sons || and another, Maharaj
Bahadur Singh, one son.^f
As shown above, the ruling family most closely connected with the Chief of Marwar is
that of Idar, after which come in the order named Kishangarh, Ratlam, Sitamau, and Silana,
Amjhera, Jhabua, and Bikanir.
His Highness the Maharaja’s mother was a lady of the Deolia Partabgarh family.
Besides this house, the following Chiefships are also connected by marriage with Jodhpur
Jaipur, Bundi, Kotah, Rewa, Sirohi and Jaisalmer.
The following table shows the descent of the ruling Chief and of the most mportant
connected families in and out of Marwar
RAO SIVAJI (1211).

Bao Malinath
I
(1374) founded Malani.

I
Rao Chanda (1395).

Rao Rirmal (1417). Bhim, founder of the Bhiot family.

I
Earn
I
Pata
I
Rnpa
I
Rao Jodha
I
Champa
I
Kumpa
|
Jaita
( founder of the (founder of the (founder of the (1453) (founder of the (founder of the (founder of
Karnot sept). Patawat Rupawat (founder of Champawat Kumpawat Jaitawat
sept). sept). Jodha sept). sept). sept). sept).

I
Rao Bika Keshodas Rao Suja Duda Karamsi
(founder of the (founder of (1491). (founder of the (founder of the
Bikanir State). Jhabua). Mertia sept). Karamsot sept).
See p. 14.
Udai (founder of the Udawat sept).

Rao Ganga (1515).

I
Rao Maldeo (1531) (founder of the Amjhera family).

Raja Udai Singh (1583).

I. |
Kishan Singh Raja Sur Singh (1594) Ratn Singh Kesodas
(founder of the Kishangarh State). (founder of the (founder of the
See p. 22. Ratlam State). Sitamau State).
Raja Gaj Singh (1619)—served with distinction
under the Empire.

I
Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1C.35)—played an important part in the struggles
between Aurangzeb and his brothers.

Maharaja Ajit Singh

I
(1678)—recovered Jodhpur from the Mughals.

Anand Singh (founder of the Idar and Ahmadnagar States).

Maharaja Bakht Singh (1751).

Maharaja Man Singh (1804)—concluded a treaty with the British in 1817

I
Maharaja Takht Singh (1843)—showed a loyal spirit during Mutiny.

Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1873), present Chief.

II.—The leading men of Marwar fall into three classes—(1) the members of the ruling
family who are known as Rajwis, (2) the hereditary nobles and Thakurs, and (3) the chief
officials. Of these, the first class has already been mentioned.

* Rao Rajas Sohan Singh, Gulab Singh, Amar Singh, Fath Singh, Moti Singh, Raghunath Singh Sardar
Singh, Jiwan Singh, Bishan Singh, Tej Singh, Kalyan Singh, Bharat Singh, and Bherun Singh,
+ Maharaj Daulat Singh adopted by the late Maharaj Madlio SiDgh and Kunwars Ratn Singh Pane Sinah
and Kishan Singh. ’ 3 '
J Maharaj Bijay Singh adopted by the late Maharaj Muhabbat SiDgh ; and Kunwar Guman Singh.
§ Kunwar Arjun Singh.
|| Maharaj Fath Singh ; Maharaj Mul Singh adopted by the Jagirdar of Datti in Malwa; Maharaj Sheo Sinah,
and Maharaj Akhay Singh. J 3
Maharaj Jiwan Singh.
 RAHTOR STATES—JODHPUR. 9

The hereditary nobles of distinctiou are styled as Tazimi Sardars,—that is, nobles who are
entitled to the honour of recognition by the Chief
Tazimi Sardars.
in Darbar. They are 144 in number, of whom
122 are Rah tors descended from the ruling stock and 22 are connections by marriage belong,
ing to other clans—Bhatis, Ranawats, Kacbhwahas, Cbauhans, and Deoras. These last are
known as Ganayats.
The Tazimi Sardars are again subdivided according to the degree of recognition which
they are entitled to receive. Seventy-two llahtors and ten Ganayats belong to the first division,
twelve Rahtors (known as Sarayats from their position in Darbar near the staircase) being held
superior to the rest. The whole of the first class receive dohri (double) tazim, 'the Chief rising
at their arrival and departure, and the Hath-ka-Jcurab. On the arrival in Darbar of a noble of
this rank, the Maharaja stands up. The Sardar places his sword in front of him, bows and
touches the hem of the Chief’s garment. The Chief acknowledges the salutation by placing
his hand on the nobleman’s shoulder and drawing it back to bis chest.
In the second division are comprised thirty-eight Rahtors and seven Ganayats, who are
also entitled to the dohri tazim, but instead of the Hath-lca-Jcurab receive only the Bank
pusao,—that is to say, the Chief after touching the Sardar’s shoulder omits to draw his hand
back to his chest. Eight Rahtors and five Ganayats receive only the single tazim,—that is, the
Chief rises on their arrival only.
The Jagirs of Marwar are all younger than the State. There is, however, a class of land¬
holders known as Bhumias who differ from the nobles in that they pay a contribution toward
the cost of the army (fanjbal) and are not liable to military service. The Bhum tenure
prevails throughout Malani and is common in the parganas of Sauchor and Jalor. The chief
Bhumias’ estates were founded before the Rahtor conquest.
In the case of all the jagir estates and some of the Bhumia holdings succession is by
primogeniture. The jagirdars pay to the Darbar an annual revenue known as rehh which
amounts to 8 per cent, of the annual income. Military service is rendered at the rate of one
horseman for each thousand rupees of revenue, and one camel or footman for fractions of one
thousand rupees exceeding R750 and R500, respectively. In times of emergency the jagirdars
are bound to serve the Darbar at their own expense with all their followers.
The only hereditary office-bearer of note is the Thakur of Pokaran. This nobleman holds
the office of pardhan by virtue of which he attests all grants of lands and villages made by the
Darbar, and is entitled to a seat on the Khawass or behind the Maharaja on an elephant on all
state occasions. Two other persons, though not office-bearers, also perform hereditary duties.
The Thakur of Bagri marks the new Chief on his installation with blood drawn from his own
thumb and binds on the Chief’s sword, and the Barath of the village of Mandiar invokes
blessings at the weddings aud installation of a Chief, in return for which service he receives
from the Darbar a robe of honour and an elephant.
III.—The following nobles are entitled by their position to separate notice ;—
(1) Thakur Mangal Singh of Pokaran is a Rahtor of the Champawat sept descended
from a brother of Rao Jodha. The family, which
Pokaran.
was originally settled at Bhinmal, came to Pokaran
in the time of Maharaja Abhay Singh. The estate is situated some 80 miles north of Jodhpur
and comprises one hundred villages yielding an annual income of about R93,000. Thakur
Mangal Singh was a son of the Thakur of Daspan and was adopted by the late Thakur of
Pokaran. He is twenty-two years of age, was educated at the Mayo College, has passed the
University Entrance Examination, and is now a member of the Maharaja’s Council. He
succeeded to the estate in 1877. He has two infant sons, Chain Singh and Sukh Singh. As
already noticed, this Thakur is the hereditary Pardhan of the State.
(2) Thakur Chatar Singh of Nimaj, a descendant of Rao Suja through the latter’s son
Udai, holds an estate of ten villages situated at
Nimaj. about 60 miles south-east of Jodhpur. The estate
yields an income of some R36,000. The Thakur is thirty-nine years of age and was adopted by
the late Thakur of Nimaj from the connected family of Ramgarh. He succeeded to the estate
in 1870, and has one son Pritbwi Singh, aged three years. The nearest relations are members
of the Ramgarh, Nawara, Saisra, and Agewa families.
(3) Thakur Chain Singh of Asop, a descendant of Kumpa, a brother of Rao Jodha,
holds an estate some 50 miles north-east of Jodh¬
Asop. pur, consisting of 4$ villages yielding an
10 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

annual revenue of about R30,000. The estate pays as rekh to the Darbar about R3,120.
Thakur Chain Singh, who is now thirty years of age, is a son of Thakur Daulat Singh of
Barnia, having been adopted by his cousin, Thakur Sheonath Singh. He succeeded to the estate
in 1873, and is now a member of the State Council. He has one son, Bath Singh, aged eight
years, and two uncles, Bherun Singh and Zorawar Singh.
(4) Thakur Bijay Singh of Rian, a Raktor of the Mertia clan, holds eight villages yielding
an annual income of about Ro6,000. One village
Rian.
has been assigned for the support of the Tbakur’s
great-uncle Himmat Singh. The Thakur, who is twenty-two years of age, succeeded his father
Thakur Gliamir Singh in 1878. He was educated at the Mayo College. He has one brother,
Fath Singh, and four uncles, Lachhman Singh, Bhagwat Singh, Mul Singh, and Rirmal
Singh. The families of Bikharnia, Bijathal, Dabri, and Khera are closely connected with
Rian.
(5) Thakur Shimbhu Singh of Awa, a Champawat Rahtor, holds an estate of fourteen
villages situated 60 miles south-east of Jodhpur
Awa.
and yielding an annual income of about R16,000.
The Thakur, who is twenty-four years of age, was educated at the Mayo College and succeeded
his father Thakur Devi Singh on the latter’s death in 1876. He has one son, Pratap Singh,
aged six years, one brother, Sheodan Singh, who has been adopted by the Thakur of Lambian,
and one uncle, Ranjit Singh, who has been adopted by the Thakur of Kohat.
(6) Thakur Fath Singh of Ras, a Rahtor Rajput, descended through Udaiji from Rao
Suja, holds an estate of seventeen villages yielding
Ras.
an income of R40,000, situated 70 miles east of
Jodhpur. Two villages, with an income of R2,500, have been assigned to uncles of the
Thakur. Thakur Fath Singh, who is now (1893) eighteen years of age, succeeded his father
Thakur Partap Singh. His father was a member of the Council up to 1868. The Thakur’s
brother Bhupal Singh is adopted by the Thakur of Agewa. He has also a brother Balwant
Singh, a nephew Hanwant Singh, an uncle Hamir Singh, and a cousin Mahtab Singh.
(7) Thakur Hari Singh Of Raipur is also descended from Rao Udai. He holds an estate
of 384 villages lying 64 miles east of Jodhpur,
i Raipur.
the annual income of which is about R44,000.
Three of the villages have been assigned for the maintenance of brothers of the Thakur, and
three to servants of the estate as a reward for good service. Thakur Hari Singh is the nephew
and adopted son of the late Thakur Lachhman Singh, whom he succeeded in 1879. He is now
twenty-eight years of age. His nearest relations are his natural father Bhabhut Singh who is
also his uncle by adoption, his uncle Bane Singh and his cousins Madan Singh, Ram Singh,
Gobardan Singh, and Sohan Singh. The families of Rampura and Lilaya are closely con¬
nected.
(8) Thakur Fath Singh of Kherwa is a Rahtor Rajput descended from Rao Jodha, the
founder of the State. His estate, which comprises
Kherwa.
eleven villages with an annual income of about
R2,000, lies 46 miles south of Jodhpur. Owing to the minority of the proprietor, the manage¬
ment is at present vested in the Court of Wards. Thakur Fath Singh, who is now four years
of age, succeeded his father in 1888. The late Thakur, Lachhman Singh, whose services in the
Mutiny gained him the title of Rao Bahadur from the British Government, was, like his pre¬
decessor, Thakur Sanwant Singh, a member of the State Council. Thakur Fath Singh who has
no near relatives, is connected with the families of Balera, Butis, and Babra.
(9) Thakur Sangram Singh of Bhadrajan is also a descendant of Rao Jodha. His
estate of twenty-seven villages is situated 44 miles
Bhadrajan.
south of Jodhpur and yields an income of about
R32,000. Five of the villages have been assigned in maintenance, three of them to brothers
of the Thakur and two to servants of the family. Thakur Sangram Singh, who is over forty-
nine years of age, succeeded his father Thakur Indra Bhan in 1856. His grandfather,
Thakur Bakhta war Singh, was a Musahib (Minister) during the reign of Maharaja MaD
Singh. The present Thakur has one son, Partap Singh, aged thirty years, and no other near
relations. His nearest connection is Thakur Sardar Singh of Rama.
(10) Thakur Bakhtawar Singh of Agewa, a descendant of Rao Udai, holds three villages
50 miles to the east of Jodhpur, with an annual
Agewa.
income of about R13,000. The Thakur, who is
 RAHTOR STATES—JODHPUR. 11

now fifty years of age, succeeded his father Thakur Sheonath Singh in 1844. He has no near
relations, but has adopted Bhupal Singh of Ras and is connected with the families of lias,
Nimaj, Moira, and Lambian.
(11) Thakur Arjun Singh of Kantalia is a Kumpawat Rahtor descended from a brother
of Rao Jodha. His estate, which consists of twelve
Kantalia.
villages with an income of about R 14,000, lies 60
miles to the south-east of Jodhpur. The Thakur is thirty years of age and succeeded the
late Thakur Gordhan Singh by adoption. His original family was that of Dudor. He has
no near relatives, but is connected with the Asop and Chandawal families.
(12) Thakur Sheo Singh of Alniawas. is a Mertia Rahtor descended from Duda, brother
of Rao Suja. The Alniawas estate comprises
Alniawas.
four villages 70 miles east of Jodhpur yielding an
annual income of about R13,000. The estate, which is embarrassed, is at present under the
management of the Darbar. Thakur Sheo Singh, who is now eleven years old, belonged origin¬
ally to the Jalsu family and succeeded the late Thakur of Alniawas in 1888. He is now at the
Mayo College. The Thakur has no near relatives. The Jagirdars of Jalsu and Rian are his
nearest connections.
The twelve Satdars mentioned above are all Sarayats (page 9). None of them holds
any estate under the British Government.
The following are the most prominent officials
Officials. .
in Marwar: —
(1) Mahta Sardar Singh, the Diwan of the State and a member of the Council, is fifty-
five years of age. He receives a yearly salary of R12,000 and has two villages with an
annual income of R4,375. Mahta Sardar Singh succeeded his father Mahta Bijay Singh, Rai
Bahadur, on the death of the latter in September 1892. Mahta Bijay Singh, who origin¬
ally came from Kishangarh in the reign of Maharaja Man Singh, was formerly Hakim of Nagor.
He held the office of Diwan in 1851, 1868, 1872, and from 1876 to his death. His good ser¬
vices and ability were recognized by the bestowal on him of the title of Rai Bahadur by
the British Government, and of the single tazim by his Chief. The latter honour is enjoyed
by the present Diwan, whose duties, however, are of a comparatively unimportant character,
(2) Munshi Hardayal Singh, Rai Bahadur, is Superintendent of the Sardars' Court,
Secretary to the Musahib Ala, a member of the Council, and Superintendent of Malani. He
receives a yearly salary of R13,200. Munshi Hardayal Singh, who is by caste a Kayastha, was
originally an Extra Assistant Commissioner in the Punjab, and has received the single tazim
and a gold anklet from the Darbar.*
(3) Kaviraj Murardan, a member of the Council, and head of the Faujdari (Criminal)
Court, is by caste a Charan and is Court Poet of Marwar. He is now fifty-six years of
age and was formerly head of the Diwani (Civil) and subsequently of the Appellate Court.
He has received the honour of the single tazim from his Chief. He enjoys a grant of
two villages and an annual salary in cash of R8,400.
(4) Joshi Askarn, member of the Council, was formerly City Kotwal and Kiladar (Chief
Constable and Castellan), and subsequently held charge of the old Record Office. He is a
Brahman by caste, and is forty-nine years of age. He has received the single tazim aud
holds two villages in addition to his annual salary of R3,600.
(5) Hanwant Chand, Bhandari, a member of the Council, is also Superintendent of the
Appellate Court. He was formerly Residency Yakil and afterwards Vakil in attendance on
the Agent to the Governor-General. Hanwant Chand, who is fifty-five years of age, is by
caste a Bhandari. He holds a grant of one village aud receives an annual salary of R4,80O.
(6) Mahta Amrit Lai, a member of the Council and head of the Dewani (Civil) Court,
is a Mahajan by caste. He is fifty-seven years of age and has one village in addition to his
annual salary of R3,600. This officer's father, who accompanied the late Maharaja Takht
Singh from Ahmadnagar, was formerly Diwan of the State.
(7) Munshi Hira Lai, a member of the Council, by caste a Kayastha, is fifty-nine
years of age. He is hereditary Raj Munshi or Kharita-navis (writer of complimentary letters)
and formerly held the offices of Vakil w7ith the Agent to the Governor-General and Munsarim
(Superintendent) of the Sardars' Court.

* Munshi Hardayal Singh was killed, while these pages were in the press, by a fall from his horse.

B 2
12 CHIEFS ANT) LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

(8) Pandit Snkhdeo Prasad, B.A., is a member of the Council and Judicial Secretary to
the Musahib Ala. This officer who is twenty-eight years of age is a Kashmiri Pandit. His
father was Pandit Sheonarayan, Private Secretary to His Highness the Maharaja.
(9) Pandit Jivanand, a Brahman, thirty-eight years of age, is Assistant Superintendent
of the Court of Sardars and was formerly Private Secretary to His Highness the Maharaja of
Mandi.
(10) Munshi Kishori Lai, Rai Bahadur, Superintendent of Police, a Kayastha by caste,
aged forty-two years, was formerly an Inspector of Police in the Ajmere District. He received
the title of Rai Bahadur on the 1st January 1892,

BIKANIR.

The Chief of the Bikanir State is His Highness Maharaja Raj Rajeshwar
Chief.
Saroman Sri Ganga Singh Bahadur. His
Highness, who was born at Bikanir on the 13th
October 1880, is a Rahtor Rajput and is the adopted son of his elder half-brother, the late Maha¬
raja Dungar Singh. The natural father of both the late and present Chiefs was Maharaj Lai
Singh, a descendant of Maharaja Gaj Singh who ruled Bikanir from A. D. 1745 to 1788. The
eldest branch and a younger branch of Maharaja Gaj Singh's descendants occupied the gadi
until the death of Maharaja Sardar Singh, the immediate predecessor and adoptive father of
Maharaja Dungar Singh. Maharaja Ganga Singh succeeded to the Chiefship on the 31st
August 1887. The Chief, who is betrothed to a daughter of His Highness the Maharana of
Udaipur, is unmarried and his nearest relations
Relatives.
are his second cousins, the descendants of Maharaj
Dalel Singh, a grandson of Maharaja Gaj Singh. Their relationship stands thus—

MAHARAJ DALEL SINGH.

Maharai Sakat Singh. Maharaj Madan Singh. Maharaj Kharak Singh. Maharaj Khuman Singh.

I I . . I I
1. 1 1
1 Maharaj Bheron Maharaj Makhan Maharaj Takht
Singh. Singh. Singh—adopted
1 1
His Highness
Maharaj Nahar
His Highness Singh.
Maharaja Dungar Maharaja Ganga
Singh, adopted Singh, the present
Chief, adopted
1 1 1
by Maharaja Maharaj Maharaj Maharaj
Sardar Singh. by His Highness Jaswant Singh. Jawani Singh. Nahar Singh,
Maharaja Dungar adopted by
Singh. Maharaj Takht Singh.

After these the nearest relatives are descendants of Maharaja Gaj Singh through other
lines. These are numerous. The present Chief is the fourteenth in descent from Rao Bika, the
founder of the State, and the fifteenth in descent from Rao Jodha of Jodhpur, and is the twenty -
first occupant of the Bikanir gadi. The only im¬
Marriages.
portant connections by marriage which have been
formed in recent times by the ruling family are those with Udaipur, Alwar, Kachh-Bhuj,
Partabgarh, and Rewa. Intermarriages between the Meywar and Bikanir ruling houses have
been frequent in the past. The first on record was that of Rao Lunkaran, Rao Bika's successor*
with a daughter of Rana Rai Mai, and the last that of Maharana Sardar Singh of Udaipur with
a sister of Maharaja Ratn Singh, which took place in 1839. Maharaja Sardar Singh in 1855
married a princess of Alwar, the daughter of Maharao Raja Bani Singh of that State. In the
year 1876 Maharaja Dungar Singh married a princess of Kachh, a sister of the present Maha¬
rao. In 1832 Maharaja Sardar Singh married a daughter of the Maharawat of Partabgarh
and in 1836 he married a niece of the Maharaja of Rewa. In former times also several mar.
riages took place with Jaipur and Jaisalmer. No lady of the Bikanir house has married
into Jaisalmer since the reign of Maharaja Sur Singh (1613—1631), who in consequence of the
murder by the Bhatis of a son of his niece, the wife of Rawal Bhim, swore that no Bikanir
princess should again go to Jaisalmer. This oath has been considered as binding by all his suc¬
cessors. The following is a brief abstract of the pedigree of the ruling family since the days
of Rao Jodha :—
 HAUTOR STATES—LIKANIR 13

2> ©s <3
ca 2Q • 8'
e» -*-3 _, 6l
_ a
"to ^
*»
© eh* a
a a) GQ
K a
' u
£
t *
© .© c3 flf ».
aS -«o __^_ - £ -8 « tfi
M © $ £ §>£ §
*£»
g
S4
*- S *5 a
.a 2 p§
6D
m
a
I I to bo
c s
cc
CO
C8 K
_T3
cd
S
pd
50
•c rd
pC 50 50 .2
03 ca
fc. 50 P
p
-a _cg —
Cfi — cfl

O s p 00 n'
cc
pS?-
c3
d. o3
5 ft •r^
cJ
| « rd a H

« o
rd*
rd 50
CO. 50 rd
50
.2
c«
“ d pcf
c/j -— o
CO ^3 u I1
- Pt bC 02 ci
rd =S

o
C3 a
•pH
02
s pq B

-§ °
-4 .a "ft
ca CS %
$s Jtf
•m
u
ca
<32
S 0B
•«\ a>

§3
a <d
F-i ?^
ft
a
■ *pH
50
P
0)
rG -a
50
•8

8
m
a)
. ns .
a
e
e4-*
. 50
.2
CO _
a I pd
cS J-S. cc
© P
* -M
cS a 00a
e <1 hi o
aS
£
P.02
* CQ

© 8

■5 ^
00 e
60 a 52
h cS „s— -a M
. «
v. | .5
23 ->8e ^
©
a. <3
B
ca
»*
•pH o •
'■d c3 Es
S2 a
c8 ©
fti
02 ■A
-4-2
" j -5 ‘ ■«.*
S'CQ ^ I1
« 2=5
8
M •pH
*H
p8
0
ft)
23
60
A
60
I JS ^
a a s'
•pH
02
23
60
•iH
02 «. .2 15
CO 02

’a
• © a -a =0 -rS
•i-4
GQ ca •M 2fl
ee ^
ca £ ,d
•§>*>
' g.l1
a *2<o
tf o "
~C3
00
•pH <12
rd
e
a M CO

<d

•G 02
50
c
rd .>
50 -5
«s
»8 .2
.g>
p8
*8 ©2
8 t*%—
S
©■,
<4 .8 CQ pda ~a §
*e* £
CQ S
r-H "d

■5-
- *. 8 §■ <J pq (2 02
© 8 00
«Q- pfi 02
b ‘ 8
e
—
N 50 T3
e
Pti b .2
ft)
& .33 .
e p
e
p8 pd50
Kt
I a
m .2
• «3
*
3
=5 fi
*K»
© pQ
EH
P&
©
I
rd50 o
d
’§1 US
■S Si
Eg
•s.
-S
•*>
s*
(§ |* rd50
•w
.2 rd50
*S». •m d
grd
P —co — - « 50
p«5 a .2
I 2 d PP
e3 5 ►8e O
J *
“■g S-
I pd
50
pd
50
d d
52
' ^P ~_
d
B Om
14 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPDTANA.

The conquest of the State'was commenced in 1465 by Bika, son of Rao Jodba of Mar war,
and was carried out mainly by him, his brother
Histoiical outline. Rida, and bis uncle Kandhal. Rao Bika founded

Bikanir city in 1465. Owing to combinations formed against them by disaffected Thakurs
and external enemies, Bika’s immediate successors had, until Rao Kalyan Singh succeeded
to the gadi in 1541, much difficulty in keeping their hold on the territory which he had
overrun. Kalyan Singh’s efforts to consolidate his dominions were successful, and he left
the State in good order to his son Rao Rai Singh. This Chief realized the advantage which
would accrue to him from securing the support of the rulers of Delhi, and accordingly did
homage at Ajmer to the Emperor Akbar by whom he was employed in Gujarat and the
Dakhan. In return for his services he received the title of Baja and a grant of fifty parganas
in which were comprised not only the whole of the present Bikanir State, but certain territories
which are now included in Jodhpur and the Punjab, as well as a jagir in Gujarat. His
o-randson and great-grandson Raja Kara Singh (A. D. 1631—1669) and Raja Anup Singh
(A. D. 1669—1698) were also generals of note. The former was long employed in the Dakhan,
where he died and where he received from the Mughals the grant of a jagir situated in what
is now the Nizam’s territory. This jagir is still held by the Bikanir Chiefs. The title of
Maharaja was conferred on Anup Singh by the Emperor Aurangzeb in recognition of the
services rendered by him at the siege of Golconda. The present titles of the Bikanir Chiefs
were conferred by the Emperor Shah Alam on Maharaja Gaj Singh in 1752.
The first intercourse that is known to have taken place between the British Government
and Bikanir occurred in 1808, when Maharaja Surat Singh applied for protection against
attacks from Jodhpur. This request was refused, but a prayer for help was granted in 1818
on the occurrence of an insurrection headed by the Thakur of Churu and supported from out¬
side. A formal treaty was then signed with the government of the Marquess of Hastings by
which the integrity of Bikanir was guaranteed and the Chief undertook to act in subordinate
co-operation with the British Government and to form no connection with other Chiefs or
States. Since that time, though there have been occasional internal difficulties, external
troubles have ceased. During the Mutiny of 1857 the State rendered loyal service to the
Supreme Government and was rewarded in 1861 by the transfer to it from the Sirsa
district of the pargana of Tibi of which the Darbar had previously claimed possession.

Maharaja Surat Singh took his seat on the gadi in the year 1787 and was succeeded in
1831 by his eldest son Maharaja Ratn Singh who died in 1852. His son and successor Maha¬
raja Sardar Singh ruled till his death in 1872, when he was succeeded by his adopted son Maha¬
raja Dungar Singh. The present Chief is the adopted son of Maharaja Dungar Singh.

The leading men of the State are either hereditary nobles, hereditary office-bearers,
or recently-imported officials. Of these the first
class falls into four divisions : (1) descendants of
families which were in Bikanir before the Rahtor invasion at the end of the fifteenth cen¬
tury ; (2) descendants of Bika the first Chief,
Hereditary nobles.
or of one of his uncles or brothers; (3) descend¬
ants of later Chiefs; and (4) descendants of persons related by marriage to former Chiefs.
The western and northern portions of the State were held at the arrival of the Rahtors by
Bhatis, who had wrested them in former times from the Pramars or Puars. There are at
present some families of Puar Rajputs in the State, but these are of later origin and not of
much importance. The older families are all extinct. One of the first acts of Rao Bika was to
secure the neutrality of the Bhatis by marrying the daughter of their leading Chief, Rao Shaikha
of Pungal. The Bhatis were subsequently stripped of a great portion of their possessions
including the stronghold of Bhatner. They now hold only fifty-nine villages, of which thirty-
Rao of Pungal. The other leading Bhatis are the Thakur of Bithnok, the
one belong to the
Rao of Jaimalser, and the Thakurs of Kharbara and Satasar, but none of them has much
influence. A daughter of the late Thakur of Satasar was married to Maharaja Dungar Singh
and is now the senior Maharani. The largest estates are at present in the hands of members of
the second and third divisions, namely descendants of Rao Bika, of his uncles or his brothers or
of subsequent Chiefs. Thakur of Mahajan, a descend¬
The most important of them is the
ant of Ratn Singh, a son of Roo Lunkaran. Next to him come the Rawat Of Rawatsar, who is
 UAIITOR STATES—BIKANIR. 15

descended from Rao Bika's uncle Kandhal, and the Thakur of Bhukarka, a descendant of Rao
Jetsi, wlio hold respectively twenty-seven and twenty-eight villages. These, together with
the Thakur of Bidasar, are known as Sarayats from the place near the staircase which they
occupv in Darbar. The next largest estates are those of Jasana, Sidhmukh, and Ajitpura, with
twenty-five, eighteen, and sixteen villages respectively held by the Saiangot descendants of
Sankhu, with twenty-four villages held by Kishen Singhot descendants of Raja
Rao Jetsi ;
Rai Singh; and Rajpura, with nineteen villages of which the Thakur is descended from Rao
Jetsi through the latter's son Bbim Raj. The descendants of Rao Bika's brother Bida,
known as Bidawats, hold what is termed the Bidahad territory near Sujangarh, which for¬
merly belonged to the Moliel Rajputs. None of their estates are of great extent, the
largest, Bidasar, comprising only twelve villages; but owing to their compact situation and to
the strong family feeling which has generally prevailed among their owners, they form in the
aggregate a body which has till recently been fairly able to hold its own against oppressions on
the part of the Darbar. At the beginning of the present century the principal land-holders
of the State were the Thakur of Mahajan who, though shorn of a considerable portion of his
possessions, is still the premier noble of Bikanir, and the Thakurs of Bahadaran and Churu.
The two latter were descendants of Kandhal of the Banirot and Saindasot lines, and their
estates consisted of about a hundred villages and eighty villages respectively. The Banirots
were expelled from Bahadaran by Maharaja Surat Singh in 1818, and the Saindasots from
Churu by Maharaja Sardar Singh in 1854 after long-continued struggles with the Darbar. The
heads of both families received a few villages by way of maintenance, and are still looked up to
as persons of importance. In the third division also are comprised the descendants of Maha¬
raja Gaj Singh, who are known as Rajwis and hold some twenty-two villages. These persons
are very numerous and their rank entitles them to notice, but they are greatly hampered by
debt and are not of any political importance. The most noteworthy of them in recent years
was Maharaj Lai Singh, who was for some time President of Maharaja Dungar Singh's
Council and, who was the father of that Chief and of his brother, the present Chief. About
thirty villages are held by members of the fourth division who are known as parsangis.
These are also individually unimportant.
The hereditary nobles are distinguished among themselves by their respective positions in
Darbar and by the possession of tire greater or lesser tazim, eighty-three enjoying the latter
and twenty-eight the former honour. Succession among the Tazimi Pattadars* is by primo¬
geniture and, though in some branches partition used to take place, this is no longer the case.
As a rule, a grant of villages or of land for cultivation is made to the younger sons. Some
villages, and especially those held by Rajwis, are exempt from the payment of revenue. The rest
pay revenue which varies in amount in different estates, but is generally about one-third of the
income. Originally this liability took the form of providing fighting men for the Chiefs,—
cavalry in the case of the larger estates, and camelmen or footmen in that of the smaller. The
obligation has now in all cases been commuted for a money payment. All pattaclars on suc¬
ceeding to their estates pay one year's revenue as nazarana (fee on succession) to the Darbar.
They also pay neota on a change in the Chiefship, as well as various other occasional charges.
In return they receive from the Darbar presents (rijbakhshish) when marriages and
funerals take place in their own families. Both the neota and rijbaJchshish were till recently
of uncertain amount, depending on the pleasure of the Chief and the strength of the Thakur.
On the accession of the present Chief, the Council of Regency found it necessary to lay down
a definite scale in both cases for its own guidance during the minority. What has been said
above in regard to the Pungal, Mahajan, Churu, and Bahadaran estates shows how the Darbar
has in the course of continued struggles with the leading nobles strengthened its own position
and weakened theirs. Colonel Powlett in his Gazetteer has expressed his opinion that there is
no State in Rajputana in w7hich the old feudal tenure has so nearly passed away and the power
of the Chief is so absolute as in Bikanir. It has thus come about that no single noble is in a
position to resist or even very seriously trouble the Darbar, though as lately as 18.84 a com¬
bination of several rendered it necessary to send a brigade from Nasirabad to restore order.
None of the nobles of Bikanir holds any estate from the British Government.
The hereditary office-bearers are the descendants of the men who accompanied Rao Bika
from Jodbpur or of those who were introduced
Hereditary office-bearers.
by subsequent Chiefs. Rao Bika's principal

The grant by which an estate is held is termed a patta, and the grantee is styled a pattadar.
1C CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN EAJPUTANA.

companions were Mahta Lai Singh and Lakhani Baid, Bar Singh Bachawat, Baga Mushraf,
Gopal Bararia, Salaji Rathi, Napa Sankhla, and Bela Parihar. The Baids have frequently
held the highest offices in the State, such as those of Diwan and Vakil, and have received
much honour from the Darbar. Thakursi Baid was Diwan in the time of Raja Rai Singh
and was subsequently Governor of Bhatner fort. His descendant Hindu Mai was Vakil at
Delhi in 1833 and received from Maharaja Ratn Singh the title of Maharao which is still
held by the head of the family. Members of the family held the office of Diwan under
Maharajas Ratn Singh, Surat Singh, Sardar Singh, and Dungar Singh.
The descendants of Bar Singh Bachawat rose to considerable importance, but were exter¬
minated by Raja Sur Singh (1613—1631) with the exception of one boy, who was absent with
his mother’s family at Udaipur. From him is descended Mahta Rai Panna Lai, C.I.E., Diwan
of Meywar. (See page 36.)
The descendants of Baga Mushraf still hold the office of Mushraf or head of the stables.
Of the Bararias several are still living and are considered to have a claim to employment. One
of them is now Darogha of the Modi-khana (Commissariat). Salaji Rathi* s descendants hold
at present several minor posts. One held the office of Lekhan (writer of grants) under Raja Rai
Singh, and his son Kalyan Das was Diwan to Raja Sur Singh. Mahta Makan Rai of the same
family was Diwan to Maharaja Anup Singh, and Ram Lai Dwarkani to Maharaja Sardar
Singh. The descendants of Napa Sankla held the post of Kiladar (Castellan) of Bikanir till
the time of Raja Sur Singh whose displeasure they incurred. Many of them were killed and the
rest fled to Marwar. Bela Parihar was the founder of a numerous family, of which two branches
have been continuously employed, the first in the care of the Raj horses and the other in
personal attendance on the Chiefs. They are known as Sahnis and Parihars respectively.
When Raja Rai Singh went to Jaisalmer in 1595 to marry the daughter of the Rawal, he
brought back with him two officials of note, Karamsi Rakhicha, whom he placed in charge of
his wardrobe and jewellery, and Kallaji Tosniwal Kothiari. To the former family belonged
Madan Chand, Diwan to Maharaja Ratn Singh, and Lachi Ram and his sons Man Mai and
Gyan Mai, who were all Diwans to Maharaja Sardar Singh on several occasions. A son of
the last-named, Mahta Mangal Chand, is at present a member of the Council of Regency.
Kallaji was an inhabitant of Nagor and was placed on his arrival in Bikanir in charge of the
fixed establishments (Karkhanajat).
Raja Sur Singh on his return from his marriage at Phalodi was accompanied by Urja
Kolhar and Sidhayach Kishnaji. The former of these was placed in charge of the Raj Daftar
or Secretariat and his descendants are considered to have a claim to service. To the latter was
assigned the care of the library which is one of some celebrity. His descendants hold villages in
the State. The title of Kaviraj (or Court Poet) was conferred on them by Maharaja Sardar Singh,
who also granted them the honour of the greater tazim. Since the arrival of the family
in the State the compilation of the annals of Bikanir has been entrusted to them. The prin¬
cipal source of information ift all matters relating to Bikanir history is the kayant composed
by Dayal Das who died recently at a very advanced age.
Raja Karn Singh married a lady from Rampur, and brought with him Khianji Rampuria
to whom was entrusted the duty of copying all State grants. This duty is still performed by
his descendants.
With Maharaja Anup Singh came the ancestor of the present hereditary copyists of
kharitas or complimentary letters, and of the Darbar Treasurer. Other minor officials are
descended from persons who were brought into the State by Maharajas Gaj Singh and Surat
Singh.
Of the new officials of the State the most important have been lent by the British Govern¬
ment or have been introduced during the minority of the present Chief.
The accouut of the hereditary nobles given in the preceding paragraphs has shown that
no single member of this class is now of very great importance. The following may, however,
be mentioned:—
(1) Thakur Hari Singh of Mahajan, a Rahtor Rajput of the Ratn Singhot family of
the Bikawat clan, is the premier noble of Bikanir.
Individual noble*. tt- , , , . , . .. ,,
Mis estate, which lies in the northern portion
Mahajan. 0f ^ Lunkarnsar pargana, consists of ninety-
seven villages, of which the estimated annual value is R64,000.* It pays a yearly revenue

* The incomes of the pattadnrs are roughly estimated and cannot be relied upon as accurate.
 RAHTOR, STATES—BIKANIR. 17

to the State of R15,257. The present Thakur, Hari Singh, is seventeen years of age and is being
educated at tie Mayo College, Ajmer. The last Thakur but one, Amar Singh, was suspected
of being concerned in a supposed attempt to poison Maharaja Dungar Singh in 1874 and was
deposed by the Darbar, the estate being made over to his eldest son, Ram Singh. Thakur Ram
Singh, who received and afterwards forfeited the title of Rao Raja, held the estate till 1883,
when he was removed and banished under the orders of the Government of India for his share
in the revolt against the Chief which took place in that year. Being childless Thakur Ram
Singh was allowed to adopt his brother Sheonath Singh’s son, Hari Singh, the present Thakur.
Thakur Ram Singh, who resided during his banishment with his sister’s husband, His Highnees
the late Maharawal Bairi Sal of Jaisalmer, was allowed to return to Bikanir in 1888, but is
obliged to live at the capital. Thakur Hari Singh’s nearest relatives are his adoptive father
Thakur Ram Singh, his real father Thakur Sheonath Singh, and his uncles Thakurs Bakhtawar
Singh and Bhupal Singh. The last named was for a time Commandant of the Imperial
Service Troops of the State. The estate is under the management of the Court of Wards.
(2) Rawat Man Singh of Rawatsar is a Rahtor Rajput of the Kandhlot clan
descended from Kandhal, uncle of Rao Bika and
Rawatsar. brother of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur, His estate
consists of twenty-eight villages and lies to the west of the Nuhar Tahsil. The annual income
is about R30,000, and the revenue payable to the Darbar is ft 10,481. The estate with the title of
Rawat was conferred on Raghu Das for his services in the Dakhan and Gujarat with Raja Rai
Singh. The late Rawat, who was sixteenth in descent from Kandhal, was the son of Rav/at
Ranjit Singh, who died in 1885. He died recently (1893) at the age of about twenty-two
years and was succeeded after a short interval by his posthumous son Man Singh. The. estate
is under the management of the Court of Wards.
(3) Thakur Nathu Singh of Bhukarka, a Rahtor Rajput of the Sarangot family of
the Bikawat clan, holds an estate consisting of
Bhukarka.
thirty-three villages in the north of the Nuhar
Tehsil. The estimated income of the estate is R2,4,700 and the revenue payable to the Darbar is
R8 401. The Thakur is about fifty-four years of age. He succeeded his father Thakur
Khet Singh in 1874. The estate is said to have been originally conferred by Raja Rai Singh
on Sarang, the ancestor of the family, in recognition of the good advice which he gave to his
Chief to fight under Akbar in Kashmir where Raja Rai Singh rendered conspicuous service.
Subsequently in 1735 Thakur Kishan Singh was instrumental in helping Maharaja Zorawar
Singh to repel an attack from the Chiefs of Jodhpur and Nagor. The present Thakur has
one son, Kan Singh.
(4) Thakur Hukm Singh of Bidasar, a Rahtor Rajput of the Keshodasot family of the
Bidawat clan, is the head of the descendants of
Bidasar.
Bida. His estate, which consists of twelve villages
only, is situated near Sujangarh in the region which formerly belonged to the Mohel Rajputs
and is now known as the Bidahad. The estate, which pays ft5,570 as revenue to the Darbar,
has an annual income of about ftl3,000. The present Thakur, Hukm Singh, is fifteen years of
age and is being educated at the Mayo College. He succeeded his father Thakur Bahadur
Singh in 1883, the latter having been deposed for his share in the coalition against the Darbar
which took place in that year. Thakur Bahadur Singh, who is a man of much intelligence,
lived in banishment at Deoli until 1888, since which time he has been permitted to reside in
Bikanir. He holds no paid office, but performs several useful honorary duties, especially in
connection with the “ Walter Krit Rajputra Hit Karini Sabha.”* The estate is under the
management of the Court of Wards.
(5) Rao Mahtab Singh of Pungal is a Bbati Rajput of the Pungaliva clan and is de¬
scended from Rao Shaikha, who, as noticed above,
Pungal.
was in possession of all the western portion of the
State when the Rahtor invasion took place, and whose daughter Rao Bika married. The estate
which is situated on the borders of Jaisalmer and Bahawalpur now consists of thirty-one villages
and yields an annual income of about R22,000. It pays no revenue to the Darbar. The present
Rao, a young man of about twenty-six years of age, is a son of the Thakur of Karnisar,
a junior branch of the Pungal family. He was adopted by the late Rao Raghunath Singh,

* Siuce this whs written 'ihakur Bahadur Singh has been appointed a member of the Council of Regency.

C
18 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

who died in 1890, and who though he never occupied any prominent position in the State, was
much respected.
(6) Thakur Lai Singh of Churn is a Rahtor Rajput of the Saindasot family of the Kandh-
lot clan. As already mentioned, the Churu
estate was formerly one of the three most
important in Bikanir and consisted of about eighty villages. The heads of the house were
generally in opposition to the Darbar which, owing to their distance from head-quarters, was
not in a position to control them effectively. The late Thakur was finally reduced to subjection
in 1856 and was deprived of his estate, five villages being given to him for maintenance. The
income of these is small and they are not liable to payment of revenue. The present Thakur
is about forty-seven years of age and much respected. He has been a member of the Council
of Regency since 1890. He has three sons. His first cousin, Thakur Pane Singh of Buchawas,
is Superintendent of the Girai or Police Department.

(7) Thakur Moti Singh of Sandwa, a Rahtor Rajput of the Manohar Dasot family of the
Bidawat clan, has an estate consisting of ten
Sandwa.
villages which yield an annual income of about
E12,500. The revenue payable to the Darbar is R4,300 a year. Thakur Moti Singh suc¬
ceeded his adoptive father Thakur Hir Singh in 1892. The late Thakur was implicated in
the disturbance of 1883 and his fort was demolished. He was subsequently allowed to rebuild
it. At the time of his death he was a member of the Council of Regency.

(8) Thakur Jagmal Singh of Bae, a Rahtor Rajput of the Sarangot family of the Bikawat
clan, holds an estate of fifteen villages which yields
Bae.
an income of about R22,550 and pays an annual
revenue of R7,201. The estate is situated in the north-eastern portion of the State between
Sardarshahr and Bahadaran. The pattadar was appointed a member of the Council of
Regency on the accession of the present Chief and held that post till his resignation in 1890.

(9) Thakur Jiwraj Singh, a Tanwar Rajput, holds four and a half villages, chiefly in
the Dungargarh Tahsil, which yield a revenue'of about R.7,500 and pay no revenue to the
Darbar. This Thakur was the uncle (mother’s brother) of the late Chief, Maharaja Dungar
Singh, and so became a person of some prominence. His daughter has recently been married
to His Highness the Maharaja of Jaipur. (See page 72.)

Of the Rajwis no single individual calls for special notice. The head of the family
by seniority is Maharaj Pane Singh, a great-grandson of Maharaja Gaj Singh. This
Chief left a number of sons, and at his death the eldest, Maharaja Raj Singh, succeeded
him. After the funeral rites had been performed, some of the other brothers, including
the second, Sultan Singh, who had recently tried to capture Raj Singh, fled. Maharaja
Raj Singh died ten days later and was succeeded by his son Pratap Singh, a boy of six
years of age. Surat Singh, Maharaja Raj Singh’s third brother, managed the affairs
of the State and very shortly afterwards on the death of Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1787
established himself on the gadi. His elder brother of the whole-blood, Chatar Singh, made
no objection. The Chiefship remained in this line till the death of Maharaja Sardai Singh
who adopted Maharaja Dungar Singh, a descendant of Maharaja Gaj Singh’s third son,
Chatar Singh. The children of the elder branch, descendants of Sultan Singh, have thus
remained excluded from the succession. Sultan Singh himself after leaving Bikanir fled to
Udaipur, where he died, leaving two sons, Guman Singh and Akhay Singh. These subse¬
quently came to Bikanir and received a revenue-free grant of villages.
Of the hereditary office-bearers the most important is (1) Mahta Mangal Chand,* a son of
Man Mai and grandson of Lachhi Ram Rakhicha,
Individual office-bearers.
both of whom were Diwans to Maharaja Sardar
Singh. Mahta Mangal Chand is now about thirty-seven years of age. He was formerly a
member of the Council of Maharaja Dungar Singh and on the constitution of the Council of
Regency be was appointed a member of it, a position which he still holds. Of the Baid
family the only one who holds office at present is (2) Maharao Sawai Singh, who is in charge

• Mahta Mangal Chand died on the 11th February 1894, while this work was in the press.
 RAHTOR STATES—BIKANIR. 19

o£ the wardrobe and toshakhana (treasure house).* The other leading members of the family
are (3) Rao Chatar Singh and (4) Mahta Abhay Singh. The following persons among others
who are now holding office belong to families which are considered to have a claim to employment:
Dalu Ram Modi, head of the Accounts Department; (6) Kaviraj Bheron Dan, Comman¬
(5)
dant of the Army (formerly a member of the Council of Regency); (7) Man Mai Kochar,
Tahsildar of Sardarshahr; (8) Lakshmi Chand Kochar, Vakil at Jaipur; (9) Indraj Mai
Kochar, Tahsildar of Lunkarnsar; (10) Dharm Chand Mushraf, head of the stables; (11)
Jethmal Sahni; (12) Sugan Chand Kothiari; (13) Amba Dan Charan, son of Dayal
Das, author of the Kij/ant; (14) Tej Kara Rampuriaj (15) Sugan Chand Mahta; and
(16) Man Singh Mahta.
Of the new officials it will suffice to notice the
New officials. ..
following: —

(1) Sodhi Hukm Singh, Rai Bahadur, a Jagirdar of the Punjab, Vice-President of the
Council of Regency. This gentleman, who had been in Government employ since 1866, had
been Mir Munshi to the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab from June 1875 to May 1886 and
had been an Extra Assistant Commissioner in that Province since 1873, was on the 14th
December 1888 appointed, on the recommendation of Sir James Lyall, Vice-President of
the Council. He received the title of Rai Bahadur on the 1st January 1893.

(2) Munshi Sohan Lai, Rai Sahib, Additional Member of the Council and Revenue
Officer, served in various capacities under the Government of the Punjab from 1861—1884, at
the end of which period he was Deputy Superintendent of Settlement in Jalandhar. He was
appointed Revenue Officer in Bikanir on the 1st April 1884'amd Additional Member of the
Council on the 14th July 1888. The title of Rai Sahib was conferred on him on the 24th
May 1893.
(3) Kazi Hamidulla was from 1855 to 1857 employed in the Ambala Settlement and
was afterwards a Munshi in the Bhartpur Political Agency. In 1859 he came to Bikanir on
the invitation of Maharaja Sardar Singh. He subsequently filled the offices of Vakil at
Jodhpur and Abu, of Criminal Judge and of Nazim, and was eventually appointed a Member
or the Appellate Court on the 26th December 1887.
(4) Seth Milap Chand, son of Multan Chand, Oswal, of Ajmere, was employed from 1859
to 1866 in various capacities in the Alwar State. After that he served for two years in the
Department of Revenue arrears in the Kotah State, was subsequently Gumashta to Rai
Bahadur Seth Mul Chand of Ajmer. 1883 as Customs
He came to the Bikanir State in
Officer, and was a Member of the Council of His Highness the Maharaja from 1884 to 1887
as well as Officer of Accounts. In 1887 he was reappointed as Customs Officer.

