solan history

BAGHAT STATE: COMPREHENSIVE NOTES

1. Geographical Profile & Etymology

• Boundaries: It lies 20 miles south and west of Shimla, extending from Solan to Subathu and Kasauli.
• Name Origin: The name is derived from the hilly words Bau or Bahu (meaning “many”) and Ghat (meaning “pass”), as the region contained many places known as Ghat. The state was officially named Baghat by Rana Inder Pal, a name it retained until its merger with Himachal Pradesh in 1948.

2. Foundation & Early Expansion

• Founder: Basant Pal (or Hari Chand Pal), a Panwar Rajput from Dharana Giri in the Deccan, who acquired the land by conquest.
• Capital: He settled at Basantpur, presently called ‘Bassi’, near the ‘Jiaonaji’ temple.
• Initial Conquests:
  • The founder took the Keonthal Pargana from Mavi by force of arms.
  • His son, Baksh Pal, annexed the parganas of Basal, Bhuchali, and Gharoli.
• Further Expansions:
  • Rana Bhavani Pal added the pargana of Bachharang (from Patiala) and the territory of the Rana of Kasauli.
  • Rana Inder Pal added the parganas of Basal, Ghar, and Taksal from Patiala.

3. 18th Century & The Gurkha Period

• Rana Janmai Pal (Dalel Singh): The 68th ruler from Basant Pal, considered a great man who was presented a Khillat by the Emperor of Delhi.
• Conflict & Independence: Rana Sarandhar Pal temporarily lost ‘Ghar’ and ‘Taksal’ to the Singhpuria Sirdar but later recovered them.
• The state regained its independence from its feudatory, Bilaspur state, around 1790 A.D..
• Gurkha Rule: Rana Mahender Singh remained undisturbed during twelve years of Gurkha rule because he was an ally of the Bilaspur Raja, who had invited the Gurkhas. He also maintained relations with Gurkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa.
• British Intervention: When British forces under General Ochterlony drove the Gurkhas out, eight parganas were confiscated from Rana Mahender Singh due to his Gurkha ties and sold to Patiala for Rs. 1,30,000, heavily reducing Baghat’s area.

4. The Era of Escheat & Annexation (1839–1862)

• 1839 First Escheat: Rana Mahender Singh died issueless, causing the state to lapse to the government, with a pension of Rs. 1,282/- sanctioned for his family.
• 1842 Restoration: Represented by cousin Umed Singh, the state was restored to Vijay Singh, Mahender Singh’s brother. The Kasauli Pargana was taken over for the cantonment in lieu of Rs. 5,000 and an annual charge of Rs. 500 (which was not revived during the 1861 restoration).
• 1849 Second Escheat: Vijay Singh died without a male heir, and Lord Dalhousie annexed Baghat under the Doctrine of Lapse.
• Resolution: Umed Singh pursued the claim in England for thirteen years. Lord Canning recommended his claim in 1860, and it was officially recognized in 1862, just hours before Umed Singh’s death.

5. Later Rulers & Land Concessions

• Rana Dalip Singh (1861–1911):
  • Succeeded Umed Singh at the age of two in 1862 with an imposed annual tribute of Rs. 2,000/-.
  • In 1863, lands for the Solan cantonment were acquired by the British, reducing the tribute to Rs. 603/- per annum.
  • In 1876, the Rana purchased General Innes’s estate for Rs. 35,000/-, which was formally returned to Baghat in 1891.
  • Starting in 1901, jurisdiction over lands for the Kalka-Shimla Railway, various cantonments, and waterworks was ceded, gradually reducing the tribute to zero by 1931.
  • A well-educated ruler, he received the K.C.I.E. in 1896 and offered his services for the 1904 Tibet mission.
• Raja Durga Singh (1911–1948):
  • Succeeded in 1911 and granted full ruling powers in 1922.
  • Elected as a Member of the Chamber of Princes in 1933 and granted the C.I.E. in 1939.
  • Granted the hereditary title of ‘Raja’ in 1928, making him the final ruler of the state to enjoy this privilege.
  • The state maintained a force of 36 Armed Police during his reign. He died on March 30, 1977.

