An historical sketch of the native states of India/Central India and Malwa

From Jatland Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The full text of this chapter has been converted into Wiki format by Laxman Burdak
Go to Index of the Book
An historical sketch of the native states of India

By Col. G. B. Malleson, Publisher: Longmans, Green & Co. London (1875)

Part VII - Chapter I: Central India and Malwa

Mediatized and Minor Chiefs.

[Page-352]

Although (writes Mr. Aitchison) there is very great diversity in the tenures of the guaranteed chiefs, they may all be divided into two great classes : those chiefs in the administration of whose affairs the interference of the feudal superior is excluded by the express terms of the guarantee, and those chiefs whose sunnuds contain no such stipulation ; and the policy of the British Government towards them is governed by the following general rules :

I. The guarantee given by the British Government descends in all cases to direct heirs.
II. When there are no direct heirs, the previous recognition by the British Government of an adopted heir is, as a rule, essential to the continuance of the guarantee ; with this previous sanction the guarantee descends to an adopted heir.
III. When this previous sanction has not been obtained, the guarantee does not descend to adopted heirs unless the adoption subsequently obtains the formal sanction of the British Government.
IV. When there are no heirs, direct or adopted, the escheat of the guaranteed estate or tankah is to the suzerain chief and not to the British Government.
V. When the interference of the feudal superior in the affairs of the subordinate chief is expressly barred by
1 The details contained in this Part have mostly been condensed from Mr. Aitchison's valuable work,'Treaties, Engagements, and Sunnuds relating to India.'
[Page-353]
the terms of the guarantee, the decision of all questions relating to succession, direct or by adoption, rests solely with the British Government.
VI. When there are direct heirs to an estate or tankah, the sunnud for which does not expressly bar the interference of the suzerain chief, the decision regarding the succession and the continuance of the guarantee rests solely with the British Government; but the superior chief has a right to be heard if he has any reasonable objections to bring either (a) to the legitimacy, or (6) the direction of the descent.
VII. When there are no direct heirs to such an estate or tankah, and the British Government sanction the succession of an adopted heir, the feudal superior is entitled to a patient hearing of his claim to the escheat ; but he has no concurrent authority with the British Government in deciding the question of succession, nor, where a British guarantee is involved, can he take any steps in recognition of an adopted heir prior to and independently of, the preliminary action of the British Government.
VIII Tankahdars have no power over the tankahs beyond their own lines, and no right to burden them with sums payable after their death.
IX. When the terms of the guarantee exclude the interference of the superior chief, the subordinate chief is not subject to the payment of nuzzerana. In other cases, a nuzzerana equal to one-fourth of the net revenue of the guaranteed estate or tankah may be levied by the superior chief on the occurrence of a succession by adoption to the guaranteed estate or tankah. On such occasions the superior chief gives to the subordinate a dress of honour equal to one-fourth of the nuzzerana.
X. None of the mediatized chiefs have power of life and death. They must submit all trials for heinous crimes and all sentences of death or transportation or imprisonment for life to the local officer of the British Government.
[Page-354]

1. Central India And Malwa.

Mediatized and Guaranteed Chiefs.
  • Ratlam, Raja of; descended from Ratna, seventh son of Udai Singh, Raja of Jodhpur, to whom Ratlam was granted by the Emperor Shah Jehan. Area, 500 square miles ; population, 94,839 ; revenue, 3,64,064 rupees ; tribute, 84,000 Salim Shahi rupees, equal to 66,150 of British currency.
  • Sillana, Raja of; originally a part of Ratlam, from the chiefs of which the Raja is descended (1709). Area, 103 square miles ; population, 88,978 ; revenue, 2,49,000 ; tribute, 42,000 rupees.
  • Sitamau, Raja of; also originally a part of Ratlam, from the chiefs of which this Raja is descended (1660). Area, 95 square miles ; population, 20,000 ; revenue, 1,50,000 rupees ; pays a tribute of 55,000 Salim Shahi rupees to Sindhia.
  • Jamasca, Thakur of; holds several villages in quit -rent tenure, and receives tankah2 from Sindhia, Holkar, and Dewas ; possesses also lands under Sindhia and Holkar, for which he has no sunnuds.
  • Naolana, Thakur of; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar, and holds certain villages in jaghire, for which he has no sunnuds.
  • Sheogarh, Thakur of ; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar.
  • Dabri, Thakur of ; receives tankahs from Sindhia.
  • Bichrod, Thakur of ; receives tankahs from Sindhia, Holkar, and Dewas ; holds a small amount of land in jaghire under Sindhia, for which he has no sunnud.
  • Kalukhera, Rao of; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar ; holds also certain villages under Sindhia.
  • Narwar, Thakur of; receives tankahs from Sindhia, Holkar, and Dewas, and three villages from Sindhia in quit-rent tenure.
1 Thakur, a lord, hereditary landowner.
2 Tunkah, originally forced tribute ; now, an allowance for superintendence of the villages for which it is paid.