(5) Seth Nemi Chand, brother to Seth Milap Chand, was Civil Judge in Bikanir from
the 15th April 1884 to the 1st April 1886, when he was appointed Customs Officer. In the
following year he was appointed Officer of Accounts. In August 1891 he was transferred as
Nazim to Suratgarh. Seth Nemi Chand was a member of the Council of Regency from the
9th September to the 26th November 1887.
(6) Thaklir Chiman Singh, son of Thakur Shimbhu Singh, formerly a member of the
Jaipur Council, and nephew of Thakur Fath Singh of Naila, some time Diwan of Jaipur, was
appointed head of the Fixed Establishments on the 18th December 1890. (See page 79.)

(7) Pandit Ram Chandra Dube, an inhabitant of Benares, educated at the Government
College, Benares, was from 1881 to 1887 a Sanskrit teacher in the Government College at
Ajmer, and was appointed on the 14th November 1887 to be tutor to the Maharaja of
Bikanir. He subsequently received the additional title of Assistant Guardian to His Highness.

(8) Munshi Muhammad Ikbal Husain, a native of Delhi, was appointed Mir Munshi in
the Loharu State in 1858 and was subsequently Vakil for that State at Hisar. In Novem¬
ber 1868 he took service in Bikanir, where he has held various appointments. In March 1884
he was appointed Vakil with the Agent to the Governor-General at Abu.
(9) Lala Ganda Mai, a Jagirdar of the Punjab, son of Diwan Ranpat Rai of Sohdra,
became a Tahsildar in the Punjab in the year 1890 and was on the recommendation of His
Honour the Lieutenant-Governor appointed Sadr Nazim in Bikanir on the 7th April 1891.-

* On the death of Mahta Mangal Chand, Maharao Sawai Singh was appointed a member of the Council of
Regency. He took hie seat in March 1894.

c 2
20 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

(10) Lala Narain Das was employed on settlement work in the Punjab from June 1*63
to September 18*5 and was finally a Deputy Superintendent of Settlement. He officiated as a
Superintendent on two occasions. His services were letLt to the Bikanir State in September
18*5, when he was appointed Nazim of Suratgarh. Since that time he has held various
appointments as Nazim and is now posted at Reni.*

(11) Baba Gulab Singh was employed as Second Clerk in the Alwar Political Agency from
1870 to 1875 and as Head Clerk till 1879, when he became Kamdar of Nimrana. After hold¬
ing this appointment for eight years he took service in the Bikanir State, where he was
appointed Nazim of Sujangarh. He is now Nazim of Suratgarh.

KISHANGARH.

The Chief of the Kishangarh State is His Highness Maharaj Adhiraj Maharaja Sir
Sardul Singh Bahadur, G.C.I.E. The Maharaja
is a Rahtor Rajput and a descendant of the
conqueror of the State and the founder of the city of Kishangarh, Kishen Singh, the
second son of Maharaja Udai Singh (1583—1594) of Jodhpur. The State was confirmed
to Kishen Singh by the Emperor Akbar in 1594. The present Chief who was born on
the 10th December 1857 succeeded his father, the late Maharaja Prithwi Singh, on the
10th January 1880. The Maharaja is by religion a Hindu of the Ballabhkul Yaishnav
sect. He married in 1870 the eldest daughter of Rao Ummed Singh of Sirohi and has
one son, the heir-apparent Maharaj Eunwar Madan Singh, bom on the 2nd November
1884. His Highness has two brothers, Maharaj Jawani Singh and Maharaj Raghunath
Singh, and no other near relations. The Thakurs of Fathgarh and Ralaota are distant relatives,
being descended from former Chiefs of the State.

The Chiefships allied to Kishangarh by consanguinity are Jodhpur, Bikanir, Ratlam,

Jhabua, Sailana, Sitamau, and Idar. Marriages have taken place between the Kishaugarh
family and the Sesodia houses of Udaipur and Partabgarb, the Kachhwaha houses of
Jaipur and Alwar, the Hara houses of Bundi and Kotah, the Bhatis of Jaisalmer, the Jhalas,
and the Shaikhawats. The Maharaja’s grandmother, widow of Maharaja Mohkam Singh, was
daughter of Maharaj Kunwar Amar Singh of Udaipur, and his eldest sister was married to the
late Maharana Sajan Singh. The second sister was married to the late Maharaja Mangal Singh
of Alwar, the third sister is the wife of the present Maharaja of Jaipur, and the husband of
the fourth is the Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar. The Maharaj Kunwar of Kishangarh is betrothed
to the fourth daughter of the present Chief of Udaipur, and a niece of the Maharaja is
betrothed to the younger brother of the Maharao Raja of Bundi. Maharaja Sardul Singh’s
mother was a daughter of the late Raja Dhiraj Madho Singh of Shahpura,

* The services of this officer have recently been replaced at the disposal of the Government of the Punjab.
 RARTOR STATES—KISHANGARH. 21

The following table shows the Chiefs of the Kishangarh family from its commeuce-
ment:—

MAHARAJA KISHEN SINGH

(1597—1615).

Maharaja Sahasmal Bharmal.

(1615-18).

Rup Singh
(adopted by Maharaja
Hari Singh).
Maharaja Jagmal Singh Maharaja Hari Singh
(1618-28). (1628-43).

Maharaja Rup Singh

(1643-58).

Maharaja Man Singh

(1658—1706).

Maharaja Raj Singh

(1706-48).

Maharaja Sawant Singn Bahadur Singh Hir S iugh

(1748-64). (1764-81). (Ralaota family).

Maharaja Sardar Singh Birad Singh

(1764-66). (adopted by Maharaja
Sardar Singh).

Maharaja Birad Singh

(1766-88).

Maharaja Partap Singh

(1788-97).

Maharaja Kalyan Singh

(1797—1838).

Maharaja Mohkam Singh

(1838-40).

Maharaja Prithwi Singh

(1841-79)
(adopted from the Fathgarh
family).

Maharaja Sardul Singh,

the present Chi*-f
(succeeded 1880).
22 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

The first treaty with the British Government was made in the year 1818 by Maharaja
Kalyan Singh.

The leading men of the State fall into three divisions—(1) the Rajwis and hereditary
nobles, (2) the hereditary office-bearers, and (3) the
Leading men.
non-hereditary officials.

Of the first division the principal are the Rajwis, the descendants respectively of
Maharaja Prithwi Singh (the brothers of the
e ed ary o es. ruling Chief), of Maharaja Bahadur Singh (the
Fathgarh family), and of Maharaja Raj Singh (the Ralaota family). After the Rajwis come
a number of families of which the following are the chief:—

(1) Bhuptots * * * § and (2) Sakatsinghots,t descended from Bhupat and Sakat Singh, brothers
of Maharaja Kishen Singh; (3) Jagannathots, J descended from the family of Parbatsar
inMarwar; (4) and (5) Goviudasots § and Hatnots, || descended from graudsons
of Maharaja Udai Singh of Jodhpur; (6) Karmsots, descended from a son of
Rao Jodha of Jodhpur; and (7) Chandawats.**

Among these the Rajwis take the first place and after them nine nobles known as the nau,
viz., the Thakurs of Naraina, Chosla, Kotri, Bhambolao, Pandarwara, Gothiana, the senior
Thakur of Sinodia, and the Thakurs of Khatoli and ltaghunathpura. With the exception of the
Rajwis, none of the nobles hold large estates or are men of much note.

In the case of all the noble families succession is by primogeniture, suitable provision
being made for the maintenance of the younger sons. Service is rendered to the Darbarby the
Jagirdars who generally pay no other revenue.
The following are the leading nobles of Kishangarh: —

(1) Maharaj Jawani Singh Of Karkheri, own brother to His Highness the Maharaja,
„ . , . holds an estate of eight villages, of which two are
alienated, with an estimated income of R30,000.
The estate was conferred on him by his father Maharaja Prithwi Singh in 1878. Maharaj
Jawani Singh is thirty-two years of age, has received a good education, and is the author of
several vernacular poems. He has no son and his nearest relatives are his brothers.

(2) Maharaj Raghunath Singh of Dhasnk, the Chief’s second brother, holds an estate
of six villages, with an estimated income of
Dhasuk.
R20,000, of which, however, R8,500 are enjoyed
by the Thakurani and subordinate Jagirdars. The Thakur, who is nineteen years of age, has
received a fair vernacular education. He has no sons.

(3) Maharaj Man Singh of Fathgarh, a descendant of Maharaja Bahadur Singh (1748—
1781), is one of the most important nobles of the
Fathgarh.
State. He holds eighteen villages, with an annual
income of R50,000, of which more than half is alienated. The Maharaj is nineteen years of age
and succeeded his adoptive father, Maharaj Govardhan Singh, his second cousin by blood, in
1883. He was educated at the Mayo College and has no sons or other relatives nearer than
the Rajwis of Dhos, Zorawarpura and Kucholia who are descended from his great-great-great¬
grandfather.

(4) Raja Samrat Singh of Ralaota who is descended from a younger son of Maharaja
Raj Singh (1706—1748) holds two villages of
Balaota.
the estimated value of it 10,000. The Raja
is now thirty-two years of age. He succeeded his father Raja Durjan Sal on the latter’s death

* Thakurs of Naraina, Pandarwara, Bhadun, and Kherian.

f Thakurs of Raghunathpura and Nalu.
J Thakurs of Chosal, Gothiana, Narwar, and Mandawaria.
§ Thakur of Titiari.
|| Thakur of Hingtara.
H Thakurs of Kotri, Bhambolao, Khatoli, Patu, Jharol, Sapranda, Hingolia, and Nalu.
** Thakurs of Sinodia and Kathoda.
 RAHTOB. STATES—KISHANGARH. 23
in 18&0. He has three sons, Nand Singh, aged thirteen years, Lala, aged nine years, and an
infant, aged two years, and has no other relatives nearer than his second cousin Raj i Zorawar
Singh. One branch of the Ralaota family holds the revenue-free jagir of Gangwana, in the
Ajmer district ( page 113 ).

(5) Thakur Jet Singh of Bhambolao, a Rahtor Rajput of the Karmsot sub-clan, holds
Bhambolao the first seat in Darbar among the nine leading
nobles of Kishangarh. He has a service jagir.
with an estimated income of R5,000. He is thirty years of age, and succeeded his father
Thakur Bagh Singh in 1883. He has two sons, Bahadur Singh and Nahar Singh, aged six
and three years respectively, and one brother Govind Singh. He has no other relatives nearer
than third cousins,
(6) Thakur Sawai Singh of Naraina, a descendant of Bhupat Singh, brother to Maha¬
raja Kishan Singh, holds a service jagir, with an
Naraina.
estimated income of R5,000. He is forty-five
years of age and succeeded his father Thakur Ranjit Singh in 1886. He has one son, Gopal
Singh, aged seven years, and a younger brother Biradh Singh who has two young sons. After
these the Thakur’s nearest relatives are distant cousins.
(7) Thakur Govind Singh of Sinodia, a Mertia Rahtor, is entitled to the first seat on
_. the left in Darbar and holds a jagir of the esti-
Sinodia. . „ „ J y
mated value of R2,000. Thakur Govind Singh
was adopted by his cousin, the late Thakur, in 1885 and is now twenty-one years of age. He
has no near relatives.

(8) Thakur Bairi Sal of Chosla is a descendant of the Parbatsar family in Marwar, and
, holds a jagir of the value of R2,000. The
Chosla. rm i , • „
ihakur who is now forty years of age succeeded
his father Thakur Padam Singh in 1869. He has no sons. His only brother Sheodan Singh
has been adopted into the family of the-Jagirdar of Bhogadit.

(9) Thakur Megh Singh of Kotri, a Karamsot descendant of Rao Jodha of Marwar,
„ holds a jagir of the value of R4,0U0. He is
Kotri.
seventy-two years of age, and was a member of
the Council of Regency during the minority of Maharaja Prithwi Singh. His daughter is the
mother of the present Chief of Shahpura. The Thakur, who succeeded his father iu the year
1848, had two sons who are now dead. By the elder he has two grandsons, Bherun Singh, aged
twenty, and Kalyan Singh, aged fifteen years, and by the younger one son who has been
adopted into another family.
(10) Thakur Bam Singh of Pandarwara, a descendant of Bhupat Singh, brother to
Maharaja Kishan Singh, holds a jagir of the
Pandarwara.
estimated value of Rl,700. He is twentyyears of
age and succeeded his father Thakur Madho Singh on the death of the latter ten years ago.
This family which was the most influential in the State held Dhasuk in jagir till about
eighty years ago, when the estate was confiscated owing to their refractory conduct. Even¬
tually Pandarwara was given instead of Dhasuk. The Tbakur’s nearest relatives are his
third cousins.
(11) Thakur Sheonath Singh of Khatauli, a Karamsot descendant of Rao Jodha, holds
t a JaPr the value °f R 1,500. The Thakur
who is forty years of age succeeded by adoption
to his brother Thakur Kesri Singh. He has two sons, Sardar Singh and Ujain Singh, aged
twenty-four and twelve years, respectively, two uncles, Bhim Singh and Dungar Singh,
and four first cousins, Devi Singh, Sawai Singh, Gulab Singh, and Sultan Singh.

(12) Thakur Bharat Singh of Raghunathpura, a descendant of Maharaja Kishan

Sitigh's brother Sakat Singh, holds a jagir of
Baghunathpura. ^he value of R4,000. Thakur Bharat Singh,
who is a member of the Council, is now forty-three years of age. He succeeded his father
Thakur Gopal Singh in 1869. Thakur Gopal Singh, who was originally a petty jagirdar and
24 . CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

attendant on the late Maharaja Prithwi Singh, rendered useful service to the State during
that Chief's minority, and by the construction cf embankments and irrigation works did
much to increase the revenue of the State. He became a member of the Council and was
invested with the jagir of Raghunathpura and the rank of a nau noble. He has no son,
but has adopted his brother and only near relative Jawahir Singh.

(13) Thakur Govind Singh Of Gothiana, a Jaganathot descendant of the Parbatsar

family, holds a jagir with an income of 63,000.
Gothiana.
He is fifty years of age, and succeeded his
father Thakur Kishan Singh in 1853. He has one son, Zorawar Singh, aged twenty-five
years; oue grandson, Bhanwar Hal Singh, aged five years; one brother, Nonad Singh, and
two nephews. After these his nearest relatives are first cousins once removed.

The above Thakurs are all entitled to the honour of the tazim and belono to the nan
class.
„ v Of the hereditary office-bearers of the State
Hereditary omce-bearers. . >

the most important are the following:_

Mahta Sobhag Singh, an Oswal by caste, son of the late Diwan Kishan Sin«>h
(1)
is a member of the Council and head of the Laud Revenue Department. He succeeded his
father in the latter capacity in 1862 and enjoys a jagir and the tazim.

(2) Purohit Mukund Das, a member of a family of Pushkarna Brahmans which has
been in the service of the State since its foundation, is forty-eight years of age, and holds the
appointment of Amir Bakhshi. He enjoys a grant of lands in several villages.
(3) Mnnshi Bihari Das, a Kayastha, is the representative of the Mir Munshi family
which came from Delhi in the time of Maharaja Bahadur Singh. He holds the appointment
of Judge of the Appellate Court and keeper of the State records. He is a good Persian
scholar, and is celebrated for his skill in writing kharitas (complimentary letters).

(4) Bhatt Madan Moban, a Srimali Brahman, is in charge of the Treasury, an

appointment which has been held by his family for four generations. He is twenty-nine
years of age, and bolds a small grant of lands.

(5) Lala Ichchha Dayal, the Peshkar and Secretary to the Council, belongs to a
family which came into the State with Maharaja Kishan Singh. He was educated at the
Ajmer College, and before he obtained his present post was Yakil in attendance on the
Agent to the Governor-General, and subsequently Judge of the Sadr Criminal Court.
Besides these there are a number of hereditary officials of less note, of whom only the
names and appointments need be given.

(6) Mohnot Chhagan Singh, Oswal, Kamdar to the Dowager Maharani Kanawatji
(7) Mohnot Sahaskarn, Oswal, Hakim of Rupnagar.
(8) Purohit Srinath Das, Pushkarna Brahman, Head of the Audit and Account
Department.

(9) Mahta Ranjit Singh, Oswal, Joint Treasury Officer and Judge of the Appellate
Court.

(10) Munshi Faiz Ali Khan, Pathan, Vakil in attendance on the Agent to the Governor-
General at Abu.

(11) Purohit Magni Ram, Pushkarna Brahman, Civil Judge of Kishangarh.

(12) Purohit Bishan Das, Pushkarna Brahman, Kamdar of the villages attached to
the Raj temples.

(13) Mohnot Sujan Singh, Oswal, formerly Joint Civil Judge.

(14) Pancholi Mathura Das Nag, Kayastha, Kamdar to Maharaj Raghunath Singh.
(15) Lala Kesri Singh, Kayastha, Fauj Bakhshi.

(16) Khoja Nand Lai, Kayastha, Superintendent of the Zanana Deorhi, formerly
English tutor to His Highness the late Maharaja Prithwi Singh.
(17) Lala Kesri Lai, Kayastha, Assistant Amir Bakshi.
(18) Mohnot Girdhar Singh, Oswal, formerly Kamdar to Maharaj Jawani Singh.
 RAHTOR STATES—KISHENGARH. 25

The more important of the new or non-beredit#ry officials are—

(1) Babn Syam Snndar Lai, B.A., Mahesri, a native of Etawa, who was educated
, at the Agra College. He was teacher of Mathe-
Non-hereditary officials. . .
rnatics at the Ajmer Government College till
18S8, when he became Private Secretary to His Highness the Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar.
In 1886 he was transferred as a member of Council to Kishangarh. He is now thirty-seven
years of age.

(2) Pandit Govardh&n, a Parikh Brahman, has been a member of the Council since 1884.
He is a native of Palri and received a good English education at the Ajmer College. In
1869 he became Private Secretary to His Highness the late Maharaja. Subsequently he was
tutor to the present Chief, and for several years was Judge of the Appellate Court.

(3) Lala Ram Nath, a Mair Sunar, is a native of Ajmer where he was educated at the
Government College. He was formerly au Inspector of Police in Ajmer from which appoint¬
ment he retired on pension. He has been for five years Superintendent of Raj Qirai
(Police).
(4) Mir Akbar Ali, Saiyid, a pensioned Sub-Inspector of Police in the Ajmere District,
was formerly Judge of the Criminal Courts at Kishangarh and is now Vakil at the Western
Rajputana States Residency. He is a native of Ajmer and was educated at the Government
College there.
Besides the nobles and officials there are a
Other persons of position. few persons whose positions call for special
mention:—

(1) Sakai Mabant Saromani Swamiji Mabaraj Sri Ghansbyam Saran Devaji
Sriji Mabaraj of Salimabad, the High Priest (Acbaryya) of the Nimbarak division of the
Vaishnav sect. Maharaj Ghanshyam, who lives at Salimabad, is the highest ecclesiastical
authority of his sect and is held in very great respect by the ruling Chiefs and nobles of Raj¬
putana and other parts of India. He has an estate of the estimated value of about
K 15,000 a year, consisting of revenue-free grants in Kishangarh, Marwar, Bundi, and other
States. In Marwar he receives a cess of a rupee a village. He is the disciple and successor of
the late Sriji Maharaj Sri Gope^war Sarandeva who had once great influence ia Jaipur where
be held large endowments which he relinquished owing to religious differences with the late
Maharaja Ram Singh. The Sriji Maharaj is thirty-six years of age and a fair Sanskrit
scholar. He is also noted for his piety. He succeeded the late Sriji Maharaj in 1871, the
latter having selected him and obtained approval of his choice from the Darbar. The Sriji
Maharaj, who comes from the Gaur Brahman family, has chosen as his successor a disciple,
Balkrishna Das, from the same family.

(2) Barait Chandi Dan, the head of the Charans and a Hindi poet, holds small estates
in Kishengarh and Me war.

(3) Rao Chatar Singh? a Bhat, and (4) Kavishwar Jay Lai, a Brahman, are also
influential poets who hold small charitable grants. The latter is a descendant of the poet
Brinda, author of the “ Brind Satsai ” and “ Bharpancharika” who was brought to
Kishangarh from Delhi by Maharaja Raj Singh!

(5) Misir Janki Das, Court Vaidik Physician, a Moghya Brahman by caste, is descended
from Sheoram Das, who came from Delhi one hundred and fifty years ago. He is sixty-six
years of age and holds small grants of land.

(6) Josbi Hari Datta and (7) Vyasa Krishna Gopal are leading ecclesiastical authori¬
ties, and (8) Joshi Govardhan is Court.artist.
 SESODIA STATES. 27

CHAPTER III.

SESODIA STATES.

[Udaipur—Dung arpur—Bansicara—Partalgarhi]

The Sesodia clan of Rajputs claims to be descended from Rama, the legendary king of
„ Oudh, whose son Loh is said to have emigrated
Notice of the clan. , , °

in A. D. 145 frcyn the Punjab to Gujarat, where

his descendants reigned till their capital Balabhi, near the present city of Bhaunagar, was
destroyed by au invasion of foreigners in A. D. 524. I*n the course of the flight of the family
a prince was born near Mount Abu, who afterwards reigned at Idar which was held by his
descendants for eight generations, when the Bhils rose and killed their ruler. His son Bapa was
preserved and removed to Nagindra, ten miles to the north of the modern Udaipur. Eventually
he sought refuge with the Mori Chief of Chitor, then the ruling lord of Malwa. Later on, he
led the Chitor forces against the Muhammadans from Sind, defeated them, and ultimately
he made himself master of Chitor and founded the kingdom of Mewar.

For the next four centuries little is known, till in 1193 Lomarsi, the Chief, was killed
near the banks of the Ghagar when fighting in defence of his brother-in-law Prithwi Raj,
the last Chauhaq king of Delhi, against* Shahabu-d-din. Lomarsi’s grandson Mahap was
driven from Chitor by his broth'er-in-law, the Chief of Jhalor, and rather than fight to
regain his inheritance, he retired to the hills and founded the State of Dungarpur. He
retained the sept name of Aharya which the family had substituted for the original term
Geblot on their migration to Nagindra. In 1201 Mahap’s uncle Bharat recovered Chitor and
placed his son Rahap on the throne. Rahap changed the title of the sept from Aharya to
Sesodia and his own style from Rawal to Rana. In 1290 Chitor wa3 sacked by Alau-d-din
Khilji, when the johur, or sacrifice of the women, was for the first time performed preparatory
to the last sortie of the besieged host. Lakhansi, the Chief, was killed and his son became a
fugitive. The latter on his death in 1301 nominated Hamir, his nephew, as his successor. Ha-
mir retook Chitor, which was held by his father-in-law Maldeo, Chief of Jhalor, for the Muham¬
madans. Hamir was regarded as the leading prince of Central Iudia until his death. In the
reign of Lakha, who succeeded to the gadi in 1373, the Chieftainship passed from the elder to the
younger branch oi the family, the Rana having taken to wife a princess of Marwar with the
promise that any son born of the marriage should succeed to Mewar, to the exclusion of the elder
son Chanda. A child, Mokul, being born, Chanda resigned his rights in bis favour, reserving to
himself the first place in the Council of the State and stipulating that his symbol, the lance,
should be superadded to that of the prince in all grants. Chanda'became the ancestor of the Raos
of Salumbar and the other Chandawat families. Mokul’s grandson, Udai, succeeded to the gadi
after assassinatiqg his father, and brought dishonour on the State ib various ways—by the
cession of Ajmer and Sambhar to Jodhpur, by making the Deora prince dependent on
Abu, and by offering his daughter in marriage to the Emperor of Delhi. This marriage did not
take place. He left three sons, of whom Raimal succeeded him in 1474, after a conflict, in which
one of bis brothers was killed and the other was forced to retire to Deolia, where he founded
the State of Partabgarh. Under Raimal’s son and successor, Sanga, Mewar reached its highest
prosperity. The following reigns of Ratna, Bikramjit, and Ude Singh were marked by severe
struggles with Bahadur Shah, king of Gujarat, and subsequently with the Emperor Akbar, iu
both of which the johur sacrifice was performed. On the last occasion Chitor was captured
alter terrible slaughter and demolished. Ude Singh subsequently founded Udaipur, which has
since been the capital of Mewar. Ude Singh’s successor, Partap, was-a gallant warrior who
after severe struggles with the Muhammadans, in the course of which his life was on one occasion
only saved by the Chieftain of Sadri raising the royal insignia over his own head and sacrificing
himself for his sovereign,* succeeded in recovering Chitor and the whole of Mewar. Ultimately
when Jahangir took the field in person, Umra, son of Partap, yielded and soon afterwards abdicated

* In memory of this event, the descendants of the Sadri house are privileged to use the royal insignia to this
28 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN HAJPUTANA.

in favour of his son Kurzasi. Rana IJmra, who succeeded to the gadi in 1700, made a tripartite
alliance for mutual defence with Jaipur and Jodhpur, stipulating as a condition on which the
latter houses should again be admitted to the honour of marriage with Mewar, a privilege
which they had lost by giving their daughters in marriage to the Mughal Emperors, that sons of
princesses of the Udaipur house^should in all cases succeed to the throne in preference to the
elder sons by other mothers. This stipulation led to constant quarrels and eventually to the
disastrous result, of the Mahrattas being called in as arbiters in the affairs of Rajputaua. For
nearly a century Mewar was harried by Sindia and Holkar and afterwards by Amir Khan, the
Pindari, till in 1817 Maharana Bhim Singh made a treaty with the British Government, by
which the latter agreed to protect the territory of Udaipur, and to use its best exertions for the
restoration of the territories it had lost, when this could be done with propriety. This Chief died
in 1828, and was succeeded by his son Jawan Singh, who reigned till his death in 1838. In
default of male issue, the succession went by adoption to Sardar Singh, the Chief of Bagor.
Maharana Sardar Singh died in 1842 and was succeeded by his younger brother and adopted
son Maharana Sarup Singh, who distinguished himself by his loyal service during the Mu¬
tiny. Maharana Sarup Singh died in 1861, and was succeeded by Maharana Shimbhu Singh,
who was, on his death in 1874, succeeded by Maharana Sajan Singh. That Chief having died
without issue in 1884, the unanimous choice of the family and nobles fell on the present Chief,
Maharana Fath Singh.
UDAIPUR.

His Highness Maharana Dhiraj Fath Singh Bahadur, G.C.S.I., was born in 1850.
His Highness is the third son of the late jagir-
The present Chief.
dar of Seorati, Maharaj Dal Singh, and had been
adopted by his brother Maharaj Gaj Singh. On the death, however, of Maharana Sajan Singh
in December 1884 without natural or adopted heirs, the unanimous choice of the family and
leading men of the State fell on Fath Singh, whose succession as Maharana was approved by
the Government of India. The Maharana has
Marriages.
married (1) in 1867 the daughter of the late Tha-
kur of Khod in Marwar, who died in 1877 and (2) in 1878 the daughter of Chanda Kol Singh of
Barsoda (Warsora) in Mahi Kantha, Gujarat. The only surviving son is Kuuwar Bhupal Singh
who was born on the 22nd February 1884. The Maharana’s nearest relative is his predecessor’s
uncle Maharaj Sohan Singh. He has also two brothers of bis own (Seorati) family, Maharaj
Gaj Singh and Maharaj Surat Singh. The latter of these has four sons. His Highness has
also four daughters, of whom the first is married to His Highness the Maharao of Kotah, and
the second and fourth have respectively been betrothed to His Highness the Maharaja of
Bikanir and the Maharaj Kunwar of Kishangarh.' The ruling families closely connected
with Mewar are Dungarpur, Sirohi, and Partapgarh, which are offshoots of the Sesodia clan,
and Kishangarh, Idar, and Rewa, with which marriages have taken place.
The nobles of Mewar are a numerous aud powerful body, whose estates comprise about
one-third of the territory of the State. In the
Leading men.
Gazetteer of Mewar, Colouel Walter wrote re¬
garding them :. “ The Chiefs of Mewar enjoy rights and privileges which do not obtain in any
other part of Rajputana. . The Court maintained at their own estates is almost an exact
counterpart of that of their prince, and they exhibit few of the marks of vassalage observable
at other Courts; and only on particular festivals and solemnities do they join the prince’s
cavalcade. In Darbar they take rank above the heir-apparent—a custom unprecedented in
India, and granted in consequence of the heir-apparent having attended the Emperor’s court.
When a Chief enters the presence, the entire court rises and the ceremonial is most intricate.”
In the reign of Maharana Umra Singh II (1700—1716), the nobles were arranged into
(1) sixteen of the first rank, known as the Solah ; besides the heir-apparent and the Maharana’s
nearest relatives, who sit below the sixteen; (2) thirty-two of the second rank, known as the
Battis; and (3) the mass or Gol consisting of the rest, to whom no special precedence is
assigned. The first class, though still termed the sixteen, consists now of twenty nobles
besides the near relatives of the Chiefs who are seven in number. Of the whole twenty-seven,
eighteen are Sesodias, and nine belong to other clans. The families of the Sesodia clan are
divided into five classes. To the first of these belong eight—Salumbar, Deogarh, Begun, Amet,
 SESODIA STATES—UDAIPUR 29

Mehja, Bhainsrorgarh, Korabar, and Asin, descendants of the Chanda who in 1398 resigned
his right to the Chiefship to his younger brother Mokul. In the second class there is one
family, that of Kanor, descended from Sarangdeo, a son of Aja and grandson of Lakha, the
father of Chanda and Mokul, The third class comprises the families of Bhindar and Bansi,
descended from Sakat Singh, a son of Maharana Ude Singh (1541—1572). Two of the nobles
hold the independent title of Raja—the Rajas of Shahpura and Banera. Of these, the former
is descended from Maharana Amar Siugh, and the latter from Maharana Raj Singh. The
descendants of Maharana Sangram Singh II (1716—34) constitute the five hawelis or houses
of Karoi, Banlas, Bagor, Karjali, and Seorati.
The following pedigrees, compiled by Colonel Walter, show the descent of the chief and
the principal Sesodia families of Mewar :—

►8
<L>
S5
K
V.
Q>
Pq fl Ol . CO

£o T3 ^
-£3 »* u _£* >-,-2 CO
“m 52* ci.o,o 2
-C cj 3*
CD " .a**
bc^iJ.
2 1 -5a -a &Sc
g.S£ “3 e3
e3 d 3o
o -fl o
fa x>Q
a
« f»- bC
B
"e •- ® QQ
8 _CD Cm ^
p-® «

Noth.—The capital letters iudicate the sequence of the Maharanas.

S a'H
cJ w aJ
'’S CD CD
V.
Q
a
8
S' -fl60
a
o T3 CD
fc ^ u
O
-fl
CD - .2
CD §o
ca ^ 55 acJ
■fl CD
« 3 mgr
< 2
pa fa -fl
o CD
fl 8 CD
"* T3
a -f*
8 <M 60

CQ 53 CD 'd
O
t—i K £
o
o to
fl a .5a COa
-cc
or
a ^ 6c
<1 ~ I U
w —cd <w a
5 0,5* fl CU
2 53 « 60*.—, -rf= q ft
-fl'O rj
< .35 • U. <x> ss%
w CQaS ^
«- £ CD
o <£
•s*
§ -fl
6C
a

-a
fa
$5
.2^
-fl
»fl
60
_“3
'flo o
60
fl ■8£~ .5
00
S.3
. a. — a
”00'fla> g
I
fa
•>S»
I
a O
^360 c
-T* ja60 -d60 S bo
.3 T3 o fl fl O •Sa
ao .2 a mo
.2.2 .
"^=^=5
.
OQ g
CD^B 3*^
u«O
c o»fl
—S ^ 5? _ •S5’P 2 “■S’? ® 1 2 = a CD
d g m ■a 60— A
ca
60-
t; fl- cd •=» o-« ^ ^ 2 2 fl
CD ofa. c2 o rt 0,2 fa
a Ss n 00 ”qj «
c3 O
s^05
» -a
I ll fa
0 w si*’
M

— f~
•“ O) •
pa 60^c ®
“ ■*C33 “
*-aC3
60

i
ra
 03
o
GENEALOGICAL TABLE No. II.
Showing the three Hawelis (collateral branches) of the Udaipur family descended from Sangram Singh the Second.
SANGBAM 8INGI1 II.

CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA

Arjun Singh
J*g»t R»J II Nath Singh, Bagh 8ingh
(raaceeded hi® father (received Storati).
received Bagor. (received Kirjali).
At Udaipur and continued
the main line of the
Ma ha ran a® a® shown In
Table No. I). Bherun Singh.
Bahadur Singh.
Bhim Singh. 4.Zalim Singh. 5. Bakht Singh. Sheo Singh.
Surat Singh. 3. Bhagwant Singh.

Daulftt Singh Zorawur Singh

Jawan 8ingh.
(adopted from (alive; has no
Oulab Singh Seorati branch). son).
Rup Singh
(adopted from Suraj Mai. Daulat Singh
(adopted from the
8heodan Singh. the Hita jagir (adopted into
Ranawat family of
family), Kirjali branch).
the Hita jagir,
descended from Rana
Jagat Singh 1.) I Auup Singh
(adopted a son
Dal Singh
(adopted into
Jaswant Singh. Ajit Singh.

of his brother Seorati branch). Dal Singh,

Mokand Singh. Dal Singh). (adopted from
Abhay Singh. Bijay Singh.
Kirjali branch).
Sardar Singh Sujan Singh Sber Singh. 8arup 6ingh, Sheo Singh Sawaut Singh. Ram Singh.
(elected into (died young). (adopted into (received Nitawal Madan Singh Prithwi Singh
Maharana’s Maharana’® jagir in Mewar). Surat Singh
(alive). (alive).
family. 1). family. J). (adopted).
Ajit Singh. Gaj Singh. Surat Singh Fath Siugh
(Descendants (Descendants Mohan Singh. Jagat Singh.
(adopted into (adopted by
now in Jaipur now* in Jaipur
Kirjali branch). Gaj Singh) .
where they have where they have
Bardul 8ingh, Seobhag Singh Samrat Singh Sakti Singh. Sohan Singh. a jagir). ft jagir).
(died in (died in Samdar Singh
I
Sambha Singh,
childhood). Samba t 1926
A. D. 1869).
(alive).
Bherun 8ingh
(alive).
Moti Singh
(alive).
Himmat Singh. Takht Siugh. Tcj SiDgh.
I
Khuman Singh.
Fath Singh
(by adoption).
wag adopted
Into Maharana'f A son.
family. K.
Sujan Singh Sajan Singh
(died in child¬ (adopted Into
hood). Maharana’s
family. L).
 SESODIA STATES—UDAIPUR. 31

Of the nine nobles not belonging to the Sesodia clan,’three—Sadri, Dilwara, and Gogunda—
are Jhalas, and three—Bedla, Kotaria, aud Parsoli—are Chauhans. The remainder—Bijoli,
Bednor, and Sardargarh—are Puar (Pramar), Rahtor, and Dudhiya respectively. The precedence
of the Solah among themselves is as liberal as the composition of the group. The first place i3
held by a Jhala; Chauhans occupy the second and third places. The fourth place belongs to a
Sesodia noble, the Rawat of Salumbar, who, as the head of the senior and most numerous branch
of the family, the Cbandawats, is the most prominent Chief of Mewar. The same liberality is
observable in the composition of the Mahand Raj Sabha, which is the highest tribunal in the
State, and is a Council of reference and revision. The Maharana sits as president of the body,
in which are associated with him eleven nobles and eight officials. Of the nobles five only are
Sesodias. Of the officials three belong to Mewar, and the rest are outsiders.
(1) Maharaj Surat Singh, the elder brother of the Maharana, holds the estate of Karjali
situated 55 miles to the east of Udaipur, and
Leading nobles.
consisting of twenty-two villages of the annual
Karjali.
value of R22,000. * The Maharaj succeeded to
the estate by adoption in 1857. He is now forty-six years of age and is married to daughters
of the Thakurs of Raipur and Khad in Marwar, by whom he has four sons, Himmat Singh,
Sukh Singh, Tej Singh, and Khuman Singh.

(2) Maharaj Gaj Singh, the adoptive father of His Highness the Maharaua, holds the
estate of Seorati, 60 miles to the north-east of Udaipur, comprising eighteen villages of the
annual value of R45,000. The Maharaj, who is
Seorati.
fifty-eight years of age, is a member of the
Mahand Raj Sabha. He succeeded his father Dal Singh in 1867 and has no issue. He
married the daughter of the Thakur of Baroda in Gujarat. Both the estates of Korabar and
Seorati which are held revenue-free from the Darbar were conferred upon the founders of the
present families by Maharana Saugram Singh II (1716—1734).
(3) Raja Dhiraj liTahar Singh of Shahpura, who is a descendant of Suraj Mai, younger
son of Maharana Amar Singh I (1597—1621), holds the estate of Shahpura comprising eighty-
nine villages of the annual value of R75,000
Shahpura.f
and paying a tribute of R2,002 ,fto the Mewar
Darbar. The Raja Dhiraj succeeded to his Chiefship in 1869 in accordance with the wishes
of the Thakurs of the State on the death of Raja Lachhman Singh. The succession was
unsuccessfully disputed by Thakur Ram Singh of Beshnia. The Raja Dhiraj, who is twenty-
eight vears of age, is married to a daughter of the Thakur of Baghera in Jaipur, and has two
6ons, Ummed Sitfgh and Sardar Singh, who are both being educated at the Mayo College.
He is a member of the Mahand Raj Sabha. The Chief of Shahpura, besides his estates in
Udaipur, holds the patta of Phulia from the British Government. This estate was granted
to the son of Suraj Mai, the founder of the house, by the Emperor Shah Jahan. In respect
of Shahpura the Raja Dhiraj is not subject to any British Court, but he was required by the
terms of his sanad to report all heinous crimes involving the punishment of death or imprison¬
ment for life to a British Officer—formerly the Commissioner of Ajmer and now the Political
Agent in Haraoti and Tonk to whom the political control of Shahpura has been transferred.
(4) Raja Govind Singh, of Banera is descended from the brother of Rana Jay Singh of
Mewar. He holds an estate consisting of one
Banera. . .
hundred and fourteen villages situated about
90 miles east of Udaipur. The estimated income of the estate is Rl,10,000. A tribute of
R6,124 is paid to the Darbar. Raja Govind Singh, who is now fifty-eight years of age, has
two sons, Akhay Singh and Ram Singh, aged twenty-five and twenty-one years respectively.
The Raja of Banera enjoys certain privileges not possessed by the other nobles of Mewar. Of
these, the chief is the right on succession to the gadi to have a sword sent to him with
all honour to Banera, instead of having to attend at Udaipur for investiture. On receipt of
the sword, he proceeds to Udaipur for installation. On the death of the late Raja, Sangram
Singh, the present Chief was placed in possession of his estates by the inhabitants of Banera
without the consent of the Darbar. In 1855 the British Government interposed to support
the authority of the Maharana, but the submission of the people obviated the necessity for

* The value of all estates in Mewar is given in Udaipur rupees, whiclj are worth about 12 annas 6 pies in British

currency.
f See also page 47.
32 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

sending a force to Banera. As a penalty for his contumacy Raja Govind Singh was compelled
to proceed to Udaipur without receiving the sword of honour and to ask pardon, which was
granted on payment of a fine and ou execution of a written promise that no succession to
Banera should be considered valid without the previous consent of the Darbar.

(5) Raj Rana Rai Singh of Bari Sadri, a, Jhala Rajput, holds the first place among the
.g ^ Solah nobles. His estate, which is valued at
R60,000 a year, consists of eighty-nine villages
and pays a tribute of R.1,024 to the Darbar. The Raj of Sadri, who is now thirty-two years of
age, succeeded his uncle and adoptive father in 1883, He has no son. His nearest relatives belong
to the family of Dilwara. Marriages have taken place between the house of Sadri and prin¬
cesses of the ruling family of Mewar. As already noticed (page 27), the Chiefs of Sadri hold
their present rank in Darbar in recognition of the gallantry displayed by their ancestor Mana
who at the battle of Haldighat in 1576 saved the life of Rana Partap by assuming the insignia
of royalty and drawing the brunt of the battle on himself. The fief of Sadri was conferred
at the same time with the title of Raj and the Chief was allowed the privilege of bearing the
royal insignia of Mewar and of beating his kettle-drums up to the gate of the palace. These
honours are still enjoyed by his successors.

(6) Rao Kara Singh of Bedla, a Chauhan Rajput, holds an estate of one hundred and
fifteen villages of the annual income of R80,000,
Bedla.
situated partly near the capital and partly in
the neighbourhood of Chitor. The Rao, who is twenty-nine years of age, is married to a
daughter of the Thakur of Bhadrajan in Marwar and has no issue. He has three brothers,
Raj Singh and Rup Singh, aged twenty-two years, and Gobind Singh, aged thirteen years.
He succeeded his father Rao Bahadur Takht Singh in June 1892. Rao Takht Singh, who was
a member of the Mahand Raj Sabha, received the title of Rao Bahadur from the British Gov¬
ernment in 1887. Rao Bakht Singh, C.I.E., the father of Rao Takht Singh, was noted for
his ability and honesty and for his loyalty alike to his own Chief and to the Supreme Govern¬
ment. He received a sword of honour after the Mutiny in recognition of the services rendered
by him by order of Maharana Sarup Singh in bringing from Dungla to Udaipur the European
families from Nimach. At the Imperial Assemblage of 1877 the title of Rao Bahadur was
conferred on Thakur'Bakht Singh and-in the following year he was appointed a Companion of
the Indian Empire. The Bedla family, like that of Kotharia, claims descent from Prithwi Raj,
the last Hindu king of Delhi, their ancestors having taken refuge at Chitor after the conquest
of Delhi by Shahabu-d-diu in 1193,

(7) Rawat Jaward Singh of Kotharia, also a Chauhan descendant of Raja Prithwi Raj
of Delhi, holds an estate of seventy villages of
Kotharia.
the estimated value of K40,000 on the banks of
the Banas, about 30 miles north-west of Udaipur. It pavys a tribute of Rl,502 to the
Darbar. The present Rawat, who is only six years of age, succeeded Rawat Kesri Singh in
L888 by adoption. The estate is at present under the management of the Darbar.

(8) Rawat Jodh Singh Of Salumbar who holds the fourth place in Darbar, is a Sesodia
Rajput and is perhaps the most important of the
Salumbar.
Mewar nobles. His estate consists of one hundred
and seventy-five villages of the annual value of one lakh of rupees. It pays no revenue to the
Darbar. The Rawat, who is now sixty years of age and blind, succeeded his predecessor and adop¬
tive father Rawat Kesri Singh in 1863. The adoption was not in accordance with custom, Jodh
Singh being a member of the family of Bambora which was more distantly connected with
that of Salumbar than was the family of Bhadesar. The present Rao, who has no children, has
adopted Tej Singh, a son of the Rawat of Bhadesar. As noticed above (page 27), the family
of Salumbar is descended from Rawat Chanda, who yielded his right to the Mewar succession
in favour of his young brother Mokul, the offspring of a Marwar princess. Chanda retained
for himself and his descendants the right to advise in all important matters of State, and to the
first place in the State Councils. The Rawat claims the office of chief hereditary councillor,
and an unsuccessful attempt was made to have this claim recognized in the treaty of 1818.

The fifth place in Darbar is kept vacant, having formerly belonged to the Rahtor .Thakur
of Gauerau who has been transferred to Marwar.
 SESODIA STATES—UDAIPUR. 33

(y) Rao Sawai Gobind Singh of Bijoli, a Puar (Pramar) Rajput, holds an estate of
ninety villages, with an income of R72,000, on
the eastern frontier of Udaipur, about 10() miles
from the capital. The Rao, who is now about sixty-five years of age, has one son, Kishan
Singh, aged twenty-five years. Rao Govind Singh succeeded his grandfather Rao Kesho Singh
in 1856. His father, Sheo Singh, died during Kesho Singh’s life-time, leaving three sons. Of
these the eldest died soon afterwards and Rao Kesho Singh passed over the second, Nathji, in
favour of Govind Singh whom he nominated as his successor. The family of Bijoli is related
to that of Dhar. It came into Mewar in the time of Umra Singh early in the seventeenth
century, the Rana having married a daughter of Rao Asoka of Jagnair near Biana to whom
he assigned an estate valued at five lakhs of rupees.
(10) Rawat Kishan Singh of Deogarh, a Sesodia Rajput, descended from Chandaji,
holds an estate of two hundred and sixteen villages
Deogarh. near the borders of the Merwara district, with a
revenue of one and a half lakhs of rupees. An annual tribute of R7,142 is paid to the Darbar.
The Rawat, who is forty-six years of age, succeeded his father, Rawat Ranjit Singh, in 1869.
He has no children, and no successor has yet been nominated. His son, Jaswant Singh, married
a daughter of the Thakur of Bednor and, together with his wife, was poisoned by the Kamdar
of Deogarh in January 1886. The Kamdar was convicted of the crime and sentenced to im¬
prisonment for life. The family of Deogarh is descended from Sanga or Sangram Singh, a
younger son of Singhji, the founder of the Amet family, who was the grandson of Chanda
through his younger son Kandhal.
(11) Rawat Sawai Megh Singh of Begun, a Chandawat Sesodia Rajput, holds an
estate of one hundred and sixty-five villages,
Begun. about 70 miles east of Udaipur. The estate^
which yields an income of R60,000, pays R6,532 as tribute to the Darbar. The Rawat, who is
thirty-six years of age and succeeded his uncle Maha Singh in 1861, has one son, Anup Singh.
Rawat Maha Singh in 1824 gave up his estate to his son Kishor Singh and became a
religious mendicant at the shrines of Nath Dwara and Kankroli. Fifteen years later Kishor
Singh was for some unknown reason murdered in cold blood by a Brahman, and Maha Singh
resumed the management of his estate. He nominated as his successor his younger brother
Madho Singh, who, however, predeceased him, and on his death Megh Singh, Madho Singh’s
brother, succeeded to the estate.
(12) Raj Rana Zalim Singh of Dilwara is a Jbala Rajput. The estate consists of
eighty-one villages with an income of R90,000 and
Dilwara.
pays a tribute of R6,124 to the Darbar. The Raj,
who has no sons, is now about thirty years of age. He succeeded bis father, Raj Fath Singh,
in 1891. The latter received the title of Rao Bahadur from the British Government.
(13) Rawat Sheonath Singh of Amet is another descendant of the Chandawat family
of the Sesodia clan. Amet, which lies about 50
Amet.
miles to the north of Udaipur, consists of
forty-six villages, with an income of R35,000, paying a tribute of R3,415 to the Darbar.
Rawat Sheonath Singh, who was educated at the Mayo College, is now about twenty-four
years of age. He succeeded his father Rawat Chatar Singh in 1874 and has no male issue.
The Amet family is the elder branch of the descendants of Singhji, of which the younger
branch is represented by the family of Deogarh.