Here are the comprehensive and final notes on Baghal (Arki) State, synthesized from all the provided historical texts.

BAGHAL (ARKI) STATE: COMPREHENSIVE NOTES

1. Geographical Profile

• Boundaries: Bounded by Mangal (North), Dhami and Kunihar (East), the plains of Ambala (South), and Hindur/Nalagarh (West).
• Terrain: The majority of the state lies in the exceptionally fertile basin of a Gambhar river tributary, sloping from the wider northern mountains down to Sairi and Subathu.

2. Foundation & Origins

• Founder: Founded by ‘Aje Dev‘, a Panwar Rajput who originally came from Ujjain.
• Clan & Lineage: The ruling family belonged to the ‘Bagalia’ clan and strictly maintained blood purity by marrying frequently with the Bilaspur (Kahlur) family. The rulers initially held the title ‘Rana’.
• Early Capital Shifts: Aje Dev first settled in the village of ‘Sairi’. The capital shifted multiple times (Damras, Darla, Dhundhan, Dughli, Damraj) before returning to ‘Dhundhan’ in A.D. 1300.

3. Key Early Rulers (17th–18th Century)

• Rana Sabha Chand (c. 1640–1670): The first ruler of notable record; he permanently made ‘Arki’ the state capital in A.D. 1643.
• Rana Mehr Chand (born A.D. 1702): A notable patron of painters. Portraits depict him with an aquiline nose, which was a generic physical feature of the Arki ruling family.
• Rana Bhup Chand (1734–1778): A brave leader remembered for waging battles against neighboring Bilaspur and Nalagarh.

4. The Gurkha Occupation (1803–1815)

• Invasion: Baghal was overrun by the Gurkhas during the reign of Rana Jagat Singh (1778–1828).
• Exile: Rana Jagat Singh took refuge in Nalagarh for seven years.
• Gurkha Headquarters: The Gurkhas used Arki as their headquarters for their invasion of the western Himalayas, fighting Kangra Chief Sansar Chand II and Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• Legacy: The Gurkha reputation for extreme revenge gave rise to the local proverb, “jo gurkhyan te bache, so bache” (“living are they who lived when the Gurkhas left”).
• Restoration: Following the 1815 Anglo-Gurkha war, the British restored Baghal to Rana Jagat Singh via a sanad. The state was bound to provide active assistance in war, and the Rana’s death sentences required confirmation by the Superintendent of Shimla Hill States.

5. british rule

• Rana Shiv Saran Singh (1828–1840):
  • Built the Diwankhana at Arki.
  • In 1828, he sheltered Raja Anirudh Chand of Kangra, who was fleeing the Sikhs to avoid marrying his sisters to the son of Dhian Singh Dogra.
• Raja Kishan Singh (1840–1876): A patron of building and painting who reconstructed the Arki Bazar and decorated the Diwankhana. He sent 40 men under his brother Mian Jai Singh to aid the British during the 1857 revolt, earning the title of ‘Raja’ and a Khilat in 1860.
• Dhian Singh (1877–1904): Considered highly capable, he succeeded after a family dispute. Local revolts during his reign led to British intervention in 1902.
• Tikka Bikram Singh (1904–1922): His reign saw a major revolt by the Kanet population in 1905, which was crushed with British assistance.
• Surinder Singh (1922–1945): Under his rule, the state was freed from nazarana levies after the 1911 coronation Durbar. He maintained a local force of 25 infantry but was allowed no salute.
• Rajendra Singh (1945–1948): The final ruler of Baghal before its integration.

6. Art, Architecture, & Customs

• Painting Style: The Arki painting style was heavily influenced by, and derived from, the Kahlur style due to the family’s marriages into Bilaspur. Many original paintings were destroyed by Gurkha forces.
• Architecture:
  • The Haveli (built 1880) is an excellent, perfectly proportioned example of Rajputana architecture.
  • The Diwankhana (decorated 1850) is famous for its unique side-by-side frescoes: the walls feature a coarse Kangra style, while the pillars feature an 18th-century European style.
• Religion & Festivals: Arki is home to six main temples, the most prominent being the Lakshmi Narayan (Vishnu) temple, whose deity was likely brought by the founder. Notably, the festival of Holi is not officially celebrated in Arki because a former chief died during the festival.