[Page-355]
  • Salgarh, Thakur of ; receives tankahs from Sindhia, Holkar, and Dewas; holds also villages in jaghire and in quit-rent - tenure.
  • Piplia, Thakur of; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar.
  • Naogong, Thakur of; receives a tankah from Sindhia, and holds small lands from him in jaghire.
  • Dutana, Thakur of ; is in a position similar to the preceding.
  • Ajraoda, Thakur of; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar.
  • Dhulatia, Thakur of ; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar, and holds lands in jaghire in the Mehidpur district.
  • Bichrod, Thakur of; receives tankah from Sindhia, and holds in quit-rent tenure half the village of Bichrod, paying Sindhia an annual rent for the same.
  • Biloda, Thakur of; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar, and holds the village of Biloda in quit-rent tenure under Holkar.
  • Burdia, Rao of ; receives tankahs from Sindhia, Holkar, and Dewas ; also holds villages in jaghire and quit-rent tenure, and one from Sindhia in perpetual tenure at a fixed rent.
  • Alirajpur, Raja of; pays a tribute of 10,000 rupees per annum to Dhar, through the British Government, The Raja is a Rajput.
  • Jhabua, Raja of; descended from the royal family of Jodhpur; did good service during the mutinies. Area, 1,500 square miles ; population, 55,000, chiefly Bhils ; revenue, 1,23,000 rupees, of which 35,000 rupees accrue to Holkar from districts held by him.
  • Mota Burkhera, Bhumia of; holds villages under various tenures, paying tankah to Dhar and Sindhia.
  • Kali Bauri, Bhumia of; holds several villages, paying tankah to Dhar ; receives an annual sum for protecting the district of Dhurrumpuri from robberies, and receives tankah from Sindhia for the village of Bikanir.
1 For Bhumia, vide Appendix F.
[Page-356]
  • Multan, Thakur of ; a vassal of the Dhar state, to which he pays a tribute of 18,044 Half rupees, and makes reports.
  • Kachi Baroda, Thakur of ; is in a similar position ; his tribute is 9,459 rupees.
  • Bukhtgarh, Raja of; is in a similar position; the amount of his tribute is 16,502 rupees.
  • Baisola or Dotra, Thakur of; is in a similar position ; his tribute amounts to 2,501 rupees.
  • Narwar, Raja of; possesses under Sindhia the district of Parone and six villages. He joined the rebels in 1857, but surrendered on condition of a free pardon and suitable maintenance being granted him. His former possessions were restored.
  • Khaltoun, Thakurs of; own three villages under Sindhia, yielding 4,000 rupees annually, on condition of serving the Grovernment faithfully and protecting the high road.
  • Sirsi, Chief of; receives three-fourths of the district of Sirsi, on certain fixed conditions.
  • Raghogarh, Rajas, now Thakurs of; representatives of the third of the twenty-four branches of the Chohan race, called Kychi, one of the oldest families in India. After many reverses of fortune, the Kychiwara lands were divided (1843) amongst the three brothers, representatives of the family, one receiving fifty-two villages, bringing in a rental of 15,000 rupees ; the second, thirty-two villages with 8,000 ; the third, one hundred and twenty villages, supposed to yield a revenue of 31,555 rupees. Certain formal conditions were attached by Sindhia, their liege lord, to the first two allotments, but no sunnud would appear to have been granted for the third.
  • Baroda or Sheopur, Raja of; a Rajput and a vassal of Sindhia. He holds twelve villages.
  • Burra, Thakur of; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar, amounting to 5,400 rupees.
  • Barudpura, Bhumia of; receives 500 rupees annually for protecting from robberies that part of the district of Dharmpuri which lies between the Man and Karan rivers ; holds three villages from Dhar, and one in Mandu, paying 367 rupees annually.
[Page-357]
from Holkar for several districts, and pays him 751 rupees for a village ; pays 652 rupees to Sindhia for five villages, for which, however, no engagement is forthcoming ; he received the villages of Dhar on a quit-rent of 150 rupees, and receives 65 rupees from that state on condition of being responsible for robberies in a portion of the Dharmpuri districts.