(14) Rawat Amar Singh. Of Mehja is also a Chandawat Sesodia. He holds an estate
of fifteen villages in the centre of Mewar. The
Mehja. f
annual income is R32,000 and the tribute payable
to the Darbar is R3,121. The estate is of recent creation. On the death without issue of
Rawat Prithwi Singh, Zalim Singh of Bemali, the father of Rawat Amar Singh, claimed
Amet for his son. This Maharana Sarup Singh refused to grant, but on the Maharana’s death
his successor, Maharana Shimbhu Singh, permitted Amar Singh to occupy the Rawat of
Amet’s seat in Darbar and conferred upon him the title of Rawat. In the next year he gave
him the Mehja estate. The Rawat has one son, Raj Singh, aged about eighteen years. The
Jiloliand Bemali families are closely connected with Amet and Mehja,
34 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

(15) Raj Ajay Singh of Gogunda, a Jhala Rajput, holds an estate of eighteen villages,
with an annual income of R.30,000, situated at a
Gogunda-
distance of about 20 miles from Udaipur. The
Raj is fifty-two years of age and has no sons. His three brothers, Jhujhar Singh, Govind Singh
and Prithwi Singh, are aged forty-five, thirty-seven, and thirty-five years, respectively. Raj Ajay
Singh succeeded his father Man Singh in 1891. This family 13 connected with those of Bari
8adri and Dilwara, being descended from the ninth Raj of Bari Sadri.
(16) Rawat Nahar Singh of Kanor, a Sescdia Rajput of the Sarangdevot sub¬
clan, owns an estate of seventy-eight villages
Kanor.
yielding an annual income of R40,000 and paying
R3,166 as tribute to the Darbar. The Rawat, who succeeded his father Ummed Singh in 1884,
is thirty-four years of age and has no male issue. The family is descended from Maharana
Lakhaji of Me,war.
(17) Maharaj Kesri Singh of Bhindar is a Sesodia Rajput of the Bhanawat division
of the Sakhtawat clan. The estate, which is situ¬
Bhindar.
ated 80 miles to the south-east of Udaipur, con¬
sists of a hundred villages, with an income of R60,00U and pays a revenue of R4,002 to the
Darbar. The present Maharaj succeeded his adoptive father Maharaj Madan Singh in 1887.
He is eighteen years of age and is now being educated at the Mayo College. The family is
descended from Maharaj Sakht Singh, son of Maharana Udai Singh.
(18) Thakur Govind Singh of Bednor, a Rahtor Rajput of the Mertia branch, holds
an estate of one hundred and fifty-eight villages
Bednor.
of the annual value of R90,000 on the Merwara
border. The tribute payable to the Darbar is R4,084. Thakur Govind Singh succeeded his
grandfather Thakur Kesri Singh in 1889. His younger brother has been adopted into the
family of Rampur. The Thakurs of Bednor are descended from Rao Duda, a younger son of
Rao Jodha of Jodhpur, who was the founder of Merta aud the Mertia family. The Mewar
branch of the family emigrated to Mewar in the time of Thakur Jaymal, who fought on the
side of Mewar against the Delhi troops under Ranbe Khan. A talwar belonging lo the
Imperial General, a shield of elephant hide aud a kettle-drum which were captured on this
occasion are kept as heirlooms in the family.
(19) Rawat Sakht Singh of Bansi, a Sesodia of the Sakhtawat sub-clan, holds an estate
18 miles to the south of Udaipur, comprising
Bansi.
forty-one villages ef the annual value of R30,0t)0
The tribute payable to the Darbar is R202. The Rawat who succeeded his father Thakur Man
Siugh in 1887, is now thirteen years of age. He is betrothed to the daughter of the Thakur
of Chandawal in Marwar. The family is descended from Achal Das, the younger sou of
Maharaj Sakat Singh, the founder of the Bhindar estate.
(20) Rawat Pratap Singh of Bhainsrorgarh, a Sesodia of the Chaudawat clan, holds
an estate of one hundred and nineteen villages of
Bhainsrorgarh the annual value of a lakh of rupees. The estate
which pays a tribute of R7,502 is situated at the confluence of the rivers Bamni and Chambal.
The place is said by Colonel Tod to take its name from a merchant named Bhainsa and Rora,
a Banjara or carrier, and to have been built to protect caravans. It commands the trade
route from Mewar into Haraoti. The present Rawat, who succeeded his brother Bhim Singh
in 1881, is thirty-nine years of age. He has no male issue. The Bhainsrorgarh family is
descended from Lai Singh, the younger son of Rawat Kesri Singh of Salumbar, on whom the
separate estate and title were conferred by Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1741.
(21) Rao Ratn Singh of Parsoli is a Chauhan Rajput. His estate is situated 28 miles
to the north-east of Chitor, aud comprises forty-
Parsoli.
six villages yielding an annual income of R25,t)00
aud paying R926 as tribute to the Darbar. The present Rao succeeded his father Rao Lakshman
Singh in 1880. He is forty-five years of age and has three sons, Devi Singh, Madho Singh,
and Abhay Singh, ayed eighteen, fifteen, aud eleven years, respectively. He is a member
of the Mahand Raj Sabha. The founder of the family of Parsoli was Kesri Singh, the youncer
son of Rao Ram Chandra of Bedla, on whom the estate was bestowed by Maharana Raj
Skmh.
 SESODIA STATES—UDAIPUR. 35

(22) Rawat Jet Singh of Korabar, a Sesodia Rajput.of the Chandawat sub-clan, holds
an estate of sixty-five villages, situated 30 miles to
Korabar.
the south-east of Udaipur. The estate, which
yields an annual income of R50,000, pays no tribute to the Darbar. Rawat Jait Singh
succeeded his father Ratn Singh in 1880. He is now about thirty-five years of age, and has
three sons, Kishor Singh, aged fourteen years, and Sangram Singh and Ranjit Singh, aged
twelve and ten years, respectively. Korabar was bestowed as an independent estate by Maharana
Jagat Singh II in 1747 on Arjun Singh, the younger son of Rawat Kesri Singh of Salumbar.

(23) Rawat Arjun Singh of Asin holds a large estate of seventy-five villages of the
annual value of a lakh of rupees, situated about 80
Asin.
miles to the north-east of Udaipur near the Mer"
wara border. Rupees 1,300 are paid as tribute to the Darbar. Rawat Arjun Singh succeeded
his father Rawat Khuman Singh in 1873. He is forty-one years old and has no issue. He is
a member of the Mahand Raj Sa'bha. The founder of the family was Ajit Singh, the fourth son
of Arjun Singh, the founder of the Korabar family. He received a grant of the Gorkhya estate
of fourteen villages from Maharana Bhim Singh, on whose behalf he signed the treaty of 1818
with the British Government. He was succeeded by his adopted son Dule Singh of Satola who
previous to his adoption had received the title of Rawat and several villages, including Asin,
from Amar Singh, son of Maharana Bhim Singh. Dule Singh was then raised to the position
of a first-class Sardar with the twentieth place among the Solah.
(24) Thakur Manobar Singh of Sardargarh is a Rajput of the Indrabhanot division of
the Dudhiya clan. His estate, which is situated 56
Sardargarh.
miles to the north-east of Udaipur on the right
bank of the Chandra-Bhaga river, consists of twenty-two villages which yield an income of
S33,000 and pay a tribute of fil,740 to the Darbar. Thakur Manohar Singh, who succeeded
bis father Thakur Zorawar Singh in 1859, is sixty-three years of age. He had two sons, both
of whom are dead. He is a member of the Mahand Raj Sabha and resides at the capital. The
Thakur has the hereditary privilege of guarding the Maharana’s person in time of war. The
Sardargarh family is among the oldest of the Raj servants of Mewar and received from
Maharana Sajan Singh a place among the nobles of the first class.

One of the most important personages in Mewar is the guardian of the Nathdwara
temple. Sriman Tikait Goswami Maharaj
Other influential personages.
Sri Govardhan Lalji is the head of the Val-
labhaeharyya sect of Brahmans. He succeeded his father Maharaj Girdhariji in 1876 on the
deposition of the latter for contumacious conduct. He is about thirty years of age, and is a well-
educated gentleman, who has done much to promote the welfare of his people. The Maharaj,
besides his estates in Mewar, holds j agirs in Kotah, Jhalawar, Bikanir, Bhartpur, Karauli, Gwa¬
lior, Indore, Partabgarh, Baroda and elsewhere, of the annual value of about two and a quarter
lakhs of rupees. The offerings received by him yearly are estimated at between four and five
lakhs. One village, Bhawanikhera, of the value of Rl,500, is held by the temple in the
Ajmer district. The grant was originally made by Maharaja Daulat Rao Sindia. The origin
of Nathdwara is thus described in the Gazetteer of Mewar : “The shrine owes its celebrity
to the image of Krishna, said to be the same that was worshipped at Mathura ever since his
deification between eleven and twelve centuries before Christ, and it is consequently one of
the most frequented places of pilgrimage. Krishna was proscribed by the Emperor Aurangzeb,
and the god was subsequently conducted by Rana Raj Singh of Mewar, about 1671, from
Mathura to Mewar. An omen decided the spot of his future residence : as he journeyed
towards the capital the chariot-wheel sank deep into the earth and defied extraction, upon
whioh the augur interpreted it as the desire of the god to dwell there. This incident
occurred at an inconsiderable village called Siarh in the fief of Dilwara, one of the sixteen
nobles of Mewar. The Chief hastened to make a perpetual gift of the village and its lands,
which was speedily confirmed by the patent of the Rana. Nathji was removed from his car and
in due time a temple was erected for his reception, when the hamlet of Siarh became the town
of Nathdwara which now contains many thousand inhabitants. The territory contains abun¬
dant space for the town, the temple, and the establishments of the priests, as well as for the
e 2
36 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

numerous resident worshippers, and the constant influx of votaries from distant regions.
Within its hounds is the sanctuary of Kanya, where the criminal is free from pursuit and no
blood can be spilt. The guardians of the shrine belong to the Vallabhacharyya sect, and the
image is one of the seven famous images possessed by this division of the votaries of Krishna.”
Of the officials of the State two only call
Officials.
for special notice—
(1) Rai Mahta Panna Lai, C.I.E., an Oswal Mahajan by caste. The family is descended
from Bar Singh Bachawat, one of the officials who accompanied Rao Bika from Jodhpur at the
foundation of the Bikanir State (see page 16). The family did good service till the time of
Karm Chand who was Diwan of Bikanir under Raja Rai Singh in the days of Akbar. Karm Chand
conspired against his master and, the plot being discovered, fled to Delhi, where he remained till
the death of Rai Singh, enjoying the favour of the Emperor.* Rai Singh before his death is said
to have laid on his son Sur Singh the injunction to entice the Bachawats to Bikanir and destroy
them. Sur Singh on succeeding to the gadi went to do homage at Delhi, visited Karm Chand’s
sons and, having guaranteed their safety, induced them to return to Bikanir. This they did
and for a time were treated with distinction. At the end of two months, however, their house
was surrounded by Raj troops, and after a hard fight the family was exterminated to a man,
with the exception of one boy who was absent with his mother’s family in Udaipur. From
this boy Mahta Panna Lai is descended. The family has held many high positions in Mewar,
no less than three members of the elder branch, Devi Chand, Sher Singh, and Gokul Chand,
having held the office of Pardhan or Chief Minister. Rai Panna Lai who is a member
of the younger branch has for many years exercised the chief ministerial authority in the State,
though the title of Pardhan has never been formally conferred on him. He possesses much
influence with all classes, both on account of his family and of his personal ability. This
influence has been uniformly employed in the best interests of the Darbar and people. He is
now forty-nine years of age, aud has one son, Fath Lai. The title of Rai was bestowed on
Mahta Panna Lai at the Delhi Assemblage of 1877, aud ten years later he was nominated a Co,m_
panion of the Indian Empire. He possesses a jagir of six villages valued at ft 10,000 a year.
(2) Kaviraj Syamal Das, Mahamahopadhya,t a Charan of a family which originally
came to Mewar in the days of Maharana Sangram Singh I, who in 1519 conferred a jagir
on the then representative, is the chief historian of Mewar and has recently written a com¬
plete history of the country, which is now being printed. He is fifty-nine years of age and
a member of the Mahand Raj Sabha. Some of the State equipage departments are under his
care, and he is now and then deputed by the Maharana on special duty. The Kaviraj has one
son Jaskarn, aged thirteen years. The title of Mahamahopadhyaya was conferred on him in
January 1888. Thq jagir held by the family now consists of seven villages of the value of
114,000.
DUNGARPUR.
The founder of the Dungarpur house, as already mentioned (page 27), was Mahap, son of
Kama and grandson of Rawal Lomarsi of Mewar who was driven from Chitor, the then capital of
Mewar, by his brother-in-law the Chief of Jhalor, The possessions of Dungarpur were divided
early in the sixteenth century, one portion becoming the independent Raj of Banswara. Dun¬
garpur, of which the early history calls for no special notice, entered into relations with the
Mughals and, after the fall of the Empire, became tributary to the Mahrattas, the tribute
being taken after some dispute with Sindia and Holkar by the State of Dhar. Dungarpur
was subsequently harried by Pindari and other freebooters, till in 1818 an agreement was
entered into with the British by which the tribute was assigned to them and the State
was guaranteed against external aggression.
The present Chief, His Highness Maharawal Ude Singh Bahadur, is a Sesodia
Rajput of the house of Mewar. His Highness
Present Chief.
was the son of Maharaj Jaswant Singh of Sabli
and succeeded Maharawal Jaswant Singh of Dungarpur in 1846. Maharawal Jaswant Singh
had been deposed in 1825 for his incompetency, and his adopted son Dalpat Singh, son of
(he Partabgarh Chief, was made Regent. On Dalpat Singh’s succession to Partabgarh in

* Another version of this story is tlu*t Karm Chand, who was a good chess-player attracted by his skill the notice
of the Emperor, who would often cause him to sit down and play while his master and other Rajas stood by in hum¬
ble attendance. This was naturally most galling to Rai Singh, who conceived a hatred towards his servant who after
his return home, sought to kill him—a fate which Karm Chand only escaped by flight to Delhi. (Poivlett, Gazetteer
of Bikanir, page 26).
j- Kaviraj Syamal Das has died since this notice was written.
 8ES0DIA STATES- DUNGARPUR. 37

1844- it was decided that he could not hold both States, and he was, therefore, permitted to
adopt the present Chief, The Maharawal married in 1855 the daughter of the Maharao of
Sirohi. He has one son, Khuman Singh, aged thirty-five years, and through him one grand¬
son, Bijay Singh, aged five years. His Highness has also three nephews, Shimbhu Singh, Parbat
Singh, and Ummed Singh. The next nearest relatives are the Jagirdars of Nandli, Sabli,
and Oara. The Dungarpur family is related by blood to those of Udaipur, Banswara, and
Partabgarh.

Only one succession, that of the* present Chief, has taken place since the time of Jaswant
Singh, who seventy-four years ago entered into the first alliance with the British Government.

The leading men of Dungarpur are the nobles, including the Hawelis or relatives of the
Maharawal, and hereditary office-bearers, the nobles
Leading personages. being again subdivided on the same plan as those

of Mewar into solah and battis, though neither number is strictly observed.
The Hawelis are the Thakurs of Nandli,
Hawelis' Sabli, and Oara. These are all Sesodia Rajputs,

(1) Thakur Ummed Singh of Nandli is descended from Rawal Jaswant Singh through
his grandson Baklrt Singh and Prithwi Singh,
the second son of the latter. The Thakur, who is
forty years of age, succeeded to the estate on his father's death. He has five sons, Gopal Singh,
Amar Singh, Khuman Singh, Takht Singh, and Bhopal Singh; one brother, Zorawar Singh,
and two uncles, Bijay Singh and Ram Singh. The estate consists of the whole or part of five
villages with an income of Rl,80O.

(2) Thakur Shimbhu Singh of Sabli is descended from Maharawal Girdhari of Dungar-
pUr. The Thakur, who is eight years of age, suc¬
Sabli.
ceeded his nephew. His nearest relatives are his
cousins Parbat Singh, Thakur of Oara, and Ummed Singh, Thakur of Mandwa. The present
Maharawal is, as noticed above, by birth a member of the Sabli family. The Sabli estate
consists of five villages with an income of about Si,200.

(•3) Maharaj Parbat Singh, Thakur of Oara, is a descendant of Rawal Jaswant Singh.
^ He is a boy of fourteen years of age. He suc¬
ceeded to the. estate, which consists of three
villages with an income of about ftl,200, on the death of his uncle. His nearest relatives
are the Thakur of Sabli, Mandwa and Sesod, and His Highness the Maharawal.

The tazimi nobles comprised in the solahare eleven in number, exclusive of the Hawelis—
the Thakurs of Bankora, Peit, Mandor, Thakurda,
Tazimi nobles.
Ghitri, Lodawal, Bamasa, Bichiwara, Sulaj, Kua,
and Ramgarh. Of these two are Chandawat Sesodias, one is a Rahtor, and the remaining
eight are Chauhans.

(1) Thakur Dalpat Singh of Bankora, a descendant of the Chauhan Raja Prithwi
Raj of Delhi, is the chief noble of Dungarpur.
Bankora.
He bolds an estate consisting of the whole or part
of thirty-eight villages, which yields an iucome of R23,000 and pays a tribute of R3,602 to the
Darbar. The Thakur, who is twenty-eight years of age, succeeded his uncle, Kesri Singh, in
1885. He has no children, and bis nearest relatives are his uncle, Gopal Singh, and his first
cousins, Parbat Singh, Kishan'Singh, and Basant Singh.

(2) Tbakur Zorawar Singh of Peit is also a Prithwi Rajot Chauhan. His estate, which
yields an income of R5,600 and pays R 1,547
Peit.
as tribute to the Darbar, consists of fifty villages.
The Thakur, who is twenty-six years of age and has no male children, succeeded his father in
1885. He has no near relatives.

(3) Thakur Dhirat Singh of Bichiwara, a Prithwi Rajot Chauhan, holds an estate of
nine villages, which yields an income of R4,000
Bichiwara.
and pays Rl,408 as tribute to the Raj. He is
now twenty-eight years of age and succeeded his uncle Bakht Singb. His nearest relative
is the son of his uncle Kodarji,
38 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

(4) Thakur Suraj Mai of Mandor, a Prithwi Rajot Chauhan, holds an estate consist¬
ing1 of the whole or part of seventeen villages;
Mandor.
The annual income is S6,600 and the tribute
payable to the Darbar is R 1,275* He succeeded his elder brother, and is now thirty-one years
of age. He has no sons. His nearest relatives are his elder brother Jawan Singh and his
nephews Dalpat Singh and Bahadur Singh.

(5) Thakur Ude Singh ofThakurda, a Prithwi Rajot Chauhan, holds an estate of
seventeen villages yielding an income of R77.000
Tliakurda
and paying R 1,408 as tribute to the Darbar. The
Thakur, who is forty-three years of age, succeeded to the estate on the death of hie father. He
has four sons, Kishor Singh, Hanwant Singh, Sangram Singh, and Madan Singh. Of these
Sangram Singh has been adopted into- the Garhi family of Banswara. Other near relatives
are the Thakur’s cousins, Prithwi Singh, Amar Singh, Dalpat Singh, and Cbatar Singh.
(6) Thakur Pahar Singh of Sulaj is a Chandawat Sesodia of the family of the Tha¬
kur of Salumbar in Mewar (q. ?>.). His estate
consists of eleven villages, with an income of
R4,000, and pays a tribute of R29G to the Darbar. The Thakur is twenty-six years of age and
succeeded his father, Thakur Muhabbat Singh. He has no sons and his nearest relative is his
cousin Raj Singh of Pardla.
(7) Thakur Ram Singh of Eua, a Rahtor Rajput of the Mertia family, holds an estate
^ of thirty-six villages with an income of R4,500.
The tribute payable to the Darbar is R902.
The Thakur, who is sixteen years of age, succeeded his cousin the late Thakur Path Singh.
He has no children and his nearest relations are his uncle Amar Singh and his cousin
Zorawar Singh.
(8) Thakur Eishor Singh of Lodawal is a Chauhan Rajput of the Prithwi Rajot
clan. The estate of Lodawal consists of fivp vil-
Lodawal. . .... . „ ^ 1
lages yielding an income of Rl,800 and paying
a tribute to the Darbar. The Thakur succeeded on the death of his uncle. He is now forty-two
years of age and has no son. His nearest relatives are his nephews Bhawani Singh and Sher
Singh and his cousin Anup Singh.
(9) Thakur Fath Singh of Bamasa, a Prithwi Rajot Chauhan, holds an estate con¬
sisting of the whole or part of three villages with
Bamasa.
an iucome of Rl,500, which pays a tribute of
R252. The Thakur, who succeeded his uncle, is fifteen years of age and has no sons. His
nearest relatives are his uncle Kishor Siugh and his cousin Lai Singh.

BANSWARA.

The origin of the Banswara family, which is an offshoot from that of Dungarpur, is thus
given in the Gazetteer, the author of which has taken his facts from a local chronicle : “ The
Rawals of Banswara are a junior branch of that family of the Sesodia clan of Rajputs which
is now ruling in Dungarpur, from which they separated about the year 1530. At that period
and for many years previously, the whole country, which now comprises the two States of
Banswara and Dungarpur, was known as Bagar, and was under the dominion of the family of
the Sesodias which still holds Dungarpur, though the Chief's control over the lawless Bhils
inhabiting the wilder part of his territory was merely nominal. Udai Singh, who came to
power in A. D. 1509, had two sons, the elder named Prithwi Raj and the younger Jagmal
He himself marched under his kinsman, Rana Sanga of Chitor, against the Emperor Babar and
was killed at the great battle of Kanwa in 1528, After his death his territory was divided
between his two sons, and the descendants of the two families are the present Chiefs of
Dungarpur and Banswara. Whether this division was made amicably or by force is not clear
There is a tradition that Ude Singh ordered it to be made before he died. There is another
legend that Jagmal Singh, his son, was left for dead on the battle-field, but recovered, and on
returning to his country was disowned as an impostor. Thereupon he took refuge in the hills
to the north of the present site of Banswara, and having collected a body of followers began
to make incursions into his father's territory. This asylum is still known as Jagmer. It is
related that Jagmal’s first acquisition of territory came about in this wise. In those days
 SESODIA STATES—-BANSWARA. 39

there resided to the east of the Mahi river a powerful nobleman, who hardly deigned to
acknowledge the authority of the ruler of Duugarpur. His estate was known as that of
Kuanya. With him Jagmal speedily came into collision and a protracted feud ensued. After
harassing each other for a number of years, they at length became reconciled, and on the death
of the old Thakur of Kuanya, Jagmal gained possession of his estate without opposition.
Having thus obtained a firm foothold, he turned his arms against the Bhils, who held nearly
the whole of the country now constituting Banswara. "Where the town of Banswara now
stands there was a large Bhil pal or colony under a powerful chieftain named Wasna, and
against him Jagmal directed his principal attack. Wasna was killed during the storming of
his pal, his followers were routed, and his lands passed into the hands of his Rajput conquerors.
The name Banswara is by tradition said to be a corruption of Wasnawara.
“ Jagmal now transterred his residence to Banswara, whence he contiuued his forays against
Dungarpur and the Bhils. In Dungarpur, Ude Singh had been succeeded by his elder son,
Prithwi Kaj, and the two brothers, finding their continual border war intolerable, agreed to
abide by the arbitration of the Raja of Dhar as to the partition of their lands. Accordingly
in 1529, the river Mahi was fixed as the boundary between the two States of Dungarpur and
Banswara, which since that date have remained perfectly distinct and independent 0* one
another.
“ Other records relate that the Chief of Bagar, Udai Singh, divided his territory at bis
death between his two sons, Prithwi Raj and Jagmal.”
There is little of note to be found in the history of Banswara till in 1812, nearly three
centuries after its foundation, the then Chief, anxious to get rid of the supx-emacy of the
Mahrattas, offered to become tributary to the British Government. In 1818 a definite treaty
was made, and soon afterwards the tribute formerly paid to the Mahratta Chief of Dhar was
transferred to the British Government.
His Highness Rai-Rayan Maharawal Sri Lachhman Singh, Bahadur, the present
Chief of Banswara, was born in the year 1839, and
The Chief. ’
is a Rajput of the Aharya Gehlot subdivision of
the Sesodia clan. His Highness, whose natural father was Bakhtawar Singh, second son of
Thakur Khushhal Singh of Surpur in Banswara, was adopted by the late Maharawal Bahadur
Singh. The fourteenth Chief of Banswara, Maharawal Prithwi Singh, died in the year
1786, leaving five sous. Of these, the eldest. Bijay Singh, succeeded his father, the second,
Bakhtawar Singh, received the jagir of Khandu, and the third, Khushhal Singh, that of Surpur.
Maharawal Bijay Singh was succeeded by his son Ummed -Singh, and subsequently by his
grandson Bhawani Singh who died in 1839/ leaving no son or brother. The nearest relative
according to the rule of primogeniture was thus the eldest descendant of Bakhtawar Singh of
Khandu, his grandson Man Singh. The Chauhans, who were, then the most influential person¬
ages in the State, fearing the rivalry of the Khandu family, placed Bahadur Singh, the second
son of Bakhtawar Singh and uncle to Man Singh, on the gadi before Man Singh was aware of
what was going on. Bahadur Singh, who was old, was persuaded to adopt Lachhman Singh, the
infant grandson of Thakur Khushhal Singh of Surpur. Five years later, Maharawal Bahadur
Singh died and Lachhman Singh succeeded him. Maharawal Lachhman Singh has been married
twelve times, namely, to the daughters of (1) the Raj of Pal in Idar, (2) Maharaj Sheo Singh
of Sirohi, (8) Thakur Bakht Singh of Namli in Ratlam, (4) Thakur Jiwan Singh of Bordera
in Gujarat, (5) Thakur Zora.war Singh of Sarwan in Ratlam, (6) Thakur Parbat Singh of
Posina in Idar, (7) Thakur Kodarji of Pithapur in Mahikanta, (8) Thakur Sher Singh of
Bordera in Gujarat, (9) Thakur Kodar Singh of Pithapur, (10) and (11) Thakur Sardar Singh
of Molan in Banswara, and (12) Thakur Gulab Singh of Bordera in Gujarat. He has three
sons living, one by each of the ladies of the Bordera family, the eldest, Shimbhu Singh, who is
now twenty-three years of age, being the heir-apparent. The other sons are Surya Stngh,
aged seventeen years, and a boy aged three years. Kuuwar Shimbhu Singh has a son aged
four years. Outside bis own family the Chief has no very near relatives. The family most
closely connected with His Highness’s house is that of Bakhtawar Singh of Khandu, of which
the present representative, the fifth in descent from the founder, is Raghunath Singh aged
eight years.
The desceut of the Banswara house through that of Dungarpur from the ruling family of
Mewar has already been noticed.
40 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

The Maharawal is related by marriage with the Chiefs of Bundi (Hara), Kishangarh,
Sailaca, and Idar (Rahtor), and Sirohi (Deora).
The following table shows the principal rulers of Banswara : —
MAHARAWAL UDAI SINGH of Dungarpur
(died 1540).

I
Maharawal Prithwi Singh of Dungarpur Maharawal Jagmal Singh of Banswara
(ancestor of the Chiefs of Dungarpur). (tiied 1540).
I
Maharawal Jay Singh.

Maharawal Pratap Singh.

Maharawal Kandede Singh.

I
Maharawal Kalyan Singh.
I
Maharawal Agar Singh.

Maharawal Ude Singh.

I
Maharawal Saman Singh
(said to have wrested a portion of Partabgarh
territory from the Maharawat
of that State),
I
Maharawal Khushhal Singh
(founder of Kushalgarh and Kushalpura,
who subjugated the Bhils).

Maharawal Ajab Singh.

Maharawal Bhim Singh

(died 1713).

Maharawal Bishan Singh

(died 1737).

Maharawal Udai Singh Maharawal Prithwi Singh

(died 1747). (died 1786).

Maharawal Bijay Singh Thakur Bakhtawar Singh Khushhal Singh

(died 1816). of Kbandu. of Surpur.
I
Maharawal Ummed Singh
(died 1819).
(This Chief made the first treaty with Sardar Singh Maharawal
the British Government in 1818, of Khandu Bahadur Singh
after which the tribute (killed in 1817 by (died 1844).
formerly payable Maharawal Ummed Singh). I
to Dhar was transferred (bv adoption)
to the British Government. The Man Singh. Maharawal Laehhman
Gwalior troops were driven out of I Singh
Banswara in this reign by Thakur Fath Singh (the present Chief).
Arjun Singh of Garhi), | (died 1890).
I I
Maharawal Bhawani Singh Jaswant Singh
(died 1839). (died 1885).
I
Haghunath Singh
(alive, aged eight years).

Hamir Singh. Bakhtawar Singh.

I I
Madho Singh Laehhman Singh
(died without issue.) (present Chief, adopted
by Maharawal
Bahadur Singh).

Sbimbliu Singh. Surya Singh An infant.

(adopted by Madho Singh of Surpnr).
 SESODIA STATES—BANSWARA. 41

The leading men of Bauswara are the hereditary nobles, the Kamdar, and a few
office-bearers. The latter are only hereditary in the
Leading men. J J
sense that they hold jagirs from the Darbar. They
do not necessarily succeed to any particular office. The Kamdar is generally a foreigner.

As in Mewar, there seem originally to have been sixteen nobles of the first class (Solah),
of whom eight, Cbauhan's and Sesodias, sit to the right of the Chief in Darbar. On the left sat
formerly eight Rahtors, but the number has now dwindled down to three. In the second class
come a number of nobles, chiefly the descendants of the younger sons of former Chiefs, to
whom no special place is allotted.

The following are the principal nobles : —

Chauhans.— (1) Thakur Madan Singh of Mola.

(*) Thakur Balwant Singh of Metwala.

(3) Thakur Fath Singh of Arthuna.
(4) Rao Sangram Singh of Garhi.
(5) Thakur Dule Singh of Ganora.

Sesodias.— (6) Bhai Raghunath Singh of Khandu.

(7) Bhai Surya Singh of Surpur.
(8) Thakur Balwant Singh of Kushalpura.

Chauhans.—(9) Thakur Dalpat Singh of Bankura. . These nobleg belong to Dlingar_

(10) Thakur Udai Singh of Thakurda, L pur, but hold estates in Bans-
(11) Thakur Suraj Mai of Mandwa. J wara.

Rahtors.— (12) Rao Udai Singh of Kushalgarh.

(13) Thakur Bakhtawar Singh of Tilwara.
(14) Thakur Anup Singh of Orwara.

The Jagirdars of Khandu and Surpur, who have the title of Bhai, are descended from
Maharawal Prithwi Raj, as mentioned in the notice of the Chief. The Bhai of Surpur is by
birth the younger son of the present Maharawal, who was adopted by Thakur Madho Singh. The
Bhai of Kushalpura is a Sesodia of the Sakhtawat branch of the Mewar family. The Chauhan
families all claim descent from Raja Prithwi Raj of Delhi and are said to have migrated from
the neighbourhood of Sambhar when defeated by the Muhammadans. The Rahtor nobles are
all connected with the ruling family of Marwar. All the Solah nobles have the tazirn, which
is not enjoyed by any of the others. The Rao of Kushalgarh pays a tribute to the Banswara
Darbar of Rl,100 a year and attends when marriages take place in the ruling family, but is in
other respects independent of his nominal Chief, the boundary between whose territories and
his own has been defined by a British officer. The Rao of Garhi holds a very large estate,
but is in no way independent. Of the Solah nobles, only the Rao of Garhi, the Thakur of
Kushalpura, and the Jagirdars of Khandu and Surpur received their estates from the present
ruling family. The estates of all the rest date from before tbe foundation of the separate
State. Succession is in all cases by primogeniture, provision being made for the younger sons.
All the nobles have to render feudal service when required, in person if the Chief himself leads
the troops of the State, in other cases by deputy. Tribute is paid by all, save the Rao of
Kushalgarh. The custom of levying it apparently originated in the forced contributions taken
from the nobles in aid of the blackmail paid by the Chiefs to Sindhia aud other Mahrattas and
to Pindaris at the beginning of the present century. Until recent years most of the offices in the
State were held by descendants of Mina Baniyas settled in Banswara, who accompanied the first
Chief from Dungarpur. These now carry on their private trade only, having been superseded
by Nagar Brahmans and Oswals entertained by subsequent rulers. The latter still hold minor
posts. The only official of importance is the Kamdar, who has for some time been a foreigner.
Each occupant of the post has generally secured as many as possible of the posts subordinate
to him for his relatives and dependants. The Kamdar supervises all public departments and
disposes of the public revenues after consultation with the Chief, with whose private revenues
he has no concern.
v
42 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

The following' nobles alone call for separate notice:—

(1) Rao Udai Singh of Kushalgarh is a Rahtor of the Ramawat sub-clan. He is
nominally subordinate to the Chief to whom he pays
Individual nobles.
tribute, but in consequence of frequent attempts on
the part of the Darbar to claim rights over the
Kushalgarh.
estate to which it was nob entitled, Kushalgarh
was finally decided by the British Government to be practically independent for all purposes
other than the payment of tribute and personal attendance at marriages in the Chief’s family.
The Rao corresponds directly in all matters with the Assistant Political Agent. The estate,
which is populated almost entirely by Bhils, consists of sixty villages situated to the south
of Banswara. The annual income is estimated at R60,000. In addition to the tribute
of Rl,100 a year paid to Banswara, Rl,200 are paid annually to Ratlam on account
of the jagir of Khera comprising sixty villages granted by that State in 1782. The Kushalgarh
family is descended from Rao Jodha of Marwar, whose great-grandson, Askarn, obtained a grant
of Kushalgarh from the Emperor Aurangzeb. The distinctive name of Ramawat, by which
the sub-clan is known, is derived from Ram Singh, the sixth in descent from Rao Jodha.
Ram Singh was hilled about 1631 in a war between the Chauhans of Banswara and the Rahtors
regarding the succession to the gadi of Banswara, which was disputed between the son of a
Chauhan and the son of a Rahtor Rani. The latter eventually gained the day. Kushalgarh itself
was founded by Ahhay Raj in 1670. The title of Rao was conferred on Thakur Zalim Singh
by Maharana Bhim Singh of Mewar. The present Rao is the great-grandson of Rao Zalim
Singh. He succeeded his father Rao Zorawar Singh in 1891 and is now thirty-four years of
age. He has one son, Ranjit Singh, aged ten years, a brother, Jaswant Singh, aged thirty
years, and three nephews. The family of the Rao is closely connected with that of the Rahtor
Raja of Jhabua. On the accession of a new Rao to the Kushalgarh estate, the ceremony of
talwar-bandi (investiture by buckling on a sword) is performed by the Raja, who attends at
Kushalgarh for this purpose.
(2) Rao Sangram Singh of Garhi is a Chauhan Rajput. The family of Garhi, which has
for some time been the most powerful and influen¬
Garhi.
tial in Banswara, is of comparatively recent
origin in the State. The first of the line. Agar Singh, came from Thakurda in Dungarpur
towards the middle of the eighteenth century and received from Maharawal Udai Singh the
jagir of Wasi. Agar Singh was killed in an attempt to reduce to subjection certain mutinous
members of the Maharawal’s family, but his son, Udai Singh, brought the enterprise to a suc¬
cessful conclusion and received as his reward the jagirs of Nawagama, taken from the rebels,
and of Garhi. Other villages were added later. For services rendered to the Maharawal of
Dungarpur in expelling the Mahrattas, Thakur Arjun Singh subsequently received a grant of
villages in that State. Arjun Singh’s successor, Thakur Ratn Singh, who was the prime mover
in the substitution in the Chiefship of the Surpur line for that of Khandu, received the title of
Rao from his son-in-law the Maharana of Udaipur.
The estate consists of one hundred and fifty villages, of which the majority are situated to
the west of Banswara, yields a revenue of about R80,000 and pays a tribute of R3,500 to the
Darbar. Of the whole estate, oue hundred and twenty-five villages, comprised in the district
of Chilkari, were conquered by Banswara troops from the neighbouring State of Sonth Rampur
in Mahikantha and were subsequently bestowed free of tribute on Thakur Agar Singh, the
leader of the force. The estate held in Dungarpur is worth about Rl,200 a year. The present
Rao, who is a younger son of the Thakur of Thakurda in Dungarpur, succeeded the late Rao,
Gambhir Singh, by adoption in 1890. He is nineteen years of age, and his estate, which is
much involved, is temporarily under the supervision of the Darbar. Rao Sangram Singh, who
married the daughter of the Rahtor Thakur of Semlia in Sailana, has no son. His nearest
relatives are his natural father, the Thakur of Thakurda, and his brother, the latter’s eldest
son. For the last three generations, the successor to the estate has on failure of natural issue
been adopted from Thakurda.
(3) Maharaj Raghunath Singh of Khandu, owing to his kinship with the ruling
Chief called the Bhai of Khandu, is a Sesodia
Khandu.
Rajput descended from Maharawal Prithwi Singh
(1747—1786). An account of the origin and descent of the family has been given in the sketch
of the Chief. The estate, which is situated to the east of Banswara, comprises thirty villages.
 SESODIA STATES—PAltTABGARH. 43

with an annual income of R30,000, In consideration of the succession to the Chiefship of a

junior branch of the family the tribute was reduced to the nominal sum of R400. Maharaj
Raghunath Singh is eight years of age and succeeded his grandfather Fath Singh in 1890.
He has no brothers, uncles, or cousins. During the minority of the Maharaj, the estate
is under the management of the Darbar.

(4) Thakur Madan Singh of Molan is a Chauhan Rajput of the Dungariya clan, and is
in point of descent the leading noble of Bans-
wara, his ancestors haviug held an important
jagir on the east side of the Mahi river under the Dungarpur Darbar before the separation of
the two States. Until the days of Mabarawal Prithwi Singh, by whom a considerable portion
of the estate was confiscated and transferred to Garhi, Molan was the most important estate in
Banswava, being worth about a lakh of rupees. The present value of the seven villages
to which it has been reduced is only R8,000. Rupees 551 are payable as tribute to the
Darbar. Thakur Madan Singh, who is now twenty-nine years of age, succeeded his father
in 1880. He is a personal friend of His Highness the Maharawal, to whom two of his sisters
are married. He has no children. The Thakurs of Metwala and Arthuna are the heads of
junior branches of the Molan family.

PARTABGARH.

The Partabgarh family according to local accounts is descended from Khim Singh, second
son of Rana Mokul and younger brother of Rana Kumbhu, who held the throne of Mewar
from 1419 to 1474. Khim Singh’s second son, Suraj Mai, possessed himself of the Sadri and
Dhariawad districts. In 1535, when Chitor was invested by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, Bhag
Singh, the eldest son of Suraj Mai, headed the defence, and sacrificed his life for the safety of
Udai Singh, the infant son of Rana Sanga, Bhag Singh was succeeded at Sadn by his son
Rai Singh. In 1553, Rai Singh’s son Bikaji is said to have left Mewar and, after residing
for some years at Giaspur near Deolia, finally defeated and killed a powerful Bhil chieftain
named Devi and founded the town of Deogarh or Deolia in 1561. Bika may, therefore, be
considered the real founder of the Partabgarh State, though it was not known by that name
till some generations later. Bhawa, the grandson of Bika, is said to have afforded shelter to
Muhabbat Khan after the defeat of the latter by the Emperor Jahangir. Afterwards when re¬
stored to favour Muhabbat Khan remembered the kindness received and furthered the causeof Hari
Singh, Bhawa’s grandson, at the Court of Delhi. Bhawa was killed in battle fighting for the
Governor of Mandisor against the Rana of Udaipur in 1604. His nephew, Jaswant Singh,
who succeeded to the g&di in 1623,being considered dangerously powerful, was invited to Udai«
pur and, together with his eldest son, was treacherously killed by Rana Jagat Singh. Kantbal
was occupied by Mewar troops. Nine years later, Jaswant Singh’s second son, Hari Singh, being
taken to Delhi by the Thakur of Damotar, succeeded, partly by the interest of Muhabbat Khan
and partly by his own skill and address, in getting himself recognized as an independent Chief
by the Emperor Shah Jahan, who bestowed on him the district of Kanthal of which the value
is said to have then been nine lakhs of rupees. On his return the Mewar troops were with¬
drawn and Hari Singh established himself at Deolia, built a palace and gradually brought
into subjection the whole tract now known as Partabgarh. His tribute to the Emperor of
Delhi was fixed at S 15,000, and he was granted the title of Maharaj Dhiraj Maharawat.
Hari Singh was succeeded in 1674 by his son Partap Singh, the founder of the town of
Partabgarh, from which the State now takes its name. An attempt made in this reign by the
Maharana of Udaipur to recover Kanthal was unsuccessful and ended in the death of Ram
Singh, the heir-apparent of Mewar. Prithwi Singh, who succeeded bis father in 1708, was
received with much courtesy at Delhi and was granted the right to coin money, which was
renewed fifty years later to his grandson Salim Singh. The Salim Shahi rupee is the princi.
pal coin of Partabgarh and the adjoining districts to this day. In the next reign, that of
Sanwant Singh (1775—1824), the country was overrun by the Mahrattas, and the Maharawat
only saved his State from destruction by agreeing to pay to Holkar a tribute of Salim Shahi
R72,000 * instead of the tribute formerly paid to Delhi. Holkar’s tribute is still levied by the
British Government and paid over to Indore.

* British R6S,887-12.
F 2
44 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

The first connection of the State with the British Government took place in 1804, when
a treaty was entered into which was dissolved by Lord Cornwallis a little later. In 1818 a
fresh treaty was made which is still in force. Maharawat San want Singh died in 1844, his son
Dip Singh and the latter’s eldest son Kesri Singh having predeceased him. In the meantime
Dalpat Singh, Dip Singh's second son, had been adopted by Maharawal Jaswant Singh of
Dungarpur and had succeeded to that State in 1825. It was decided by the British Govern¬
ment that Dalpat Singh who, on Maharawat Sanwant Singh's death, had become the nearest
heir to Partabgarh, could not be allowed to succeed to both Chiefships. He therefore relin¬
quished Dungarpur in favour of his adopted son Ude Singh, son of the Thakur of Sabli,
and was installed as Maharawat of Partabgarh. On his death, he was succeeded by his sou
Ude Singh, the late Chief.

The following is an abstract genealogical tree of the Partabgarh Chief's family j-

MAHARANA MOKUUI OF MEWAR, died 1419,

I
Khim Singh.

Rawat Suraj Mai (established himself at Sadri and Dhariawad).

Rawat Bhag Singh, 1531 Sais Mai Ran Mai

(killed when commanding Mewar troops at the (ancestor of the (ancestor of the
siege of Chitor by Bahadur Shah, 1538). Damotor family). Kalyanpura family).

Maharawat Rai Singh, 1533. Ancestor of the Thakur of Ambirama.

Maharawat Bikaji, 1553 (left Mewar and established himself at Eanthal j founded Deolia, 1561).

Maharawat Tej Singh, 1579. Eishan Das (ancestor of the Surjan Das (ancestor of the
Thakur of Barlia). Thakur of Raipur).

Maharawat Bhanaji, 1591 Maharawat Sendhaji, 1604,

(killed fighting against Mewar).

Maharawat Jaswant Singh, 1623 (killed at Udaipur by Maharana

Jagat Singh).

Maharawat Hari Singh, 1634 (made Udai Singh

Chief of Eanthal by the Mughal Emperor), (ancestor of the Jhantla family).

Maharawat Partap Singh, 1674 Amar Singh Madho Singh

(founded Partabgarh, 1698). (received the jagir of Salimgarh). (ancestor of the Achlaoda family).

1
Maharawat Prithwi Singh, 1708 (granted the right to coin money).

Pahar Singh. Maharawat Ummed Singh, 1718. Gopal Singh, 1723.

I
Maharawat Ram Singh, 1717.
I
Maharawat Salim Singh, 1758
(granted the right to coin rupees).

M aharawat Sanwant Singh, 1775 (paid tribute to Mahrattas. Lai Singh

First treaty with British Government, 1818). (ancestor of Arnod family).

Dip Singh, died 1834. Maharawat Raghunath Singh (present Chief,

adopted by Maharawat Udai Singh’s widow).
Maharawat Dalpat Singh, 1844 (originally adopted to
Dpngarpur).
I
Maharawat Udai Singh, 1864.

Maharawat Raghunath Singh

(by adoption).
 SESODIA STATES—PARTABGARH. 45

The present Chief is His Highness M aharawat Raghunath Singh Bahadur, who was
The Chief born in the year 1859. His Highness, as has been
shown above, is a Sesodia Rajput, descended from
the ruling house of Mewar. His natural father was Maharaj Khushhal Singh of Arnod, third
in descent from Lai Singh, younger brother of Maharawat Sawant Singh (1774—1824). The
late Chief Maharawat Udai Singh having died in February 1889 without a legitimate successor,
either natural or adopted, his widow adopted Raghunath Singh, the nearest relative.

H is Highness has been twice married, first to the daughter of the Thakur of Khawasa in
Mewar and second to the daughter of the Maharaj of Semlia in Sailana. By the senior of
these Ranis who died in 1891 His Highness has one son, Man Singh, aged seven years, and
one daughter. He has no near relatives on the male side, the closest connection being Thakur
Khushhal Singh of Salimgarh, whose family is descended directly from Amar Singh, third son
of Maharawat Hari Singh, who succeeded to the Partabgarh gadi in 1634. The present Chief
and the Thakur of Salimgarh are ninth in descent from a common ancestor.

The Chief's natural mother was a daughter of the Chauhan Rao of Asin in Mewar.
His adoptive mother, the widow of the late Maharawat, was a daughter of the Rahtor
Thakur of Namli in Mewar.

The leading men of the State consist of hereditary nobles, hereditary office-bearers,
non-hereditary officials, hereditary bards, priests,
Leading men.
etc.

The hereditary nobles are all Rajputs and are fifty in number, nearly all of them being
descended from some member of the ruling family. They possess altogether one hundred and
sixteen villages with an annual income of about two and a half lakhs of rupees, and pay
ft32,296 as tribute to the Darbar.

Of the nobles only nine, who are considered to belong to the first class, are entitled to
the tazim. They are all Sesodias and take rank as follows;—-

J. The Thakur of Damotar. ■6. The Thakur of Jhautla.

2- Do. Kalyanpura. 6. Do. Barlia.
3. Do. Ambirama. 7. Do. Salimgarh.
4. Do. Eaipur. 8. Do. Achlaoda,

9. The Thakur of Arnod.

Their estates were presented to the ancestors of the present holders directly by the Chief,
in some cases as a reward for special service, in others as maintenance for younger sons
and brothers. Succession is always by primogeniture, adoption in case of failure of issue
being generally permitted and recognized by the Darbar. Besides the annual tribute, the
nobles are expected to render military and police service in accordance with their means, to
report to the Darbar all heinous offences committed within their estates, and to be present at
the capital at certain annual festivals and other special occasions, when summoned.

The hereditary office-bearers are mostly Bagria* mahajans, who hold jagirs for services
rendered by their ancestors and receive small salaries according to the actual appointment
which they hold. A few Nagar Brahmans, Muhammadans, and Kayasthas hold office as occa¬
sion requires, but are not hereditary jagirdars. The family priests of the Chief (PuroAits'j
are Amaitha Brahenaus, and the State priests (Karmantris) are Tarwari Mewar Brahmans.
These hold jagirs, as do the Ifasvnds or family bards (Bhats), of whom the present represent¬
ative is Dasund Chandan Singh, and the Charans, of whom the Raos of Sanchair and of
Isardar are the heads.