KUNIHAR STATE: QUICK NOTES

• Geography: Smallest regional state (15 sq. miles); 35km west of Shimla; headquarters at Hatkoti.
• Foundation: Founded 1154 A.D. by Abhoj Deo (from akhnoor , Jammu).
• Early History: 16th-century ruler Keso Rai was weak and lost territory to neighbors.
• British Era: Post-Gurkha, Thakur Mungeree Dass was confirmed. A 5-begari tribute was commuted to Rs. 180/year.
• Succession: Mungeree Dass (d. 1816) ➔ Kishan Singh (d. 1866) ➔ Rana Tegh Singh (1866–1905).
• Final Rulers: Thakur Hardeo Singh (last official ruler, d. 1964)

KUTHAR STATE: COMPREHENSIVE NOTES

1. Geographical Profile

• Location:located east of Subathu.
• Area: Covered approximately 20 square miles (around 33 sq. km).

2. Foundation & Early History

• Founder: Founded by ‘Surat Chand‘, a Rajput from Kishtwar in Kashmir who fled from Mohammedan invaders.
• Pre-Foundation Era: In its early stages, the territory was divided among five Mavis who ruled at Ghar, Sheel, Gharuth, and Feta. They had likely migrated from the plains and adopted the title Mavi.
• Establishment: Surat Chand defeated these Mavis to establish the state of Kuthar.
• Early Allegiances: In its early history, Kuthar appears to have been a tributary to Nalagarh and Bilaspur at different times.

3. The Gurkha Invasion & British Restoration

• Pre-Invasion Status: At the time of the Gurkha invasion, Kuthar was a tributary to Keonthal and was ruled by Rana Gopal Chand.
• The Invasion: Unable to face the Gurkha onslaught, Rana Gopal Chand fled to Manimajra in the Ambala district. He died on his way back to Kuthar at the end of the war.
• Restoration (1815): The state was conferred upon his son, Rana Bhup Chand.
• Sanad Obligations: The sanad granted to Bhup Chand initially prescribed the maintenance of 40 begaris for government service. This was later reduced to 30, and eventually commuted to an annual cash payment of Rs. 1,000/-.

4. Later Rulers & Administration

• Rana Jai Chand (1858–1896):
  • Succeeded his father, Rana Bhup Chand, upon his death in 1858.
  • He was granted a Khilat of Rs. 600/- in consideration of the services rendered by the state during the 1857 mutiny.
  • In 1895, the state was on the verge of bankruptcy. The government appointed Mian Durga Singh of Kotkhai as wazir, who administered the state for two years.
• Rana Jagjit Chand (1896–1930):
  • Succeeded his father, Jai Chand, in 1896, but officially occupied the throne only in June 1908.
  • He maintained a force of 12 armed police.
  • During his reign, the state was liable for nazarana rules up to 1911, when all such levies were abolished during the coronation Darbar.
  • He abdicated the throne in 1930 due to ill health in favor of his son, Rana Kishan Chand.
• Rana Kishan Chand:
  • Founded ‘Jagjeet Nagar’ near Kuthar in memory of his father.

5. Post-Independence Integration

• Merger: Kuthar was merged with Baghat on April 15, 1948.
• District Reorganization: It remained a part of the Mahasu district until August 1972, after which it became a part of the Solan district.

MEHLOG STATE: QUICK NOTES

1. Geography & Origin

• The state was located between 30° 52′ and 31° 5′ North and 76° 52′ and 76° 58′ East.
• It covered an area of 43 square miles (70 sq km).
• It was situated 39 miles South-West of Shimla, at the foot of Kasauli Hill, between Nalagarh and Kuthar.
• The state was founded by Raja of Ayodhya Bir Chand (or Hari Chand), who had visited Mansarover lake in Tibet.
• The founder first settled at ‘Patta’, a village near the Nalagarh border.