  • Rajgarh, Bhumia of; pays Dhar 101 rupees for a village in Dharmpuri, and receives 500 rupees from that district to be answerable for all robberies therein ; receives also 50 rupees from Holkar for Hashpur on similar conditions.
  • Ghurri, or Bhysa Kheri, Bhumia of ; holds certain villages in Dharmpuri ; pays a small annual sum for the same on condition of being responsible for robberies effected in them and within others specified.
  • Sillani and Bukhtgurh, Thakurs of; receive tankahs of 4,038 rupees from Sindhia, and of 778 from Holkar ; also a monthly assignment of 400 rupees from the British Government in continuation of an agreement made in 1820. They also receive annually 1,350 rupees as zamindari dues; 250 rupees from rent-free lands, and 1,100 rupees from other sources.
  • Khangarh, Raja of: holds a jaghir from Sindhia of seventeen villages, bringing in an annual income of 800 rupees.
  • Jumti, Turvis of ; hold from Sindhia a village which, with cash allowance granted by him, brings in 1,900 rupees a year.
  • Chota Kasrawal, Chiefs of; holds in life tenure from the British Government the village of Chota Kusrawul, subject to a payment of 1,699 rupees per annum; receives dues from other sources in Nimar aggregating 8,500 rupees per annum ; and inams and dues elsewhere amounting annually to 28,000 rupees.
  • Pithari. Thakur of; receives a tankah of 4,835 rupees from Dewas, under which he holds twelve villages ; also one of 2,687 rupees from Sindhia, and one of 1,145 rupees from Holkar.
  • Bagli, Thakur of, a dependant of Sindhia ; holds fourteen villages on a quit-rent of 6,471 rupees per annum ; and nine other villages at a fixed rent. The time has expired, and it is possible these may have been resumed.
  • Karodia, Thakurs of; enjoy from Sindhia, Holkar, and Bhopal tankahs amounting to 3,427 rupees per annum ; they
[Page-358]
received, in 1838, from Sindhia the village of Khairi Rajpura as blood money. They also hold other villages on quit-rent ; but the amount paid is small, and is not guaranteed.
  • Tonk, Thakur of; receives tankahs from Sindhia, Holkar, and Dewas, aggregating 9,140 rupees per annum; holds a village and some lands from Sindhia and Holkar, not guaranteed.
  • Patharea, Thakur of; holds one village on a quit-rent of 701 rupees.
  • Dhungong, Chief of ; holds thirty-six villages from Sindhia, on payment of 1,001 rupees per annum; receives tankahs from Sindhia and Holkar aggregating 1,540 rupees.
  • Singhana, Thakur of ; pays to the British Government 240 rupees and to Holkar 56 rupees as tankah ; received a life grant of three villages.
  • Bai, Thakur of; for maintaining the security of the Simrol Pass receives annually a cash payment of 750 rupees, and pays to Holkar 52 rupees 10 annas as collection dues.
  • Mayne, Chief of; seven of the adherents of this chief receive from Holkar two villages on rent, subject after the seventh year to a payment of two rupees per bigah l on condition that the chief made no further collection on passengers and goods between Man and Jam, and was responsible for all robberies, &c. For this purpose they receive 50 rupees per mensem.
  • Dhawra Kanjara, Chief of ; receives 80 rupees per mensem for the protection of the roads between Simrol Ghat and Sigwar.
  • Raggogarh, Thakur of: receives a family allowance of 1,500 rupees from the chiefs of Dewas ; holds a village from Sindhia on a quit-rent of 250 rupees per annum. Neither grant is guaranteed.
  • Kaytha, Thakur of; receives 1,427 rupees per annum from the chiefs of Dewas.
  • Phungat, Thakur of ; holds Phungat and twelve villages from the British Government, subject to an annual payment of 401 rupees; received a tankah of 112 rupees from Sindhia, and subsequently another of 32 rupees.
  • Bagli, Thakur of, a dependant of Sindhia ; holds fourteen villages on a quit-rent of 6,471 rupees per annum ; and nine other villages at a fixed rent. The time has expired, and it is possible these may have been resumed.
  • Karodia, Thakurs of; enjoy from Sindhia, Holkar, and Bhopal tankahs amounting to 3,427 rupees per annum ; they
1 Varies from one third to two thirds of an acre.
[Page-359]