The following personages call for individual

Individual persons of note.
notice :—

(1) Thakur Kesri Singh of Danjotar, a Sesodia Rajput, is the senior noble of the State
and sits first on the right hand of the Chief in
Damotar.
Darbar. On the demise of a Chief, the Thakur
of Damotar takes temporary charge of affairs, and after consultation with the widows of the
late Chief and any influential nobles who may be present at the time, instals the new ruler

* See page 38. The tract comprised in the Banswara, Dungarpur and Partabgarh States is known as Bagor.
Tne same name is applied to the local dialect.
46 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN KAJPUTANA,

No accession without his intervention would be recognized as valid. The family is descended
from Sahis Mai, younger brother of Bkag Singh, who after the latter’s death at Chitor settled
at Nimbahera. Some seventy years later, in 1571, Kamalji, Sahismal’s son, received a jacjir
in Kanthal. Kamalji was killed at Haldighat in 1575 fighting for the Maharana of Mewar
against the Emperor Akbar. The estate, which comprises eleven villages of the estimated
value of R60,000 and pays an annual tribute of 116,000, is situated to the north of Partab-
garh. The Thakur is closely related to the Jodhpur family, and his frequent absences at
Marwar interfered until recently with the good management of the estate. The present
Thahur succeeded his uncle, Thakur Hamir Singh, by adoption in 1866. His grandfather,
Thakur Ror Singh, had three sons and two daughters. One of the latter married Maharaja
Takht Singh, then Chief of Ahmadnagar and afterwards ruler of Marwar, who bestowed the
jagir of Jhalawand on Gambhir Singh, Ror Singh’s second son. On Ror Singh’s death in
1848, his eldest son Thakur Hamir Singh succeeded him, and subsequently, having no male
issue, adopted Thakur Kesri Singh, the second son of his brother Gambhir Singh. Thakur
Kesri Singh has two sons, Hardeo Singh and Prithwi Singh, aged respectively twenty-two
and fourteen years. He has also one elder brother, Zorawar Singh, now' Thakur of Jhalawand,
and two younger brothers, Madan Singh and Sajan Singh, of whom the former lives with
him and assists in the management of the estate.

(2) Thakur Ratn Singh of Raipur is a Sesodia Rajput of the Rama-wat sub-clan,
so called from Ram Das, the first Thakur.
Raipur.
He occupies the first seat in Darbar ion the left
of the Chief. The estate, which is situated 20 miles to the south of Partabgarh, consists of
eight villages with an annual rental of R38,000. The tribute payable to the Darbar is
R4,362. The estate was bestowed ou Ram Das, son of Surjan Das, third son of Maharawat
Bikaji (1553—1579) as a reward for subduing the Bhil tribes. The Raipur Thakur in addition to
the revenue from his own villages receives tribute from the Thakurs of Manpura and Kangarh
and the produce of a small estate in Gwalior. The Thakurs of Manpura and Kangarh are
descended from Man Singh and Kan Singh, the second and third sons of Thakur Ram Das.
In 1789, during the time of Dal Singh the eighth Thakur, the Ramawats were driven from
their estates by the Parawat family, but with the aid of the Darbar, recovered them six years
later when the Parawats were expelled to Dhar.

(3) Thakur Takht Singh of Kalyanpura is a descendant of Ran Mai, third son of Suraj
Mai, a brother of Bhag Singh. He holds the
Kalyanpura.
second place on the right in Darbar. The estate
of Kalyanpura comprises two villages with a revenue of R8,000 and pays a tribute of
R2,195 to the Darbar. Ran Mai, the founder of the house, was killed in the service of
Mewar in a boundary dispute with Bundi in 1541. His son Sultan Singh, who commanded
the Mewar troops against Muhabbat Khan, received as a reward for his success the jagir of
Bhairwi in Udaipur, together with the Sanad (grant) of Kurba (the insignia of royalty) and
was raised to the rank of a first-class noble. When Bikaji established himself in Deolia in 1561,
Sultan Singh accompanied him and received a jagir. Kalyan Singh, who succeeded to the
estate in 1614, received a grant of a village in Mandisor from the Subah of that place for his
services.in repressing the Grasias. This estate is still held by the descendants of bis younger
brother Madho Singh. Thakur Ranchor Das successfully led an army to repel an attack
from the Subah of Mandisor.

(4) Thakur Lai Singh of Barlia is descended from Kishan Das, second son of Maha¬
rawat Bikaji. Of the nine sons of Kishan Das,
Barlia.
the eldest, Jeth Singh, succeeded to the Chief-
ship of Salumbar by adoption. The remainder accompanied him to Mewar. In 1678
Maharawat Pratap Singh, on his return from a visit to Salumbar, brought with him Manohar
Das son of Janiji the ninth son of Kishan Das, and bestowed on him jagir of Barlia. The
estate, which is situated to the north of Partabgarh on the Gwalior border, comprises two
villages with a revenue of R8,000 paying a tribute of Rl,322. Thakur Lai Singh, who suc¬
ceeded his father Thakur Chiman Singh in 1861, has three sons, Sawant Singh, Fauj Singh,
and Unkar Singh, aged fwenty-seven, tweny-four, and ten years, respectively.
 SESODIA STATES—SHAHPURA. 47

(5) Thakur Madho Singh of Achlaoda is a descendant of Thakur Madho Singh, third
son of Maharawat Hari Singh (1634—1G74).
Achlaoda.
The estate, which is situated nine miles to the
south of Partabgarh, comprises seven villages with a revenue of R8,000 and pays a tribute of
R.1,833. The present Thakur, who is now twenty-seven years of age, succeeded his father
Thakur Ratn Singh in 1869. He has no sons living.
(6) Thakur Takht Singh of Jhantla is a descendant of Kesri Singh, third son of Maha¬
rawat Jaswant Singh, who was killed at Udaipur
Jhantla.
in 1634. The estate is situated fifteen miles north
of Partabgarh. It comprises five villages with an annual rental of R12,000 and pays a tribute
of Rl,416 to the Darbar. Thakur Takht Singh succeeded his father Thakur Lai Singh in 1861.
He is now sixty-three years of age and has three sons, the eldest of whom is named Pratap Singh.

SHA HPURA * (See also page 31).

The founder of this Chiefship was Sujan Singh, son of Suraj Mai, the third son of
Maharana Amar Singh of Udaipur, who received from the Emperor of Delhi in A. D. 1629
a grant in jagir of the Phulia pargana and the title of ‘‘ Commander of two thousand troops/'’
Sujan Singh was succeeded iu 1664 by his son Daulat Singh. In 1685 Daulat Singh wa
succeeded by his son Bharat Singh, who received from the Emperor the titles of Raja and
of “Commander of three thousand five hundred troops.” He died in 1729 and was succeeded
by his son Ummed Singh who was killed at Ujain when fighting for Maharana Arsi of
Udaipur against Madho Rao Sindia. Ummed Singh’s grandson Ram Singh succeeded
to the gadi in 1768 and received from the Maharana of Udaipur the pargana of Kachola
as blood-money. His son Bhim Singh succeeded him in 1774 and was followed in 17 96 by
his son Amar Singh, who deceived from Udaipur the title of Raja Dhiraj. The pargana of
Jahezpur and Anguncha, Kotri and other villages were resumed at the same time. In 1827
Amar Singh was succeeded by his son Bhim Singh, The latter’s son Jagat Singh, who had
succeeded in 1845, received from the British Government in 1848 a sanad continuing to him the
grant of the Phulia pargana and a khilat. Jagat Siugh, who died in 1853, was succeeded by
his adopted son, Lachhman Singh, who received in 1862 & sanad guaranteeing to him the right of
adoption. On his death in 1870 the present Chief, Raja Dhiraj Nahar Singh, came to the gadi4
Raja Dhiraj Nahar Singh, the Chief of Shahpnra, is the son of Thakur Dhirat Singh
The Chief °f Dhanop, of the family of Ummed Singh, as
shown in the following table :—

ZALIil SINGH.
(Second son of Ummed Singh.)

Jay Singh. Bijay Singh. Suraj Mai.

Path Singh Sultan Singh. Sanwant Singh. Devi Singh

(died in his father’s life-time).
I
Zorawar Singh. Balwant Singh
(adopted by Jay Singh).

Devi Singh f (adopted bv Devi

(adopted). Singh).

Balwant Singh Kesri Singh Sabal Singh Anar Singh Sundar Singh
(adopted). (alive). (alive). (alive).
i
i

Dhirat Singh Kalyan Singh.

(alive).

Nahar Singh
(present Chief).
Zalim Singh. Bahadur Singh Chotu Singh.
(alive).

This account has been compiled by the Chiefship ex parte and contains much controversial matter which would
be strenuously contested by the jagirdars if given a hearing.

f On the death of Jay Singh, Bijay Singh assumed the succession without the permission of the Darbar. He was
deposed and went to Udaipur, Devi Singh being adopted into Jay Singh’s family.
48 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

The Chief, who is a Sesodia Rajput of the Kanawat sub-clan and an Ary a Vaidik by
religion, was recognized by the British Government in 1870 as successor to Raja Dhiraj
Lacbhman Singh, and received the usual Jchilat from Government as well as the customary
presents of horses and elephants from Native States. He married first, on the 19th
August 1870, the daughter of Thakur Ram Singh, a Jodha Rajput of Baghera in
Ajmer; second, on the 16th May 1874, the daughter of Chatur Sal, the Khichi Rajput
Chief of Maksudangarh in Central India; third, on the 7th July 1889, the daughter of
Hari Singh, brother to Man Singh, the Chief of Dharangdara in Kathiawar of the Jhala clan ;
and fourth, on the 4th March 1893, the sister of the Maharawal of Chhota Udaipur in
Rewa Kantha. Of these four Ranis the second and third are dead. By the second the
Chief has two sons, Ummed Singh, aged sixteen years, and Sardar Singh, aged twelve years,
and two daughters. The Chief has no uncles or other near relations of the ruling family. His
nearest relatives belong to his own family of Dhanop whose names are given in the pedigree.
After these bis nearest relations in succession are the descendants of Bhabhut Singh, Daulat
Singh, and Sujan Singh. The Raja Dhiraj is related to the Chief of Udaipur, being descended
from Maharana Amar Singh of Mewar, but otherwise has no clan or family relationship with
other Chiefs in Rajputana. His mother by adoption is the daughter of Lachhman Singh,
Jagirdar of Poroli in Mewar, a Chauhan Rajput, and his own mother is the daughter of
Thakur Megh Singh, Jagirdar of Kotri in Kishangarh, a Rahtor Rajput.

Only three nobles are recognized as such by the grant of the title of Omrao. Of these
the Thakur of Khamor, who holds the oldest and
Leading men.
richest jagir in the chief ship, claims to hold his
jagir under a grant anterior to that of the Chiefship, but though this is admitted by the Chief,
no documents concerning the original grant are in existence. The other two nobles are the
Jagirdars of Birdaul and Thinnal, situated respectively in the Kachola and Phuliapar^awas,

There are also a number of smaller jagirdars. Succession to all jagir estates is by primo¬
geniture, suitable provision being made for youuger sons. In default of legitimate male
issue succession is by adoption, subject to the approval of the Chief, but the right to succeed
by adoption is limited to cousins distant by not more than four generations from the adopter.
Persons who are of unsound mind or who have committed any act by which their claim is
forfeited are excluded from the succession. These rules apply also to the Chiefship. Cousins
to the third generation are looked on as brothers to the Chief, after which they sink to the rank
of jagirdars. The service to be rendered by jagirdars has after much dispute been settled by
sanads granted in 1889, according to which the jagirdars are now required to furnish a certain
number of horsemen for two months in each year at Shahpura, and to do such service as can
properly be demanded of them. They are bound also to attend on the Chief with'their fol¬
lowing at the Dasehra, Holi, and other festivals, and to accompany him and serve him as directed
in accordance with ancient usage on all customary occasions both in and out of Shahpura.
All periods of occasional service beyond the limits of the Chiefship exceeding twenty days are
reckoned as equivalent to an equal period of the two months* fixed annual service abovemen-
tioned, but if sueh period of foreign service shall unavoidably exceed two months in any one
year, no further deductions are to be made in subsequent years. The amount of tribute payable
to the Chief is fixed in the case of the older jagirs by an assessment made in 1848 A.D., in
that of the newer by sanad.

There are five hereditary office-bearers of note, all of whom hold revenue-free villages for
performing religious duties on the Chief's accession and at marriages and funerals, and for in¬
structing the Chief and his sons in subjects of a scientific nature. Their ancestors came to the
Chiefship in the time of Rajas Bharat Singh (1685), Ummed Singh (1729), and Bhim Singh
(1774). There are also four hereditary officials whose ancestors came to the Chiefship in the time
of Rajas Surjan Singh and Bharat Singh and received land in muafi and jagir. Of these all
four receive monthly salaries and two hold lands and receive in addition fixed dues for special
occasions and duties. Their duties are to keep the accounts and records of the Chiefship, to
prepare lcharitas and sanads and to act when required as motamids and vakils. Of the new
and non-hereditary officials two only deserve special mention, thekamdar and the Judicial Officer.
The kamdar, Munshi Bholanath Kayasth, was appointed in 1891 after having served for
thirteen years as vakil at the Deoli Political Agency. He is a zamindar of the Meerut district
 SESODIA STATES— SHAHPTTItA 49

in the North-Western Provinces, lias passed the Entrance Examination of the Calcutta Univer¬
sity, aud draws a salary of R180 a month.
The Judicial Officer, Maulvi Karimu-d-din Khan, who enjoys the title of Khan Bahadur
is also a resident of the Meerut district. He was appointed to his present post in 1892 on a
salary of R150 a month and is in receipt of a pension from the British Government.
The only other leading men are the Mahant of Ramdwaraand Bakhtawar Singh, the latter
of whom holds no office. Their ancestors came into the Chiefship in the time of Rajas Bharat
Singh and Ram Singh respectively. The Mahant resides at Shahpura and has followers in
various Native States, one of whom is with the approval of the Chief and citizens of Shah¬
pura selected to succeed on the occurrence of a vacancy. Bakhtawar Singh holds lands and is
in receipt of a monthly cash allowance. He is at present engaged in compiling an historical
account of the Chiefship.
(1) Of the three Umraos, Thakur Zorawar Singh of Khamor ranks highest, his title
having been conferred by Raja Bharat Singh.
Leading mdividua The Thakur, who is a Rahtor Cbandrawat Rajput
Khamor. related to the Jagirdar of Belonda in Mewar, is
forty years of age. He has two sons, Jaswant Singh and Earn Singh, aged fourteen and eight
years respectively, and two brothers, Mor Singh and Devi Singh, of whom the former has two
sons. The Khamor estate consists of a village of which the annual income is about R 12,000, of
which R110 are paid to the Chief as tribute and R351 on account of partial commutation of
service.
(2) Thakur Nahar Singh of Birdaul, the second of the Umraos, is a Rajawat Rajput
related to the Rajputs of Panwora in Jaipur.
He holds one village in the Mewar portion of
the Kachola pargana which yields about R5,000 a year, and pays to the Chief a tribute of un¬
certain amount. The Thakur, who is forty-two years of age, has three sons, Kalyan Singh,
aged twenty years, Kesri Singh, aged eighteen years, and Bhim Singh, aged eight years. He
has also one uncle, Nahar Singh.
(3) Thakur Jawahir Singh of Thainal, the third Umrao, is a Sesodia Ranawat Rajput
Thynal descended from Jagmalji, son of Rana Udai Singh
of Mewar. He holds a village which yields
about R8,000 a year and pays an annual tribute of about -R500. He also renders certain
fixed seivice. The Thakur, who recently succeeded by adoption to his brother the late Thakur
Bhabut Singh, has no sons. He has two brothers, Ratn Singh and Kalyan Singh, of whom
the last named has male issue.
 CHAUHAN STATES—3UNDI AND KOTAH. 51

CHAPTER IV.

CHAUHAN STATES.

[Bundi—Kotah—Sirok i.'\

The Chauhan tribe, which is represented in Rajputana by the Haras of Bundi and Kotah
and the Deoras of Sirohi, claims descent from a legendary hero named Anhil. Anhil’s descend¬
ant, Bisaldeo, who lived about the beginning of the eleventh century and was the progenitor
of the Chauhan kings of Delhi, became, through his grandson Ishtpal, the founder of the Hara
family. About one hundred and fifty years after the time of Ishtpal, Sohi Rao, a near connec¬
tion of the celebrated Raja Prithwi Raj of Delhi, established his capital at Nadol in Marwar,
whence his tribe gradually overspread the territory which borders on Sirohi. The sixth in
succession from Sohi Rao built the fort of Jalor in Marwar, and his grandson, Deoraj, became
the ancestor of the ruling family of Sirohi, which took from him the name of Deora, by which
it is now known.

BUNDI AND KOTAH.

The Hara branch of the Chauhans has been settled for many centuries in the tract now
occupied by Bundi and Kotah, to which it has given the name of Haraoti. Regarding its
earlier history, the following account is given in the Gazetteer of Rajputana: “All
that can be distinctly collected from the records is that the Haras went through the
ordinary course of incessant fighting with rival clans for lands and dominions; that they drove
out or extirpated the non-Rajput tribes whom they found in possession (a massacre of the
Minas in the fourteenth century is particularly mentioned, which cleared the country round
Bundi itself) ; that they built strong places and gradually acquired predominance in the
eastern districts, which they still hold. The Chiefs appear to have admitted the supremacy
of the Sesodia Chiefs at Chitor, whenever the latter were strong enough to enforce it; and to
have enlarged their borders at the expense or in defiance of the Sesodia Chief at Chitor when¬
ever he was weakened by foreign invasions. Alau-d-din-’s sack of Chitor gave them an oppor¬
tunity of this sort, the Hara country being protected by a range of hills and wilds from easy
invasion out of the Mewar plains. There are numerous accounts of feuds and battles between
Bundi and Chitor, two capitals distant about 60 miles; but the most dangerous enemy of
the Haras in the fifteenth century was the powerful Muhammadan dynasty of Malwa.
We may conclude generally that the Eastern Chiefs of Mewar and Bundi were hard pressed by
the Muhammadans from the open south-west country, until Rana Sanga restored the power of
the Rajputs and retook from the Muhammadans their most important fortresses in this quarter;
but this brief period of brilliant revival ended with the great defeat of the Rana at Fathpur
Sikri; and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat soon afterwards took Chitor, when Rao Arjun of Bundi
with his Haras was slain in the storm. Sher Shah, the Afghan, also marched down into this
country and again took Chitor; though, after his death, the Haras got possession of the great
fort of Rantambor on their eastern border, which had long been an imperial outpost. This
they held as feudatories of the Sesodia Chief; but when Akbar undertook the pacification of
Rajputana, he induced Rai Surjan, the Hara Chief, to transfer his allegiance to the Emperor
of Delhi, and the fortress yielded after a short siege. Rai Surjan and his sons entered
the service of Akbar, receiving rank and pay. From this time forward ceased the supremacy of
the Sesodias, and began the connection of the Haras of Bundi with the Mughal Emperors.
Several of their Chiefs took service with the Emperors, obtained high rank at the Delhi Court,
and received large grants of lands which were alternately resumed and restored as the Chief lost
or gained favour, or took the wrong or right side in the dynastic struggles for the throne of
Delhi. The bravery of the Hara Chiefs in the field is constantly recorded; they accompanied
the Emperor upon distant expeditions and took leading parts in the political revolutions of the
time. One of them fell fighting for Dara in the decisive battle near Agra (1658 A. D.), and
of course his family became the object of Aurangzeb's revenge; who, however, pardoned the
Haras after a vain attempt to ruin them. Another Chief had better luck in the battle for
G 2
52 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

Aurangzeb’s vacant throne, for he took the winning side of Bahadur Shah, while his kinsman
of Kotak was killed on the losing side, whereby the Bundi family secured predominance for
the time. Soon after, however, a furious feud broke out between the Bundi Chief and the
powerful Jay Singh of Amber (now Jaipur), wheu the Bundi Chief was driven out of his land
and died in exile; while the Kotah and Amber Chiefs annexed large portions of his territory.
The successor appealed to Malhar Kao Holkar, who forced the Amber Raja to disgorge and
replaced the Bundi Chief, keeping Patan as payment for his services. After this time the
most important incident chronicled is the death of Rana Ursi of Udaipur, who was killed by
the Rao of Bundi during a hunting party, whence arose a feud between the two great houses
which is not yet forgotten. From the time of the appearance of the Mahrattas in these parts
the Rajput States were constantly exposed to plundering excursions and heavy contributions
with occasional loss of territory, and Bundi was among the greatest sufferers. In 1804 the
Chief of Bundi assisted Colonel Monson’s expedition against Holkar through his country, and
gave friendly aid when Monson was forced to retreat. From that time up to 1817, the
Mahrattas and Pindaris constantly ravaged the State, exacting tribute and assuming supre¬
macy. The territory of Bundi was so situated as to be of great importance in 1817 in cutting
off the flight of the Pindaris. Maharao Bishan Singh early accepted the British alliance, and
a treaty was concluded with him on the 10th February 1818. Although his forces were incon¬
siderable, he co-operated heartily with the British Government. It was this connection with
the British Government that raised Bundi from the lamentable condition to which it was
reduced by the Mahrattas.” Maharao Raja Bishan Singh was succeeded in 1821 bv Maharao
Raja Ram Singh, G.C.S.I., C.I.E., who died in 1888 after a reign of sixty-seven years. He
was succeeded by Maharao Raja Raghubir Singh, the present Chief.

The Kotah State, which formerly formed an integral part of Bundi, was bestowed in 1579
by the Emperor Jahangir upon Madho Singh, the second son of Rao Ratn of Bundi. Of Kao
Madho Singh’s six successors, three were killed fighting for the Delhi Emperors, aud a fourth
perished fighting for Prince Azim against Prince Muazzam in the war of the succession
Ummed Singh I. succeeded to the gadi in 1771 and co-operated with Colonel Monson against
Holkar, aiding with supplies and men. Through the instrumentality of his able Minister Kaj
RanaZalim Singh (see Chapter VII) he was the first Rajput Chief to conclude a treaty with the
British Government. This took place in 1817. He died in November 1819, and was succeeded
by Kishor Singh II. as titular Chief. The administration was vested by a supplementary article
to the treaty of 1817 in Zalim Singh and his heirs. On Kishor Singh II.’s death in 1828,
his nephew Ram Singh came to the gadi, the administration being vested in Madho Sinwh
son of Zalim Singh. Disputes arose between the nominal and actual ruler in 1834, and on the
18th April 1838, with the consent of the Kotah Chief, seventeen parganas, yielding a revenue
of twelve lakhs of rupees, were made over to Madan Singh and his heirs as a separate provision
for the descendants of Zalim Singh. These districts now form the Jhalawar State. In 1857
the Kotah troops and the Kotah Contingent mutinied, murdering Captain Burton, the Politi¬
cal Agent, and his two sons. The Maharao made no attempt to offer assistance to the Politi¬
cal Agent and as a mark of the displeasure of the British Government his salute was reduced
from seventeen to thirteen guns. Maharao Ram Singh, who died in 1866, was succeeded by
his son Bhim Singh, who on his accession took the name of Chatar Sal II. In recognizing
his succession, the British Government restored to him the full salute of seventeen guns. This
Chief's incapacity having led to misrule and oppression, the administration of the State was
at his request taken over by the British Government in 1874 and placed in the hands of the
Political Agent and a Council of Regency. Maharao Chatar Sal II. died on the 11th June
1889, and was succeeded by his adopted so,n Udai Singh, the present Chief, who assumed the
name of Ummed Singh.

SIROHI.
During the reigns which followed that of Deoraj the Chauhans were engaged in con¬
stant struggles with the Pramars or Puars who held Sirohi, and eventually vanquished them
Sirobi itself was founded in 1425 by Rao Sains Mai. Little more is known of the history of
the country till the latter portion of the eighteenth century, when Rao Udai Bhan, the then
Chief, was engaged in frequent struggles with Jodhpur. Rao Udai Bhan was deposed in 1816
in fayour of his younger brother Rao Sheo Singh, who ruled first as Regent and subsequently
 CHATTHAN STATES — BUNDI. 53

as Chief. The first relations between Sirohi and the British Government took place in 1817,
Sheo Singh having asked assistance in consequence of an invasion from Jodhpur, which had
for its object the reinstatement of Rao TJdai Dhan. In 1823 a treaty was made, whereby the
Rao accepted British supremacy and bound himself to govern by the advice of the British
Agent, to introduce an efficient administration, and to pay a tribute not exceeding tbree-
-eighths of his revenue, receiving in return a guarantee of protection. In 1843 a further
treaty was made, whereby land at Abu was ceded for the establishment of a sanitarium. In
1854 the Rao, at his urgent request, received from the British Government a loan of two
lakhs of rupees and the direct management of the State was transferred to the Government
for a period of eight years which, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, was subse¬
quently extended to eleven years. During this time many improvements were effected, though
as little interference as possible was exercised in internal affairs. In 1861, in consequence of
the incapacity of the Rao, the management of the State was made over to his eldest surviving
son, dimmed Singh, who ou his father's death in the following year succeeded to the gadi.
Rao Sheo Singh did good service in the Mutiny, in consideration of which the tribute of
ft 15,000 payable.by him was reduced by one-half. On the removal of Sheo Singh from all
active share in the administration, his four younger sons, Hamir Singh, Jet Singh, Jawani
Singh, and Jamat Singh, declined the provision made for them, and went into rebellion. On
the death, however, of their father in December 1862 they submitted, and received villages for
maintenance. Rao Ummed Singh received full powers in 1865, but, though well meaning, proved
a weak and unsuccessful ruler. During his time Sirohi was harassed by famine, by a struggle
with the outlawed Thakur Nathu Singh of Bhatana, and by frequent incursions of Bhils from
Marwar. These events led to the transfer of the political control of the State from an Assist¬
ant to the Agent to the Governor-General to the Commandant of the Erinpura Irregular Force.
“The measures adopted by the Political Superintendent for the extermination of brigandage
on the Sirohi, Mewar, and Marwar frontier were eminently successful, and the few outlaws who
had not been captured were induced to forsake their occupation by the offer of land on which
they might settle down to habits of industrial life."— {Aitchison’s Treaties, Fol. Ill,page 237.)
Rao Ummed Singh died in November 1875, leaving one son, the present Chief, Rao Kesri
Singh.
BUNDI.

His Highness Maharao Raja Raghubir Singh is the eldest son of the late Maharao
Raja Ram Singh, G.C.S.I., C.I.E., and was born
The Chief.
on the 21st September 1869. His Highness suc¬
ceeded his father in 1888, and was vested with full powers in April 1889, The Chief has
been married three times, twice to sisters of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, by the former of which
ladies he has one son, Raghu Indar Singh, aged three years, and lastly to a daughter of the
Maharaja of Jhabua in Central India. All the Maharanis are of the Rahtor Rajput clan. His
Highness has two real brothers, Rangraj Singh and Ragburaj Singh, and is closely connected
with the families of the Jagirdars of Dugari and Kapreu. He is also connected with the
Shaikhawat family of Jhunjhnu in Jaipur and the Parihar family of Nagod. The late Chief
took two wives from the latter family, one of whom is the mother of the present Maharao
Raja. As noticed above, the Kotah ruling family is an offshoot from that of Bundi, from
which it was separated during the reign of Rao Raja Ratn Singh (1607—1614).

According to the account* supplied by the Bundi Darbar “ the nobles and jagirdars of the
Bundi State are not hereditary. They are in
Notable personages. . . « , , , ,
receipt ot cash allowances and have been granted
jagirs in lieu of service performed by them. The granting of jagirt to persons deserving of
the same or resuming them in consequence of any fault depends entirely on the will and
pleasure of the Chief. There are altogether twenty-three nobles, of whom seventeen, being
Hara Chauhans, sit in Darbar on the right of the Chief. The remaining six sit on the left.
Of these, six are Rajputs, one is a Rahtor, three are Solankhyas, one is a Parihar, and one a
Shaikhawat (Kachhwaha).” Succession is by primogeniture and is subject to the sanction of
the Darbar. Adoption is not permitted.

* This account represents the view of the Darbar and would probably not be accepted by the nobles and gag ir dare
*g accurately representing their position.
54 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN HAJPUTANA.

The following nobles deserve individual notice

(1) Maharaja Rangraj Singh of Bamangaon, the elder of the Chiefs brothers, is
twenty-two years of age; knows Sanskrit and
Bamangaon.
Hindi. He occupies no official position and has
no son. The jagir, which is valued at R20,000 a year and is well managed, was conferred on
the Maharaj in 1884. It pays no tribute, but renders service to the Darbar.

(2) Maharaj Raghnraj Singh of Bansi, the younger of the Chiefs brothers, is eighteen
. years of age, and, like the elder, is acquainted
with Sanskrit and Hindi. He also is childless.
The jagir, which was conferred in 1884, is of the same value and is held on the same terms as
that of Bamangaon.

(3) Maharaja Unkar Singh of Dngari, a descendant of the younger son of Maharaja
Ummed Singh (1748—1770), holds an estate of
Dugari.
the annual value of 1120,000. The Jagirdar, who
is twenty-five years of age, knows Sanskrit, Hindi, and Urdu. The estate, which was
conferred on the present holder in Sambat 1933, had previously been administered by the Darbar
owing to mismanagement, and is still in debt. It is liable for service, but pays no tribute.
Maharaja Unkar Singh has a son, Sheo Singh, aged ten years, an uncle, Sheodan Singh^
and a cousin, Sheoraj Singh.

(4) Maharaja Arjun Singh of Gndha, aged sixty-two years, is a natural son of the late
Chief. He knows Sanskrit and Hindi. He has
Gudha.
one son, Ranbir Singh, aged eleven years. The
jagir of Gudha, which was conferred in Sambat 1943 (1856 A. D.), is valued at R10,000 a
year and is in debt. It is liable for service, but pays no tribute.

(5) Maharaja Gordhan Singh of Nimana, aged fifty-eight years, is also a natural
son of the late Chief. He is acquainted with
Nimana.
Sanskrit.

(6) Maharaja Jagannath Singh of Matonda is the third and youngest of the late
Chiefs illegitimate sons. He is forty-three years
Matonda.
of age and knows Hindi. This estate, like that of
Nimana, is of the same value as the jagir of Gudha. The former was conferred in Sambat
1913 and the latter in Sambat 1945. Both estates are liable for service, but neither pays
tribute. Maharaja Jagannath Singh has two sons, Harnath Singh, aged twenty-one, and
Randhir Singh, aged eleven years.

(7) Maharaja Indar Sal of Khera Raidhan is a descendant of Rao Raja Gopinath
(1614—1631) through his third sou, Bairi Sal.
Khera Baidhan.
The Maharaja who is sixty years of age suc¬
ceeded to the estate by adoption. The jagir which was granted, in Sambat 1815 (1759 A. D.)
yields an annual income of R10,550 and pays R540 as tribute to the Raj. It is also liable to
render service with twenty-five horsemen.

(8) Maharaja Hanwant Singh of Maghana is also descended from Rao Raja Gopi¬
nath through the latter's son Mohkam Singh.
Maghana.
The estate which was granted in Sambat 1880
(1824 A. D.) yields an annual income of R5,251-6-0, pays R255-2-9 as tribute to the Raj and
supplies six horsemen for service. The Maharaja who is fifty-seven years of age succeeded to
the late Jagirdar, Balwant Singh, by adoption. He is a member of the Council of the State
and holds the office of Kiladar (Castellan) of Nainwa. He has one son, Kalyan Singh, aged
twenty-five years.

(9) Thakur Indur Sal of Pagara, a Solankhya Rajput, holds an estate of the annual
value of R3,80l, which was granted in Sambat
Pagara.
1815 (1759 A. D.). It is liable to a payment
of R172 as tribute, and to service with nine horses. The Thakur, who is sixty years of age
and kuows Sanskrit and Hindi, has three sons, Samar Sal, Ari Sal, and Sangram Singh, aged
thirty-eight, thirty, and thirteen years, respectively.
 CHATJHAN STATES—KOTAH. 55

(10) Maharaja Mor Singh of Dharra, a Hara Rajput, descended from Rao Raja Gopi-
nath, holds an estate of the annual value of
Dharra.
R8,999-15. The estate which was granted in Sam-
bat 1804 (1748 A. D.) is bound to supply twenty-two horsemen for the service of the Darbar,
and pays R974-6-9 as tribute. It is in debt. The Maharaja is thirty-two years of age
and childless. He succeeded the late Jagirdar, Balwant Singh, by adoption.

(11) Thakur Ram Singh of Lilera, a Parihar Rajput, holds an estate of the annual value
of R2,285-6, which was conferred upon him in
Lilera.
Sambat 1927 (1871 A. D.). He renders personal
service and ays no tribute. The Thakur is fifty years of age and childless.

(12) Rawat Lai Singh of Datonda, a Solankhya Rajput, holds a jagir of the annual
value of SI,250 which was conferred in Sambat
1880 (1824 A. D.). The Jagirdar performs
service with three horses and pays no tribute. The Rawat has one son, Mukund Singh, aged
twenty-seven years.

(13) Maharaja Hand Singh of Jalodi, a descendant of Rao Raja Gopinatk through his
second son Indar Sal, holds a jagir of the annual
value of R 1,500, which was conferred on his
ancestor in Sambat 1888 (1832 A. D.). The Maharaja, who succeeded by adoption, is a mem¬
ber of the Council and the Chief Military Officer of the State, and receives a cash allowance of
S829-11-0 yearly. He knows Hindi and Urdu. As he performs personal service, he pays no
tribute. The Maharaja has two sons, of whom the elder is Ranjit Singh, aged eighteen years.

(14) Maharaja Nath Singh of Jitgarh is another descendant of Rao Raja Gopinath
through his son Mohan Singh. The village of
Jitgarh which was conferred in Sambat 1898
(1842 A, D.), yields an annual revenue of R3,300, renders service with six sawars and pays a
tribute of R650. The Thakur has one son, Harnath Singh, aged twenty years.

KOTAH.

His Highness Maharao Ummed Singh, Bahadur, the present Chief, was born on the
. „ 15th Septeihber 1873, and succeeded to the
gadi by adoption on the 11th June 1889, on the
death of the late Maharao Chatar Sal. His Highness, whose name till his accession was Ude
Singh, is by birth the second son of Maharaja Chhagan Singh of Kotra. Maharao Ummed
Singh was educated at the Mayo College, was married on the 21st November 1892 to
the eldest daughter of His Highness the Maharana of Udaipur, and was vested with ruling
powers in his State on the 21st December 1892. During the minority the State was ad¬
ministered by the Political Agent and a Council of Regency. The Maharao's nearest relatives
are his father Maharaja Chhagan Singh, his elder brother Maharaja Jay Singh of Bamulia
and his uncle Maharaja Dhirat Singh of Amli. Other relatives are Maharaja Chatur Bhuj
Singh of Kherli, and Maharajas Durjan Sal and Madho Singh of Mundli. Next in relation¬
ship to the Kishor Singhot family to which the Maharao belongs is the Mohan Singhot
family, of which the head is Apji Amar Singh of Palaitha. The Chief's adoptive mother,
the widow of the late Maharao Chatar Sal, is a daughter of His Highness the Maharaja of
Karauli.

The Tazimi Jagirdars of Kotah are thirty-two in number, of whom the majority belong
to the Hara division of the Chauhan clan.
Nobles.
Of the jagir s eight—Indargarh, Balwan,
Khatoli, Gainta, Karwar, Pipalda, Phasud, and Antarda—are held in sovereignty by the Kotah
State, subject to the pajuneat to Jaipur of an annual tribute of Rl4,396-13-0. These fiefs,
known as kotris, were originally assigned by and subject to Bundi, to which State also
belonged the fortress of Rantambor. When Rantambor was made over to the Emperor of
Delhi, he exacted annual payments from the holders of the fiefs for the protection afforded to
them by the fort. In 1760 Rantambor was made over in trust to Jaipur and that State
claimed a continuance of the payments. In 1823, Raj Rana Zalim Singh arranged with the
56 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

British Government for transfer of the kotris’ allegiance to Kotah. The position of these
sub-Chiefships is therefore peculiar. No succession or adoption can take place without the
consent of the Maharao, and, except in the cases of Indargarh and Khatoli, nazarana or a fine
on succession is levied.
The following nobles call for individual
Individuals of distinction.
notice:—

(1) Maharaja Sher Singh of Indargarh, a Hara Rajput, descended from Indar Sal, a son
of Kunwar Gopinath of Bundi, holds an estate
Indargarh. consisting of ninety-two villages with a popu¬
lation of 26,208 persons, which yields an annual revenue of about Rl,20,000 and pays a
tribute of R17,506-12-0 to the Kotah Darbar, of which R6,969 are paid hy the latter to
Jaipur. Indargarh, which is situated about 45 miles to the north of Kotah, was founded by
Indar Sal, the ancestor of the present holder. The Maharaja, who is a student at the Mayo
College, is nineteen years of age. He is by birth a son of Maharaja Durjan Sal of Chapol and
succeeded to Indargarh by adoption in November 1879. Iiis nearest relatives are his father
the Maharaja of Chapol and bis two younger brothers.

(2) Maharaja Chhagan Sal of Balwan, another descendant of Kunwar Gopinath of

Bundi, through the latter's son Bairi Sal, holds an
Balwan.
estate of twenty villages to the north-east of Kotah
which yield a revenue of R8,000 and pay a tribute to the Kotah Darbar of Rl,728-6-0, of
which R 1,128-6-0 are paid by Kotah to Jaipur. The estate is heavily in debt and five of the
villages are held under management by the Darbar as security for payment of the tribute and
of money owed to the State. The Maharaja, who is forty-five years of age, succeeded his uncle
Maharaja Gopal Singh, in July 1881. He has two sons, aged eight and five years respec¬
tively, and a cousin, Thakur Madho Singh, the son of Gobind Singh, the youngest brother
of the late Jagirdar.
(3) Maharaja Partap Singh of Khatoli holds an estate of thirty villages, 50 miles to
the north-east of Kotah. The ancestor of the house
Khatoli. was Amar Singh, second son of Maharaja Gaj
Singh of Indargarh, who served with distinction under Maharao Raja Budh Singh of Bundi
(2671—1695) in one of Aurangzeb's campaigns in the Dakhan. Amar Singh in 1673 captured
Khatoli, the seat of the family on the left bank of the Parbati river, from Daulat Khan. The
estate comprises, besides the villages on the left bank of the river, seven villages on the right
bank in Gwalior territory, which were acquired in 1750 from the Raja of Sheopur whose pos¬
sessions have now passed into the hands of Maharaja Sindia. The estate, of which the revenue
is valued at R50,00U, pays R7,632-8-0 as tribute to Kotah, of which R3,982-8-0 are payable by
the Darbar to Jaipur. The estate, though well managed, is in debt. The present Maharaja,
who is forty-four years of age, succeeded his elder brother Maharaja Bhupal Singh in 1890.
His nearest relative is his half-brother Syam Singh, who has three sons.
The estates of Karwar, Gainta, Phasud, and Pipalda are known as the Hardawat Kotris,
from the fact that the pargana of Phasud, of which they form subdivisions, was bestowed by
the Emperor Shah Jahan in 1649 upon Khushhal Singh, a descendant of Harda Narain, the
second son of Rao Raja Bhoj (1588 —1607) of Bundi. Khushhal Singh divided the fief into
four equal portions between himself (Karwar) and his cousins Amar Singh (Gainta), Jagat
Singh (Phasud), and Daulat Singh (Pipalda). The town of Pipalda was retained as the common
undivided property of the cousins and remains so to this day—-a cause of perpetual quarrels.
(4) Maharaja Madho Singh of Gainta holds, besides the seven villages which form his
ancestral inheritance, eight villages granted to
Gainta.
him in jagir by the Kotah Darbar. The estate,
which is situated 40 miles to the north-east of Kotah on the right bank of the Chambal,. yields
an annual rental of R32,000, and, though well managed, is in debt. It pays Rl,908-4-6 as
tribute to Kotah, of which Rl93-9-0 are payable by the Darbar to Jaipur. It also supplies
nine sawars for the service of the Raj. The Maharaja, who is by birth the son of Thakur
Bairi Sal, a junior member of the family, is twenty-two years of age and was educated at the
Mayo College. He succeeded the late Maharaja Indar Sal by adoption in 1881. His near
relatives are an infant son and an elder brother, Syam Singh, who is blind. Of the Maharaja'0
 CHAUHAN STATES—KOTAH. 57

ancestors, Nathji, the third in descent from Amar Singh, distinguished himself in the victory
gained at Bhatwara in 1761 by Kotah over Jaipur. NathjBs son, Sheodan Singh, was one of
the Kotah representatives who helped to negotiate the treaty with the British Government in
1817. He was rewarded by Government for his services by the gift of an elephaut, ahorse, a
robe of honour, and a sword, of which the two latter are still kept as heirlooms in the family.
(5) Thakur Subhag Singh of Karwar holds a small estate of seven villages to the
north-east of Kctah which yields an annual in¬
Karwar.
come of R12,5.00 aud pays Rl,002-14-0 as tribute,
of which R331-14-0 go to Jaipur. The estate is well managed, but in debt. The Thakur, who
is forty years of age, succeeded bis father Thakur Sangram Singh in 1869. He has three sons,
Sardul Singh, Kesar Singh, and Durga Das, aged eighteen, fifteen, and twelve years, respect¬
ively. He has also a cousin, Thakur Bhur Singh.
(6) Thakur Bakhtawar Singh of Phasud holds an estate of six villages, 40 miles to
the east of Kotah, yielding a revenue of R 10,000
Phasud.
and paying Rl,002 as tribute to the Darbar, of
which R332 are paid to Jaipur. The estate, though well managed, is in debt. The Thakur,
who succeeded by adoption to the estate on the death in 1886 of Thakur Raujit Singh, is by
birth the son of Thakur Sarup Singh of a junior branch of the family, and is forty years of
age. He has one infant son, and two brothers, Achal Singh and Baldeo Singh.
(7) Thakur Guman Singh of Pipalda holds an estate, 40 miles east of Kotah, consist¬
ing of eleven villages aud yielding an annual reve-
Pipalda. nue of R16,000. It pays Rl,006-1-6 as tribute,
of which R331-12-3 is paid to Jaipur. The estate is slightly in debt. The Thakur, who is
twenty-three years of age, was educated at the Mayo College. He was by birth the son of
Thakur Lachhman Singh of a junior branch of the family, and succeeded to Pipalda by adop¬
tion in 1879, on the death of Thakur Ajit Singh. He has one brother and no children. His
nearest relatives belong to the Pipalda family.
(8) Maharaja Devi Singh of Antarda holds the town of Antardawith six dependent
villages, 32 miles to the north-east of Kotah.
Antarda. The estate yields an annual revenue of Rl3,000.
Of the tribute of R3,828-6-0 payable to Kotah, Rl-,128-6-0 are paid to Jaipur. Maharaja
Devi Singh who succeeded his father Maharaja Sheodan Singh in 1871 is thirty years of age
and fairly educated. He has one son, Nand Singh, five years of age, and a half-brother,
Prithwi Singh. His nearest relatives are the descendants of his ancestors Sangram Singh aud
Devi Singh I.
(9) Maharaja Moti Singh of Nimola, a Hara Rajput of the Indarsalot sub-clan, is
descended from the Indargarh family, to the head
Nimola.
of which the estate is subordinate and pays a
tribute of R871-14-0 (Madhupuri currency). The Maharaja himself is, by favour of the Kotah
Chief, considered independent of Indargarh and holds the rank of a fourth grade Kotah
Sardar. The estate, which is well managed and free from debt, consists of one village on
the right bank of the Cbambal, 50 miles north-east of Kotah. The annual revenue is R12,000,
but lands yielding R1,000 are allotted to relatives. The present Maharaja, who is sixty years
of age, succeeded his father Maharaja Achal Singh in 1863. He has no son, and his nearest
relative is his uncle, Thakur Fath Singh, who has one son, Chatar Sal.

Besides the eight Kotris and Nimola there are twenty-four Tazimi Jagirdars in Kotah,
of whom thirteen only call for individual notice—
*(1) Apji Gobind Singh of Koela is a Hara Rajput, descended iu the tenth generation
from Kani Ram, the fourth son of Rao Madho
Koela.
Singh, the first Chief of Kotah. The Apji,
who claims the first seat in Darbar, holds an estate of eight villages on the Parbati
river, 40 miles east of Kotah, yielding an annual rental of R27,000. The estate, which
owing to former bad management is heavily in debt, is now under the care of Raj Bijay
Singh of Kunari. It furnishes ninety sipahis to the police of the State, and pays R2,394-3-0
annually to the Darbar. The present Jagirdar is five years of age and is the only son of the late

* Owing to the dispute for precedence the Apjis of Koela and Palaitha do not attend Davbars together.

H
58 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

Apji Prithwi Singh who was educated at the Mayo College, and who, after two and a half years’
service as a member of the State Council, died on the 9th June 1892. One of his ancestors,
Apji Amar Singh, distinguished himself in 1804 at the battle of Garot, where he was
wounded while fighting on the side of Colonel Monson. The Apji’s nearest relative is Lachhman

Singh, the grandson of Apji Sangram Singh.

*(2) Rao Bahadur Apji Amar Singh of Palaitha, who also claims the first seat in
Darbar, is a descendant of Mohan Singh, second son
Palaitha. 0f Ra0 Madho Singh, the first Chief of Kotah,

who was killed in 1658 at Fathabad near Ujjain while fighting under Rao Ram Singh for the
Emperor Shah Jahan against the latter’s son Aurangzeb. Another ancestor of Apji Amar Singh
of the same name as himself was killed in 1804 at Garot in Indore while fighting under Colonel
Monson against Holkar. The estate, which consists of Palaitha founded by Mohan Singh
and four dependant villages yielding an annual rental of E18,000, is situated on the right
bank of the Kali Sind river, 26 miles to the east of Kotah. It furnishes twelve sawars, and
pays S164-2-6 annually to the Darbar; is well managed and free from debt. The present Apji
Amar Singh succeeded Apji Fath Singh in 1858 by adoption; he was the son of Apji Agar
Singh of Nagda, a junior branch of the Palaitha family. He is forty years of age, and a very
able member of the State Council to which he was appointed in 1877. He has one son,
Kunwar Unkar Singh, aged twenty, who was educated at the Mayo College. The families
most closely related to Palaitha are those of Nagda, Dabri, and Rajgarh.

(3) Raj Bijay Singh of Kunari, a Rajput of the Jhala clan, Jaitawat sub-clan, holds
an estate consisting of Kunari and eight dependent
Kunari. villages situated on the left bank of the Cham-
bal opposite the city of Kotah. The estate, which is well managed, yields an annual income
of R25,000 and pays R2,300 to the Darbar. Raj Bijay Singh, by birth the second son of Raj
Fath Singh of Dilwara in Mewar, is twenty-three years of age and was educated at the Mayo
College. He succeeded by adoption to Kunari in 1888 on the death of Raj Rup Singh. The
Kunari estate was bestowed in 1644 by Rao Mukund Singh, second Chief of Kotah, upon
Arjun Singh, the third son of Jeit Singh of Dilwara. Raj Bijay Singh has one infant son.
His next nearest relative is his brother Raj Zalim Singh of Dilwara who has also one son, an
infant.
(4) Maharaja jay Singh of Bamulia is a Rajpnt of the Hara clan, descended from
Maharao Kishor Singh, fifth Chief of Kotah. He
Bamulia.
holds an estate consisting of five villages yielding
an annual rental of R11,000, situated 30 miles to the east of Kotah. The estate, which pays
R264 to the Darbar, was founded by Suraj Mai, the great-grandson of Maharao Kishor Singh.
Maharaja Jay Singh, who succeeded Narsingh Singh the late Maharaja by adoption in June
1888, is by birth the eldest son of Maharaja Chhagan Singh of Kotra and elder brother of His
Highness the Maharao of Kotah, He is twenty-one years of age, and was educated at the
Mayo College. The Maharaja is married to a daughter of Jagannath Singh, a Jadon Rajput
of Karauli.