2. Early History & Conflicts

• In 1612 A.D., Raja Uttam Chand was defeated by the Raja of Sirmaur and lost his territory.
• He recovered the state with the help of his father-in-law, the Rana of Keonthal.
• Following this, he shifted the capital to ‘Kot Gharsi’.
• In 1780, Khoshala conspired with a Brahmin named Devi Saran to poison the chief, Prithvi Singh.
• Khoshala ascended the throne with Kahlur State’s help and accepted the overlordship of Bilaspur over Keonthal.
• During the rule of Khoshaal Chand (also known as Ajit Chand), the Raja of Kangra annexed 9 or 10 Parganas and handed them to Baghat.
• Consequently, the Mehlog chief’s title was downgraded from ‘Raja’ to ‘Rana’.

3. Gurkha Occupation & Restoration

• During the Gurkha occupation from 1803 to 1815, Thakur Sansar Chand sought refuge with Raja Ram Saran of Hindur.
• The British restored the state to him via a sanad in 1815.
• The sanad imposed a tribute of Rs. 1,440/- and wartime service conditions.
• An additional obligation to supply 40 begaris was later commuted to an annual cash payment.

4. Later Rulers & Integration

• Succession Line: Thakur Sansar Chand (died 1849) ➔ Dalip Chand (died 1880) ➔ Raghunath Chand (died 1902).
• Raghunath Chand was granted the title of ‘Rana’ as a personal distinction.
• His son, Durga Chand (1902–1934), succeeded him and was recognized by the title ‘Thakur’.
• During Durga Chand’s minority, a council ruled until 1908 when disturbances led to the appointment of a manager.
• Durga Chand received his full powers in 1920, and his reign is famous for disturbances.
• Rana Narender Chand Sisodia (born October 1921) succeeded in 1934 and was the final ruler of the Patta-Mehlog princely state.
• Mehlog was merged with Himachal Pradesh on April 15, 1948, becoming part of the Solan tehsil in the Mahasu district.
• The state was subject to Nazarana levies until they were abolished at the 1911 coronation Darbar.

Here are the comprehensive and final notes on Beja State, synthesized from the historical texts provided:

BEJA STATE: COMPREHENSIVE NOTES

1. Geographical Profile

• Location & Size: A tiny state in the Shimla Hills covering an area of just 4 square miles (7 sq km).
• Boundaries: Bounded by Patiala and Kasauli to the East (with parts of Patiala also in the South), Kuthar state to the South, and Mehlog to the West.

2. Foundation & Early History

• Founder: Founded by a Rajput of the Tunar Gotra who originally hailed from the neighborhood of Delhi.
• Genealogy: The official family tree of the rulers begins with Raja Dhol Chand.
• Expansion: Gharav Chand, the 43rd descendant of the Dholpal family, attacked the Rana of Bhauch, annexed his state, and captured Beja.
• Independence: Beja remained a tributary of Kahlur (Bilaspur) for many years. It finally declared its independence in 1790 after Hindur defeated Kahlur in battle.

3. The Gurkha Period & British Era

• Gurkha Invasion: Man Chand (also referred to as Bishan Chand) was the chief during the Gurkha invasion period (1773–1817).
• Herbal Medicine Expertise: Man Chand had extensive knowledge of herbs and medicines. He treated many Gurkha soldiers, earning the favor of Gurkha Chief Amar Singh Thapa, who granted him a sanad for his state.
• British Alliance: Later, Man Chand assisted the British in expelling the Gurkhas from the territory.
• Restoration & Tributes: The British restored the state to him under the title of Thakur. The sanad imposed an obligation to supply 5 begaris, which was later commuted to an annual cash payment of Rs. 180.
• Kasauli Cantonment Compensation: In 1892, this annual payment was reduced to Rs. 50 as compensation for a small area of Beja’s land that was incorporated into the Kasauli cantonment.

4. Later Rulers & Post-Independence Integration

• Laxmi Chand (Final Ruler): Laxmi Chand (born March 21, 1916) succeeded his father in 1939. He married the daughter of the ruler of Darkoti.
• Merger: Beja state was officially merged with the then Solan tehsil of the Mahasu district on April 15, 1948.

