kinnaur Hitory - Banogyani

Tibetan Name: Khunu.
Leh Name: Maon.
Other Names: Kurpa.
Etymology: Kinner (किम् + नर:) / Kimpurusha = “What kind of human beings?”.
People: Known as Kinnauras, also called Khas or Khasia.

Amarkosa (Sanskrit Classic): Mentions Kinners as a divine race (demigods) alongside Gandharvas and Yakshas.
Vimanvathu (Sutpitak): 2nd–3rd Century B.C. text confirming Kinner habitation in the Western Himalayas.
Vayu Purana: Inhabitants of the Mahanand Mountains.
Kalidasa: Mentions them in ‘Kumarasmbhava’.
Mahabharata: Pandavas spent part of their 12-year exile here.
Ancient Kingdoms: Known as Kimpurushavarsha or Kimpurshavarata.
Literature Era: Strictly post-Vedic; habitat once stretched from Kashmir to Nepal.

Ethnic Stock: Khasas arrived before Vedic Aryans; shared similar origins.
Sub-sects: Kanait (or Kunait) resulted from Khasa-Kinner assimilation.
Rajput Divisions: Primarily Kanaits and Jads.
Dialects:
- Tibetan influence: Hangrang Valley and Indo-Tibet border.
- Non-Tibetan: Nichar tehsil and lower Sangla Valley.

Historical Status: Part of Rampur Bushahr state.
Mone/Maon: Names for Bushahr state; Kamru was its former seat.
Settlement (7th Century A.D.): Transition to settled life and trade with ‘Bhoteas’ of Tibet.
Lavi Fair: Born in Rampur Bushahr due to trade expansion between Rampur and Sangla markets.

7th–10th Century: Strong Buddhist influence under the Guge Empire (Tibet).
Empire Collapse: Last Bhot Emperor, Partampal (end of 12th Century), saw the empire crumble.
Thakurai Period: The region split into small “Thakurais” (valley/village units).
Historic Fort Ruins: Labrang, Morang, and Kamru (represent the defensive Thakurai age).
16th Century: Thakur of Mone defeated all rival Thakurs, unifying the tract and extending power to Rampur Bushahr.

Source: Three gods (devtas) appeared in Mathura-Anna Puran Vrindavan.
- Tapa Puran: Settled at Badri Nath.
- Anna Puran: Settled at Tehri Gharwal.
- Deva Puran: Occupied Kamru Badri Nath.
Conquests of Deva Puran: Liquidated the Thakurs of Kamru, Sangla, and Chini; exterminated the Chuling Thakur.
Foundation of the Dynasty: Deva Puran killed the ruler Banasur at Sarahan and crowned Praduman Singh (a Chandervamshi from Varanasi) at Kamru.
Tradition: Kamru remains the traditional site for crowning the state’s kings.

Historical Milestone: Official historical records of Bushahr begin with his reign.
Political Status: Established Bushahr as a Paramount Power among Shimla Hill states, alongside Bilaspur and Sirmaur.

Physical Trait: Known as ‘Ajanvahu’ (arms reaching knees while standing).
Mughal Recognition: Awarded the title ‘Chattarpati’ by Aurangzeb.
Military Success: Humbled the rulers of Garhwal, Sirmaur, Mandi, and Suket. Subdued the Thakurs of Keonthal, Kotkhai, Kumharsain, Balsan, Theog, and Darkoti.
Tibet Alliance: Aided Tibet in the Tibeto-Ladakhi Mughal War.
- Reward: Received Hangrang Valley as a Jagir and granted free trade rights with Tibet (active until 1962).

Flight to Kamru: Raja and Queen Mother fled Sarahan during Gurkha invasions, leaving the treasury behind.
Local Resistance: Led by Wazirs Tikka Ram and Badri Prasad.
- Decisive Battle: Fought at Chholtu bridge (near Chirgaon).
- Wangtu Bridge: Destroyed by locals to stop the Gurkha advance.
British Sanad (1815): Former territories restored except Rawin and Kotgarh (later traded by British to Keonthal in exchange for Shimla).

1857 Revolt: Act of defiance; refused help to the British (enraged DC William Hay).
1859 Revenue Revolt: People revolted against Munshi Ram Lal’s system; settled by G. Barnes.
Administrative Crisis: Pressurized to abdicate for Tikka Ragunath Singh (who ruled until 1898).
British Control: After Ragunath’s death, British appointed Rai Sahib Mangat Ram as Chief Wazir with full powers, bypassing the Raja.

Accession: Recognized as legitimate heir by the British on Nov 13, 1914.
Independence (1947): Ruling Raja at the time of freedom; initially reluctant to merge.
Merger Movement: Led by freedom fighter Master Annu Lal.
Key Official: Baldev Singh was the Dewan of the state.
Final Merger: In March 1948, Bushahr joined the Chief Commissioner’s province of Himachal Pradesh.