Petty chiefs immediately dependent on the British Government.

  • Kurwai, Nawab of; rules over a territory having an area of square miles; a population numbering 22,349, and returning a revenue of 75,000 rupees ; pays neither tankah nor tribute.
  • Mahomedgurh, Nawab of ; pays neither tankah nor tribute ; of the same family as the preceding ; area of country, 80 square miles ; population, 4,000 ; revenue, 7,000 rupees.
  • Basonda, Chief of; the state is an offshoot from Mahomedgurh; area, 68 square miles; population, 5,000 : revenue, 7,000 rupees.

Mediatized and Guaranteed Chiefs.

  • Rajgarh, Rawat of; belongs to the inferior class of Rajputs. The state, which for the misconduct of the family had been taken under the management of the British Government, was restored free of debt in 1856. The revenues amount to about two lakhs of rupees, of which 85,000 Chanderi rupees are paid to Sindhia for certain villages, and 1,050 rupees of the Kota currency to Jhalawur for another. On the other hand lie receives annually from Sindhia a tankah of 3,187 rupees.
  • Narsingarh, Chief of ; draws a revenue of about 3,25,000 rupees, and expends about 2,25,000 per annum ; pays a tribute of 85,000 Bhopal rupees to Holkar, and receives from Sindhia and Dewas tankahs aggregating 6,301 rupees per annum.
  • Khilchipur, Dewan of; pays a tribute of 13,138 Half rupees to Sindhia. Area of the territory, 204 square miles ; population, 35,500; revenue, 83,317 rupees.
  • Pathari, Nawab of; administers a small territory of 22 square miles, with a population of six, and a revenue of three, thousand.
  • Agra Burkhera, Thakur of; holds a grant of twelve villages from Sindhia, for which he pays 1,001 rupees annually as quit-rent ; receives a tankah of 300 rupees from Kurwar.
  • Dubla Dhir, Thakur of; receives tankahs from Holkar, Sindhia, Dewas, and Bhopal, aggregating 4,250 rupees annually ; holds also three villages in Shujawulpur, for which he pays annually a quit-rent of 1,401 rupees.
  • Duria Kheri, Thakur of; receives from Sindhia, Dewas, and Bhopal, tankahs aggregating 4,480 rupees ; holds also two villages in Shujawulpur on a quit-rent of 925 rupees per annum.
[Page-360]
  • Kumalpur, Thakur of; receives 4,600 rupees as tankah from Sindhia ; holds one village in Shujawulpur on a quit-rent of 700 rupees annually.
  • Dubla Ghosi, Thakur of; receives from Sindhia, Dewas, and Bhopal, tankah s aggregating 5,000 rupees ; holds a village in Shujawulpur on a quit-rent of 1,054 rupees.
  • Khursia, Thakur of; receives from Sindhia a tankah of 1,750 Half rupees per annum.
  • Jhalera, Thakur of; receives from Sindhia a tankah of 1,200 Hall rupees per annum.
  • Hirapur, Rao of; receives from Holkar, Sindhia, and Bhopal, tankahs aggregating 6,449 rupees per annum. He holds also two villages on a perpetual rent of 600 rupees.
  • Ramgarh, Thakurani of; receives from Holkar, Sindhia, Dewas, and Bhopal, tankahs aggregating 8,615 rupees.
  • Kakurkheri, Thakur of ; receives a tankah of 800 rupees ; holds a village in Shujawulpur on a quit-rent of 171 rupees 8 annas.
  • Sutatea, Jaghirdar of; holds in Rajgurh a lease of twelve villages, for which he pays a tankah of 3,400 rupees to the chief of that state.
  • Jabria Bhil, Chiefs of; the descendants of the brother of the notorious Pindari Kheetu. On the death of the brother the estate was divided amongst his five sons, with whom and their children it remains.
Go to Index of the Book
End of Part VII - Chapter I: Central India and Malwa
Retrieved from "http://www.jatland.com/w/index.php?title=An_historical_sketch_of_the_native_states_of_India/Central_India_and_Malwa&oldid=285650"