MANGAL STATE: COMPREHENSIVE NOTES

1. Geographical Profile

• Location & Size: A small state covering an area of 12 square miles (20 square kilometers).
• Coordinates: Situated between 31° 18′ and 31° 22′ North, and 76° 55′ and 77° 1′ East.
• Setting: Located on the banks of the Satluj river near Bilaspur, to which it was once a tributary.

2. Foundation & Origins

• Founder: Founded by an ‘Attri Rajput’ who originally hailed from ‘Marwar’.
• Establishment: The founder Raja was in the service of the Raja of Kahlur (Bilaspur) and was known for his extreme bravery and loyalty. As a token of appreciation for these qualities, the Kahlur Raja gifted him the Mangal state.
• Etymology: The state acquired its name from Mangal Singh, the son of the founder Raja.

3. The Gurkha Period & British Era

• Independence: The state officially became independent following the expulsion of the Gurkhas in 1815.
• Sanad & Tributes: Upon the Gurkhas’ expulsion, Rana Bahadur Singh was granted an independent sanad. The initial obligation to supply begaris imposed by this sanad was later commuted to an annual cash payment of Rs. 72/-.

4. Line of Succession

• Rana Bahadur Singh was succeeded by his son, Prithvi Singh.
• Prithvi Singh had three sons: Rana Jodh Singh, Ajit Singh, and Jagat Singh.
• Rana Jodh Singh died issueless in 1844 and was succeeded by his brother, Ajit Singh.
• Rana Ajit Singh had three sons: Tilak Singh, Mian Nihal Singh (died 1916), and Mian Khajan Singh (died 1911). He died in 1892 and was succeeded by Tilak Singh.
• Tilak Singh died in 1920 and was succeeded by his son, Shiv Singh. Shiv Singh had two sons: Tikka Vir Singh and Kanwar Singh (born in 1926).

5. Later Administration & Merger

• Rana Shiv Singh’s Rule: He exercised sovereign powers, though this was subject to the usual political supervision of the Superintendent of the Hill States.
• Nazarana Levies: The state was liable to the operation of Nazarana rules up until 1911, when all such levies were abolished on the occasion of the coronation Durbar.
• Loss of Rights: In 1921, the British government took away all rights of Rana Shiv Singh to rule over the state. Subsequently, Lala Bhagwan Dass, the Wazir of Baghal state, was appointed as the wazir of Mangal state.
• Merger: On April 15, 1948, Mangal was merged with Arki and officially became a part of Himachal Pradesh.

NALAGARH (HINDUR) STATE: COMPREHENSIVE NOTES

1. Geographical Profile

• Location: Situated in the Shimla Hills
• Boundaries: Bounded by Kahlur (Bilaspur) on the North, Baghal (Arki) on the North-East, minor Shimla Hill states on the South-East, and the Punjab plains of Ropar on the South and West.
• Terrain: The Nalagarh Valley is a strip bordered by the eroded Shivalik range to the South/South-West and outer Himalayan spurs to the North-East.

2. Origins & Naming

• Ancestry: Chiefs of Hindur trace their origin to a common Chandel Rajput ancestor from ‘Garh Chanderi’, shared with Kahlur and ‘Chaneni’ (Jammu Hills).
• Capital: The fort at ‘Ramshahr’ was erected as a capital when the Chandel families were still united, commanding views of the plains and Chamba peaks; it was later expanded by Rajas Agar Singh and Ram Saran.
• Naming: Anciently known as Hindur; it acquired the name ‘Nalagarh’ in the 15th century following the foundation of the chief town of the same name.

3. Early History & Rulers

• Vijay Chand (c. 1201 A.D.): Ascended as an infant; his mother (the Rani) administered the state and successfully suppressed a Kanet revolt.
• Dham Chand (d. 1236 A.D.): Ruled for nearly 35 years and suppressed a second Kanet revolt.
• Alam Chand (1356–1406): Ruled during Taimur Lang’s 1398 invasion; he saved the state by providing full help and paying rich tributes to the invader.

mughals period

• Raja Narayan Chand (1477–1522): Refused a marriage proposal from the Raja of Nurpur, who subsequently married his daughter to the Raja of Kahlur and provoked an attack on Hindur, resulting in the loss of ‘Satgarh fort’.
• Raja Ram Chand (1522–1568): A lover of architecture who built ‘Ramgarh’ fort and established ‘Ramshahar’ as the state’s summer capital.
• Raja Sansar Chand (1568–1618): Built a beautiful palace in Nalagarh and repaired the ancient ‘Sarovar Kala Kund’.
• Raja Dharam Chand (1618–1701): Emerged victorious in two conflicts against Aurangzeb’s soldiers.