(5) Pandit Ganpat Rao of Sarola, a Dakban Brahman of the Sarsut clan, Shenwai sub¬
clan, occupies in Darbar the second seat on the
Sarola.
left of the Maharao and holds the township of
Sarola and seven dependent villages, 50 miles to the south-east of Kotah. The estate, which
yields an annual revenue of S27,000, is held service-free, is very well managed, and is reputed
to be the richest and most productive in Kotah. Pandit Ganpat Rao, aged twenty-three and
fairly educated, is by birth the son of Pandit Sadashiv Rao and nephew to the late proprietor,
Pandit Moti Lai, who was for fourteen years a very able member of the Kotah State Council.
Balaji Pandit, the founder of the fortunes of the family, was originally in the service of Baji
Rao, one of the Peshwa’s Generals, under whom the Mahrattas invaded Upper India in 1739.
Passing through Kotah territory, Baji Rao nominated Balaji to negotiate with the Bundi
and Kotah Darbars for the payment of chauth and later on appointed him to collect this tax
in his name from Bundi, Kotah, and Mewar, The Pandit selected Kotah as his head-quarters

* Owing to the dispute for precedence the Apjis of Koela and Palaitha do not attend Darbars together.
 CHAUHAN STATES—KOTAH. 59

and started a banking firm on bis own account. Lalaji Pandit, the son and successor of
Balaji, while continuing to discharge his father’s duties, contracted a friendship with Raj
Rana Zalim Singh and afforded valuable assistance to the Regent when Kotah was threatened
by Holkar in 1766. For his successful conduct of the negotiations, which led to the with¬
drawal of the Mahratta troops, Lalaji was substantially rewarded by Maharao Ummed Singh.
On the completion of the treaty of 1817, by which the Mahratta tribute became payable to the
British Government, Lalaji’s office of Chauth collector came to an end, and he settled down as
a Kotah subject. During his life-time, the Kotah Darbar became indebted to him to the
extent of R.9,27,364, and in 1771 the Sarola estate was hypothecated to him as security for
repayment.

Pandit Ganpat Rao succeeded Pandit Moti Lai in March 1892 as co-heir with a boy
named Purshottam who was adopted by Moti Lai on his death-bed. No division of property
has yet been made. Pandit Ganpat Rao has no children and his nearest relatives are Pandit
Mangesh Rao in Kotah and Pandit Gobind Mahadeo in Konkan.

(6) Thakur Moti Singh, of Eachnaoda, a Hara Rajput, descended from Rao Surjan
Singh of Bundi through the latter’s third son, Rai-
Kachnaoda. mal, holds a service-free jagir, consisting of Kach-
naoda and two dependent villages situated on the left bank of the Kali Sind river, 21 miles
east of Kotah. The estate, which yields an annual rental of R7,377, is considerably in
debt. Raimal, the founder of the family, obtained the town and dependency of Palaitha from
the Emperor Akbar in recognition of his services in the Dakhan and Gondwana. His grand¬
son, Hari Singh, was ejected from Palaitha. Daulat Singh, son of Hari Singh, received the
estate of Sairthal from Maharao Bhim Singh. In 1838, when the partition of Kotah took place,
Sairthal was included in Jhalawar and Kachnaoda was bestowed instead of it on the then
holder, Thakur Nripat Singh, who was succeeded in 1876 by the present Jagirdar. Thakur
Moti Singh has an infant son, after whom his nearest relatives are Thakurs Raghunath Singh

and Devi Sal.

(7) Apji Kishan Singh of Rajgarh, a Hara Rajput, is descended from Moban Singh,
_ . , second son of Rao Madho Singh of Kotah.
Rajgarh. . . &
Mohan Singh’s eighth son, Gordhan Singh,
obtained Rajgarh from Rao Kishor Singh and was afterwards killed in one of the Emperor
Aurengzeb’s wars in the Dakhan. His son, Daulat Singh, was killed in 1720 fighting under
Maharao Bhim Singh of Kotah against the Nizam of Hyderabad. Nath Singh, the grandson
of Daulat Singh, was killed in 1761 at Bhatwara fighting for Kotah against Jaipur. His
grandson, Deo Singh, the grandfather of Apji Kishau Singh, actively assisted Maharao Kishor
Singh in 1821 in trying to depose the Regent, Raj Rana Zalim Singh, and was severely
wounded at Mangrol. The estate of Rajgarh is held service-free, and consists of one village,
26 miles east of Kotah, which yields R4,000 a year. Apji Kishan Singh, who has been a
member of the State Council since its formation in 1877, succeeded his father Apji Hamir
Singh in 1871 and is now fifty-nine years of age. He has no children. His brother Gopal
Singh has three sons—Madho Singh, Bairi Sal, and Chotaji. The most nearly connected
families are those of Palaitha, Dabri, and Nagda.

(8) Rawat Chatar Sal of Ghati, a Hara Rajput of the Mewawat sub-clam, holds an
estate consisting of Ghati and three dependent
villages, 38 miles to the south of Kotah, which
yield R2,500 a year. The Rawat is descended from Bir Singh, Chief of Bundi, through the
great-grandson of the latter, Meo Singh. One of Meo Singh’s descendants, Zorawar Singh,
took service in Kotah and was killed in 1736 fighting under Maharao Bhim Singh. His son
Khushhal Singh received a jagir which was resumed in 1758 owing to the murder of the
Kotah Minister by Ajit Singh, the then holder of the estate, who saved his life by fleeing to
Udaipur. Ajit Singh’s grandson Guman Singh returned to Kotah, and in acknowledgment
of his services at the battle of Bhatwara received the jagir of Ghati. Guman Singh was an
ancestor of the present Rawat. Chatar Sal, who is forty years of age, succeeded his father
Zorawar Singh in 1864. He has one son, Durjan Sal, aged twenty, and a brother, Girwar
Singh. The latter has three sons-—Lachhman Singh, Nathu Singh, and Zorawar Singh.
H 2
60 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

(9) Thakur Bhim Singh of Kherli is a Tanwar Rajput of the Jarola sub-clan, who holds
an estate consisting of one village of the annual
value of R3,000, which pays R15 as tribute to
Kotah. Thakur Bhim Singh, who is twenty-five years of age, succeeded his father Thakur
Khushhal Singh in 1870. He has one son, Ude Singh, the next nearest relations being Thakur
Bajrang Singh of Srinal and Thakurs Chatar Singh and Devi Singh.

(10) Thakur Bajrang Singh of Srinal, who is descended from Pratap Singh, the founder
of the Kherli family, holds a jagir consisting
Srinal.
of one village of the annual value of Rl,100,
situated 38 miles east of Kotah. Thakur Bajrang Singh, who is thirty-five years of age, suc¬
ceeded his father Thakur Fath Singh in 1868. He has one son, Jawahir Singh, and a brother,
Chatar Singh, His next nearest relative is Thakur Bhim Singh of Kherli.

(11) Apji Earn Singh of Dabri is a Hara Rajput, descended from Kao Madho Singh,
the first Chief of Kotah, through the latter’s se¬
Dabri.
cond son, Mohan Singh who obtained Palaitha.
The Dabri estate consists of one village, 30 miles to the east of Kotah, which produces an
annual income of R3,000. Apji Kara Singh, who is forty years of age, succeeded by adoption
in 1864 to Apji Gordhan Singh. He belongs by birth to a junior branch of the Dabrifamily.
The Apji has an infant son, after whom his nearest relatives are Apji Balbhadar Singh, Mor
Singh, and Narain Singh; next come the families of Palaitha, Rajgarh, and Nagda.

(12) Maharaja Chaturbhuj Singh of Kherli is a Hara Rajput, descended from Rao
Kishor Singh of Kotah. The Kherli branch of
Kherli.
the Kishor Singhot family is immediately senior
to the Mundli branch, to which the ruling Chief belongs. Bakht Singh, the founder of
Kherli, and Chain Singh, the ancestor of the Maharao, being respectively the fourth and fifth
sons of Prithwi Singh who was the third son of Maharao Kishor Singh, the fifth Chief. The
estate consists of one village, yielding an annual rental of Rl,500, situated on the left bank of
the v Kali Sind river, 21 miles north-east of Kotah. Maharaja Chaturbhuj Singh, who is
twenty-nine years of age, succeeded his father Maharaja Durjan Sal in 1878. He has one
infant son and two cousins, Mor Singh and Arjun Sal. The Bamulia, Kotra, and Mundli
families are those most closely connected with Kherli.

(13) Mabaraja Durjan Sal of Mundli, a Hara Rajput, is descended from Chain Singh,
an ancestor of His Highness the Maharao, who
Mundli.
was the fifth son of Prithwi Singh, the third son
of Rao Kishor Singh. The jagir consists of.700 bighas of land yielding a rental of R700 a
year. Maharaja Durjan Sal is forty-eight years of age, and succeeded his father Maharaja
Sher Singh in 1889. He has three sons, Lachhman Singh, Narsingh Singh, and Ranjit
Singh, and two brothers, Arjun Singh and Devi Singh.

SIROHI.
The Chief of Sirohi, His Highness Maharao Kesri Singh Bahadur, is a Chauhan
The Chief Rajput of the Deora sub-clan, and was bora on
the 20th July 1857. He succeeded his father, the
late Rao Ummed Singh, on the 24th November 1875. His Highness has been married three
times—(1) to a daughter of the Puar (Praraar) Rajput Chief of Danta in Mahi Kantha, Gujarat;
(2) to a daughter (now dead) of the Thakur of Barsoda, (Warsora) of the Chaora clan of Raj¬
puts, also in Mahi Kantha; and (3) to a daughter of the late Chief of the Sesodia house
of Dharmpur in the Surat Political Agency. He has two sons, one by each surviving Rani.
The Mabaraj Kunwar Sarup Singh, who is six years old, was borne by the Paru Maharani
of Danta, and the second son, Lachhman Singh, is about a year old. The Chief's nearest
relations after his son are his uncles Jet Singh and Tej Singh, and his cousins Zorawar
Singh, son of Jawan Singh, Aehal Singh, son of Jet Singh, Dalpat Singh, and Man Singh, sons
of Tej Singh, and Amar Singh son of Zorawar Singh.

The only ruling families of note connected with that of Sirohi are those of Bundi and
Kotah. Marriages have taken place in recent times with the Kachhwaha family of Jaipur,
the Rahtor families of Jodhpur and Kishangarh, the Jadon Bhati family of Karauli, and the
 CHATTHAN STATES—SIROHI. 61
Sesodia families of Dungarpur and Banswara. The Chief's mother was a daughter of the
Baghela Thakur of Posina in Idar.

The following tree gives an abstract of the pedigree of the ruling house of Sirohi

RARMAL
(founded old Sirohi in 1347 ; ancestor of the Chief jagir families
known as Lakhawat, Dungrawat, Tejawat, and Bajawat).

Sobhaji,

Sains Mai
I
(founded new Sirohi in 1425)

Lakhaji.
I .
I
Jaginal.

I.
Akhaji.

I.
Dudaji.

1
Man Singh.

I
Sultan Singh (1565)
(reigned for 51 years and said to have fought in 52 wars)

Raj Singh.

Akhay Raj.
I
Udai Singh.

Durjan Singh.

I
Ummed Singh (1705)
(called also Man Singh),

Prithwi Singh (1749).

I
Takbt Singh (1772).

Jagat Singh (1781).

I
Bhairi Sal (1782).

I
Sheo Singh (1819)
(Udai Bhan succeeded Bhairi Sal, but was deposed in favour of Sher Singh, who entered
into the first treaty with the British Government in 1823).

Rao Ummed Singh (1865). Jet Singh. Jawan Singh. Tej Singh.
I I „ I
Maharao Kesri Singh (1875) Achal Singh, Zorawar Singh.
(present Chief).
Dalpat Singh. Man Singh.
I Amar Singh.
Mahuraj Kunwar Sarup Singh
(born 1888).

The leading men of Sirohi consist of the nobles, one hereditary office-bearer and one non-
Leading men. hereditary official. The nobles are divided into
three classes :—

(t) The immediate relatives of the Maharao, known as Raj Sahiban. Their de¬
scendants fall into a lower grade ;

(2) The Sarayats, who are styled Thakuran Raj Sri; and

(3) other Tazimi Sardars.

All the nobles are Deora Chauhans and the principal of them are Lakhawat, Dungrawat
Tejawat or Bajawat descendants of Rao Rarmal.

The Raj Sahiban are three in number, Jet Singh of Nadia, Tej Singh of Manadar, and
Zorawar Singh of Ajari, of whom the first two are uncles and the third is a first cousin to the
Chief. These occupy the front seats in Dai bar and receive the double tazim. Similar honours
are enjoyed by Raj Sri Sheonath Singh and Prithwi Raj of Mandar.
02 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

The four Sarayats, the Thakurs of Padiv and Jawal, Kalandri and Motagaon, s:t on the
right and left of the Chief. In the absence of the Thakur of Padiv his place in Darbar is
taken by the Thakur of Nimaj. The two never attend Darbar together. After them come
the Thakurs of Rohna and Bhatana, who also receive the doable tazim. The Thakurs of
Mandwara and Dabani are honoured with the single tazim only. Succession in the nobles' estates
takes place by primogeniture, provision being made for younger sons. In Manadar and Bhatana
this provision is so liberal as almost to amount to a partition of the estate. The payment in
tribute to the Darbar varies from four annas in the rupee of the collections among those of
high rank to twelve annas among the more insignificant. None hold any jagir in British
territory.

The only hereditary office-bearer is the Thakur of Padiv, who binds on the Chief's sword
and on State occasions sits behind him on his elephant.

The connection of the various families of nobles is shown in the following table :—

RAO RARMAL.

I .
Sobhaji. Gaja.
I I
Sains Mai. Dunngarji
(founder of tbe Dungrawat families
Lakhaji (founder of tbe Lakhawat of Padiv, Kalandri, Motagaon,
families of Madar, Nimaj, Jawal, and Mandwara).
Rohera, and Dabani).
I Alam.
Uda. I
I . Uda.
Rahdhir. I .
I Haraj.
Pratap. I
I Baja
Teja (founder of the Tejawat family of (founder of the Bajawat families).
Bhatana).

The following personages may be noticed separ¬

Individual notices.
ately

(1) Raj Sahiban Jet Singh of Nadia, uncle to the present Chief, holds an estate valued
at R2,500. He is forty-seven years of age.
Nadia.
His son Achal Singh is twenty-seven years old.
Both father and son know Hindi.

(2) Raj Sahiban Tej Singh of Manadar, who is now forty-five years of age, is an uncle
of the present Chief. He holds an estate worth
Manadar.
about R4,500 a year. Of his two sons, the elder
Dalpat Singh, aged twenty, who was educated at the Mayo College, knows English and has
passed the University Entrance Examination. Man Singh, the younger son, is only three years
of age. Tej Singh is a man of considerable force of character. He obtained the estate of
Manadar some years ago on the death of the Bajawat Jagirdar on the pretext that the late
Thakur’s widow had adopted him. The seizure of this property gave rise to an insurrection and
Tej Singh was driven out. Ultimately with the help of the Darbar he recovered the jagir, and
showed much tenacity and some ability.

(3) Raj Sahiban Zorawar Singh of Ajari is the son of the late Jawan Singh, an uncle
of the ruling Chief. He possesses an estate
Ajari.
worth R3,000 a year. Zorawar Singh, who is
twenty-eight years of age, has one son, Amar Singh, aged five years.

(4) and (5) Sheo Nath Singh' and his uncle Prithwi Raj, Lakhawat Deoras, hold the
Madar estate of the annual value of about
Madar.
R2,500. They pay eight annas in the rupee as
tribute to the Darbar, and enjoy the title of Raj Sri.
(6) Thaknr Raj Sri Mai Singh of Padiv is the Chief of the Sarayats {vide page 61).
His estate, which is valued at S500 a year, con¬
Padiv.
sists of eight villages and pays six annas in the
rupee to the Darbar.
 CHAUHAN STATES—SIROHI. 63

(7) Thakuran Raj Sri Prithwi Raj of Kalandri, a Dungrawat Deora Rajput, holds

Kalandri an estate wort^ about R3,000, which pays six

annas in the rupee to the Darbar. The Thakur
is thirty-five years old.

(8) Thaknran Raj Sri Megh Singh of Jawal is also a Dungrawat. He is sixteen
years of age and was adopted from the Nan
Jawal.
family of Sirohi. The estate is worth about
R2,000 a year and pays six annas in the rupee to the Darbar.

(9) Thaknran Raj Sri Lachman Singh of Motagaon, a Dungrawat, is twenty-seven

years of age and was adopted from the Baldut
Motagaon.
family of Sirohi. The estate, which is worth
R2,500, pays six annas in the rupee to the Darbar.

The three last-named nobles are all Sarayats.

(10) Thakuran Raj Sri Himmat Singh of Nimaj belongs to the Lakhawat family of
the Deora sub-clan and was adopted from the
jN jmaj. *
Dhauli family in Sirohi. The estate consists of
eight villages of the value of R7,000, and pays six annas in the rupee to the Darbar. The Thakur,
who is thirty years of age, possesses also three villages in the Palanpur State. There is a
hereditary feud between the Sirohi Darbar and the Nimaj family.

(11) Thaknran Raj Sri Ajit Singh of Rohna is also a Lakhawat. He was adopted
from the Jolpur family and is now forty years of
Bohna.
age. The estate consists of ten villages of the value
of about R2,000 which pay eight annas in the rupee to the Darbar. The Thakur also holds
some villages in the Palanpur State.

(12) Thaknran Raj Sri Bharat Singh of Bhatana is a Deora Chauhan of the
Tejawat branch. The estate, which pays eight
Bhatana.
annas in the rupee to the Darbar, is worth about
Rl,000. The Thakur, who is forty years of age and uneducated, was, when young, in outlawry
with his father Nathu Singh who for many years defied pursuit and kept the country disturbed.
His successful opposition won for Nathu Singh and his family the admiration of Sirohi and
songs are sung in his praise.

(13) Thakur Dnngar Singh of Mandwara is a Dungrawat. He is sixteen years of

age. The estate, which is worth R2,000 a year,
Mandwara.
pays to the Darbar half the collections in kind and
three-fourths of the collections in cash.

(14) Thakur Ajit Singh of Dabani is a Lakhawat. He is eleven years of age, and
holds, besides one village in Palanpur, an estate in
Dabani.
Sirohi of the value of R600 which pays half its
income to the Darbar. The Thakur was adopted from the family of a younger brother.

The only official in Sirohi calling for notice is Singhiji Jawahir Chand, a Visa Oswal
Mahajan, who after serving as a Tahsildar and as Vakil in attendance on the Resident, was
appointed Dewan in June 1892. He enjoys the tazim, has a fair knowledge of Urdu, and is
a capable official.*

* This officer resigned his post while this work has been in the press and has been succeeded by Milap
Chand, a Mahajan of Surat, who was previously Diwan of the State from 1887 till 1892 when he resigned. He
a painstaking officer with a fair knowledge of English.
'

-
 JADON STATES. 65

CHAPTER Y.
JADON STATES.

[Jaisalmer—Karauli.]

The Jadon clan, of the early history of which very little is known, claims descent from the
Yadu or Jadon kings. These monarchs, who in early days were very powerful, took their
name from Yadu, the patronymic of the descend¬
Jadon Clan.
ants of Bhuda, the progenitor of the lunar race.
The capitals of the Yadus are said to have been Pryag (Allahabad), and subsequently Mathura
(Muttra). On the death of Sri Krishna, the deified hero of the house, the tribe was dispersed.
According to Jaisalmer accounts, many of them, with two of Sri Krishna’s sons, abandoning
j ^ Hindustan, settled beyond the Indus. One of
their descendants was defeated and killed in
battle, and the tribe was driven southward into the Punjab, where Salivahan, son of Gaj,
founded a town and named it after himself, Gajgarh (Ghazni). Salivahan’s grandson Bhati
•

was also a great and successful warrior, whose name was adopted by his clansmen as a tribal
designation. Shortly after this, the tribe was again driven southward by the king of Ghazni
and, crossing the Sutlej, took refuge in the Indian desert, which henceforth became its home.
“This traditional account;” says Colonel Walter in the Gazetteer of Jaisalmer, “may represent
in outline the early migrations of the Bhati tribe which may be supposed to have entered
India from the north-west under heroic leaders now deified as the sons of Krishna, and to have
been settled for some time in the Punjab. One of the grand expeditions of Mahmud of Ghazni
(1004-5 A. D.) was against the city of Bhatia, also called Bhera, which place is now said to
have been on the left bank of the Jhelum, opposite the Salt Range, and there can be little doubt
that Bhatia was, or had been, in the dominions of the Bhatia Rajputs. Mr. E. Thomas con¬
siders that the four last Hindu kings of Kabul (before the Ghaznavides) may have been Bhatia
Rajputs. It may be taken as certain that the Bhatis were driven into the desert by the
conquests of the Musalmans on the -north and west; that they maintained constant warfare on
both borders for many generations with the Muhammadans, and that they gradually subdued
and drove out the rival tribes or clans whom they found in the territory which they occupied,
of whom one, the Sodas, appear to have been very strong; their head-quarters are now further
westward towards Umarkot. Their head-quarters appear to have been placed successively at
Tamoli, Deorawal, and Jaisalmer : the two first named places still exist, the last is now the
State’s capital. Deorawal was founded by Deoraj, a famous prince of the Bhati family.
. . . . Deoraj became a great warrior and established the power of the Bhatis
firmly in this desert tract; the title of Rawal also commenced with him, and he is counted
as the real founder of the Jaisalmer family. The Bhatis gradually extended their possessions
southwards and many of them became great free-booters, a character they have continued
to bear ever since. In 1156, Jaisal, the sixth in succession from Deoraj, founded the fort and
city of Jaisalmer on a low range of sandstone hills and made it his capital, as being more
secure than his former residence, Lodorva, which was in the open plain. Subsequent to
the founding of Jaisalmer, there was a succession of warlike princes, who were constantly
engaged in battles and raids, and whose taste for freebooting proved most disastrous, for on
two occasions, viz,, in 1294 and shortly afterwards, the Bhatis so enraged the Emperor
Alau-d-din that the Imperial army was despatched against them, and conquered and sacked
the fort and city of Jaisalmer, so that for some time it remained completely deserted.”
In the sixteenth century the Bhatis formed an alliance with the Amirs of Sind against the
Rahtors. Bawal Sabal Singh, the twenty-fifth prince in succession to Jaisal, was the
first to acknowledge the supremacy of the Delhi Empire, and to hold his dominions in
subordination to it. The Jaisalmer Chiefs had now arrived at the height of their power.
Their territory extended northward to the Sutlej, thus including the whole of the nrovince of
Bahawalpur, and westward to the Indus, while to the east and south it comprised many districts.
I
66 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

which were subsequently annexed by the Rabtors and incorporated in Marwar aud Bikanir.
From this time to the accession of Rawal Mulraj in 1762 the fortunes of the State rapidly
declined, and most of the outlying: provinces were wrested from it. Jaisalmer first entered
into relations with the British Government in the reign of Mulraj.

According to the Karauli authorities, Maharaja Bijay Pal, a descendant of Sri Krishna,
came from Mathura in 995 to the hill Mani which overlooks the modern town of Biana, and
established himself as a powerful monarch. Fifty-one years later the rule of Bijay Pal was
Karauli brought to an end by the Musalmans of Ghazni
under the leadership of Abu Bakr Shah,
Kandahar i; The Karauli chroniclers say that one of the eighteen sons of Bijay Pal was Gaj
Pal, the founder of Gajgarh and of the Jaisalmer dynasty, and another Ciiatar Pa^, who was killed
near Ghazni in an invasion of Kabul. Regarding this account, which is irreconcilable with that
of the Jaisalmer authorities, Colonel Powlett, the writer of the Karauli Gazetteer, remarks:
“ Thus it is of little value, except as exhibiting the popular view of Jadon history. The allusion
to Gajner and Ghazni evidently has reference to the foundation of Ghazni by the Jadons many
years before this period, as told by Colonel Tod in his annals of Jaisalmer.” Taman Pal,
eldest son of Bijay Pal, established himself about 1052 at Tamangarh, 15 miles south-east of
Biana, and eventually possessed himself of the Bang or high irregular ground above the Cham-
bal comprising the oountry round the forts of Utgarh and Mandrel and reaching as far as
Dholpur, besides the district in which the present towns of Karaulfand Machilpur to the north¬
east of Karauli are situated. Taman Pal's son, Dharm Pal, was ousted from Tamangarh by his
illegitimate half-brother, Har Pal, and built a fort and established himself at Dholdera on the
present site of Dholpur. His son Kunwar Pal recovered Tamangarh for his father, but the Muslim
Governor of Biana taking the part of Har Pal, the whole territory fell into the hands of the Musal¬
mans. Dharm Pal was killed and Kunwar Pal fled to Rewa. Kunwar Pal's brothers became
servants to the Musalmans, and their descendants are still a despised race known as Gonj, which
is said to be a contraction of Gonkayar or time-server. Kunwar Pal's descendant Arjun Singh
(1327) managed to gain possession of the fort of Mandrel on the Chambal and to obtain confirm¬
ation of his occupation from the Court of Delhi. By degrees he recovered the whole of the
territory of Taman Pal, established villages along the Badraoti and built the Thakur Kalyanji's
temple on the site of Karauli, a name which is said to be a corruption of Kalyanji. In 1348
he laid the foundations of the city. The first remarkable chief among his successors was
Chand Pal (1449) who won great fame as an ascetic, and, according to the chroniclers, by
his prayers, and by sending his grandson Gopal Das with an expedition of the Emperor Akbar
contributed greatly to the success of the Emperor’s arms in the Dakhan. Gopal Das, who is said
to have laid the foundations of Agra Fort at Akbar's request, eventually succeeded his grand¬
father and enlarged the borders of the State. From Gopal Das are descended two of the most
important offshoots of the Karauli house, the Muktawats of Sir Mathura, Jhiri, and Sabalgarh,
and the Bahadur ke Jadon sprung from the Tarsam Bahadur, who obtained Sabalgarh,
Bahadurpur, and Bijaypur.

Gopal Das's grandson Mukund Das (1585) was the ancestor of the still numerous family
of Mukund Jadons. His son Chatar Man (1632) was the ancestor through his son Bhup Pal,
of the Inaiti ftao, one of the five chief nobles of Karauli, and through another son Sbast Pal
of the Manoharpur Kotri. From Dharm Pal, who succeeded inJ1645, are descended the Gareri ,
Hadoti, aud Roantra families. Gopal Singh, who succeeded in 1725, was on good terms with
Delhi, whence he received the coveted Mahi Maratib or fish insignia. He is looked on as the
greatest Chief of Karauli after Gopal Das. In the time of Maharaja Manak Pal (1772) the State
was much harassed by the Mahrattas under Sindia and his General, Baptiste, and eventually lost
Sabalgarh. In the next reign, that of Har Bakhsh Pal, who succeeded in 1804, Karauli first
entered into relations with the British Government. These ended in the treaty of 1817, which
rid the State of the Mahrattas. The reign of Maharaja Partap Pal, who succeeded in
1837, was marked by much internal dissension and fighting, which continued notwithstanding
the intervention of several British officers till the Maharaja died. Order was restored in the
next reign, that of the minor Maharaja Narsiugh Pal (1850—1852), by Lieutenant Monck-
Mason. On this Chief's death, the well-known Karauli adoption case came before the Govern¬
ment, and it was finally decided that though there was no direct heir, the State should be
 JADON STATES — JAISALMER. 67

preserved. Madan Pal was recognized as Chief, and in his reign Karauli rendered loyal service
to Government during the Mutiny. On his death in 1869, his nephew Rao Lachhman Pal
succeeded him, but died very shortly afterwards, being followed by Maharaja Jay Singb Pal,
who died in 1875 and was succeeded by Maharaja Arjuu Pal, on whose death in 1886 the
present Chief, Maharaja Bhanwar Pal, occupied the gadi.

JAISALMER.
The present Chief of Jaisalmer is His Highness Maharaj Adhiraj Maharawal Sali-
vahan Bahadur, who was born on the 12th
The Chief.
June 1887. His Highness, a Rajput of the Jadon
Bhati clan, was the son of Thakur Khushhal Singh of Lathi, and before his accession to the
gadi was known as Syam Singh. He succeeded the late Maharawal Bairi Sal on the 10th
March 1891. The nearest surviving male relatives of the Maharawal are his father Thakur
Khushhal Singh of Lathi and his younger brother Dan Singh. He has'also two cousins, Sheo-
dan Singh and Salim Singh. The last-named of these has one son, Sultan Singh. A
deceased cousin Sardar Singh has left two sous, Jaswant Singh aud Jawahir Singh. The
adoptive mother of the young Chief was a Sesodia Rajput lady of the ruling house of Dungar-
pur. The Bhatis of Jaisalmer are also connected by marriage with the Rah tors of Jodhpur,
Bikanir and Kishangarh, and with the Hara Chauhans of Kotah.
As already mentioned, the first ruler of Jaisalmer to enter into relations with the British
Government was Maharawal.Mulraj, who in 1818 concluded a treaty whereby the integrity
f the State was guaranteed to the Chief and his posterity, provided the cause of quarrel was
not ascribableto Jaisalmer. During the life-time of Mulraj, who died in 1820, the State was
virtually governed by his Minister, Salim Singh, who committed the most awful atrocities.
He put to death nearly all the relatives of the Chief. The town of Jaisalmer was depopulated
bv his cruelty, the trade of the country was interrupted, and those relatives of the Maharawal
who escaped death, fled from the country. Mulraj was succeeded by his grandson Gaj Singh
in whose reign after the conquest of Sind the forts of Shahgarh, Gursia, and Gohtaru, which had
been wrested from Jaisalmer, were restored to it. Maharawal Gaj Singh died in 1846, aud hi8
widow adopted Maharawal Ranjit Singh, who in 1864 was succeeded by his younger brother
Maharawal Bairi Sal, the late Chief, who died in 1891.
The leading men of the State are the relations of the Chief who are known as Rajwis,
and the l'hakurs. These are all Bhatis and are distin¬
Leading personages.
guished as Barsang, Khian, Tejmatot, Prithwirajot,
Biharidasot, Dwarkadasot, Sakat Singhot, and Udai Singhot, according to the subdivision of
the clan to which they belong. The chief of the nobles are the Raos of Bikampur and Barsalpur
and the Thakurs of Jhinjinyali, Baru, Kindha, Girajsar, Gehun, Khuri, Satyaya, andNawatala,
all of whom have the deorhi or double tazim. Except the first two whose incomes are R5,000
and R8,000, respectively, all are unimportant, being petty Thakurs whose income in no case
exceeds Rl,700 a year. Primogeniture obtains among the Khian aud Barsang Bhatis, the
younger sons receiving maintenance only, but among the rest estates are generally equally
divided. None of the nobles, except the Thakur of Bikampur, pay tribute or render service,
though all present a horse on the accession of the Chief to the gadi. The only hereditary office¬
bearer of note is the Thakur of Chelak, whose position as Raj Pardhan entitles him to a s^at
behind the Chief on an elephant on State occasions. The official class is composed chiefly of
Oswals and Mahesri Mahtas, Purohits, and Byases. The Mahtas generally hold the principal
posts.
Among the Rajwis, the following may be mentioned
(1) Thakur Khushhal Singh of Lathi, the real father of the present Chief. TheThakur,
who holds two villages with an annual income of R1,000, is twenty-nine years of age. He has
one son, Dan Singh, besides His Highness the Maharawal.
(2) Thakur Sultan Singh, son of Kesri Singh of Machna, holds eleven villages with an
income of R2,000.
(3) Thakur Man Singh, son of Tej Singh of Eta, aged forty-seven years, has one village
vyith an income of R 1,000.
(41 Thakur Jaswant Singh, son of Sardar Singh, aged fifteen years, and Thakur Salim
Singh, son of Ummed Singh, aged thirty-three years, own between them one small village.
i2
68 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA

(6) Thakur Sheodan Singh, son of Anar Singh, aged thirty-five years, holds one village
of the annual value of it 1,000. The Thakur is a man of good education and administrative
experience which was acquired in Jhalrapatan, where his father Thakur Anar Singh of Gajwara
(see page 88) lives. He does not reside in Jaisalmer, but is in receipt of an allowance from the
State.

The principal nobles of the State are mentioned in the following list':—

Number
Name of estate. Name of Noble. Father’s name. Age. Sub-clan. of Income Tazim. Male issue.
Tillages

1. Bikampur . Rao Khetsi Sheo Singh . 45 Barsang 9 5,000 Double . Amar Singh,
Abhay
Singh.

2. Girajsar Thakur Amar Jetmal . 17 Do. If 1,700 Do. ...

Singh.

3. Bikasar Thakur Bulidan. Sahibdan 36 Do. . 1 1,000 Single. ...

4. \ C Thakur Nawal Partap Singh . 36 Do. •v r 1,000 Do. Three sons.

(
\ Singh. / \
> Sirran <
JThakur Kan
r 2\
5. k Mul Singh 18 Do. V / 1,000 Do. • ••
) ( Singh. ) • (
6. Barsalpur Rao Dhanji Ranjit Singh . 36 Khian 16 8,000 Double . Moti Singh,
Megbji.

7. Jhinjinyali . Thakur Bulidan . Sheoji Singh . 41 Udai Singhot 4 1,350 Do. Four sons.

8. Bhadli Thakur Lalji Jaswant Singh 54 Do. 5 1,700 Single Four sons.

9. Deoran Thakur Bulidan . Skiinbhudan . 31 Do. » 1 700 Do. ...

10. Rindban Thakur Bakhta- Prithwiraj 51 Tejmatot 1 700 Double Two sons.
war Singh.

11. Modkan . Thakur Ranjit Nahar Si^gh . 61 Do. 1 200 Single . Two sons.
Singh.

i2. \ r Thakur Panji . M u h abbat 21 \ /

/ ) Singh. f \
> Baru \ > Dwarka- 6 1,350 Double J
13. t J Thakur Bakht- Hirji . 36 y dasot. ) One son.
J ( awar Singh. \
14. Satyaya . Thakur Fath Bhojraj 26 SakatSingff- 1 500 Do. One son.
Singh. ot.

15. Nawa Tala . Thakur Pratap Bulidan 46 Prithwirajot 1 1,000 Do. Two sons.
Singh.

16. Cbelak Thakur Hemji . Prithwiraj 36 Do. 1 400 Single

17. Baragaon . Thakur Madho Jiwraj . 51 Biharidasot. 1 400 Do. • ••

Singh.

18. /"Thakur Lachh- Hemji. 26 Do.

\ man Singh.
> Dangri 1,000 Do. • ••
*
19. ) (.Thakur Satidan Sahibdan 11 Do. )
E0» Raj garh Thakur Jodh Akhji . 66 Do. 1 200 Do. Two sons.
Singh.

21. Khuri Thakur Rai Ranjit Singh . 36 Sodha Puar 3 1,500 Double One son.
. Singh. (Umarkot).

22. Lunar Thakur Anand Madho Singh . 51 Do. 1 500 Single Four sons.
Singh.

Only four of the officials call for mention. Of these one, the Diwan, is a foreigner, and
Officials. three are natives of Jaisalmer.

(1) Mahta Jagjiwan, the Diwan, is an inhabitant of Kachh Bhuj, whence he was sent
for by the late Chief in 1890. He is fifty-one years of age, by caste a Modh Mahajan, and
receives an annual salary of R4,800.
 JADON STATES —KARAULI. 69

(2) Mahta Nathmal, a Mahesri Mahajan of Jaisalmer, aged fifty-four years, was for
many years Diwan of the State. He is in receipt of an annual income of R780.

KARAULI.

The present Chief is His Highness Maharaja Bhanwar Pal Deo Bahadur Yadukul
„„ . , Chandra Bhal, K.C.I.E. His Highness, who
The Chief. , ° ’
was born on the 24th February 1864 and was
the son of Thakur Durjan Pal, succeeded to the gadi of Karauli on the 14th August 1886 by
adoption to His Highness the late Maharaja Arjun Pal. The Chief, who has no relations nearer
than cousins, has been married three times, (1) in 1878 to the daughter of Ajit Singh of Koela
in Kotah of the Hara family (2) in 1880 to the daughter of the Raja of Khandela in Jaipur,
and (3) in 1889 to the daughter of Ajit Singh of Mandawa in Jaipur, both of the
Shaikbawat family. The first and last of these ladies are still alive. The following table
shows the nearest surviving relatives of the Chief:—

BHEltUN PAL.

Mnngal Pal. Padam Pal.

1 1
r
Maharaja
i
Durjan Pal.
1
Sujan Pal.
1
Jatu Pal.
Arjun Pal. I 1 1
Maharaja
Bhanwar Pal
r
Bhum Pal.
i
Moti Pal.
Surjan Pal.

(present Chief);
(adopted by Maharaja
Arjun Pal).

The ruling family of Karauli is connected by marriage with Bundi, Kotah, and Sirohi.
In 1785 a daughter of Maharaja Manak Pal was married to Rao Raja Bishan Singh of
Bundi. A daughter of Maharaja Partap Pal (1837-53) married Maharao Chatar Sal of
Kotah, and Maharaja Madan Pal (1854-69) married a daughter of the then Rao of Sirohi.

The ‘Karauli family all bear the distinguishing appellation of Pal in token that they, as
descendants of Sri Krishna, are protectors {pal) of cows, whereas the lion (singh) does not
respect the sacred animal.
The leading men of Karauli are the nobles who are divided iuto Thikanedars, Bapotidars,
and others; hereditary office-bearers, and other
Leading personages.
officials.

The feudal aristocracy of the State consists entirely of, the Jadon Thakurs connected
with the ruling house. These pay as tribute a fixed sum, which though nominally one-fourth of
the produce of the soil, is in reality much less,—in fact less than half the share paid by common
land-holders. This tribute is'in lieu of constant military service which is not performed in
Karauli. In case of military emergencies or State pageants, the Thakurs come in with
their retainers, who on these occasions aye maintained at the expense of the Darbar. The Tha¬
kurs’ families (Kotris) paying tribute are thirty-seven in number, of which those of Hadoti>
Amargarh, Rawantra, Inaiti, Barthun, and Padampura are known as Thikanedars. The remain¬
der are 6tyled Bapotidars. The other families of nobles are of little importance and belong
chiefly to the Haridas and Mokund Kotris or to the Pal family. Succession is generally by
primogeniture, but by custom a Thakur on succeeding to bis estate is bound to assign grants
of land for maintenance to his younger brothers. In some cases estates are equally divided
among all sons, and in others partition takes place, the eldest son receiving a double share.
The nobles, though for the most part illiterate, are a very powerful body in the State, and
have till quite recent times frequently defied the authority of the Darbar.

The only hereditary office-bearers of note are Raja Bahadur Lakhpat Singh and
Jamadar Fazl Rasul Khan. The most prominent of the uon-hereditary officials are the
members of Council, the heads of the Revenue Department, the privy purse (gumal), and the
wardrobe {tcshakhana), and the personal Physician and Private Secretary.
.

'

'

, ,
 KACHRWAHA STATES—JAIPUR—ALWAR. 71

CHAPTER VI.
KACHHWAHA STATES*

[Jaipur—Alwar.]

JAIPUR.
The accepted legend traces back the lineage of the Kachhwaha tribe to Kash, the second
eon of Rama who ruled at Ajudhya and who is said to have emigrated thence to Rhotas on
the Son river, whence, after several generations, a second migration brought Raja Nal west¬
ward across the Jumna to Narwar. At Narwar the family established itself till one Dhola
Rao founded the parent city of the present Jaipur State at' Amber in A. I). 967. After years
of warfare, Dhola-Rao and his Kachhwahas are said to Have absorbed or driven out the petty
Mina and Rajput Chiefs by whom the neighbouring territory was then held, and to have setup
a tribal sovereignty known as Dhundar. The head-quarters of the Stdte Were fixed early in the
eleventh century at Amber, but it is probable that the Chiefship remained of small importance
till in the sixteenth century its head attached himself to the side of the Mughal Emperors.
Raja Bihari Lai was presented at Court in the first year of Akbar’s reign and subsequently
gave his daughter in marriage to Akbar. His immediate successors did good service under
that Emperor, and Jay Singh, later on, fought in the Dakhan for Aurangzeb, at whose instiga¬
tion he was afterwards murdered. The next Chi^f of note was Jay Singh II., who received the
itle of Sawai* from the Emperor and founded the present city of Jaipur in 1728.
This Chief, who attained great celebrity as a mathematician and astronomer, availed him¬
self of the confusion prevailing at Delhi considerably to augment his dominions. After his
death, however, the Chiefship was much harassed by the attacks of its enemies and internal
troubles. The Jats of Bhartpur annexed a portion of its territories. Another portion became
the separate Chiefship of Alwar, and later in the century the Mahrattas interfered in the
quarrels which arose between Mewar, Jaipur, and Marwar owing to the treaty by which the
two last-named houses had bound themselves to disregard the claims of primogeniture in
favour of any son who might be born from a princess of Udaipur. In 1803 the Jaipur Chief,
Jagat Singh, entered into relations with the British Government, but the treaty then made
was dissolved by Lord Cornwallis. A quarrel between Jaipur and Jodhpur for the hand of a
Mewar princess, fahich was only brought to a close by the murder of the lady, reduced both
States to the verge of ruin, and Amir Khan took advantage of the prevailing confusion to
harry Jaipur with his Pindaris. Jaipur again sought the protection of the English, which
was granted by the treaty of 1818, by which the Maharaja, in consideration of payment of a
tribute, was admitted to subordinate alliance and was guaranteed against external enemies.
Jagat Singh died in 1818 and was succeeded by his posthumous son Maharaja Jay Singh*
This Chief was followed by his son Maharaja Ram Singh, who died in 1880, when the present
ruler came to the gadi.
ALWAR.
The ruling family of Alwar traces its descent from Udai Earn, who succeeded to the
Chiefship of Amber in 1367. Udai Karn’s eldest son, Bar Singh, was excluded from the
succession in favour of Nar Singh, the younger son, and received a grant of eighty-four villages
in the neighbourhood of Jaipur. Naru, the grandson of Bar Singh, was the founder of the
Naruka house and left five sons, of whom the eldest Lala was the ancestor of the ruling
family of Alwar. His great-grandson Rao Kalyan Singh settled in what is now Alwar
territory and received from Jaipur the grant of Macheri and other villages of which some
were held by his successors till the time of Rao Partap Singh who developed his little estate
of two and a half villages into a principality and threw off his allegiance to Jaipur. Partap
Singh having rendered great service to Jaipur by defeating the Jats at the battle of Maonda
(1766) received permission to build a fort at Rajgarh near MaCheri. Shortly afterwards he
became practically independent, established other forts, and ultimately, in November 1775
obtained possession of Alwar which till then had been held by the Jats of Bhartpur. From
this time Partap Singh was recognized as their Chief by the other Narukas, and towards the

* The literal meaning of Sawai is one and a quarter and the title implies that the holder is greater by one-foarth
than ordinary rulers.
 72 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

end of his reign obtained from Delhi the much-coveted fish insignia [mahi maratib). Partap
Singh died in 1791, having adopted as his successor Bakhtawar Singh, who at the commence¬
ment of the Mahratta war entered into an offensive and defensive alliance with the British
Government and rendered useful service to Lord Lake at the battle of Laswari. A treaty wa3
made in 1803. In 1811, in consequence of the discovery of certain negotiations between
Jaipur and Alwar, the Chief was obliged to bind himself not to enter into political relations
with other States. On Bakhtawar Singh’s death in 1815 he*was succeeded by Maharao Raja
Bane Singh, whom he had intended to adopt and who was accepted as their Chief by the
Rajputs and the artillery. The succession was claimed on behalf of his illegitimate son
Balwant Singh and after much dispute it was settled that Bane Singh should have the title
and Balwant Singh the power. Eventually the British Government interfered to secure proper
maintenance for Balwant Singh, on whose death in 1845 his possessions reverted to the State.
Bane Singh proved his loyalty by his attempt during the Mutiny to assist the beleaguered
garrison of Agra. He died in 1857 and was succeeded.by his only son Maharao Raja Sheodah
Singh, then a boy of twelve. The powers conferred upon the Maharao Raja in 1863 were
greatly curtailed six years later owing to' the misgovernment of the Chief and a Political
Agent was again appointed to Alwar. Sbeodan Singh died on the 11th October 1876 and
was succeeded by Mangal Singh, a son of the Thakur of Thana, whose selection was approved
by the Rajputs of the twelve kotris or houses closely allied to the ruling branch. Maharao
Raja Mangal Singh, G.C.S.I., on whom the title of Maharaja was conferred in 1890, died on
the 23rd May 1892, and was succeeded by the present Chief, Maharaja Jay Singh.

JAIPUR.

The present Chief of Jaipur, His Highness Saramad-i-Rajaha-i-Hindustan, Raj Raj-

Th Ch.ef indar Sri Maharaj Adhiraj Sawai Sir Madho
Singh Bahadur, G.C.SI., is a Kachhwaha
Rajput. His Highness, whose name till he came to the gadi was Kainr Singh, was born in i860,
and is by birth the son of the late Thakur Raghunath Singh of the Rajawat family of Isarda.
He succeeded by adoption to the late Maharaja Ram Singh on the 29th September 1880. The
Maharaja, who has no children alive, has contracted five marriages—(1) with the daughter of
Thakur Budh Singh Pal, a Jadon Rajput of Amargarh in the Etah district of the North-
Western Provinces; (2) in 1881 with the daughter, who died on the 25th March 1893, of His
Highness the late Maharaja of Kishangarh (see page 21) ; (3) in 1882 with* the daughter of
the Raja of Dhrangadra in Kathiawar of the Jhala clan; (4) in 1891 with the daughter of the
Rahtor Thakur of Khamor in Shahpura; and'(5) in 1892 with the daughter of the Tanwar
Thakur Jiwraj Singh of Bikanir. The first of these alliances took place before the Maharaja’s
accession to the Chiefship, the rest afterwards. By each of the first two Maharanis a daughter
was born to the Chief, but both these children have died. His Highness has no near relations
on the male side, and there is a dispute as to what family is most closely allied to him. By clan
the Maharaja is related to the Kachhwaha houses of Kashmir and Alwar. His adoptive mother
the widow of the late Maharaja Ram Singh, is the eldest sister of His Highness Maharaja*
Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur.

The abstract genealogical tree of the ruling family of Jaipur given on the following
pages is said to bfe correct, but the earlier portion differs from the account given in the
Gazetteer.
 KACHHWAHA STATES—JAIPUR. 73
Abstract Genealogical Table of the Chief of Jaipur.

1. Soda (succeeded to the gadi of Narwar in 958 A. D., settled in Dausa 966 A. D„ and died 1007 A D.),

2- Pula Rai (generally known as founder of the State, died 1013 A. D.).

3. Hhod.ro (died 1015 A. D.).

4. Kakilji (died 1015 A. D., said by Dr. Stratton, formerly Besident at Jaipore, to have founded Amber about 1150).

5. Sani Rai (died 1053 A. D.).

I
6. Janan Deo (died 1071 A. D.).

7. Prajjawan (said to have married the sister of Prithwi Eaj, Chauhan, King of Ajmer and the last Hindu King of Delhi, died 1096 A D.).

8. Maleti (died 1147 A D.).

9. Bijaldeo (also said to have founded Amber, died 1179 A. D.).

I
10. Deoji (died 1216 A. D.),
I
11. Kilandeo (died 1276 A. D.).

12. Euntaldeo (died 1318 A. D.).

I
13. Jothi (died 1367 A. D.). Gogawata of Duni, etc.

14. Udai Earn (dial 1388 A. D.). Eumbhani of Banskho (one of the 12 kotrit).

1 I I
16. Narsingh (died 1413 A. D.). Patal. Sheobaran. Balu. Barsingh.
I I I I
Patal pota. Sheobaranpota MokaL Maharaj.
(one of the 12 kotrit). I
Shaikha. Naru.

Shaikhawata Narukaa.
o 16. Banlir (died 1424 A. D.).

17. Udai Earn (died 1453 A D.) Banbirpota

(one of the 12 kotrit).
18. Chandra Sen (died 1488).

19. Prithwi Raj (established the 12 kotrit, died 1528 A. D.). Kumbhawats of Mahar
(one of the 12 kotrit.)

i I
20. Pur an
21. Bhim 22. Rain 23. Atkaran 24. Bharmal Gopal Pichan Jagma Multan Chaturbhaj Kalyan Balbhadra Bam Sanga Partap. SahasmaL RaimaL Samdasi. Bhika. Bupei. Tejai
(Pichanot Khaugarot (Sultanot (Chaturbhujot (Eajyanot (Balbhadrot Singh. (founded
Mai (die! (died 1537). Singh (died (died 1648). (died 1574).
1548). Natha,.. Kotri). Eotri). Eotri). Eotri). Kotri). Kotri). Sanganer),
1534 A. D.).
Nathawata
(Kotri),

Bhagwat Das, Jagannath.

25. Bhagwandat (died 1519 A. D.).
I
Jagannathota.

■26 Man Singh (a celebrated General of Akbar’s time, died 1615 A. D.).

Jagat Singh, Sakat Singh. Himmat Singh. Durjan Singh. Kalyan Singh.
27. Bhao Singh (died 1622 A D.).
Bajawats of Kordya. Bajawats of Gohadi. Bajawats of Chandlot

I Jhnjhar Singh.
Maha Singh.
Bajawats of Jhilai.
28. Jay s\ngh I (a great MiUtary Commander in the time of Aurangzeb from whom he obtained the title of Mina Mag a and the Mantal of 6,000, died 1668 A. D.).

I Kirat Singh (settled at Kanes).

29. Ram Singh (died 1690 A. D.)

Kishan Singh.

•0. Bithan Singh (died 1700 A. D.).

pi. Jay s\ngh II (received the title of Sawai from the Emperor, founded the city of Jaipur, and was a great patron of science and arts, died 1744 A D.).

92. Itri Singh (died 1761 A. D.). 33. Madho Singh I (founded ^Sawai Madhopor, died 1768 A D.).

34. Pirthi Singh (died 1779 A D.). 35. Partap^ Singh (during this reign Partap Singh Naruka, the Bao of Macher (now A war) secured his independence, died 1808 A D.)

36. Jagat Singh ( concluded the first treaty with the British Government in 1803, died 1818 A. D.).

37. Jay Singh III (bom after the death of his father, died 1835 A. D.).

38. Ram LbjA II (succeeded to gadi in infancy, died the 18th September 1880, nominating the present Chief as his successor).

39. Maiho Singh II (succeeded to gadi by adoption on the 29th September 1880 A D.).
74 GRIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

The leading men of the Jaipur State are divid¬

Leading men.
ed into four classes
(1) Hereditary nobles.
(2) Hereditary office-bearers.
(3) N on-hereditary office-bearers.
(4) Udikis (usually Brahmans or persons belonging to some sacred class).
The nobles generally enjoy hereditary giants of land from the State in reward for services
tendered, or by right of descent from the ruling family. Nobles of the Kachhwaha clan de¬
scended from the ruling house are known as bhai-betas or kinsmen. There are two classes of
nobles, Tazimi and Khass-chcuki. The members of the former class are received in Darbar by
the Chief standing when they present their tiazars. They are privileged to wear gold anklets.
The principal nobles of Jaipur, all of whom will be noticed separately, are Kachhwahas and
Rahtors. There are also many Sardarsof less importance belonging to these and to the Sesodia,
Tunwar, Bhatq and other tribes. The most important of the Muhammadan nobles is the
Nawab of Badanpura, The late Pandit Sheodin, who has been succeeded by his eldest son
Pandit Bishambar Din, Mumtazu-d-daula Nawab Sir Muhammad Faiz Ali Khan Bahadur
K.C.S.T., and Rao Bahadur Kanti Chandra Mukharji, C.I.E., are instances of officials who
have been raised to the rank of hereditary nobles.

Gradation of rank among the nobles, though much importance is attached by themselves
to kinship with the ruling house, depends less on this qualification than on the position to
■which the different families have raised themselves. The Rajawats being the nearest connec¬
tions of the ruling house consider themselves the premier family of Jaipur. Next to them
come the so-called twelve kotris, (1) Nathawats, (2) Chaturbhujots, (3) Kangarots, (4) Bal-
bhadrots, (5) Sultanots, (6) Kalyanots, (7) Paranmalots, (3) Pichanots, (9) Kumbhawats, (10)
Banpirpotas, (11) Sheobaranpotas, and (12) Kumbhanis.

The following families among others are also known as Kotris:—Shaikhawats, Narukas,
Bankawats, and Gogawats. The origin of most of the kotris and their connection with the
ruling family are shown in the genealogical tree given on page 73.

The largest fiefs in Jaipur are those of Sikar and Kbetri, the possessors of which enjoy
the titles of Rao Raja and Raja respectively and exercise limited judicial powers within their
estates.
The Jagirdars cf Kukas and Talchiri claim descent from Bargujar families which ruled
present Jaipur territory before its conquest by the Kackhwahas.

Dhula, Digi, Uniara, Chomu, and Samod held originally small estates which have been
enlarged by subsequent grants.
The Jagirs of Goner, Kanota, Naila, Raipur, and Karu6ar are modern grants dating from
the reign of Maharaja Ram Singh II.

Succession is generally by primogeniture, the eldest son succeeding to the estate, and the
cadets receiving a suitable annuity for maintenance. This rule is, however, not observed in
Shaikhawati where an almost equal division of the ancestral estate takes place between the
several sons. The appanages thus created are merged again in the parent estate on failure of
issue.
All nobles either serve the State with horse and foot ot pay tribute in cash, the former
being known as jagirdars and the latter as mamla-guzars. The Udikis render no service
and pay no tribute.

There are very few hereditary office-bearers of importance, though some families enjoy
grants of land as rewards for previous services. There are also some families which have
maintained themselves for centuries by State service, one or more members always receiving
some kind of employment. In a few cases offices of special importance are held by particular
families so long as any member of them is found fit to perform the required duties. The
Daroghaship of the Toshakhana and the Palace, and the posts of Mir Bakhshi and Wakia
Navis are instances of offices of this class.
 KACHHWAHA STATES—JAIPUR. 75

The most important office of the State is the Council, of which His Highness the Maha-
raia is the President. The Council is divided into three departments Military, Foreign, and
Miscellaneous, Revenue and Judicial.

Certain Brahmans and other persons of sacred classes who have gained prominence as
preceptors or heirs of preceptors of the Chief hold honours and grants.

(1) Rao Bahadur Thakur Gobind Singh Bahadur of Chomu is one of the most distin¬
guished representatives of the Nathawat branch of
Individuals of note. the Kachhwaha tribe, which takes its name from

Nathaji, the son of Gopalji, and grandson of Raja Prithwi Raj (1488—1528 A.D.). The
Chomu estate, which renders service with cavalry
Chomu. and payg nQ tribute, is situated 20 miles to the

north of Jaipur. Of the ancestors of • the present Thakur, Thakur Mohan Singh distinguished
himself at the battle of Khandela in the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jay Smgh II (1700—1744)
and Thakur Jodh Singh was killed fighting against the Mahrattas in the reign of Madho
Singh I (1751—1768). The late Thakur Lachhman Singh held the offices of Fauj Musahib
and Prime Minister in the time of Maharaja Ram Singh II (1835—1880).

Thakur Gobind Singh, who is by birth the son of Thakur Sheodan Singh of Ajayrajpura,
was born in 1849 and succeeded Thakur Lachhman Singh by adoption in 1862. He has been a
member of the State Council since 1881 and his services have been recognized by the bestowal
on him as personal distinctions of the titles of Bahadur by the Jaipur Darbar and of Rao
Bahadur by the British Government. The latter title was conferred in 1889. The Thakur
has no sons and no near relations in the Chomu family. His nearest kinsmen are the Rawal
of Samod and the tTagir dan of Renwal and Ajayrajpura.

The Chomu family, besides its estate in Jaipur, holds a temple and some lands and
buildings at Brindaban in the Muttra district.

(2) Rawal Fatb Singh of Samod also belongs to the Nathawat branch of the Kachhwaha
clan. His estate which is situated 24 miles from
Samod. Jaipur pays no tribute, but renders service with
horse. Rawal Fath Singh, who is twenty-two years of age, is by birth the son of Thakur
Natbu Singh of Renwal, and succeeded by adoption in 1885 to Rawal Bijay Singh. Of the
former Rawalsot Samod, Ram Singh was killed in battle against the Mahrattas in the reign of
Mabaraja Madho Singh I (1751—1768), Rawals Bairi Sal and Sheo Singh were Minis¬
ters in the reigns of Maharajas Jay Singh III (1818—1835) and Ram Singh II (1835—1880)
and Rawal Bijay Singh was guardian to the present Chief. The present Rawal who holds no
official position in the State has no son and no near relations in the family of his adoptiou,
Hi's nearest relatives are the Thakur of Chomu and the Jagirdars of Renwal and Ajayrajpura.

(3) Thakur Nahar Singh of Jhalai, a Kachhwaha Rajput, belongs to the Sangram
Singhot branch of the Ra jawat sub-clan which is
Jhalai. descended from Maharaja Jagat Singh (1803
—1813) The estate which is exempt from service and tribute is situated 44 miles to the
south of Jaipur. Thakur Nahar Singh is fifty-five years of age and is the son of Kunwar
Sanoram Singh. He succeeded to the jagir in 1876 on the death of his eldest brother Thakur
Bhawani Singh. Kunwar Sangram Singh and Thakur Bhupal Singh were members of the
Punch Musahibat (Council) in the last two reigns. The present Thakur has held no office. He
has one son Bi jay Singh, aged thirty-seven years, and a nephew, Raghunath Singh, who holds a
jagir in Bikanir. The families of Isarda and Baler are closely related to that of Jhalai.

(4) Rao Raja Guman Singh of TJniara is a Kachhwaha Rajput and is the head of the
Naruka branch of that family settled in Jaipur.
Uniara. £[e js a powerful feudatory of the State and

holds a jagir 70 miles to the north of Jaipur, which pays an annual tribute of R38,335 to
the Darbar. None of the family have held any official position in the State, but some of them
have rendered important services to the Chief in recognition of which Maharaja Sawai Jay
Sin^h ji (1700_1744) conferred the title of Rao and Maharaja Madho Singh I (1751—1768)
76 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN EAJPTTTANA.

that of Raja on Ajit Singh. Thakur Guman Singh who is seven years of age is by
birth the son of Thakur Chiman Singh of Bijaygarh and succeeded to Uniara by adoption
on the death in 1886 of Rao Raja Sangram Singh. He has no relations in the Uniara
family.

(5) Thakur Devi Siugh of Digi is the head of the Khangarot sub-clan of the Kachh-
waha Rajputs which is descended from Raja
Digi. "
Prithwi Raj (1488—1528) through the latter’s son
Jagmalji. The estate, which lies 40 miles to the west of Jaipur, serves the Darbar with horse.
Thakur Devi Singh, who is about twenty-six years of age, is by birth the son of Thakur Bairi Sal
of Mundia, and was selected as the fittest claimant to Digi by His Highness the Maharaja on the
death without issue of Thakur Pratap Singh in 1892. Thakur Pratap Singh was a
member of the State Council from 1881, and bis ancestors, Thakurs Megh Singh and
Bhim Sin^h, were members of the Panch Musahibat. The present Thakur has held no
official position. He has one son, and is nearly related to the families of Mundia and
Lambia.
(6) Rao Pratap Singh Of Manoharpur is a Kachhwaha Rajput of the senior branch of
the Shaikhawat sub-clan which takes its orio-in
Manoharpur.
from Raja Udai Karn (1388—1413) through
Shaikba, the descendant of his fourth son. The estate which is situated 30 miles to the north
of Jaipur renders service with horse and pays R6,300 as tribute to the Darbar on account
of the tenure of Bishangarh. Rao Pratap Singh, who is twenty years of age and holds no official
position, is by birth the son of Thakur Balwant Singh of Gadh, and succeeded Thakur
Sheonath Singh of Manoharpur by adoption in 1881. He has one son, after whom his nearest
relatives belong to the Gadh family.

(7) Rao Hamir Singh of Khandela is also a Shaikhawat, being descended from Rao
Suja of Manoharpur through the latter’s sou Rai
Kna.nd©la* 0
Sal. The estate which lies 60 miles to the north
of Jaipur pays an annual tribute of R36,192. On the death of Raja Sanwant Singh, the
last bolder, the succession was disputed, and Hamir Singh, son of Thakur Dule Singh of Dadia,
was selected by the Darbar iu 1890 as the rightful claimant. He is twenty-one years of age
and holds no official position. He has no son. The Dadia family is the nearest by relationship
to that of Khandela.

(8) Rao Raja Madho Singh Bahadur of Sikar is a Kachhwaha Rajput of the Shaikha¬
wat sub-clan and belongs to the Raojika family
Sikar.
which is descended from Tejmal, son of Raja
Rai Sal of Khandela. The estate is situated 72 miles to the north-west of Jaipur and pays a
tribute of R42,000 a year. The Sikar family has rendered important services to the Darbar
in times of emergency; thus Rao Sheo Singh was severely wounded in battle against the
Mahrattas, and Thakur Budh Singh was killed fighting for Jaipur against Jawahir Singh of
Bhartpur. The title of Rao Raja was conferred on Lachhraan Singh of Sikar by Maharaja Jagat
Singh (1803—1818). Rao Raja Madho Singh is thirty-two years of age, and has received as a
personal distinction from the Darbar the title of Bahadur. The panch-ranga* flag was con¬
ferred on him by Maharaja Ram Singh in 1877. He belongs by birth to the allied family of
Sarwari and succeeded to Sikar by adoption in 1865. He has no son or near relation. The
families most closely allied to Sikar are those of Bathnoth, Paluda, and Sarwari.

(9) Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri is, like the Rao Raja of Sikar, a Shaikhawat, being de-
K;iietri scended from Bhojraj, a son of Raja Rai Sal of
Khandela. He holds from the Jaipur Darbar the
estate of Khetri which lies 90 miles to the north of the capital and pays a tribute of
R75,000 a year. From the British Government he holds as a free grant the pargana of
Kot Putli which was conferred on Thakur Akhay Singh during the reign of Maharaja Jagat
Singh (1803—1818). This Chief bestowed the title of Raja on Abhay Singh. Raja Ajit
Singh, who is thirty years of age, is by birth the son of Thakur Chatar Singh of Alsisar. He
succeeded to Khetri by adoption in 1870 on the death of Raja Fath Singh. He has one

The striped Rajput standard of five colours.

 KACHHWAHA STATES—JAIPUR. 77

son and no other near relative. The families of Harina, Alsisar, Aruka, aud Badangarh
are those most closely connected with Khetri.

(10) Rao Raja Lachhman Singh of Duni, a Kachhwaha Rajput, is the head of the Goga-
wat sab-clan which is descended from Raja Kun-
Duni. . J
tal (1274—1318). The estate which serves the
Darbar with horse is situated 80 miles south-west of Jaipur. The Rao Raja is twenty-five years
of age and is by birth the son of Thakur Biradh Singh of Ajayrajpura. He succeeded by adop¬
tion to the late Rao Jiwan Singh wlio was a Judge of the Appellate Court and subsequently
a member of the Jaipur Council, The title of Rao Raja was conferred on Sheonath Singh
by Maharaja Prithwi Singh (1768—1779) whom he served first in the capacity of Fattj Bakhm
shi and subsequently in that of Diwan. Another ancestor of the present Rao Raja, Rao
Chand Singh, also held the office of Diwan. Rao Raja Lachhman Siogh has no sons. The
families most nearly allied to Dtmi are those of Ajayrajpura and Balmukundpura. It is the
privilege of the Jagirdar of Duni to sit behind the Chief on the same elephant in all State
processions and to wave the vhanwar* over him.

(11) Thakur Sanwaut Singh of Bagru is the head of the Chutarbhujot 6ub-clan of the
Kachhwaha Rajputs which is descended from
Bagru. . J
Chaturbbuj, a son of Raja Prithwi Raj I (1488
—1528). The estate, which is situated 18 miles to the west of Jaipur, serves the Raj with
horse and pays no tribute. Of the ancestors of the present Thakur one, Thakur Padm Singh,
distinguished himself in a battle fought near Agra, and received a robe of honour from Maha¬
raja Jay Singh II (1700—1744); another, Thakur Gulab Singh, was killed in a battle against
the Mahrattas in the reign of Maharaja Madho Singh I (1751—1768). Thakur Sur Singh, the
late head of the house, was a member of the Panch Musahibat and Judge of the Appellate
Court in the time of Maharaja Ram Singh II (1835 — 1880). Thakur Sanwant Singh, who suc¬
ceeded his father Thakur Sur Singh in 1863 and is now fifty years of age, is a member of the
State Council. He had three sons of whom the eldest died leaving a grandson, Jaswant
Siugh, who is now ten years old. The other two sons, Pratap Singh and Hari Singh,
are aged twenty-two and twenty years respectively. The Thakur has no other near
relatives.

(12) Thakur Kesri Singh of Achrol is the head of the Balbhadrot sub-clan of the Kachh¬
waha Rajputs, being descended from Raja Prithwi
Achrol.
Raj (1438—1528) through the latter's son Bal-
bhadar. Thakur Balbhadar was killed in Gujarat, and his son, Achaldas, quelled a rebellion
in Shaikhawati, receiving the office of Fauj Musahib in recognition of his services. He and his
followers were subsequently killed in the battle of Dhanori. His son Mohan Singh and his
grandson, Kan Singh, were also Fauj Musahibs in their turn. In the reign of Maharaja
Ram Singh II Thakur Ranjit Singh was appointed Faujdar (City Magistrate) and subsequently
J udge of the Appellate Court... Later on, he became a member of Council. Thakurs Lachhmau
Singh and Raghunath Singh also held the office of Judge of the Appellate Court. The family
estate which is situated eighteen miles to the north of Jaipur serves the Darbar with horse.
Thakur Kesri Singh succeeded his father, Thakur Raghunath Singh, in 1891. He has one
younger brother, Kishan Singh, aged twelve years, and no son. His next relatives are Thakur
Ram Nath Singh and his two brothers.

(13) Thakur Bairi Sal of Banskho, a Kachhwaha Rajput, is the head of the Kum-
bhani sub-clan which is descended from Raja Joshi
Banskho.
(1318—1367). His estate, which is situated 24
miles to the east of Jaipur, serves the Darbar with horse. The Thakur who holds no official
position is thirty-five years of age, and is by birth the son of Thakur Gulab Singh. He suc¬
ceeded to theyayirin 1877 on the death of his uncle Thakur Amar Singh and has one son,
Sheo Singh, aged eighteen years, and a brother Kanh Singh. One of his ancestors, Thakur
Chur Singh, held the office of Diwan.

• Yak’s tail, used to keep off flies.

K
78 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

(14) Raw at Bane Singh of Dhula, a Kachhwaha Rajput, is a Rajawat of the Durjan
Singhot family, which traces its origin to Raja
Dhula.
Man Singh (1590—1615). The estate which
renders military service to the Raj is situated 25 miles to the east of Jaipur. Thakur Dalel
Singh of Dhula, an ancestor of the present Thakur, held the offices of Faujdar and Kottoal
of Amber in the reign of Maharaja S^vai Jay Singh II (1700—1744). Another ancestor, Thai-
kur Laehhman Singh, was killed with his son fighting against Jawahir Singh of Bhartpur. In
recognition of the services rendered on this occasion a grant of villages was made to the
family. The title of Rawat was conferred on another ancestor, Thakur Raghunath Singh.
Rawat Ranjit Singh was a member of the Panch Musahibat and was subsequently Nazim
of Shaikbawati and Torawati. The late Rawat, Bairi Sal, died on the 23rd March 1893 and
was succeeded by adoption by the present Jagirdar who was the son of the late Thakur Arjun
Sal of Thetra, and is now eleven years of age. The Rawat has no nearer relatives than those
of the Thetra family.
(15) Thakur Sheonath Singh of Dudu belongs to the Kangarot branch of the Kachh¬
waha tribe which is descended from Jagmal, son
Dudu.
of Raja Prithwi Raj (1488—1528). The estate,
which lies 40 miles to the west of Jaipur, is exempt from payment of tribute, but serves the
Darbar with horse. It was conferred originally on Thakur Anand Singh who had been em¬
ployed by the Darbar as Faujdar. His son Pahar Singh was made a Minister of the State.
Thakur Sheonath Singh who is twenty-eight years of age succeeded his father Thakur Lachh-
man Singh in 1884. He has two sons, one aged seven and the other an infant, and two
brothers of whom one is now Thakur of Sali by adoption.
(16) The headship of the house of Isarda, to which the present Chief of Jaipur belonged
previously to his adoption by the late Maharaja
Isarda.
Ram Singh II (1835—1880), is temporarily vacant,
the late Thakur Pratap Singh having died without issue, and the succession having not yet
been settled. The houses most closely connected with it are those of Jhalai, Barwara, Sewar,
and Baler.*
(17) Thakur Kanh Singh of Gijgarh is a Rahtor Rajput of the Champawat sub-clan
which traces its origin to the Pokaran family of
Gijgarh.
Mar war (see page 8). Th ejagir of Gijgarh, which
is situated 60 miles south-east of Jaipur and serves the Darbar with horse, was originally
conferred in 1775 on Thakur Syam Singh who came to Jaipur in the reign of Maharaja
Prithwi Singh (1768 — 1779), An ancestor of tile present Thakur, Ummed Singh, was killed
with his followers when fighting for Jaipur in a battle near Tori. In recognition of the
services rendered on this occasion the number of horses which the family was liable to con¬
tribute for the use of the Darbar was reduced by ten. Thakur Kanh Singh who is a Tazirni
Sardar of both Jaipur and Jodhpur is twenty-five years of age and succeeded to the estate in
1876, on the death of his father Thakur Jhujhar Singh. He has no nearer relatives than the
families of Pokaran and Daiplia in Marwar.
(18) Thakur Chand Kara of Seora is a Rahtor Rajput of the Karnot sub-clan, which
traces its origin to the ruling Chiefs of Marwar.
Seora.
The estate, which is situated 40 miles to the west
of Jaipur, serves the Darbar with horse. Thakur Chand Karn who is the son of Mukund
Karn is twenty-nine years of age. He succeeded his grandfather, Samandar Karn, by adoption
in 1889, Mukund Karn having died two months after Samandar Karn before his succession was
acknowledged by the Darbar. Samandar Karn was a member of the Council during the latter
years of Maharaja Ram Singh II (1835—1880) and the earlier years of the present Chief.
Thakur Chand Kara’s near relatives are a son, Indar Karn, aged six years and an uncle, Deo
Karn, Thakur of Kot Khaoda.

* Since the above account was written His Highness the Maharaja has appointed a minor named Balwant Singh
of the Jagmoda Dirola branch of the Isarda family to be Thakur of Isarda. The selection was mad£ at the instance of
the two Thakuranis of the late Thakur Pratap Singh and the estate is under the management of the Court of Wards.
Since his adoption Balwant Singh has taken the name of Sawai Singh, by which he is now known. The Thakur who
is twelve years of age is descended from the youngest son of the first Jagirdar and is thus a collateral relative of the
late Thakur who was descended from the'eldest son. His nearest relatives are in his own family, Nathu Singh of
Dheroli, his father, and Thakur Arjun Singh of Jagmoda his uncle, and in that of his adoption Thakurs Dalput Singh
and Phaju Singh of Dedara.
 KACHHTVAHA STATES—JAIPUR. 79

(19) Thakur Fath Singh of Naila, a Rahtor Rajput o£ the Pilwa family of the Cham-
„ pasvat sub-clan of Marwar, holds an estate, 12
miles east of Jaipur, and serves the State with
horse. He is now about sixty years of age. His father, Thakur Jiwraj, was the first of the
family to enter the service of the Darbar. Thakur Fatoh Singh was Bakhshi of the Kilajat*
when Naila was given to him in jagir in 1860 by the late Maharaja Ram Singh II
(1835—1880), who also conferred on him the honour of the tazim and appointed him a mem¬
ber of the Council. Subsequently he held the office of Chief Minister and Vice-President
of the Council till the accession of the present Chief. He now draws a pension of R600 a
year. He has two sons, Rup Singh, aged thirty-six years, who is Bakhshi of the Kilajat
and Guman Singh, aged thirty-three years. He has also a brother, Thakur Zorawar Singh of
Kanaota, and a nephew, Thakur Mukund Singh of Goner.

(20) Thakur Mukund Singh of Goner belongs to the same family as the Thakur of
Naila (No. 19), and holds an estate 12 miles south¬
Goner.
east of Jaipur which serves the Darbar with
horse. The estate was conferred on Thakur Shimbhu Smgh, the father of the present holder
and brother to Thakur Fath Singh of Naila who held the office of Bakhshi jagir and was
subsequently a member of the Council. The late Maharaja also conferred on him the tazim,
Thakur Mukund Singh who is now forty-two years of age succeeded his father in 1886. His
near relations are his son Bhojraj Singh, aged nineteen years, his brother Chiman Singh
employed in Bikanir and his uncles Thakur Fath Singh of Naila and Thakur Zorawar Singh
of Kanaota. He has also several cousins in Jaipur and Marwar.

(21) Thakur Zorawar Singh of Kanaota is an elder brother of Thakur Fath Singh of
Naila (No. 19) and received a jagir eight miles
Kanaota.
to the east of Jaipur and the tazim at the
same time as his brother. The estate serves the Darbar with horse. The Thakur who holds
the post of Bakhshi jagir is about sixty-three years of age and has three sons, Narain Singh,
aged about forty-five years, General Superintendent of Girai in Jaipur, Bhim Singh, Superin¬
tendent of Girai, aged about forty years, and Gambhir Singh, aged about thirty-five
years.

(22) Thakur Jiwan Singh of Surajgarh is a Kachhwaha Rajput of the Shaikhawat

sub-clan, which traces its descent from Balu, son
Surajgarh.
of Raja Udai Karn (1367—1388). The estate
which lies 140 miles to the north of Jaipur is subject to an annual tribute of R8,595.
According to the Shaikhawat custom, the jagir was divided on the death of the late Thakur
between his four sons. Of these two died and ope succeeded by adoption to Bisau. The whole
jagir is therefore held by Thakur Jiwan Singh. He is now thirty years of age. His father,
Thakur Gobind Singh, served with the Jaipur forces under British officers in the Mutiny of
1857. His nearest relatives are Thakur Jagat Singh of Bisau and an infant son of the latter,
after whom come members of the Dandlod family.
(23) Thakur Jagat Singh of Bisau is also a Kachhwaha Rajput of the Shaikhawat
clan. He holds an estate 120 miles north of Jai¬
Bisau.
pur, which yields an annual tribute of R9,885.
A former Jagirdar of Bisau served with his contingent under British officers during the
Mutiny, and his son Jawahir Singh was deputed by the Darbar to restore peace in Shaikhawati,
which had been greatly disturbed by two well-known dakaits, Dang and Jawahir. Thakur
Jagat Singh succeeded his father Thakur Chandar Singh in 1877. He has one infant son and
three uncles, Jiwan Singh of Surajgarh and Pane Singh and Chandan Singh of Dandlod.

(24) Rao Mukund Singh of Patan or Jilo Patan is a Tunwar Rajput who holds an
estate 72 miles north of Jaipur, which yields an
Patan.
annual tribute of R7,641. He also holds some
villages in the Anupshahr Pargana of the Bulandshahr district of the North-Western

* Warden (lit., paymaster) of the Forts.

K2
 80 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

Provinces. Rao Mukund Singh who is thirty years of age, is by birth the son of Pratap
Singh, a brother of the late Rao Kishan Singh. He succeeded the latter by adoption in 1873.
His nearest relations are the descendants of Rao Bakhshi Ram, an ancestor separated from him
by nine generations.

The following officials call for individual notice :—

(1) Rao Bahadur Kanti Chandar Mukharji, C.I.E.,the chief member of the State
Council who, jointly with Rao Bahadur Thakur
Gobind Singh of Chomu, holds charge of the
Foreign, Military, and Miscellaneous Departments.

Rao Bahadur Kanti Chandar Mukharji, who is by birth a Bengali, entered the service of
the Dai bar. in 1865 as Head Master of the Maharaja’s College of which he subsequently
became Principal. In the year 1876 he was appointed to the Council of the State and dis¬
charged the duties of Private Secretary to the late Chief. When Maharaja Madho Singh was
vested with full powers, he nominated Babu Kanti Chandar Mukharji to be Chief Member of
the Council and in 1885 conferred on him the honour of the tazim. Subsequently be received
the grant of a village partly in udik and partly in inam. The title of Rao Bahadur and a
Companionship of the Order of the Indian Empire have been bestowed on him by the British
Government.

(2) Pandit Moti Lai, who is now a member of the Revenue Department of the Council,
entered the service of the Raj in 1857-as Jaipur Vakil at Jodhpur. He has since held the
appointments of Jaipur Vakil at Abu and Sadr Revenue Officer.

(3) Haji Muhammad Ali Khan, who is also a Revenue Member of the Council was
educated at the Maharaja’s College and appointed in 1870 to be Saristhadar of the Law Com¬
mittee. He has since served in turn as Nai'o Faujdar, Nazim of Shaikhawati, and a Judo-e
of the Appellate Court.

(4) Pandit Maharaj Kishan, whose services were placed at the disposal of the Darbar by
the British Government in 1883, is the member of the Council in charge ofjthe Criminal side
of the Judicial Department.

(5) Babu MahendraNath Sen, whose father Babu Hari Mohan Sen was formerly Secre¬
tary to the Council, of which he was ex officio a member, is now in charge of the Judicial
Department of the Council. He entered the service of the Darbar in 1865 as Head Clerk of
the English Office of the Council. From 1882 to 1890 when he was appointed to his present
post he was a Judge of the Appellate Court.

ALWAR.

His Highness Maharaja Sawai Jay Singh Bahadur of Alwar was born in 1882
Th<*£hief. and succeeded his father the late Maharaja Mangal
Singh, G.C.S.I., on the 23rd May 1892. The
Chief whose mother was a daughter of the late Maharaja Bherun Singh of Ratlam is a Lala-
wat Naruka Rajput of the Kachhwaha clan and is a descendant of the ruling house of Jaipur.
The only near relatives of the Maharaja on the paternal side are connected with the family of
Thana from which the late Chief was adopted by his predecessor. They are his uncle Thakur
Surtan Singh of Thana, a cousin Ram Singh, the son of the Thakur, and another cousin
Thakur Ganga Singh of Sriehandpur.

Through the marriages of the late Chiefs, His Highness is connected with .the Rahtor
family of Kishengarh and the Jarecha family of Jamnagar. The Rahtor family of Bikanir,
the Jbala family of Jhalawar, and the Sesodia family of Sliahpura are also connected by mar¬
riage His Highness is not married. The pedigree on the opposite page shows the descent of
the ruling family from the Jaipur house.
 KACHHWAHA STATES—ALWAR. 81

RAJA UDAI EARN (1367).

1 1
Bar Singh Narsingh
(received a. jagir). (succeeded to Jaipur).
1
Maliaraj.
1
Naru
(ancestor of the Narukas).

1
1 1 i . 1
Jetha.
1
Chitar.
Rao Lala Dasa Tejsi.
(ancestor of the Lalawats). (ancestor of the Dasawats).

Udai Singh.
1
Lar Khan.
1
Fath Singh.
1
1
1 1 1 1
Rao Kalyan Singh. Earn Singh. Akbay Singh. Ranchor Das.
1
I
1 1 . 1 1 1
Agar Singh. Amar Singh Syam Singh Isri Singh Jodh Singh
1 (founded the Khara family). of Para. of Palwa. of Pai.

Hathi Singh. 1
1 i 1
Nathu Singh Madho Singh
(ancestor of the Thakurs of Para). of Thana.
Mukund Singh. 1
1 Bridh Singh.
Tej Singh. 1
1 Dhir Singh.

1 1
1 1 !
Zorawar Singh. Zalim Singh Salah Singh. Bakhtawar Singh
I (ancestor of Bijnor family). (adopted by Maharao Raja
1 Pratap Singh),
1
Muhabbat Singh. i 1
1 Hanwant Singh Nand Singh Bane Singh
Rao Pratap Singh of Thana. of Srichandpura. (adopted to Maharao Raja
(1st Chief of Alwar). Bakhtawar Singh).
1
1 Harden Singh
Maharao Raja Bakhtawar of Thana.
Singh 1
(2nd Chief, adopted from Tbaiyi). 1
1 f
1 1 1
Maharao Raja Bane Singh Sultan Singh Mangal Singh
(3rd Chief, adopted of Thana. (adopted to Maharao Raja
from Thana). Sheoaan Singh).

Maharao Raja Sheodaa

Singh
(4th Chief).
I
Maharaja Mangal Singh
(5th Chief, adopted
from Thana).
I
Maharaja Jay Singh
(present Chief).

The leading men of A!war are the hereditary nobles, hereditary office-bearers, and non-
Leading men. hereditary officials.
Of the hereditary nobles twelve belong to the so-called Bara Kotris (vide page 7 i) and taJre
their seat in Darbar on the right of the Chief, while the representatives of other Rajput houses
sit with the officials on the left. TheBara Kotris are the families sprung from one or other of the
five sons of Rao Kalyan Singh whose descendants are known as the panch tlkanas (five families)
These tikanas, Macheri, Khora, Para and Khora, Palwa and Pai, with their several offshoots*
constitute the twelve kotris. In all twenty-five jagir families belong to this class. In addition to
these, four families of Dasawat Narukas, six of Lalawat Narukas, five of Chatarka Narukas, ajid
nineteen of Deska Narukas belong to the Chief's clan. The last-mentioned are so called, because
82 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

at the invitation of various Chiefs they have come from the old home (des) of the Narukas
in Jaipur and settled in Alwar. The others are descended from Lala, Dasa, or Chatar,
sons of Nara, the founder of the house.

Outside the Chief’s clan there are seventy-four families which are considered noble, but
belong to other than the ruling clan : Chauhans, Gaurs, Rahtors and Jadons (Bhatis) being
the most numerous. Of the nobles twenty-six have the honour of the tazim, that is, they are
received by the Chief in Darbar standing. The remainder are not thus honoured.

The principal notles of the State are—

1. The Raja of Nimrana Chauhan.
2. The Thakur of Thana* Naruka.
3. Ditto Garhif Do.
4. Ditto Bijwar* Do.
5. Ditto Khora* . . Do.
6. Ditto Pai* Do.
7. Ditto Para* Do.
8. Ditto Palwa* Do.
9. Ditto Jaolif Do.
10. Ditto Khera* Do.
11. Ditto Srichandpura* . Do.
12. Ditto Salpur Eahtor.
13. Ditto Tatarpur . Chauhan.
14. Ditto Chamraoli . Gaur.
15. Ditto Bijwar Chauhan.
16. Ditto Sukhmeri . Rahtor.

The most important estates are those of Nimrana, Garhi, and Khora.

Among the families of the twelve Kotris succession is by primogeniture, suitable pro¬
vision being tnade for younger sons out of the income of the estates. Among the families
belonging to other classes the estate is generally divided in equal or unequal portions among
the sons, but the eldest succeeds to the rank and dignity. The Jagirctars are required to keep
at their own expense a certain number of horsemen who serve the State for six months in each
year, but some are exempted from this liability except on emergencies. The Raja of Nimrana
pays a tribute in cash.
There are no hereditary office-bearers of note, but important posts have been held
at different times by able Jagirdars. Thakurs
Hereditary office-bearers.
Hanwant Singh and Hardeo Singh of Thana,
Thakurs Nand Singh and Baldeo Singh of Srichandpura, and Thakur Lakdir Singh of Bijwar
were members of the Council. Thakur Surtan Singh of Thana is at present Bakhshi Fauj
(Commander of the Forces). Thakur Madho Singh of Bijwar is a member of the Alwar Branch
of the WaJterkrit Rajputra Hitkarini Sabha. Thakur Durjan Singh of Jadli is an honorary
Captain in the Alwar Imperial Service Force. Rai Bahadur Thakur Mangal Singh of Garhi
and Rao Gopal Singh of Nizamnagar are members of the State Council.

(1) Raja Janak Singh of Nimrana, Chauhan Rajput of the Sankat sub-clan and
Kharak family, claims to be connected by descent
Individual persons of note.
with the celebrated Raja Prithwi Raj of^ Delhi.
Rajdeo, sixth in descent from Madan Pal, who is said to have founded Mandawar in
J170, received the title of Raja for services
Nimrana. ,
performed and settled at Nimrana. The estate
was formerly independent, but together with the Kishangarh pargana was given in 1803
by the British Government to Maharao Raja Bakhtawar Singh of Alwar. In 1861 the
then Raja rebelled against Alwar, but was immediately subdued, and it was then arranged
that the Raja was to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction within his estate, but was
to pay an annual tribute of R3,000 to the Chief and a nazarana (succession fee) of R500
on a change in the Chiefship. The rules applicable to feudatories were to apply to
successions to Nimrana, a fee on succession of R500 being paid in the case of a son,
brother, or nephew, and one of R24,000 in that of a remote connection. The estate which is

Those marked # belong to the twelve kotris. Those marked f are Dasawat Narakus.
 KACHHWAHA STATES—ALWAR. 83

situated iu tbe north-west of Alwar consists of twelve villages yielding an annual income of
about R24,000. During the minority of the present holder it is under the superintendence
of the Political Agent in Alwar. Raja Janak Singh is a sou of Daulat Singh and a cousin
to the late Raja, to whom he was adopted in 1886 by the widows of Rajas Prithwi Singh and
Isri Singh. He was born in 1877 and is being educated at the Mayo College at Ajmer. The
Raja, who is unmarried, is betrothed to a daughter of Thakur Surtan Singh, the uncle of tbe
present, and brother of the late, Chief of Alwar. He has no male relation in the family of
his adoption, his nearest relatives being of the family of Kundan Singh his uncle in his own
family.

These relationships are explained by the following table : —

RAJA CHANDRA BHAN.

Raja Prithwi Singh. Lachhman Singh.

Raja Bijay Singh. Raja Zalim Singh. Rao Rup Singh. Ajit Singh. Gokul Singh.

I f I I
Raja Tehri Singh. Raja Bhim Singh. Baldeo Singh. Tara Singh. Gobind Singh.

Raja Mukund Singh. Jagat Singh, Kundan Singh. Daulat Singh.

Raja Janak Singh.

Mukund Singh Janak Singh
(adopted by (adopted to
Raja Bhim Raja Mukund
Singh). Singh).

(2) Thakur Surtan Singh of Thana, a Naruka Kachhwaha Rajput, is by birth the elder
Thana brother of the late Chief of Alwar and is the head
of the house from which the Chiefs have, on
failure of natuial heirs, been adopted. The estate which consists of five villages is valued
at S5,000 a year and keeps up twenty-one horses for the service of the State. Thakur
Surtan Singh succeeded his father Thakur Hardeo Singh, formerly a member of the Council,
in 1872. He was educated at the Thakur School at Alwar. .He is at present Bakhshi Fauj.
He has one son, Ram Singh, aged ten years, and a cousin, Thakur Ganga Singh of Srichand-
pura.

(8) Rai Bahadur Thakur Mangal Singh of Garhi, a Dasawat Naruka Rajput of the
Garhi Kachhwaha clan, holds an estate consisting of
eight villages of the annual value of R16,000,
situated in the south-east of the State and maintaining twenty horsemen for the service of
the Darbar, This family, like that of Jadli, springs from Dasa, the second son of Ivfaru.
Abhay Ram andAnand Ram, descendants of Dasa in the sixth generation, are said to have left
Jaipur for Delhi in search of adventures. On their way they received an invitation to stay and
protect the inhabitants of Maujpur, a town nowin the Laebmangarh Tahsil, from the plunder¬
ing Meos. Accepting this proposal they built the fort of Garhi in tbe neighbouring bills
and established their family there. Rai Bahadur Thakur Mangal Singh, who is one of the
highest and most influential nobles of Alwar and a member of the Council of the State,
succeeded the late Thakur Ran jit Singh by adoption in 1863. He was by birth the son of
Thakur Sheonath Singh, a cousin of his adoptive father. Thakur Mangal Singh who is now
forty years of age received the title of Rai Bahadur at the Delhi Assemblage in 1877, He
has two sons, Karm Singh and Kesri Singh, aged eleven and nine years respectively and two
cousins, Hanwaut Singh and Hathi Singh. The family is closely connected with that of Garh
in Jaipur.

(4) Bao Gopal Singh of Pai or Nizamnagaris a Naruka Kachhwaha Rajput of the
Lalawat branch. The family of Pai which was
Nizamnagar.
originally settled in Jaipur migrated into Alwar
in 1775 after Maharao Raja Partap Singh had established his independence, and received
tbe estate of Nizamnagar which is tbe present seat of tbe house. Ihe estate consists of two
84 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN KAJPUTANA.

villages of the value of £12,000 And keeps up four horsemen for the service of the Darbar.
Kao Gopal Singh succeeded his uncle Rao Kayam Singh by adoption in 1851. He is now forty-
six years of age. He has three sons, Ram Singh, Narain Singh, and Nahar Singh, aged nine¬
teen, nine, and oue-and-a-half years, respectively.

(5) Thakur Madho Singh of Bijwar is also a member of the Lalawat family of the
Maruka sub-clan. He holds an estate in the
south of Alvvar consisting of four villages which
yield a revenue of S3,000, and keeps up ten horsemen for the service of the Darbar. Tbakur
Madho Singh is the son of Ranjit Singh of Jamalpur, a cousin of the late Thakur Lakdir
Singh of Bijwar by whom he was adopted and on whosp death in 1876 be succeeded to
the estate. He is now twenty-five years of age and his estate is well managed. He was edu¬
cated at the Mayo College, Ajmer, and is a member of the Alwar branch of the Waltprkrit
Rajputra Hitkarini Sabha. Thakur Lakdir Singh was a man of great influence in Alwar, and
was a member of the Council which governed the State from i860 to 1863 during the minority
of Maharao Raja Sbeodan Singh. After the Chief was vested with governing powers Thakur
Lakdir Singh resided at Jaipur and 4.jmer. In 1866 he invaded Alwar, but was unsuccessful
and had to retire. In 1870 a further insurrection took place, which ended in the formation
of a Council of which Thakur Lakdir Singh was a member, under the presidency of the Political
Agent. In 1876 after the death of Maharao Raja Sheodan Singh, Thakur Lakdir Singh
was an unsuccessful candidate for the gadi, and, having refused to present the customary nazar
to the newly-selected Chief, was banished to Ajmer where he died. Thakur Madho Singh’s
nearest male relatives are his cousins Gyan Singh, Raghunath Singh and Gobind Singh, the
most closely allied family being that of Jamalpur in Alwar.

(6) Thakur Daulat Singh of Khora, a Lalawat Naruka, holds an estate of six villages
in the south-east of Alwar of the annual value of
Khora.
R10,000 and keeps up twenty-seven horsemen
for the service of the Darbar. Thakur Daulat Singh who was born in 1865 succeeded to the
estate in 1876 by adoption on the death of his uncle Tiiakur Mahtab Singh. The Thakur was*
educated at the Mayo College. His estate is well managed. His nearest relations are his
cousins Devi Singh and Zorawar Singh.

N one of the nobles of Alwar hold any estates in British territory.

The only officials in the State who call for individual notice are—

Shaikh Wajid Ali, a Muhammadan of Kankori, near Lucknow. He entered the service
of the State in 1863 and for twenty-five years held various appointments. In 1888 he was
appointed to the Council of which his intelligence and experience render him a useful
member.

Munshi Balmokaud Das, an Extra Assistant Commissioner and Treasury Officer,

Ajmer, who was transferred to the Council on the 1st January 189$, on account of his mature
and varied experience of revenue, judicial and treasury work, coupled with an excellent
knowledge of English, Hindi aud Urdu. The result has thoroughly justified this selection.
 JHALA STATE—JHALAWAR. 85

CHAPTER VII.

JHALA STATE.

Jhalawar.

The territory now comprised in the Jhalawar-State was formerly a part of the dominions
of the Chief of Kotah. The ruling family belongs to the Jhala clan, of the early history of
which little is known, but which has long been settled in Kathiawar. Though, according
to Colonel Tod, neither of the Solar, Lunar, nor Agnikul race, the Jhala clan claims Solar
origin for itself and has always been recognized as one of the Rajput tribes. The follow¬
ing account of the origin of the dynasty of Jhalawar is given in Lieutenant-Colonel Abbott’s
Gazetteer of the State “ About A.D. 1709, one Bhan Singh, a second son of the head of the
clan, left his country with his son and a small company in order to try his fortune at Delhi.
At Kotah, Bhan Singh left his son Madho Singh with the Maharao Bhim Singh, who then ruled
the Kotah State, and went on himself to Delhi where all trace of him ends. His son Madho
Singh won for himself the good grace of the Kotah Chief who married his eldest son to Madho
Singh’s sister, granted him a jagir of R 12,000, and gave him the post of Faujdar, a position
which implied the control of the army, the forts, and the palaces. His connection with the
Chief gained him the familiar title of Mama which continued for some time in the family.
Madho Singh was succeeded in the office of Faujdar by his sou Madan Singh. Madan Singh
had two sons, Himmat Singh and Prithwi Singh, the former of whom is said to have been famous
for personal strength and prowess. Prithwi Singh had two sons, Sheo Singh and Zalim Singh,
the latter of whom, being adopted by his uncle Himmat Singh, and surviving his father, suc¬
ceeded to bis grandfather’s position in the Kotah State at the age of eighteen. Three years
later, Zalim Singh was the means of securing a victory for the Kotah troops against those of
the Raja of Amber (Jaipur). Zalim Singh afterwards fell into disfavour with the Maharao
owing to his rivalry in the case of a favourite woman whom the Maharao wished, to place in
his zanana.

“ Leaving Kotah, Zalim Singh did good service at Udaipur. Returning to Kotah when
Maharao Guman Singh was on his death-bed, the Chief sent for him and committed his son
Umraed Singh and the country into his charge.The extraordinary ability with which
Zalim Singh exercised his power induced Ummed Singh, after his minority ended, to leave all
authority in the Regent’s hands. Raj Rana Zalim Singh at last became, for all serious political
affairs, the acknowledged ruler of the State; and when the British Government guaranteed by
treaty with the Chief the integrity of Kotah in 1817, a supplementary article was added in 1818
which guaranteed to Zalim Singh and his heirs the authority and privileges he then possessed.
This arrangement soon produced troubles ; first upon the death of Ummed Singh, his successor
naturally desiring to recover authority, and again on the death of Zalim Singh in 1824. After
much discussion and some armed contests, the hereditary Chief of Kotah and the heir of Zalim
Singh were induced by the British Government to agree to a compromise whereby certain
districts of the Kotah State were separated off and ceded to the heirs of Zalim Singh, whereby
the new State of Jhalrapatan was constituted under the hereditary rule of that family .
. The name of Jhalawar was selected for his new State by the first Chief. The arrange-
ments were ratified by two treaties in 1838 from which year the State dates its creation
. . . By the treaties the new Chief acknowledged British supremacy, agreed to supply
troops according to his means and to pay an annual tribute of R80,000. He received the title
of Maharaj Rana, was granted a salute of fifteen guns, and placed on the same footing as other
Chiefs of Rajputana. When these affairs had been settled, Maharaj Rana Madan Singh,
grandson of the great Kotah administrator Zalim Singh, left Kotah attended by a following
of ten thousand persons, inclusive of Jagirdars and officials for the Dhanwara Chhaoni, a
permanent camp situated between the city of Jhalrapatan and the Kotah fort of Gagraon
. This Chhaoni thenceforth became the head-quarters of the State, and is still the place
of residence of the Chief.