2. Bilaspur Conflict & 18th Century Turmoil

• Bilaspur War (1630 A.D.): A fort built by Kalian Chand of Bilaspur on the Hindur border led to a war in which the Hindur Raja was killed. His Rani entrusted the infant prince to the protection of Kalian Chand, who acted as the prince’s guardian until he came of age.
• Raja Himmat Chand (1701–1705): Died on the battlefield fighting Pathan invaders.
• Factional Strife (Post-1756): Raja Man Chand’s reign was marked by intense factional conflict between Mattiana Kanets and Thuana Kanets. Man Chand and his son were assassinated by Padam Chand, who was later killed by the Mattianas.
• Raja Gaje Singh (1761–1788): Installed as Raja by Devi Chand of Kahlur after local leaders failed to find a consensus, though state gazetteers credit a Sikh named Bhai Kharak Singh with reconciling the factions to bring him to power. He is regarded as the founder of the present dynasty.

3. Raja Ram Saran (Reigned until 1848)

• Military Expansion: Possessed a “venturesome spirit” and expanded his territory from Palasi to Mattiana and east to Ajmergarh on the Yamuna.
• Conflict with Gurkhas: Allied with Sansar Chand of Kangra, he resisted the 1805 Gurkha invasion but was eventually expelled to ‘Basal’ in Hoshiarpur and later Palasi.
• British Alliance: During the 1814 war, he assisted General Ochterlony against the Gurkhas; following the expulsion of the Gurkha forces, he was reinstated in his ancestral estates.
• Final Years: He notably refused to reclaim previously annexed territories after the war. He died in 1848 at the age of eighty-six.

NALAGARH (HINDUR) STATE: FINAL NOTES (SUCCESSION ONWARDS)

1. Succession & Administration (1848–1911)

• Following Raja Ram Saran’s death in 1848, his son Raja Bije Singh succeeded him and ruled until 1857.
• A succession crisis arose as Ram Saran’s other sons were considered ineligible due to being the offspring of a Brahmin mother.
• The British government administered the state from 1857 to 1860.
• Raja Agar Singh (Bije Singh’s brother) was appointed ruler (1860–1878) and was recognized for his efficiency and loyalty during the mutiny.
• Raja Ishwari Singh (born 1836) ascended in 1878; his reign was troubled by an unscrupulous wazir and he was deemed incapable, leading to the appointment of a three-member administrative council that improved state finances.
• Under his sanad, the Raja was required to pay a fixed annual tribute of Rs. 5,000/- and assist the British with troops during wartime.

2. Modern Era & World War I (1911–1946)

• Raja Joginder Singh succeeded his brother Ishwari Singh in 1911.
• He supported the British during World War I by purchasing Rs. 22,50,000/- in war bonds and providing 220 armed men.
• He successfully suppressed a revolt in Nalagarh in 1918 with British aid.
• His infrastructure contributions included upgrading the Ishwari Singh High School and opening an allopathic dispensary in Ramshahr.

3. Final Ruler & Integration (1946–1972)

• Raja Surendra Singh (born 1922) served as the Raja from 1946 to 1948.
• He was educated at Aitchison’s Chiefs’ College, Lahore, and married Maharaj Kumari Yadhunandan Kumari of Patiala in 1944.
• The states of ‘Kalsia’ and ‘Nalagarh’ were merged with Eastern Punjab states on May 2, 1948, followed by a merger with PEPSU on July 15, 1948.
• Following the linguistic reorganization of Punjab in 1966, Nalagarh was merged with Himachal Pradesh and became a tehsil of the Solan district.
• Vijayendra Singh has been the owner of the Nalagarh state property since the death of Raja Surendra Singh on May 5, 1971.