« Madan Singh died in 1845 and was succeeded by his son Prithwi Singh at the early age
of fifteen ; a Regency Council composed of the old officials of the State being appointed to
L
86 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN EAJPUTANA.

conduct affairs. In 1857-58 this Chief rendered good service to Government by affording
protection to British officers ; in revenge the mutineers from Nimach caused the State to
suffer, which led to the Government tribute for that year being remitted

“Maharaj Rana Prithwi Singh was of a most good-natured and happy disposition which
made him very popular with his subjects; but his good nature and easy-going disposition
were taken advantage of by the several Kamdars (Minister) who, in turn, had the control of
the State purse; the result was that the State became heavily involved, ....

“In 1873 Maharaj Rana Prithwi Singh adopted a nice boy, by name Bakht Singh, from
a Jhala family, resident in Wad wan of Kathiawar, related to him in the ninth degree
In August 1875, Maharaj Rana Prithwi Singh died after a painful illness, much regretted by
all. On the 1st June 1876 Kunwar Bakht Singh was acknowledged as the successor to the
late Maharaj Rana. On the 24th June the youthful Bakht Singh, who was in his eleventh
year, was formally installed, on which he took the name of Zalim Singh, in accordance with
family custom, which enjoins that only the four names of Zalim Singh, Madho Singh, Madan
Singh, and Prithwi Singh are to be assumed by the rulers of this house.”

His Highness Maharaj Rana Zalim Singh Bahadur was born in 1864 at Wadwan in
Kathiawar. The father of the Chief whose original
O
The Chief.
name, as noticed above, was Bakht Singh, was
Thakur Kesri Singh, the second son of Thakur Rai Singh, the Chief of Wadwan in Kathia¬
war. His Highness was educated in Ajmer at the Mayo College, and in February 1884
was invested with ruling powers over his State. The Chief having failed to administer his
government in accordance with the principles laid down for his guidance, these powers were
withdrawn in September 1887, since which time the administration has again been vested,
as during the minority, in a British officer, who bears the style of Superintendent. Recently
the Chief has been again entrusted with some departments of the administration. Maharaj
Rana Zalim Singh has been twice married—(1) in 1886 to a sister of His Highness Maha¬
raja Sir Sardul Singh, G.C.I.E., of Kishangarh, and (2) a few months later to a daughter
of the Thakur of Limri of the Gohel family iu Kathiawar. His Highness has no children
and his nearest relatives in his adopted family are very distant cousins, Thakurs Arjun Singh
and Chatar Sal. In his natural family, the Chief has two cousins in Wadwan, the present
Chief of Wadwan and Ganga Singh, the son of Bechar Singh, the younger brother of His
Highness’s father. The following marriages have been contracted by the successive Chiefs of
the house : Maharaj Rana Madau Singh married daughters of the Chandrawat Sesodia family
of Rampura in Holkar’s territory, of the Bhati family of Jaisalmer, of the Bhati family of
Goraich in Mewar, and of the Rahtor family of Bednor in Mewar. Of these ladies, Maji
Jaisalmeriji is still alive. Maharaj Rana Prithwi Singh married daughters of the Kachhwaha
Thakur of Chomu in Jaipur, of the Bhati Thakur of Goraich in Mewar, and of the Solankhya
Thakur of Lunarwara in Gujarat.

The present Chief’s real mother belongs to the Jarecha family of Morvi in Kathiawar.

The leading men of Jhalawar fall into four classes: (1) and (2) nobles and officials
whose ancestors came from Kotah with Maha¬
Leading men,
raj Rana Madan Singh or who held their
estates previously to. 1838, and (3) and (4) nobles and officials whose connection with
Jhalawar is of later date than the founding of the State. There is also one Charan,
who holds the rank of a Tazimi Sardar, and who does not fall within any of these classes.
Of the nobles whose ancestors accompanied Maharaj Rana Madan Singh, the three who belong
to the Chiefs clan, the Rao of Kundla and the Thakurs of Kolah and Fathpur, hold the princi¬
pal places. The first-named is distantly, and the two latter are more closely, related to the
Chief. The other nobles entitled to a place in this class are the Thakur of Sarthal, a Rahtor
Maharaja Indar Sal of Kotra, and Maharaja Balhhadra Singh, of Pipakheri, Haras,
and the Thakurs of Dhanoda and Bamori, Rajawat Kachhwahas. The nobles who fall
within the third class are the Thakurs of Mangal, Gajwara, and Amritkhera. All these
are Tazimi Sardars, but, with the exception of the Rao of Kundla and the.Tbakur of Sarthal
none of them hold large estates. Among the nobles succession is by primogeniture, suitable
provision being made for the younger sons. All the nobles pay a money tribute in alternate
 JHALA STATE—JHALAWAR. 87

years lo the Darbar except the Rao of Kundla and the Thakur of Dhanoda. The Thakurs
of Sarthal and Dhanoda, Apji Nripat Singh of Lawasil, Maharajas Indar Sal of Kotra and
Thakur Man Singh of Bamori also supply horsemen or footmen or both for the service of the
State. The hereditary and some of the non-heredRary officials hold jagirs. None of the
Jhalawar nobles have estates in British territory.
Among the leading persons of the State the following call for special notice : —
(1) Rao Sawai Singh, of Kundla, a Jhala Rajput of the Halwad family in Kathiawar,
holds the only jagir older than the founding of
Kundla.
the State. The grant was made by the Emperor
Jahangir to Har Das, an ancestor of the present holder. Har Das was at that time settled
in Mewar whither his ancestors had come from Kathiawar and in return for services rendered
in rescuing from the Bhils a zanana favourite of the Emperor, he received the title of Rao
and a grant of the four parganas known as the Chaumahla. These parganas were subse¬
quently wrested from Har Das’s descendants by the Puars (Pramars) of Dhar, who left with
the owners only the ten villages held by the present Rao. The remainder of the Chau¬
mahla was afterwards ceded to Kotah by Holkar at the instance of the British Government and
thus eventually became a portion of the Jhalawar State. The present value of the Kundla
estate, which is held free of revenue, is estimated at R 10,000. The estate is well managed and
unencumbered. Rao Sawai Singh who succeeded his father in 1873 devotes himself to
looking after his property and is not employed in any public capacity. He has one son,
Kunwar Partap Singh, aged fourteen years, who is now being educated at the Mayo College,
and one brother, Thakur Sardul Singh, who is about thirty-six years of age,
(it) T'hakur Arjun Singh of Kolah, a Jhala Rajput, is descended in the sixth generation
from Madho Singh, an ancestor of the ruling Chief.
Eolah.
His great-grandfather, Govind Singh, accom¬
panied Maharaj Kana Madan Singh to Jhalawar, and received a jagir of one village of the
annual value of HI,501. One hundred and forty-four rupees are paid every other year as
revenue to the Darbar. Thakur Arjun Singh succeeded his father in 1891.
(3) Thakur Chatar Sal of Fathpur is also a Jhala Rajput and is closely related to the
Thakur of Kolah. His grandfather, Thakur Binai
Fathpur.
Singh, came to Jhalawar with Mahara j Rana Madan
Singh and received a jagir of two villages of the annual value of HI,325, paying Rt40
every other year as revenue to the Darbar. By birth the Thakur belongs to the Sadri family
of Mewar, his father Thakur Himmat Singh having been adopted by Thakur Binai Singh.
Thakur Chatar Sal, who succeeded his father in 1868, is now of middle age. He’takes no
part in the administration of the State. His only son, Kunwar Bhawani Singh, who is
eighteen years of age, was educated at the Mayo College and is now employed in the State
Police.
(4) Thakur Sheodan Singh of Sarthal, a Rahtor Rajput of the Champawat sub-elan,
holds the largest estate in Jhalawar. His great¬
Sarthal.
grandfather, Anar Singh, owing to a disagree¬
ment with Maharaja Man Singh of Jodhpur, left Marwar for Kotah about 1806, and through
the influence of Raj Rana, Zalim Singh received the jagir of Harigarh. Owing to this con¬
nection with Zalim Singh’s family, Anar Singh’s son Prem Singh followed Maharaj Rana
Madan Singh to Jhalawar where he received the jagir of Sarthal, the previous owner of which,
a Hara Rajput, Nripat Singh, was granted a jagir in Kotah. On the death of Thakur Prem
Singh, his widow adopted Bijay Singh from Ahor in Marwar, on whose death in 1888 his
sou, the present Thakur, succeeded to the estate. The Thakur, who is now fourteen years of
age, is being educated at the Mayo College. He has two brothers, Thakurs Bhawani Singh
and Bakht Singh, of whom the elder was adopted during his father’s lifetime into the Ahor
family. The jagir, which was formerly worth about R40,000, is now valued at R25,000 a year
and is under the management of the Darbar, by which efforts are being made to pay off the
debt with which it is encumbered. The revenue payable biennially to the State is HI,105
and forty sawars and ten footmen are supplied for the Raj service. The late Thakur Bijay
Singh was at one time a member of the Jhalawar Council, but was removed from his pos'
owing to the pernicious influence exercised by him on the young Chief,
L 2
 88 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN EAJPUTANA.

(5) Maharaja Indar Sal of Kotra is a Hara Rajput of the Khatoli family of Kotah, in
Kotra which State he still holds a jagir. The estate
in Jhalawar, which consists of four villages of
the annual value of R2,536 paying a tribute of R239 iu alternate years and furnishing five
sawars to the Darbar, was conferred on the present holder's father’who came to Jhalawar with
Maharaj Rana Madan Singh. The Maharaja is a man of middle age whose generous disposi-*
tion has involved the estate in considerable debt. He succeeded his father in 1871 and has
two sons, Knnwar Chatar Sal, aged thirty-one years, and Kunwar Durjan Sal, aged eighteen
years. The latter, a youth of good promise, received his education at the Mayo College
Ajmer.
(6) Maharaja Balbhadar Singh of Pipakheri, a descendant of the Buudi family of Kar-
war, is a Hara Rajput. The estate which is well
Pipakheri.
managed and consists of one village of the value
of R2,222 paying a tribute every other year of R222 to the Darbar, was conferred on the
Maharaja’s grandfather Chatar Singh who accompanied Maharaj Rana Madan Singh to
Jhalawar. Maharaj Chatar Singh had rendered service to the Maharaj Rana before this
time by bringing about a marriage between him and the lady of the Chandrawat house of
Rampura in Holkar’s territory who afterwards became the mother of Maharaj Rana Prithwi
Singh. Maharaja Balbhadar Singh, who is now twenty-eight years of age, succeeded his father
in 1870. When the Maharaj Rana was given charge of his State, Maharaja Balbhadar Singh
was nominated a member of the Council, and the Chief, on being deprived of his powers, re¬
quested that he might be appointed as the intermediary between himself and the Political Super¬
intendent. He held these posts up till recently and in the performance of the duties
thus devolving on him displayed unvarying good temper and tact and established his re¬
putation as an affable, courteous Rajput noble. He made himself well acquainted with the
administration of the State, and his efficiency as a member of the State Council increased year
by year. He now holds the appointment of Attache to the Agent to the Governor-General in
Rajputana. The nearest relatives of the Maharaja, who has no son, are his uncle Maharaj
Baldeo Singh, a Jagirdar of Kotah, and his cousins Maharaj Nathu Singh and Maharaj
Nirbhir Singh, Jagirdars of Bundi.
(7) Thakur Takht Singh of Dhanoda is a Kachbwaha Rajput of the Rajawat clan,
belonging to the family of Barwara in Jaipur.
Dhanoda.
Thakur Ranjit Singh, the great-grandfather of the
present Thakur, migrated to Kotah, where he received a jagir, his ancestor Rao Ratn Singh
Bahadur Sf Barwara having married an aunt of Raj Rana Zalim Singh. On the foundation of
the Jhalawar State, he accompanied Maharaj Rana Madan Singh and received a jagir of five
villages of the annual value of R4,26l. The estate, which is still held by the family, fur¬
nishes eight sawars and five footmen for the service of the Darbar. Thakur Takht Singh
who was educated at the Mayo College succeeded his father in 1888, and is now twenty-two
years of age.

(8) Thakur Man Singh of Bamori is also a Kachhwaha Rajput of the Rajawat clan
Bamori belonging to the Jhalai family of Jaipur. His
grandfather, Thakur Gopal Singh, received a
jagir in Kotah and subsequently accompanied Maharaj Rana Madan Singh to Jhalawar,
where he was granted his present estate consisting of one village of the annual value of R4,413,
which pays a biennial tribute of R326 and furnishes eight sawars and sixteen footmen to the
Darbar. The estate is encumbered with debt. A sister of the late Thakur Guman Singh was
married to Maharaj Rana Madan Singh. The present Thakur, who is about thirty-five years of
age, succeeded his father Thakur Guman Singh in 1886. Before that time he was employed for
a time in the State Police. He has three sous, the two elder of whom, Chain Singh and Ganga
Singh, aged thirteen and eleven years, respectively, are being educated at the Mayo College.
(9) Thakur Anar Singh of Gajwara is a Bhati Rajput of the ruling family of Jaisal-
. mer. His cousin was married to Maharaj Rana
Gajwara. . J
Madan Singh, and he himself oncoming to Jhala¬
war in the time of Maharaj Rana Prithwi Singh received a jagir of one village. The
estate, which, is well managed, is valued at R948 and pays R68-11-0 biennially as tribute-
 JHALA STATE—JHALAWAR. 89

Thakur Anar Singh, a middle-aged man of retiring disposition, has two sons, Kunwars
Sheodan Singh and Thakur Arjtin Singh. The former, who was at one time a member of the
State Council of Jkalawar, holds a jagir of the value of R1,000 in Jaisalmer and is in receipt
of an allowance from that State. Thakur Arjun Singh has succeeded by adoption to the
Nimodha estate in Jaipur. (See also page 68.)
(10) Thakur Zalim Singh of Amritkheri is a Bhati Rajput who holds also the jagir of
Goraieh in Mewar. Thakur Sultan Singh, the
Amritkheri.
grandfather of the present Thakur, came to
Jhalawar in 1841 and received a jagir. Maharaj Ranas Madan Singh and Prithwi Singh, both
married ladies from this family, the wife of the former being a sister of Thakur Sultan
Singh. The estate in Jhalawar consists of one village of the annual value of R877, and pays
a biennial tribute of R47 to the* Darbar. It is well managed and free from debt. Thakur
Zalim Singh, who resides principally in Mewar, is about twenty-eight years of age, and bears
a good reputation. He succeeded his father in 1890. He has no male issue.
(11) Thakur Abhay Singh ofMangalis a Kachhwaha Rajput of the Rajawat sub-clan,
and belongs to the Muhabbatpura family in Jaipur.
His grandfather Thakur Karn Singh who came
to Jhalawar in the time of the late Chief drew a small allowance from the State, and
subsequently received the honour of the tazim and a jagir of one village of the value of R 1,198.
Rupees 104 are paid biennially as tribute to the Darbar. Thakur Abhay Singh, who is twenty.
ODe years of age, succeeded his father in 1892. He was educated at the Mayo College and his
brother Phul Singh, aged ten years, is now a pupil there.
Of the officials the following deserve to be
Officials.
noticed :—

(1) Munshi Kali Charan, a Kayastha, whose father came to Jhalawar in 1838, holds an
estate of two villages of the annual value of R’2,141. In the time of Maharaj Rana Prithwi
Singh, Munshi Kali Charan was Persian Mir Munshi to the State. For sixteen years, he
served as a Judge of the Appellate Court, and since his retirement from the judicial service in
1893 has been in charge of the State Munthikhana. He is a member of the Walterkrit
Rajputra Hitkarini Sabha and is an honest, straightforward official of considerable experience.
Of his two sons, the elder, Salig Ram, is Naib Hakim of the Civil Court.
(2) Seth Narsingh Das, a Mahajan by caste, is hea'd of the Military Department
(Bakhshi Fauj). His grandfather Seth Kanhaya Bam came from Kotah end received a jagir
of R5,000, which on his death was reduced to R2,000. Seth Narsingh Das, who is about
thirty-five years of age, is a man of good repute and quiet manner who has a fairly good hold
over the troops. He has no family,
(3) Purohit Chatur Bhuj is a Gujarati Brahman whose grandfather Jiwan.Rao accom¬
panied Maharaj Rana Madan Singh from Kotah as family priest and received a jagir of the value
of R7,000. The estate, which is in debt, is managed by the Darbar during the minority of
the present holder.

(4) Hakim Saadat Ahmad, K1 an Bahadur, is one of the oldest and most respected of
the officials of the State. He has held many important posts, was one of the Judges of the
Appellate Court during the minority and for some time afterwards, but subsequently felt
himself obliged to resign his appointment. Since 1887, when the Maharaj Rana was deprived of
his authority, he has been a member of the Council, and his useful work in that capacity was
rewarded last year by the bestowal on him of the title of Khan Bahadur. Hakim Saadat Ahmad
is now advanced in years, but has lost none of his energy and capacity for work. He has no

family.
(5) Phabai Har Lai, a Gujar, and a distant foster-connection of the ruling family, was
assistant guardian to the present Chief when at the Mayo College, and in that capacity did
wood service. He was appointed a Judge of the Appellate Court in 1881, but resigned at the
same time as Hakim Saadat Ahmad, like whom also he was made a member of the Council
in 1887. Though illiterate, Dhabai Har Lai is a man of capacity, whose acquaintance with
the administration and knowledge of Rajput customs makes him a useful member of the
Council. He is now forty-one years of age. The jagir in the possession of the family was
confiscated on the death of Dhabai Har Lai’s adoptive father, but was recently restored to Har
90 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPTJTANA.

Lai on the adoption being proved. It consists of one village of the value of R 1,231. Dhabai
Har Lai has one son, aged eleven years.

(6) Pandit Ram Charan, a Brahman by caste, has held the appointment of head of the
Revenue Department since he first entered the service of the State during the minority of the
present Chief. His father Pandit Rup Narayan was formerly a member of the State Council
in Alwar.

(7) Raja Sanwant Singh of the Gangwana family in the Ajmer district (noticed on
page 113) succeeded Munshi Kali Charan as Appellate Judge in 1893. He was previously
a Member of the Court, but on its reorganisation in 1892 his services were dispensed with,
and he remained out of employment until the recent vacancy caused by Munshi Kali Charau’s
retirement.

The only other person of note in the Jhalawar State is Rao Raja Partap Sahai Of
Harnaoda. The Rao Raja is by birth a Rao or bard whose ancestors formerly lived in Karauli.
One of them, Chatur Bhuj, came to Gugair, nowinTonk, and received the village of Harnaoda
in jagir from the then Khichi prince. His grandson Partap Singh was invited to Bundi
by Rao Bhan Singh, and received Harnaoda and three other villages in jagir. He also received
three villages and the title of Rao Raja from Kotah. The Kotah villages being within
the gaarganas ceded to Maharaj Rana Zalim Singh, the family adhered to the new State. The
jagir is valued at R10,000 a year. Rao Raja Partap Sahai, who is eighteen years of age,
succeeded his father in 1891, and is the great-grandson of the first Jagirclar. He is a tazimi
Sardar and ranks in some respects with the Rao of Kundla.
 JAT STATES. 9]

CHAPTER VIII.

JAT STATES.

[ B hart pur—Bholpur. ]

As mentioned in the introductory chapter, Bhartpur is governed by'the descendant of the

landholders, who raised themselves to the rank and power of territorial Chiefs during the
confusion of the eighteenth century ; while Dholpur is the territory remaining with a family
that had gained distinction earlier, though it first acquired political independence in the same
century and under similar circumstances.

The founder of the present ruling house of Bhartpur was a Jat landholder by name
Churaman who built two petty forts in the
Bliftrtpur* L J
villages of Thun and Sinsiniwar, a little south of
Pig, from which he organized marauding expeditions and even ventured to harasst he rear of
the Imperial army on the occasion of Aurangzeb’s expedition into the Dakhan. Churaman
was overcome by the Chief of Amber, Jay Singh, expelled from his territories, and suc¬
ceeded by his younger brother Thakur Badan Singh, whose eldest son subsequently assumed
the title of Raja, and established himself at Bhartpur where he built a large fort. Suraj
Mai, who took a large part in the numerous struggles of the first half of the seventeenth
century between the Mugbals, the Mahrattas, the Rohillas, and Duranis, was killed in 1763
by the Mugbals, while attempting to enforce a claim which he had put forward to the faajdari
(military governorship) of Farukhnagar. His successor Jawahir Singh was defeated in a
quarrel with the Raja of Jaipur, and was murdered! at Agra in 1765. On his death. Iris next
brother Ratn Singh occupied the gadi, but was also murdered after a very short reign. During
the next two reigns, those of Nawal Singh and Ranjit Singh, the third and fourth sons of Suraj
Mai, Najaf Khan stripped the Jats of all their possessions, except the fort of Bhartpur and
territory yielding an annual income of nine lakhs of rupees which at the intercession of Suraj
Mai’s widow he allowed Ranjit Singh to keep. On the death of Najaf Khan in 1782 Sindia
seized all Ranjit Singh’s territories including Bhartpur, but again the widow interceded in her
son’s behalf, and Sindia restored eleven districts yielding ten lakhs of rupees to which three
more, yielding four lakhs, were subsequently added for services rendered to General Perron.
These fourteen parganas now constitute the State of Bhartpur. Subsequently Ranjit
Singh entered into an alliance with Sindia against Jaipur, and thereby obtained the cession
of Dig, which had been held by the Emperor since its capture by Najaf Khan, and eleven
parganas yielding a revenue of ten lakhs of rupees.

On the termination of the Mahratta war in 1803 the British Government concluded a
treaty with Ranjit Singh, who with 5,000 horse had joined General Lake at Agra and thereby
contributed to Sindia’s defeat. In return for this service he received a grant of the districts of
Kishangarh, Katawa, Riwari, Gokal/and Sahar. Immediately afterwards, however, while in
alliance by treaty with the English Government, he entered into secret correspondence with
Jaswant Rao Holkar who was then at war with the English Government, and offered him every
kind of encouragement and support. At the battle of Dig in November 1804 the Bhartpur
troops, which the Raja declared to have been assembled for co-operation with the British, were
actually engaged against them and the Fort opened a damaging fire upon the British army.
After the battle Holkar took refuge in this stronghold, and all the resources of the State were
openly employed on his side. A^iege thereupon took place. Ranjit Singh after a memorable
defence, in the course of which he repelled four assaults with a loss to the besiegers of 3,000
men, finally made overtures for peace. These were accepted on the 4th May 1805 and a new
treaty was concluded, by which he agreed to pay an indemnity of twenty lakhs of rupees, seven of
which were subsequently remitted, and was guaranteed in possession the territories which he had
held previously to the accession of the British Government. The parganas granted to him . in
1803 were resumed. Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in 1805 leaving four sons Randhir, Baldeo>
 92 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

Hardeo, and Lachhman. The eldest, Randhir, who succeeded him, died in 1823 and was followed
by his brother Baldeo, who died after a reign of about eighteen months. His son Balwant,
then six years of age, was recognized by the Government, but was opposed and imprisoned by
his cousin Durjan Sal. A force which started from Delhi in support of the rightful heir was
recalled by order of the Government who did not consider that its recognition of him involved
any obligation to support him by arms. Eventually, however, when the disputed succession
threatened a protracted war, it was determined to depose the usurper and reinstate Balwant Singh.
After a siege that extended over nearly six weeks, Bhartpur was stormed by Lord Combermere
on the ISth January 1826 and was dismantled. Durjan Sal was imprisoned at Allahabad and
Balwant Singh was restored to the gadi under the regency of his mother and the superintenr
dence of a Political Agent. The Rani was removed in 1826 and the ministers were formed into
a Council of Regency. In 1835 Balwant Singh was’put in charge of the administration and
ruled till his death in 1853, when he was succeeded by his infant son, Maharaja Jaswant Singh,
the late Chief.
The family of the ruling Chief of Dholpur belongs to the Deswali tribe of Jats and traces
its pedigree to Jet Singh, who is said to have
Dholpur.
acquired lands to the south of Alwar in the
eleventh century. From Bamroli, the adopted home of one of his descendants, the family tabes
thenameof Bamraulia. Driven from Bamroli about the year 1367 by. the Subahdar of Agra
the head of the house next migrated to Gwalior, where he took the part of the Rajputs in their
struggles against the Emperor’s officers. Eventually the Bamraulia Jats settled near Gohad, and
in 1505 Surjan Deo received from Raja Man Singh Tunwar of Gwalior, a grant of the territory
of Gohad, and assumed the title of Rana. After the overthrow of the Mahrattas at Panipat,
Rana Bhirn Singh in 1761 possessed himself of the fortress of Gwalior, but lost it six
years later. In order to bar the encroachments of the Mahrattas, a treaty was made with
the Rana in 1779 by the British Government under Warren Hastings, and the joint forces of
the contracting parties re-took Gwalior. In the treaty of the 13th October 1781 between the
British Government and Sindia, it was stipulated that so long as the Maharaj Rana should
observe his treaty with the English, Sindia should not interfere with his territories. In conse¬
quence, however, of the treachery of the Maharaj Rana this stipulation was withdrawn, and
Sindia re-took Gohad and Gwalior. In 1803 Ambaji Inglia, Governor of Gohad, seeing the
rapid success of the British arms threw off his allegiance to Sindia, joined the forces of the
British Government, and agreed to surrender the fort of Gwalior and certain districts, which
the Government intended to confer on the Rana of Gohad. The districts ceded by Ambaji
Inglia, with the exception of the fort and city of Gwalior, were made over to Rana Kirat Singh
who had succeeded to the gadi of Gohad in 1804. The possession of Gohad led to disputes
between the British and Sindia, and in 1805 the Governor-General transferred Gwalior and
Gohad to Sindia, and conferred Sindia’s parganas of Dholpur, Bari, and Rajkbera cn Maharaj
RanaKirafSingb. These parganas now form the Dholpur State. They had undergone constant
changes of masters, had been seized by Raja Suraj Mai of Bhartpur after the battle of Panipat,
wrested from him by Najaf Khan in 1775, taken by Sindia in 1782, occupied by the British in
1803, and made over again to Sindia in the same year.
Maharaj Rana Kirat Singh died in 1836 and was followed by his son Maharaj Rana
Balwant Singh, on whose death in 1870 his grandson, the present Chief, Maharaj Rana Nihal
Singh, succeeded to the gadi.

BHARTPUR.

His Highness Sri Brijindar Sawai Ram Singh Bahadur, Bahadur Jang,
The chief Maharaja of Bhartpur, was born on the 9th Sep¬
tember 1872, and succeeded to the Chiefship on
the 25th December 1893 on the death of his father Maharaja Jaswant Singh, who died on
the 12th of the same month. During the minority of the late Maharaja the State was
managed by the Political Agent and a Council of Regency. The Chief is a Hindu Jat of the
Siusiniwar family, the origin of which has been noticed above. The Maharaja has been
married twice, the first marriage being with a daughter of a zamitidar of , Tepera in the
Aligarh District, and the second with the daughter of a zamindar of Deoli in Bhartpur,
His Highness has one younger brother, Raghunath Singh, aged seven years, and two sisters*
 JAT STATES—DHOLPUR. 93

The next nearest relative of the Chief is his cousin, Rao Ajit Singh, who holds no jagir
but lives on an allowance at Muttra, His Highness’s other relatives are the Thakurs of the so-
called Solah Kotris—Partap Singh, Ram Phal, Akhay Singh, Man Singh, Sita Ram, Sultan
Singh, Jodh Singh, Devi Singh, Mukund Singh, Bhawani Singh, Dalel Singh, Ramkishor,
Khushhal Singh, Lai Singh, Balram, and Bir Narain. In case of failure of direct heirs, the
Maharaja would have to adopt from among these Thakurs, a fact which constitutes their only
title to distinction. Some of them are sipahis and sawars in the State regiments. The
Maharaja is related by kinship to the Chiefs of Nabhaand Jhind and other Jat families and is
connected with the Maharaja of Patiala, whose aunt the late Maharaja married. This lady’s
sister was the mother of the Maharaj Rana of Dholpur.
In Bhartpur where no approach to feudal institutions exists no distinction can be made
between the officials and the aristocracy. With
Leading men.
one exception, the jagirs are very small. The
Jagirdars exercise no jurisdiction in their estates and pay neither revenue nor tribute to the
Darbar. The officials have neither jagirs nor hereditary right to employment, and the son
succeeds to his father’s post only by special favour of the Chief. Even the Maharaja’s relatives
are, as already noticed, treated with no special consideration. They are styled Thakurs and
hold some twenty-seven villages with an aggregate income of about R40,000, The only
individual in the State calling for notice is Faujdar Devi Singh, Jagirdar of Ballabhgarh.
This noble is the premier Sardar of Bhartpur and represents one of its oldest families, Ballabh-
garh having been bestowed on the ancestor of the present holder by the Chief of Jaipur before
Bhartpur came into existence as a State. The jagir contains fourteen villages near the
Jaipur frontier. Ballabhgarh is a thriving town. Faujdar Devi Singh is the second son of
Faujdar Gordhan Singh and succeeded to the estate on the death of his brother, the late holder,
Faujdar Daulat Singh.
DHOLPUR.

His Highness Raisu-d-daula, Sipahdaru-l-Mulk, Major,* Maharaj Adhiraj Sri Sawai

Maharaj Rana Nihal Singh Lokindar Baha¬
The Chief.
dur, Diler Jang, Jay Deo, is a Hindu Vaishhnav
Ramandi Jatof the Bam raulia family (see above). His Highness, who is the son of Maharaj Rana
Kulendra Singh, was born on the 4thJMay 1863 and succeeded his grandfather Maharaj Rana
Bhagwant Singh, on the 9th February 1873. His Highness married on the 30th April 1879 the
second daughter of Shah Deo Singh of the family of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Panjab, by
whom he has two surviving sons, one named Ram Singh, aged nine years, and the other aged one
year. The relatives of the Maharaj Rana belong to a group of families which, though now only
seven survive, were originally eight and consequently are known as the Athghar. These families
are descended from one or other of the four sons of Maharaj Rana Bhag Raj, the ancestor in the
eighth generation of the present Chief, who was at that time the only representative of the
Bamraulia house who had issue. Of the principal family or Gadi-ka-ghar, the Maharaj Rana
and his son are the only representatives. The nearest family to the Chief’s is the Pachgaon
ghar represented by Kunwar Rup Singh. The representatives of the Athghar take rank in
the State only as connections of the Chief. Very few adoptions have taken place into the Gadi-
ka-ghar and all of them have been from the Pachgaon family. By clan and family the
Maharaj Rana is connected with the Jat races of Patiala, Jhind, Nabha, and Bhartpur. His
mother was the daughter of Maharaja Narendra Singh of Patiala.
The leading men of Dholpur are—(1) the Rao of Sir Muttra and the Rao of Rajauni—
members of the Jadon Bhati family of Karauli; (3)
Leading men.
Jats of the Bidkheria family now represented by
Faujdar Jaswant Singh and of the Bamraulia, Rajaunia, Dandak, Sandel, Bijolia, Hanselia, and
Donderia families and of the Jadon Rajputs of Atar in Gwalior who also hold lands in Sindia’s
territory; (3) hereditary office-bearers, and (4) new officials.

Individuals Of note. 0f the above the following individuals may be

noticed:—
(1) Rao Ranjit Singh of Sir Muttra who holds the first place in the State is a Jadon
Bhati, descended from Mukat Rao, second son
Sir Muttra.
of Raja Gopal Das of Karauli who settled at

# This Chief is an Honorary Major in the British Army.

M
94 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

Sir Muttra in 1570. The present Rao, who is the son of Rao Madan Singh, is twenty-five years
of age and was educated at the Mayo College, Ajmer. He has no son. Sir Muttra, which is
situated in the extreme south-west of Dholpur, comprises thirty-three villages with an area of
175 square miles, of which, however, only one-fifth is culturable. The revenue of the estate is
about R70,000, but the property is “heavily encumbered and is under the management of the
Darbar. The Rao pays an annual quit-rent to the Darbar of R20,000, and one lakh of rupees
as fine on investiture.

(2) Rao Ehup Singh of Rajannia is also a scion of the Karauli family. He succeeded
his father in 1882 and is now thirty-three years
of age. The Rao was educated at the Mayo
College. He has one son, aged ten years, and a brother, both named Bhamorji. The estate,
which pays a quit-rent of SI,660 to the Darbar, consists of five villages and yields a revenue
of R5,000. It is in debt.

(3) Munshi Sundar Lai, a Dhusar, served for some years as a- Member of the State
Council. His family, which came originally from
Hereditary officials. . , , c , . .
Agra, has been tor seventy years in charge of the
MunshiJchana (ministerial office) of the State.

(4) and (5) Rai Bhoraprasad and Lala Brij Lai, Head Auditors of Revenue, belong to
families which entered the service of the State in 1734 and 1740 respectively.

(6) Rai Bahadur Bishan Sarup, who was appointed Diwanof Dholpur in March 1891,
after holding ministerial appointments for eighteen
New officials.
years, became Deputy Magistrate of Kekri in the
Ajmer District. He held this appointment till his transfer to Dholpur in his present

capacity.
(7) BabuUma Charan Mukharji, a Bengali Brahmau, was educated at the Agra College
and was appointed tutor to His Highness the Maharaj Rana in 1877. He was for some time
a member of the Council and is now Settlement Officer in the State.

(8) Hakim Abbas Hussain and Miyan Achhu are great-grandsons of Bakir AH, a
famous Hakim (doctor) in the service of Maharana Kirat Singh.

(9) Mir Abid Ali was formerly a member of the Council.

(10) and (11) Mir Talib Husain and Indarbir Singh, a Brahman of Garhwal, command
the Infantry and Cavalry respectively. The latter is an aide-de-camp'to the Chief.

(12) Lala Eath Singh, a relative of the Chief, is in charge of the Sir Muttra estate.
(13) Kunwar Ratn Singh, a member of the Bamraulia family, was formerly a member
of the Council.
 MUHAMMADAN STATE—TONE. 95

CHAPTER IX.

MUHAMMADAN STATE.
TONE.

The following account of the Tonk State is taken from Sir William Hunter’s Gazetteer of
India:—“The ruling family are Pathans of the Boner tribe. In the reign of the Emperor
Muhammad Shah Ghazi one Tola Khan left his home in the Boner country and took service in
Rohilkhand with Ali Muhammad Khan, a Rohilla of distinction. His son Hayat Khan
became possessed of some landed property in Muradabadj and to him in 1768 was horn Amir
Khan, the founder of Tonk. Beginning life as a petty mercenary leader, Amir Khan rose in
1798 to be the Commander of a large independent army in the service of Jaswant Rao Holkar>
and was employed in the campaigns against Sindia, the Peshwa, and the British, and in assist¬
ing to levy the contribution exacted from Rajputana and Malwa. In 1806 Holkar granted to
him the State of Tonk, and he had previously received the division of Sironj. In that year
Amir Khan transferred himself and his army to the Raja of Jaipur, then at war with the Raja
of Jodhpur; and after crushing the latter, changed sides and reduced the former. Having
indiscriminately plundered both countries, he in 1809 proceeded at the head of 40,000 horsemen
(being joined en route by 25,000 Pindaris) against the Raja of Nagpur. He was, however,
warned off by the British Government, and returning to Rajputana, bis bands plundered the
country. Eventually in 1817, the Marquess of Hastings, with the view of putting down the
Pindaiis and restoring peace to Rajputana and Central India, offered Amir Khan the sovereignty
of all the tracts bestowed on him by Holkar, on condition of his disbanding his army, which
consisted of fifty-two battalions of disciplined infantry, one hundred and fifty guns, and a numer¬
ous body of Pathan cavalry. Finding resistance would be useless, Amir Khan acquiesced. His
artillery, with the exception of forty guns, was purchased, and some of his troops enlisted in the
British service. The remainder were liberally dealt with prior to disbandment, and the Rampura
fort and the division of Aligarh Rampura were presented to the Nawab by the British Govern¬
ment as a free gift.” These arrangements were embodied in a treaty in 1817. Amir Khan died
in 1834, and was succeeded by his son Waziru-d-daula, who during the Mutiny of 1857 repulsed
with comparatively few men an attack made on the Tonk fort by the combined forces
numbering some 17,000 men, of the Nawab of Banda and Tantia Topi. In recognition of the
bravery displayed on this occasion, the Nawab’s salute was raised from fifteen to seventeen guns.
He received a satiad guaranteeing the Tonk succession, according to the Muhammadan law of
inheritance, on failure of natural heirs. On his death in 1864, his son Muhammad Ali Khan
succeeded to the maenad. He was deposed three years later as a punishment for his complicity
in the attack made on the uncles and followers of the Thakur of Lawa, one of the chief feuda¬
tories of the State. He was succeeded by his son, the present Chief, and the salute of the
ruler of the State was reduced to eleven guus ; the eavNawab being at the same time placed
under surveillance at Benares, aud an annual stipend of R60,000 assigned for his support out of
the revenues of the Tonk State. During the reign of the present Chief the salute of seventeen
guns has been restored.
His Highness Nawab Muhammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, G.C.I.E., Nawab of Tonk, is the
The Chief eldest son of Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan and was
born in 1848 (A. H. 1265). He succeeded to the
masnad in 1866 on the deposition of his father. During his minority the administration was
carried on by a Council of Regency of Jive members presided over by His Highness’s uncle,
Sahibzada Obaidulla Khan, and assisted by Captain J, Blair, an Assistant to the Governor-
General’s Agent in Rajputana. The Nawab was invested with governing.powers on the 1st
January 1870. He has five wives, of whom four belong to the Tonk family, and the fifth to
that of Nawab Kalab Ali Khan, Nawab of Rampur. Eighteen sons have been born to His
Highness, of whom eleven survive, namely_
(1) oahibzada Abdu-l-Hafiz Khan, aged seventeen years, who is now being educated at
the Mayo College at Aimer.
(2) Sahibzada Muhammad Saadat Ali Khan, aged twelve years.
(3) Sahibzada Abdu-r-Rashid Khan, aged twelve years.
M 2
96 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

(4) Sahibzada Abdulla Khan, aged twelve years.

(5) Sahibzada Abdu-l-Wahid Khan, aged eight years.
(6) Sahibzada Farukh Ali Khan, aged seven years.
(7) Sahibzada Masud Ali Khan, aged five years.
(8) Sahibzada Turab Ali Khan, aged five years.
(9) Sahibzada Iftikhar Ali Khan, aged five years.
(10) Sahibzada Zabr Ali Khan, aged four years.
(11) Sahibzada Usman Ali Khan, aged three years.

The following sons are dead :—Sahibzadas Muhammad Ismail Khan, Yusuf Ali Khan,
Yunas Ali Khan, Ghiyasu-d-din Khan, Alau-d-din Khan, Sadik Ali Khan, and Iftikhar Ali
Khan. Of the daughters, three have recently been married.

The Nawab has eight brothers of whom three are by the same mother as himself. Six
hold jagirs of values varying from 518,400 to 559,760 and two are in receipt of cash allow¬
ances. Four brothers have received titles from the State, and hold offices to which salaries of
ft 175 to 51200 are attached. The Nawab has also two uncles on the male side, Sahibzadas
Muhammad Obaidulla Khan and Abdu-r-Rahman Khan. The former is Minister and
Vice-President of the Council. He accompanied Sir Neville Chamberlain’s mission to Kabul
in 1878 and received a Companionship of the Order o£ the Star of India in recognition of his
services on that occasion. He draws a salary of ft800 a month in addition to his jagir which
is valued at 5518,353-10-9.

The families most closely related to the Nawab, after the above, are those of the descendants
of the nine sons of Nawab Amiru-d-daula. With the exception of the Nawab of Rampur, His
Highness has no relations outside his own family. Succession in the Tonk family is by primo¬
geniture, modified only by the rule of Muhammadan law which prefers a younger son to a
grandson by an elder son who has predeceased his father. The Chief of Tonk has, contrary
to the usual rule of Muhammadan law, the right of adoption on failure of issue; this privi¬
lege, as already mentioned, having been bestowed by a sanad of the Government of India.

The leading men of the Tonk State are the hereditary nobles, the office-bearers, the
officials, and others, such as Maulvis, Hakims, etc.
Leading men.
In public darbar Sahibzada Akram Khan, grand¬
uncle to the Nawab, is allotted the first seat to the right of -His Highness in consideration of
his kinship and age, and the nazar presented by him, which the Chief receives standing, is
remitted. Next on the right come the Nawab’s uncles Sahibzadas Muhammad Obaidulla
Khan, C.S.I., and Abdu-r-Rahman Khan, whose nazars are also received by the Chief standing.
After these come the Nawab’s eight brothers in order of age, and lastly his cousins and other
relatives.

The following are the principal nobles : —

(1) Iftikharu-l-Umara, Fakhru-l-Mulk, Sahibzada Muhammad Obaidulla Khan, C.S.I.,

Firoz Jang, Jagirdar of Sop.

(2) Sahibzada Muhammad Abdu-r-Rahman Khan.

(3) Sahibzada Muhammad Akram Khan.
(4) Azimu-l-Umara, Vikaru-l-Mulk, Sahibzada Muhammad Ishak Khan Satwat-i-
Jang, Jagirdar of Aududa.

(5) Afzalu-l-Umara, Mumtazu-l-Mulk, Sahibzada Hafiz Hajji, Abdu-r-Rahim Khan,

Muzaffar-i-Jang, Jagirdar of Loharwara.

(6) Mumtazu-l-Umara, Muazzamu-l-Mulk, Sahibzada Hafiz Muhammad Siddik Khan

Filer Jang, Jagirdar of Gans.

(7) Najmu-l-Umara Ihtishamu-l-Mulk, Sahibzada Hajji Abdu-l-Wabab Khan Safdar-i-

Jang, Jagirdar of Baori.
(8) Sahibzada Abdu-s-Samad Khan, Jagirdar of Dhamoda.
(9) Abdu-1 Hamid Khan, Jagirdar of Bhambor.
(10) Sahibzada Muhammad Rafik Khan.
(11) Sahibzada Shafiulla Khan.
(12) Shamsu-l-Umra, Nizamu-l-Mulk, Sahibzada Mahmud Khan Tanmar-i-Jang,
Jagirdar of Nawatila.
 MUHAMMADAN STATE—TONE. 97

(13) Abzaju-l-Umara, Mufakhkkaru-l-Mulk, Sahibzada Abroad Khan, Sbaukat-i-Jang.

(14) Sahibzada Muhammad Khan I, Jagirdar of Kharpa.
(15) Sahibzada Muhammad Khan II, Jagirdar of Jabasia.
(16) Sahibzada Ahmadulla Khan, Jagirdar of Armamal.
(17) Ashrafu-l-Umara, Umdatu-l-Mulk, Sahibzada Ahmad Yar Khan, Fath-i-Jang,
Jagirdar of Napania.
(18) Sahibzada Afsand Yar Khan, also Jagirdar of Napania.

All the above nobles belong by birth to the Chief’s family and the two last are related to it
also by marriage with the daughters of Nawab Amiru-d-Daula. The largest estates are those
owned by Sahibzada Muhammad Obaidulla Khan, C.S.I., and Sahibzada Muhammad Khan.
As a rule no service is rendered by the Jagirdars, though all are expected to assist the Chief in
case of necessity.

The jagirs are hereditary, succession fees (nazarana) being levied in the case of all
jagirdars not belonging to the Chief’s family. Jagirdars of the first class receive visits of
condolence (matampursi) from the Chief. On failure of natural heirs adoption is allowed.

(1) Mir Saman Shaikh Karim Baksh is the officer in charge of gardens and other
minor departments. He received from the present
Hereditary office-bearers. Chief a jagir of the village of Sheorampura, which
yields R425 a year. He also holds muafi (revenue-free) lands and a village on istimrari
(permanent) tenure. He pays no tribute.

(2) Mir Shahan Rahmatulla Khan holds in jagir two villages, which yield R3,842
and render serv' with five horses. He pays no tribute.

(1) Babn Vinayik ftao, Rao Bahadur,* is Financial Member of the Council and Treasury
Qfficials Officer. He was formerly in the Public Works
Secretariat of the Agent to the Governor-General
for Rajputana, whence his services were transferred to Tonk in 1886. In recognition of his
services in the reorganization of the Tonk finances he received the title of Rao Bahadur from
the British Government as a personal distinction.

(2) Mumhamad Najf Khan, a pensioned Extra Assistant Commissioner from the Paujab,
is Judicial Member of the Council.

(3) Mirza Muhammad Ali Khan, a native of Delhi, is the member in charge of Forests
and Boundaries.

(4) Fakhru-z-Zaman Saiyid Irshad Husain Khan, the Motamid-i-Khass, has the
rank of a Tazimi Sardar and holds the first place among the nobles. He holds the village of
Samlatpura in jagir, which yields Rl,500 a year and pays R118-4-9 as tribute to the
Darbar.

(5) Bakhshiyu-l-Mulk Saiyid Muhammad Usman Khan Shahamat-i-Jang is an

hereditary official and a Tazimi Sardar. He holds in jagir the village of Mauha which
yields R2,000 a year and is exempt from service.

(6) Dabiru-l-Mulk Muhammad Yusuf is Mir Munshi to the Chief. He holds one
village in jagir and one on istimrari tenure. These yield annually R4,000 and pay R2,230
as tribute.

(1) Saiyid Muhammad Ismail, a Pirzada or spiritual adviser to the Nawab, holds in
jagir the village of Naner, which yields Ry,000 a
Other persons of note. ’ , . , ,
year and pays no tribute. As he is a minor, the
management of the estate is entrusted to Bakhshi Muhammad Usman, The jagir was
granted by Nawab Waziru-d-Daula.

(2) Saiyid Muhammad Irfan is also a Pirzada and occupies a rank similar to that of
Saiyid Muhammad Ismail. He holds in jagir the village of Matuka which was also conferred
by Nawab Waziru-d-Daula and yields Rl,947. The estate is exempt from tribute.

(S) Ganhar All Khan, a minor, holds conjointly with three others the jagir of

* Baba Vinayik Eao died on the 7th May 1894, while these pages were in the press, from injuries received in a
fixe.
98 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

Himmatgarh, which yields R 5,343 and pays a tribute of R113. The jagir was granted
by Nawab Amiru-d-Daula and is under management during the minority of its owner.
(4) Ahmad Khan bolds the jagir of Banwar, granted in the time of Nawab Amiru-d-
Daula, which yields R3,467, pays R66-3-0 as tribute and renders service with ten sawars.

(5) Ahsannlla Khan of Mirbana holds a jagir conferred by Nawab Muhammad AH

Khan in consideration of the grantee's position as a Pirzada. It yields R3,025 yearly and
pays R500 as tribute.

(6) Saiyid Muhammad Yusuf, son of Maulvi Zakariya, holds the jagir of Alinagar
which yields R1,213 yearly and pays R213 in tribute. The estate was granted as a reward
for good service by Nawab Waziru-d-Daula.

(7) Colonel Ghaus Muhammad Khan holds the jagir of Rohot, which yields Rl,900a
year and pays no tribute. The jagir with the title of Colonel was conferred on the present
holder as the grandson of Colonel Muhammad Khan, Roshanu-d-Daula, Umdatu-l-Mulk,
Sham sam-i-Jang.

(8) Bahadur Muhammad Khan holds the jagir of Gangli which was conferred in the
time of Nawab Amiru-d-Daula. It yields annually R2,750 and is exempt from tribute.

(9) Eath Rai, a Muhammadan Bhat, holds in jagir the village of Hari Kalan
yielding R5,000 a year and paying R 1,500 as tribute to the Darbar. The jagir was
conferred by Nawab Amiru-d-Daula.

(10) Seth Magni Ram Bhabhut Singh of the firm of Dipehand Puuamchand of Ratlam
holds a jagir conferred by Nawab Waziru-d-daula consisting of Khari and another village
yielding Rl,970 and paying RIO as tribute.

(11) Yar Muhammad Khan holds a jagir consisting of Bhilwara, Undra, and two other
villages yielding R2.500 a year and paying R511 as tribute. The villages were conferred
by Nawab Amiru-d-Daula.

(12) Ghulam Hazart Khan holds the jagir of Pipaliya granted by Nawab Amiru-d-
Daula, which yields R2,000-2-0 and pays R200 as tribute.

(13) Thakur Balwant Singh holds the jagir of Titarkheri, which existed before the
foundation of the Tonk State. It yields Rl,400 a year and pays R15-3-6 as tribute.

(14) Abdu-l'Latif Khan holds the jagir of Mirkhera granted by Nawab Amiru-d-Daula,
which yields R1,000 a year and pays R94-9-0 as tribute to the Darbar.

(15) Ahmad Sher Khan holds the jagir of Amirgarh granted by Nawab Amiru-d-daula,
which yields R2,000 and pays R188-12-0 as tribute to the Darbar.

(16) Ghulam Akbar Khan holds th& jagir of Kurwansa granted by Nawab Muhammad
Ali Khan, which yields R 1,000 a year and pays R168 as tribute to the Darbar.

(17) Ghulam Ghaus Khan holds a jagir consisting of Chantauli and four other villages
granted by Nawab Waziru-d-Daula, which yields R5,297 and pays R717-14-0 as tribute.

(18) Muhammad Dastgir Khan holds a jagir consisting of Sanaoti and three other
villages granted by Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan, which yields R2,000 a year and supplies
five sawars for the Raj service.

(19) Raja Kalyan Singh of Devi Madho holds a jagir which yields Rl,600 and pays
R] 57-8-0 as tribute to the Darbar. The jagir with the title of Raja and the right to carry
kettle-drums and an ensign was granted by Nawab Amiru-d-Daula to an ancestor of the
present holder, who was Jamadar of Rarharas (messengers).

(20) Kazi Saiyid Abdu-l-Halim holds the village of Deori which was granted Jto his
ancestors by the Mughal Emperors. It yields R428-2-6 a year and pays R28-4-6 as tribute.
The Kazi receives khilats or robes of honour at the Ids as a reward for conducting the services
and is authorized to collect octroi in the city.

(21) The heirs of Captain Akbar Buland Khan hold by grant from the present Chief
the jagir of Palri, which yields R 2,607 and is exempt from tribute.
 MUHAMMADAN STATE—TONE. 99

The following individuals hold lands on istimrari (permanent) tenures :

No. Name. Village. Income. Tribute. Rbmabks.

S a. p. & a. p.

1 Rao Kesri Singh—Shaikhawat . Binota and 8 others. . 9,764 0 0 982 0 0

f Is one of the “ 32 ”
L Sardars of Mewar.
2 Rup Singh—Chandawat . Mindoli . . 1,068 4 6 167 0 0 )

3 Fath Singh—Solankhya . . Biroli and 3 others 5,837 12 0 602 8 0

4 Amar Singh—Saktawat Sesodia . Mewasa and 12 others . 11,413 12 0 1,134 8 0

•
6 Prithwi Singh—Rahtor . Kadmaoli and 3 others 1,890 2 0 444 0 0

6 Lachhman Singh—Rajawat Pilonda Kbera . 1,500 0 0 127 0 0

7 Sardar Singh .... Ghasana . . 2,843 2 9 551 0 0

8 Lachhman Singh—Solankhya . Dinara .... 792 3 0 624 0 0

All the istimrardars comprised in the above list belong to the Nimbahera Pargana
and all save Fath Singh of Baroli and Lachhman Singh of Dinara received their estates from
Mewar before the foundation of the Tonk State.
100 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

CHAPTER X.

AJMER.

The first rulers of Ajmer, of whom anything is known, were the Chauhaus, by one of
whom, Raja Aja, the city from which the district takes its name is said to have been founded
in the year 145 A.D. The Chauhans held Ajmer without interruption till the days of Prithwi
Raj, king of Delhi, who was by adoption mler also of Ajmer, After the defeat of this
monarch, the conqueror Shahabu-d-din took Ajmer and made it over to a relative of Prithwi
Raj, but shortly afterwards appointed a Governor of the city to control the new Raja. After
the invasion of Timurlang and the extinction of the house of Tughlak Ajmer was occupied by
the Rana of Mewar, on whose assassination it fell into the. hands of the Muhammadan kings
of Malwa. These held it from 1469 to 1531, when the kingdom of Malwa was annexed to
that of Gujarat. The Chief of Marwar, Mai Deo, took advantage of the opportunity to seize
Ajmer, which was held by the Rahtors for twenty-four years. Akbar conquered it in 1556.
Eor one hundred and ninety-four years from that time Ajmer remained an integral portion of
the Mughal Empire and the centre of a subak (province) which comprised the whole of Rajputana.
In 1720 Ajit Singh, the son of Raja Jaswant Singh of Marwar, seized Ajmer and killed the
Imperial Governor. He was expelled by Muhammad Shah, and his son Abhay Singh was
appointed Viceroy of Ajmer. In the struggles which took place between Ram Singh, the
successor of Abhay Singh, and the latter's uncle, Bakht Singh, the Mahrattas under Jay Appa
Sindia were called in by Bakht Singh. After Bakht Singh's death his son Bijay Singh
opposed the Mahrattas, and Jay Appa was assassiuated at his instigation. Eventually Ajmer
was ceded to the Mahrattas as Mundkati or compensation for the blood of Jay Appa and was
held by them till 1787 when, after the defeat of the Mahrattas at the battle of Tonga by the
coalition of the Rahtors and Kachhwahas under the Raja of Jaipur, the Rahtors retook the
city. Three years later the Mahrattas under De Boigne recovered Ajmer which they held
till 1818. At the close of the Pindaii war in that year, Ajmer was ceded by Daulat Rao>
Sindia to the British by whom it has since been held.

The leading men of Ajmer fall into three classes:—(1) Istimrardars, (2) Jagirdars,
and (3) Seths. The Seths are the bankers of
Leading men. ...... .. . .
Ajmer and live in the city. The utimrardors
and jagirdars hold so much of the land of the district as is not khalsa. As might be expected
from the history of Ajmer the landholders are all Rajputs or Muhammadans, but it is remark¬
able that, though the Chauhans held the district for over a thousand years, no single repre¬
sentative of the clan is now to be found within its borders. Almost all the Rajput estate-
holders are Rahtor descendants of the ruling house of Marwar. The only exceptions are
the Sesodia family of Sawar in the south, the petty istimrardar of Manoharpur, the
jagirdar of Rajgarh, and one or two other small jagirdars. These last are all Rajputs of the
Gaur clan. The Gaur Rajputs for a time held a prominent position in Ajmer. In the days
of Prithwi Raj three brothers, being then on a pilgrimage from Gaur in Bengal to Dwarka,
were engaged by that monarch in a successful expedition against Daya Singh of Nagor,
and subsequently each of them married a daughter of the king. One, Raja Baehraj, settled
in Ajmer. In the course of time Junian, Sarwar (now in Kishangarh), Deolia, and the
adjacent country fell into the hands of the Gaur Rajputs and to the head of the clan Humayan
gave a mansab of R7,000, Tn the time of Akbar, Raja Bithal Das founded the town
of Rajgarh and called it after the name of his grandson Raj Singh. The 6on of the.latter
took Srinagar from the Puar (Pramar) Rajputs who have now disappeared from the district.
This was the climax of the prosperity of the Gaurs, for soon afterwards they were ejected
from Rajgarh and all their territory by Kishan Singh, a Rahtor. After twenty*five years of dis¬
possession, Gopal Singh recovered Rajgarh and the Gaurs were in possession when the country
fell into the hands of the Mahrattas. The Mahrattas in 1817 resumed Rajgarh and the twelve
villages attached to it, as the Raja was unable to pay a contribution of R 10,000 as fauj iharch
(war expenditure). On the establishment of British rule, these villages were restored on
 AJMER. 101

condition of payment of nazarana (succession fee), but as the nazarana was not, or could
not be, paid, the whole estate, with the exception of one small village, was resumed and remain¬
ed khalsa till 1874, when it was presented in jagir to the representative of the ancient house.
The istimrardars are so called from the fact that they hold their estates in perpetuity on
condition of paying an annual revenue to Govern¬
Istimrardars.
ment, which is not liable to enhancement. They
are divided into two classes—tazimi and non-tazimi. All are entitled to seats in Darbar. Of
the nineteen principal istimrari estates, the holders of fifteen,—Bhinai, Sawar, Masuda>
Pisangan, Junian, Deolia, Kharwa, Bandanwara, Mehrun, Para, Deogaon-Bhagera, Govind-
garh, Tantoti, Barli, and Bagsuri, —enjoy the honour of the tazin». Of these, the first four
and the istimrardar of Kharwa are the heads of their respective houses, from which the
remainder are offshoots. The Rahtors of Ajmer are descended from one or other of the Chiefs of
Marwar, of whom the following are in this connection the most important: — Rao Jodha, 1453
(Masuda and Bagsuri), Rao Maldeo, 1531 (Bhinai), and Raja Udai Singh, 1 533 Gangwana
[ jagir) Pisangan, Mehrun, Junian, and Govindgarh. The families of Deolia, Bandanwara,
Deogaon-Baghera, Tantoti, and Barli are offshoots of the house of Bhinai, and the istimrardar
of Para is a descendant of the family of Pisangan.

In all the istimrardar families, with the unimportant exception of Karel where sub-divi¬
sion is still the rule, succession is by primogeniture, the provision for younger sons consisting
generally of a grant for life of a well and a few bighas of land. In early times, as in Karel at
present, all sons shared alike except the eldest whose portion was generally larger than that of
the rest, but the disruption of estates which ensued was so inconvenient that it was dropped in
favour of an assignment, known as gras, of single villages to younger sous, an arrangement
which in its turn has given place to that now prevailing.

The following account is given by Mr. LaTouche of the origin of the istimrar tenures : —
“The tenure of the feudal Chief was originally identical with that of the Chiefs in the Native
States of Rajputana. The estates were jagirs held on condition of military service and liable
to various feudal incidents. Colonel Tod, in his Rajasthan, Volume I, page 167, thus sums up
the result of his inquiries into these tenures—‘A grant of an estate is for the life of the
holder with inheritance for his offspring in lineal descent or adoption with the sanction of
the Prince, and resumable for crime or incapacity; this reversion and power of resumption
being marked by the usual ceremonies on each lapse of the gr-antee, of sequestration (zabti), of
relief [nazarana), of homage and investiture of the heir/ From all that can be discovered the
original tenure of the mass of the istimrar estates in Ajmer is exactly described by the above
quotation. The estates were life-grants, but, like all similar tenures, they tended to become
hereditary.”

The istimrardars are by law incompetent to make alienations lasting beyond their own
lives. Like the other estates in Rajputana, those of Ajmer were originally held on service tenures
and were subject to certain feudal liabilities. In lieu of these burdens the Mahrattas substi¬
tuted fixed cash payments aud exacted certain cesses. The latter were abolished by the
British, and in 1873 it was finally decided that the assessments then levied should he fixed in
perpetuity, subject only to the condition of payment of a nazarana on succession.
Of the jagirdars two, those of Rajgarh and Arjunpura, are Gaur Rajputs, and one, Gang¬
wana, is a Rahtor. The remainder are chiefly
Jagirdars.
Muhammadans, the principal being Diwan Ghiasu-
d-din Ali Khan, a descendant of Khwaja Muayyinu-d-din Chishti and Iuayatullah Shah, the
descendant of a saint who lived in Herat.

Ajmer is the residence of the heads of several important firms of Seths who have branches
throughout Rajputana and in other parts of India.
Seths.
The principal occupation of the Ajmer Seths is
the purchase and sale of hundis.

Tazimi Istimrardars.

(1) Raja Udai Singh of Bhinai, a Rahtor Rajput, descended from Rao Jodha, the founder
of the city of Jodhpur, is the premier Thakur of the district. Chandra Sen, the grandson of
Rao Mai Deo of Marwar (1531), came to Ajmer, and having by stratagem intoxicated Madlia,
N
102 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

the chief of a band of Bhils who ravaged the country near Bhinai, slew him and dispersed his
followers. For this service Bhinai and seven other parganas were bestowed on him in jagir
by the Emperor Akbar. Thejagir consisted of 84 villages which were subsequently divided in
the proportion of forty-six to thirty-eight between Udai Bhan and Akhay Baj in the fourth
generation from Chandra Sen, the former making Bhinai and the latter Deolia his head¬
quarters. TJdai Bhan being at that time childless adopted Narsingh Das, a son of Akhay Raj,
but on the subsequent birth of a sou, Kesri Singh, three villages were assigned to Narsingh
Das from whom is descended the present Thakur of Tantoti. Kesri Singh obtained Bhinai
and twenty-four villages, and a younger brother Suraj Mai, who became the ancestor of the
house of Baudanwara, received ten villages. The twenty-five villages of Bhinai yield a
revenue of about R80,000 a year. Three of them have been assigned to the minor Thakur
of Sholian, Sarana, and Santola as maintenance and one, Kotri, to a Charan. Santola is held
in mortgage by the Maharaja of Kishangarh. The Bhinai estate, which is well managed, pays
a revenue to Government of R7,717. The title of Raja was bestowed on the head of the
Bhinai house in 1783 by the then Chief of Jodhpur as a reward for military service.

The present Raja, who is six years of age, succeeded his father Raja Mangal Singh
Bahadur, C.I.E., in July 1892. Raja Mangal Singh, who was an Honorary Magistrate and
Subordinate Judge, received the title of Raja Rahadur as a personal distinction on the 1st
January 1877, and was admitted two years later to the Companionship of the Order of the
Indian Empire.

The pedigree on the opposite page shows the various branches of the Bhinai family and
gives the descent of the tazimi lines.
 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA
103
BAO MAL DEO OF MARWAR.

Chandra Sen.
I
Agar Sen.
I
Karn Sen.

Sham Singh Girdhari Singh

(Bhinai). (Santola).

Udai Bhan.
Akhay Raj.

Kesri Singh Suraj Mai Narsingh Das, Narsingh Das Iswar Das i)evi Das Nahar Singh
(Bhinai). (Bandanwara). adopted (adopted by (Deolia). Man Singh
(Barli). (Deogaon
(Tantoti). Uday Bhan). (Nandsi).
Baghera).

Jagat Singh. Hathi Singh A mar Singh. Fath Singh Sultan Singh Indar Singh Aditya Singh. Sanwant Singh Sanwal Das Durjan Sal Jet Singh Harnath
(Sholian). (Fadla). (Jaola). (Kalyan- Daulat Singh. Bhao Singh (Gudha (Barli). (Goela). (Kanal Singh (Piproli, Deokarn Bharat Singh Tej Singh Hathi Singh Indar Singh
pura). (Baori). Kalan). Arjun Singh Nawal 8ingh
Khurd). now escheated (Deogaon (Nandsi). (Bichma- (Bagrai). (Silari).
Raghunath to Barli). (Kabama). (Batakot).
Bakht Singh. Baghera). lian).
Sher Singh. Singh Pahar Singh
Bahadur Man Singh (adopted). (adopted).
I Singh. (Jotayan). Malji.
Jnjhar Singh
Salim Singh. Gulab Singh. (Balaota).
I I
Udai Singh. Gaj Singh
Mubabbat Bairi Sal Kishan Singh Chatar Singh Dule Singh Parbat Sirtgh Nawal Singh.
Akhay Singh. Bherun Singh Singh. (Shokla). (Santola). (Raghu- (Kerot).
(Barli). (Nagelao).
Dalel Singh. Arjun Singh (Amar- Mukund Lachhman nathpura). Zorawar
(Sarana). I garh). Singh.
1
Udai
Abbay Singh.
Singh.
Amar Singh.
Khushhal
Singh.
Singh.
Hari Singh
(Jetpura).
I I
Bhan II. I Man gal Mangsl Singh Durjan Singh Bagh Singh 8rijan Singh Kaner Singh.
Partap Singh. Singh (adopted by (Deolia). (Arwar). (Shokli). Lai Singh. Jaswant
(adopted). Mukund Singh.
Snraj Bhan. Singh). Ranjit Singh.
Suraj Mai. Bishan Singh.
1
rr
Chandan
I Sheodan Ajit Singh Mahtab Singh.
1 1 1 Rao Ran jit Bhabhut Singh Madho Singh. Singh. (adopted by Singh. Karn Singh.
Balwant
Singh,
Bakhta war
Singb.
Zorawar Singh
(adopted by the
Singh (adopt¬
ed from
(present
Thakur of
Sheodan
Singh).
I
Moti Singh Ram Singh.
11 11 Thakur of Barli, but
returned to his own
Kalyanpura). Tantoti). A son. Madho Singh (adopted by
Madbo
Zorawar Rao Kesri family and succeeded Ajit Singh Govind Singh. Singh). Sardar Singh
Moti Singh.
Singh. Singh his brother Balwant Gaj Singh Moti Singh (present
(adopted).
(adopted). Singh). (present Thakur). (adopted; Thakur).
Jaswant Mod Singh. Ram Singh. present
Singh. Thakur)
Akhay Raj. Hari Singh Mod Singh Bbur Singh I
(adopted by (present (Shokli). Dungnr Singh.
Mangal Rao Kesri Singh Sardul Singh). Thakur of
Singh. (adopted by Sardul Singh. of Deolia).
Bakbtawar Singh).

Baja Udai Singh Hari Singh

(present Raja). (adopted),
died childless.
102 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

the chief of a band of Bhils who ravaged the country near Bhinai, slew him and dispersed his

« fa***
 AJMER. 105

(2) Thakur Ummed Singh of Sawar is a Sesodia Rajput of the Saktawat family who
holds an estate of thirty-three villages yielding
Sawar.
an income of about 1130,000 and paying R7,215
as revenue to Government. The estate forms a portion of a jagir granted by the Emperor Ja¬
hangir to Gokul Das, grandson of Sakat Singh and great-grandson of Rana Udai Singh
of Mewar. Thakur Ummed Singh who succeeded his father, Raja Madho Singh, is now twenty-
nine years of age. He was educated at. the Mayo College and knows Hindi and English. He
is also an Honorary Magistrate and Munsif within the limits of his estate. He has no children
and the nearest family is that of Tankawas. The title of Raja was conferred on Thakur Madho
Singh as a personal distinction in 1877. The following pedigree shows the descent of the family
from Gokul Das and the connected branches :—
GOKUL DAS.

I
Sundar Das (Sawar). Ajib Singh (Deokheri).

i
Pratap Sirgk (Sawar). Jay Singh (Piplaj). Bam Singh (Basundni).
!

Raj Singh (Sawar). Chatar Singh (Chandtha)i),

I I
Indar Singh. Bahadur Singh (Chosla).
i.
Sakat Singh.

I
Bhup Singh.

Udai Singh.

i
Ajit Singh.

Jaswant Singh. Zorawar Singh (Tankawas).

I
Madho Singh.

I .
Ummed Singh
(present Tkakuri.

(8) Rao Bahadur Singh of Masuda, a Rah tor Rajput of the Mertia family, holds the
largest and richest estate in the district, consisting of twenty-six villages yielding a revenue of
about a lakh of rupees and paying R8,555 as revenue to Government. Several Mer villages in
Merwara which were formerly held by the Thakur of Masuda have under a recent arrange¬
ment been declared khalsa, the Rao receiving R4,000 a year as compensation. According to
a badly authenticated tradition the town of Masuda received its name from Masud Ghazi, a
son of Salar Sahu, who founded it in the time
Masuda. 0£ Sultan Muhammad. The pargana of Masuda

was given as a jagir by the Emperor Akbar to Hanwant Singh and his brothers as a reward for
the expulsion by them of the Puar (Pramar) Rajputs who had attacked the imperial thana
(outpost). Hanwant Singh was the son of Jagmal and great-great-grandson of Rao Jodha
of Marwar through the latter’s son Duda. For four generations the estate was not divided.
Since that time, as may be seen from the annexed pedigree, divisions have been frequent.

Rao Bahadur Singh, who is the adopted son of the late Thakur Sheonath Singh, is now
thirty-seven years of age. He was educated at the Mayo College and knows English and
Hindi. He has no children. He is an Honorary Magistrate and Munsif within the limits
»2
106 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

of his own estate. He received the title of Rao as a personal distinction in 1877 and was
made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in May 1893. His grandfather Devi
Singh rendered assistance to the British in their conquest of Merwara in 1817-18.

DUDAJI.

Birma.

I
Jagmal.

f
Hanwant Singh (Masuda). Lad Singh
I
(Bagsuri).

Mohun Singh
I i
Kesar Singh
I
Bakht Singh
I
Jaskarn
. I
Girdhar Das Agar Singh
(Masuda). (Sathana, Lamba, (Eesarpura, (Sakrani). (Jamola).
* IN agar). Lalawas, Akrol).

I
Sultan Singh. sner Singh (Shergarh). Bheru Sal
I .
(Kailu Nathu Singh.
Fathgarh).
I I .
Jay Singh. Nagraj.

I I
Sham Singh. Daulat Singh.

Ratn Singh. Samrat Singh (Nandwara). Sabhai Singh.

Bherun Singh. Deo Singh. Budh Singh.

I I
Rirmal Singh.

Devi Singh. Padm Singh. I Bhawani Singh. A mar Singh

Bahadur Singh (Bubania).
I
Sheonnt'n Singh
I
Sheonnth Singh
(adopted by Sheo I
Briddhi Singh.
Nath Singh),
(adopted). (adopted by Devi Singh).
I
! Nahar Singh.
Bahadur Singh
(adopted). I
Lachhman Singh
(present Thakur of
Bagsuri).

(4) Raja Kandarp Sen of Pisangan, a Rahtor Rajput of the Jodhawat family, holds an
estate consisting of eleven villages to the west of
Pisangan.
Ajmer, of which the annual income is about
R23,200 and the revenue payable to Government R4,563. The founder of the estate was
Kesri Singh, a grandson of Raja Udai Singh of Marwar, who, having come to Ajmer to seek
his fortune, ejected the Puar (Pramar) Rajputs from Pisangan. His son Sujan Singh conquered
Junian from the Gaur Rajputs and Mehrun from the Sesodias. In the division of property
which took place on Sujan Singh's death, Pisangan was assigned to the youngest son, as a
reward, it is said, for his having avenged the death of an uncle. The title of Raja, which is
held by courtesy by the isiimrardar of Pisangan, was granted by a sanad of Maharaja Man
Singh of Marwar in 1806 to Nathu Singh in recognition of services rendered by the latter in
the famous marriage dispute between Jodhpur and Udaipur. The title was also conferred as a
personal distinction by the British Government on the late Thakur Partap Singh in 1877. The
present Raja, who is now thirty years of age, was the son of Thakur Mahipal Smgh of Khawas
and was adopted by Raja Partap Singh in 1883. He has one son Ramcband Das. The
following pedigree shows the descent of the Pisangan, Junian, and Mehrun families:—
 AJMER 107

0
O
o3
- r-<
X bD
bO rj

-|0

Sfl
p c3
pA
c3
P
bo •
0 03 -5 *$
<S 00 73 73
M) o3 O U
pA pA
0 bo bo rA 3 bd✓ _ A
03 03
-A a bo g pd
00 .2 a «
bo .
•pH C 02 J?W
- ••- CO- es .
02 (h A •A *
A
-a A 0 a W O
bC s -r ® .o
Sh rA A bo eg . *rj & . .a
©
pA W C CO 60^ bo
02 « c d
02 a
f- -K I § £ _s ^ _ .03 ,
A
03 A
rA jffc"

(present Thakur of
•n GO A
•r-» •A

Saugram Singh
A b“ 02 A rA be
03 bO .2
rA 03 (»

Para).
be 02
-c d c pA *A
to bo 12 o3 ■
oS
.5 M 02 .£ afe
A
. A . .CO . O
■“ 0- es ©
s1=1
■s.a
js cS 02
S
02
** p* rA
*a
m
I2
02 oS
£
• J3
rA rA
-A ^ bO
pA pA
bO
oo bO g JT* eS
to c3 P
bo
A .2
.2 M'ffW . P
A
.5 *
02 © Jao . GQ — ffi
c«
A •
co a^
r ia o!3.
h
O
b - at -5-s ".A
Ҥ1
A
rA
c
A A
A a
c S * a
'A oS 3
*"3 bd a t->
os
'a C SS'g7? e8
CS3 C3 U5 P U3 g,.* C5
02 a,
o
T3
A

J3 03
bo *2 .A
.5 £ bo _, <S
0 -™M A
0
0
Raja of Marwar (1683-1594).

.0 £ *
GO
. A- bo
® 0 © *® .a
a Bs 0! ■“ OQ
03 a 0 o3
bfi P -A e §*
MADHO SINGH.

.0 rA W
rA § it, 0
bo 2 bO
c C3
£.2
•rH -pH a s

»W0i- " Cfle as"

rl _s— 02
rA "
A *rN
‘fc Tl •r-j rl bO
© ©
3 3
S a
fas 0 c/j 02 •S
rA
A be
aa 5
•d s-
A
o .A
£1 © bO
w 02 A
o a - a a
"ns “ A
h — V.© rr
02
t-2 A
©
•a P4
o <1 « o
13
o3

-*s>
CS
T3 pg o3
M bc^q
.fl * .2® •
bird ®2 >..2^
•-M
.02
PpQ bfi
"15 T3 .5
*-mg = e od
g 3
•£ O
fc -s.
« o
pq
P<? eS

0 ©
as -A rA pA
•|H bO^. rA
pC bo pA . bo
P bA bo a
3
g ce
bO be A 'O .2
*02 •d A m © c'PA
c *5
.A ©
bO A A
fl J fl
m
-*-> b
B'W'.
.a
-sS A, A
A
M
P- -“U—
o
“ A
-A
bo IS A bo A A a >=1 *3
A A
.5 ft P $
m «
a &
as
rA oj
CO

s ©
-Apd
bo o3
-? '4-
“0 .2 *3
.5 es.
"ir, •— -2m
'i *
PS l? p bO
o
n

rA
VA
bO a
bo •a
A to .2 A .2
02 02 m
S .2 -
^-02-5 - pq -
©
*A A
3 A« A
«
A a
3 5 a a
p tf p fc>
108 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPTJTANA.

(5) Rao Kalyan Singh of Junian is a Rah tor Rajput belonging to the same family as the
Raja of Pisangan (q. v.). The Junian estate con¬
Junian.
sists of sixteen villages yielding an annual income of
R35,000 and paying R5,723 as revenue to Government. The istimrardar of Junian is hereditary
bhumia of Kekri and provides as such for the watch and ward of that town. He holds also
one village in Jaipur and one in Kotah in jagir. Rao Kalyan Singh, who is now thirty years
of age, is the son of Kunwar Ranjit Singh and succeeded his grandfather Thakur Ummed
Singh in 1868. He was educated at the Mayo College and knows English and Hindi.
Kalyan Singh, on whom his present title of Rao was bestowed as a personal distinction in
1877, has married a sister of the late Maharaja Mangal Singh of Alwar.

(6) Thakur Mod Singh of Deolia, a Rahtor Rajput, descended from Akhay Raj, the son
of the founder of the Bhinai family, holds an
Deolia.
estate of five villages yielding an income of
about R32,000 a year and paying R3,380 as revenue to Government. During the Marwar
ascendency Deolia supplied thirty-six horsemen to the service of the State and the holder
enjoyed besides the Ajmer jagir an estate of the value of R36,000 in Marwar and received R35
a day from that State. The Marwar jagir and the daily allowance were continued till 1806.
Thakur Mod Singh, who is now twenty years of age, and was educated at the Mayo College,
succeeded the late Thakur, Rao Hari Singh. The estate was transferred to him in the month of
February 1893 on his attaining majority. The Rao had nominated the Thakur of Kaibania as
his successor, but Thakur Mod Singh being the nearest of kin to the deceased, his claim was
recognized by the Government of India as being the stronger in accordance with the usage
prevalent in the family. The late Thakur Hari Singh, on whom the title of Rao was con¬
ferred as a personal distinction in 1877, was an Honorary Magistrate and Munsif within the
limits of his own estate. The descent of the Thakur and of the minor connected families is
shown in the pedigree of the Bhinai family at page 103.

(7) Rao Madho Singh of Kharwa is a Rahtor Rajput of the Sakat Singhot family,
descended from Rao Jodha. He holds an estate
Kharwa.
consisting of fifteen villages and yielding an esti¬
mated revenue of R30,000 and pays R2,318 annually to Government. The estate is said
to have been conferred by Akbar on Sakat Singh, a son of Raja Udai Singh of Marwar, as a
reward for saving the. Emperor from drowning. For seven generations no division took place,
but at the present time three villages belonging to Kharwa are held by three subordinate
utimrardars and one by Charans. Seventeen villages which formerly belonged to Kharwa
were incorporated in M-erwara on the constitution of that district, and under an agreement
recently sanctioned the Rao receives R1,000 a year from the British Government in full
satisfaction of his claims to these villages.

Madho Singh, on whom the title of Rao was conferred as a personal distinction in 1877,
is an Honorary Magistrate and Munsif within the limits of his estate. He has one son, Kunwar
Gopal Singh.
 AJMER. 109

The following1 pedigree shows the descent of the Rao of Kharwa and the connected minor
islimrardars from Raja Udai Singh : —
UDAI SINGH.

I
Sakat Singh.

I
Kara Singh.

I
Huktna Gir.

Kalu Singh.

I
Fath Singh.

I
Amar Singh.

I
Ram Singh.

I
Suraj Mai.

Deo Singh. Chatar Singh

(Deogarh).

I
Pratap Singh. Gulab Singh.

Ram Singh. Sham Singh

I (Bhawani Khera).
Rao Madho Singh.

Kunwar Gopal Singh.

(8) Rao Ranjit Singh of Bandanwara,* a Rabtor Rajput of the Bhinai family (q.v.)
holds an estate of twenty-one villages situated to
Bandanwara. .
the south of the Nasirabad Cantonment. The
istimated income of the estate, including the subordinate jagir of Amargarh which pays revenue
to the Rao, is R27,000, and the yearly revenue payable to Government is R5,356.

Suraj Mai, the second son of Udai Bhan of Bhinai, was the founder of the Bandanwara
family, and at one time held, in addition to the Bandauwara jagir, the villages of Ramsar and
Srinagar. These were subsequently resumed by Maharaja Ajit Singh of Marwar and are now
khalsa. The Rao, who is forty-nine years of age, succeeded by adoption to Suraj Mai II,
the late Thakur, at the same time changing his name from Bharat Singh to Ranjit Singh. He
belonged originally to the Kalyanpura branch of the family, and was adopted in 1852. He has
one son, Kunwar Gaj Singh, who was educated at the Mayo College and is twenty-three
years of age. The Racf, on whom his present title was conferred as a personal distinction in
1877, is an Honorary Magistrate and Munsif within his own estate.

(9) Thakur Devi Singh of Mehrun is a Rahtor Rajput of the Pisangan and Junian family
who holds an estate of thirteen villages, yielding an
Mehrun.
income of about R20,000 and paying a fixed
revenue to Government of R5,360. The origin of the estate has been described in the account
of Rao Kalyan Singh of Junian. In 1811 the Thakur of Kadera, Lai Singh, made an attack
on his cousin Jagat Singh, Thakur of Mehrun, on the ground that insufficient land had been
assigned to him for maintenance. The attack was successful, and Jagat Singh and his son,
Bharat Singh, after a promise of safety, were treacherously murdered. Lai Singh made him¬
self master of Mehrun, but was forced to give up his conquest by the Raja of Shahpura, and
Bharat Singh's widow was placed in possession of the estate. She in 1842 adopted her cousin
Jawahir Singh, who was subsequently succeeded by his brother Kalu Singh. The present
Thakur, who is now twenty-seven years of age, and has one sou, Gajadhar Singh, was adopted
by Kalu Singh.
* Rao Ranjit Singh died on the 4th April 1894, while this account was in the Press, and has been succeeded by
his son Gaj Singh.
110 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

(10) Thakur Sangram Singh of Para is a Rah tor Rajput and is the head of a junior
branch of the Pisangan family (q.v.). The estate,
Para.
which consists of six villages, pays a revenue of
R2,492 to Government. To the villages originally separated from Pisangan and assigned to
the first Thakur, Jhujhar Singh, two were subsequently ddded by himself and one by his son.
Thakur Sangram Singh, who is twenty-six years of age and was educated at the Mayo
College, succeeded his father Thakur Sheonath Singh. He has three younger brothers and no
children.
(11) Thakur Sardar Singh of Deogaon-Baghera, a Rahtor Rajput of the Deolia branch
of the Bhinai family (q.v.), holds an estate con-
Deogaon-Baghera. ,
sistmg ot three villages which yields a revenue
of R28,000 and pays R5,925 to Government. The founder of the estate was Nahar Singh,
the third son of Akhay Raj, who having obtained Nandsi as maintenance from Deolia ex¬
pelled the Gaur Rajputs from Deogaon and the Sesodiasfrom Baghera. Of the villages which
he thus obtained, he bestowed three on the Thakur of Junian who had assisted him in his
enterprise and whose son had been slain in battle. As will be seen from a reference to the
Bhinai pedigree, Nahar Singh was the father of a numerous progeny, whose descendants hold
many villages in subordination to Deogaon-Baghera. Thakur Sardar Singh, who is thirtv-
five years of age, succeeded his father Thakur Ram Singh in 1879.
(12) Thakur Sankar Lai Singh of Gobindgarh, a Rahtor Rajput, descended from
Raja Udai Singh of Marwar, holds a small
Gobindgarh. .
estate of two villages and three hamlets to the
west of Ajmer. The annual income is about R10,000, and the revenue paid to Govern¬
ment is R2,418. The founder of the family was Gobind Das, a grandson of the Mota Raja
(Udai Singh) of Marwar. The present Thakur, who is fifteen years of age, is receiving
his education at the Mayo College, the estate being managed by the Court of Wards.
The Thakur succeeded by adoption to his eldest brother in 1891. The following pedigree
shows the descent of the family :—

GOBIND DAS.

Jaswant Singh.

I
Lai Singh.

Jet Singh.

Hari Singh.

I
Akhay Singh.

_!_

Samrat Singh.
I
Mohkam Singh.

Ajit Singh.
I
Sheonath Singh

I
Sheonath Singh
(adopted by Thakur
Ajit Singh).

(adopted).

I
Lachbman Singh.

Raghunath Singh. Zorawar Singh. Sankar Lai Singh

(adopted by Raghunath Singh).

Thakur Sankar Lai Singh

(present Thakur).
 AJMER. Ill

(13) Thakur Bhabhut Singh of Tantoti, a Rahtor Rajput of the Bhinai family (q.v.),
holds an estate of three villages of a total annual
value* of R 15,000, which pays R3,318 annually
to Government. The Thakur, who holds hhum lands in three villages, has also a jagir village
in Mar war. The present Thakur, who is fifty years of age, has three sons and one brother.
He succeeded his father Thakur Mangal Singh.

(14 ) Thakur Moti Singh of Barli, a Rahtor Rajput of the Deolia branch of the Bhinai
family {q.v.), holds an estate consisting of twelve
Barli.
villages, of which the revenue is estimated
at R30,000 and which pays R3,398 annually to Government. The village of Pipaliya, which
formerly belonged to Barli, now forms a part of the Bhinai estate, having after much litiga¬
tion been made over to Zorawar Singh, the grandfather of the present Raja of Bhinai, who
had been adopted by Bishan Singh, the then Thakur of Barli, early in the present century.
The condition of the adoption was that in the event of Bishan Singh having no son Zorawar
Singh should be heir to Barli, or, should a son be born, should obtain Pipaliya. A son was born,
but until compelled, the Barli Thakur refused to make over Pipaliya. The present Thakur
Moti Singh, who is about twenty-eight years of age, succeeded Thakur Madho Singh in
1886 as being the nearest qualified claimant.
(15) Thakur Lachhman Singh of Bagsuri is a Rahtor Rajput of the Masuda family
(q.v.). The Bagsuri estate consists of two villages
and a hamlet yielding an annual revenue of about
R12,000, and pays Rl,410 to Government. The founder of the estate was Lai Singh, the
brother of Han want Singh, who obtained Masuda by grant from the Emperor Akbar. The
present Thakur, who succeeded his father Thakur Nahar Singh, is twenty-three years of
age, and has no children. He was educated at the Mayo College, where he gained consider¬
able credit. The name is said to be derived from bagh. and sur, Lai Singh having seen a pig
and a tiger fighting on the spot where the fort was built by him on the assurance of the
augurs that it would be impregnable.

* The estate inclades the village of Baroi held by a cousin.

112 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

Jagirdars.

(1) Raja Chandra Singh, Jagirdar of Rajgarh, is a Gaur Rajput of the Bithaldasot family
(see page 101). The estate consists of two villages and yields an annual income of R.5,000.
The Raja succeeded his adoptive father Raja Devi Singh in 1887. He has no children. The
title of Raja is held by courtesy by the head of
Rojgarh. the family and was conferred on Devi Singh
by the British Government as a personal distinction in 1877.

RAJA BITHAL DAS.

Anand Singh. Arjun Singh

(descendants in Rajgarh).

Raj Singh. Atma Ram

(Danta).
Prithwi Singh.

Kesri Singh.

1
Nahar Singh.

Sujan Singh.

I
Nirbhay Singh.

Ummed Singh.

Gopal Singh.

Cbiman Singh.

Chatar Singh.

Devi Singh.

Chandra Singh
(adopted from the
Danta family ;
present jagirdar).

(2) Diwan Ghiyasu-d-din Ali Khan, Sajjada Nashin-i-Dargah-i-Khwaja Sahib is a

The Diwan. Muhammadan Saiyid and a lineal descendant of
Khwaja Muayyanu-d-din Chishti, who is said by
tradition to have come to Ajmer from Sanjar in Khorasan to establish a shrine. According to
the account given by Mr. La Touche (Settlement Report, page 51) : the Khwaja Sahib is said
to have died in the year 1235 at the age of ninety-seven and to have come to Ajmer at the ao-e
of fifty-two, shortly before the invasion of India by Shahabu-d-din. Many marvels are related
of him in the Akbaru-DAkhyar and other works, and it is difficult to extract the historical
facts of his career from the mass of romantic legends which have gathered round his name
It was at Medina that a voice came from the tomb of the prophet calling for Muayyanu-d-din
and directing him to go to Ajmer and convert the infidels. He obeyed the call and on his
arrival at Ajmer rested on the spot now known as the Kangara Masjid in the Dargah where
at the time the king's camels were tethered. From this he was ejected and went and took up
his abode on the hill which overlooks the Ana Sagar, the margin of which lake he found
covered with idol temples. The idolaters enraged at the slaughter of kids by the Mussalmans
conspired to massacre them, but when they came in sight of the Khwaja, remained rooted to the
spot and though they tried to ejaculate Ram ! Ram ! could only articulate Rahim ! Rahim ! In
vain did the idolaters, led by the great sorcerer Ajavpal and the deota Sbadideo, renew then-
attacks. They were defeated on every occasion and finally begged forgiveness of the Khwaja
 AJMER. 113

and invited him to come and take up his abode in the town. He consequently chose the site
of the present Dargah." This shrine which commands the most profound veneration from
Indian Muhammadans and was visited on foot by the Emperor Akbar as a pilgrim, is endowed
with a jagir in Ajmer of fourteen villages yielding a revenue of about R22,000 and with
another in His Highness the Nizam's territories. The income is shared equally by the Diwan,
the Uargah, and the Khadims (servants). The Diwan is the manager and head of the spiritu¬
alities of the shrine, and besides large offerings which he shares with the khadims, holds a jagir
in Ajmer and another in Jaipur. The annual income of the jagir is about 116,000. The
estate is at present involved in debt and its management is, under a special regulation, vested in
the Court of Wards. The Diwau received the title of Shaikhu-l-Mushaikh as a personal distinc¬
tion in 1877. Mir Imam-ud-din, a cousin of the Diwan, is a Revenue Extra Assistant Com¬
missioner in the Ajmer District.
(3) Nawab Shamsu-d-din Ali Khan, popularly known as Nasvab Kumhar Baori, holds a
jagir valued at RIO,000 a year and consisting of
Nawab Kumhar Baori.
tour whole and seven half villages. Tahawwur
Khan, the ancestor of the Nawab, accompanied Aurangzeb to Ajmer on his expedition
against Dara, but was put to death on suspicion of treachery. His son Sheru-d-din received
a jagir from the Emperor Farukhsiyar. The present Nawab is a student at the Mayo College
and his estate is under the management of the Court of Wards. Succession is by primogeniture.

(4) Raja Bijay Singh, Jagirdar of Gangwana, is a Rahtor Rajput, descended from
Kishan Singh, the founder of the Kisbangarh State.
Gangwana.
Maharaja Raj Singh of Kishangarh (1706 —1748)
died leaving four sons, of whom the eldest, Fath Singh, became the ancestor of the Fathgarh
family [vide page 22). The second, Sanwant Singh, succeeded to Kishangarh. The third,
Bahadur Singh, on the failure of heirs to Sardar Singh, son of Sawant Singh, became
the ancestor of the present Chief of Kishangarh. The fourth, Bir Singh, got a share
in Karkeri and left two sous, Amar Singh and Surat Singh. It was intended by Sardar Singh
that Amar Singh should succeed him, but Bahadur Singh, with the help first of the Maharaja
of Jodhpur and subsequently of Holkar, expelled Bir Singh and his family from all their pos¬
sessions except Ralaota and procured the adoption of his own son Birad Singh. Rir Singh
having joined the Mahrattas was killed at the battle of Panipat and his two sons received
a jagir of six villages, three, subsequently confiscated by the Mahrattas, being assigned to Amar
Singh, and Gangwana, Untra, and Magra to Surat Singh. Of Surat Singh's two sons the
elder received Ralaota and the younger, Arjun Singh, the Gangwana jagir out of their father's
inheritance. Arjun Singh's sons, Balwant Singh aud Sher Singh, divided the Gangwana
estate, of which moieties are held by their descendants. The whole income of the jagir is abou^
R5,000. In the elder branch, that of Raja Bijay Singh, primogeniture now prevails. Raja
Bijay Singh, who was born in 1863, succeeded bis father Raja Balwant Singh in 1878. Of
the shareholders in the other moiety of the jagir, Raja Sanwant Singh is Appellate Judge at
Jhalrapatan. His uncle Raja Amar Singh, whose sister was the mother of Maharana Sajjan
Singh of Udaipur, is Commander-in-Chief of the Mewar Forces. The title of Raja is enjoyed
by the members of tbe family by courtesy and was conferred as a personal distinction in 1877
upon Raja Balwant Singh.
(5) Mir Inayatulla Shah, a Muhammadan Saiyid Pirzada, holds a jagir consisting of
Dudiana and half Dilwara. The former is held by
Dudiana.
the Jagirdar as Sajjada-nashin of the shrine of
Khwaja Madud Chishti in Herat with which, however, all connection has ceased for two cen*
turies. Tbe whole jagir is of small value and being involved in debt is under the management
of the Court of Wards. Mir Inayatullah Shah, who is now sixty-five years of age, succeeded
his father in 1832 and was at one time an Honorary Magistrate of Ajmer. He has three sons,
Muhammad Ismail Ali Khan, aged thirty-four years, Muhammad lakub Ali Khan, aged twenty
years, and Muhammad Ayub Ali Khan aged eleven years.
(6) Mir Mihrban Ali, Jagirdar of Jharwasa and Bhatiani, holds a third share in a
jagir of which the whole value is about R3.500 and
Jll8rW8iS3i **
which is enjoyed revenue-free. Mir Mihrban Ali,
who was recognized as Jagirdar in 1888, succeeded his grandfather Mir Nizam Ali who was
114 CHIEFS AND LEADING FAMILIES IN RAJPUTANA.

an Honorary Magistrate, a member of the Jagir Committee, and President of’ the Committee
of the Dargah Khwaja Sahib.

Seths.

(1) Rai Bahadur Seth Samir Mai, a Mahajan, Oswal, is considered the leading Banker
of Ajmer. He belongs to the Lodhi family, of which the origin is ascribed to a Cnauban
Rajput of Nandoli in Marwar who being born without arms and legs received the nick-name
of Lodha (a clodl and subsequently obtained his limbs by the favour of a Jain ascetic. An
ancestor of the family migrated to Alwar, and a further migration took place two generations
ago to Jaipur and subsequently in 1818 to Ajmer where the firm was established under the style
of Kanwal Nayan Hamir Singh. Seth Samir Mai, who is sixty years of age, is the Yice-
President of the Municipal Committee at Ajmer. He was.Honorary Magistrate in the city
for many years, but has lately resigned this office. He received the title of Rai Bahadur
in 1890. His brother-in-law is Mahta Panna Lai, Diwan of Mewar (see page 36). Seth
Samir Mai and his brother Seth Ummed Mai are in high repute in Ajmer.
♦

(2) Rai Bahadur Seth Mul Chand Soni is the proprietor of the banking firm of Jawahir
Mai and Ganbhir Mai. He is now sixty-one years of age, has enjoyed the distinction of Rai
Bahadur since 1881, and is universally esteemed for his loyalty and integrity. He is an
Honorary Magistrate and a member of the Ajmer Municipal Committee and’District Board.
Seth Mul Chand’s fathey, Jawahir Mai, was an inhabitant of Kishaugarh whence he migrated
to Ajmer seventy-six years ago and made a large fortune by trading in opium. Seth Mul
Chand is assisted in his business by his son Seth Nemi Chand. The firm has branches at
Jaipur, Udaipur, Kotah, Karauli, Dholpur, Calcutta, Bombay, Mandsor, Agra, Gwalior,
.Nimach, and other places.

(3) Rai Seth Chand Mai, a Jain Oswal, belongs to a family which three generations-
ago, being then settled at Riyan, received the hereditary style of Seth from the Raja of
Marwar. Seth Hamir Mai, the father of the present representative, was well known in his
time, and Seth Chand Mat's position and services as a member of the Municipal Committee
of Ajmer and of the District Board and as an Honorary Magistrate gained him in 1877 the
title of Rai. The firm which own several zaminclari villages in the Central Provinces are
Government treasurers at Peshawar, Jalandhar, Hoshiyarpur, .Kangra, Sambhar, Sagar, and
Morar, and have branches at Bombay, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Mirzapur, Sagar, Rae Bareli,
Damoh, Jalandhar, Hoshiyarpur, Peshawar, Gwalior, Jodhpur, Jhansi, Indore, and other places.

(4) Bakhshi Khuman Singh, C.S.I., a pensioned official of Maharaja Holkar’s service, is
now residing at Ajmer, where he holds landed property. Born of a poor Gehlot family, he was
taken in 1834, when only four years old, by his father Kh'et Singh from his birthplace Bhilara,
in Mewar, to Indore. Khet Singh entered Holkar’s service and the son, after studying privately
and at the madrasa was, when fourteen years of age, appointed a Commandant in the army.
In 1852, when the Maharaja received his powers, Khuman Singh was appointed Bakhshi and
was subsequently presented with a jagir. In recognition of his loyalty and good service
during the Mutiny he v/as given a khilat of the value of R5,000 by the Viceroy at a Darbar
held at Jabalpur in 1861. He was afterwards a member of the Board of Education. He
visited England, the Continent of Europe, and Egypt in 1870, and was nominated a Companion
of the Star of India in 1877. Two years later he was appointed Commander-in-Chief and
Minister by Holkar from whose service he has now retired. Of his two sons, Fath Singh and
Ram Singh, the former has held posts of importance at Indore.*

* Bakhshi Khuman Singh has recently gone to Indore since this accouut was written, and it is not known if he will
return to Ajmer.

Government of India Central Printing Office—N o. 160 P. D.—30-11-94— 600,—[ H. E.j

• .
.