History of Lunar Race Yadava stock of Jadeja Rajput's Rajkot state ---
History of Lunar Race Yadava stock Jadeja rajputs of Rajkot State --
Rajkot is the chief town of the second class state of the same name and is picturesquely situated on the western bank of the a river which laves ita walls. A short distance from the town is t camp and civil station of Rajkot, the latter being the hop quarters of the Kathiáwár Political Agency and of the Halar district and the former the cantonment of the troops which garrison the province. The present chiefs of Rajkot are Jadeja Rajputs and cadets of Navanagar.
Old History--
Hala was the ancestor of the Halar family of jadeja rajputs.In this line near about after 7 generation Lakha was popular ruler.He has four sons ,1-Jam Rawal who founded Navanagar , 2-Hardholji who founded Dhrol state ,3-Ranoji of Khanbalid and 4-Modiji of Khandera.Jam Rawal of Navanagar had 3 sons ,1-Jiyaji who killed by a fall from his horse (Lakha of Khilos ), 2-Jam Vibhoji (A.D.1562-1569) and 3-Bharoji of Jambudar.Jam Vibhoji had four sons, 1-Jam Satarsal (or Sataji A.D.1569-1608 ), 2-Bhanji of Kharedi ,3-Ranmalji of Sisang and 4-Veraji of Hadiana.Jam Satarsal (Sataji ) had three sons ,1-Ajoji who killed at Bhuchar Morvi A.D.1591 ,2-Jam Jasaji and 3-Vibhoji ,who founded Rajkot state.
Founder of Rajkot state--
The founder of the Rajkot house was Kunvar Vibhoji grandson son of Jam Vibhoji (A.D.1562-1569 ), youngest son of Jam Satáji. Ajoji never ascended the gadi but fell on the bloody field of Bhuchar Mori in A. D.1591, having two sons both minors. Jam Satájt was succeeded by his brother in A. D, 1608, but Ajoji 's son Lakha succeeded his uncle on his death in A.D.1624. Vibhoji received Kalavad in appaanage . Though Vibhoji was minor on the accession of Jam Jasoji , he does not appear to have been regarded favourably by that chieftain.He married a daughter of the Vaghela chieftan of Sardhár , who gave the village of Chibhda to his daughter in dowry. At this village Vibhoji and his mother took up their residence, and it seems that Navanagar resumed Kalavad .The Vághelás of Sardhar were a powerful race, who owned the country as far south as Gondal, then a holding of the Chudásamas. The Imperial faujdars had long been annoyed by their ravages and had for some years contemplated their destruction.
When Prince Shah Jahan was Viceroy at Ahmadabad, Vibhoji agreed to join the Imperial troops and procure them an entrance into Sardhár, and a force was sent with him by orders of the prince. This force attacked the Vághelas and killed the chieftain Vághela Kanoji and drove out the rest. From this day an imperial thanah was placed at Sardhár, but Vibhoji was allowed to reside there and serve under the thanahdar's orders.Vibhoji made himself exceedingly useful ,and the Muhammadans conquered the greater part of the possessions of the Vaghelás , but the eastern portions were overrun by the Kathis. Vibhoji took a prominent part in these transactions nud received some of the villages, notably Ardoi, Rib, Ribda, Kalipát, and one or two others, as a reward for his services. He died in A.D. 1635 and was succceded by his son Merámanji who continued to reside in Sardhár under the orders of the thanahdár. When the Viceroy Azam Khán entered the province in A.D. 1640 to chastise the Káthis who had heen extending their raids to the Dholka and Dhandhuka districts, besides constantly harassing the foujdar of Sorath, Merámanji at once joined him in concert with the thánhdar of Sardhar and was confirmed in his possessions and received much praise. Нe also aided the thánahdars and received an additional village or two from new conquests. He married two wives, one a daughter of the Chudásama Grásia of Gondal, and the other a Rájputáni of some other family.
Merámanji --
He had two sons; the eldest named Sahibji was by the second wife, and the second Kumbhoji by the Chudásama lady. Now, the mother of Sahibji died young, and as Merámanji was exceedingly attached to the Chudásama lady, she acquired a great influence over him, and her son Kumbhoji was both ambitions and able and sought to supplant Sahibiji. In consequence of this Sahibji retired to Navánagur. But before his father death Sabibji returned, and by the aid of the thanahdar was installed in place of his father. Kumbboji retired in anger to his father-in-law at Gondal, and resided oither there or at his patrimonial village of Ribda.
Sahibiji --
He continued reside in Sardhar and serve the thanahdar and he accompanied the army under kutb-ud-din Kheshgi, foujdár of Sorath, against Navanagar in A.D. 1064 . Sahibji was on bad torms with his brother Kumbhoji , but it was fually arranged through the interference of Kutb-ud-din that Sahibji should give Kumbhoji the villages of Ardoi and Rib and that Kumbhoji should resign all further claims. On these terms peace was made.Sahibji lived like his predecesors at Hardhår and died in about A.D. 1675 and was suceded by his son Bamanioji.
Bamanioji ---
He was succeeded his father in A.D. 1675. Bamanioji was constantly on duty at Rajkot as well as at Sardhár, and as his possessions of Kalipat, &c , were so near to the former place be resided there more often than at Sardliár. He obtained several more villages either in gift for his services or held them in farm from the thinahdare . He appears to have gone to Rajkot for the celebration of the Holi festival when a hand of Mianas came down and drove off the village cattle. Bamanioji pursued them and overtook them in the Naklang Vid, where in the engagement that took place he was slain. On his death in A.D. 1694 he was succeeded by his son Meramanji II.
Merámanji II. ---
He was a daring and able warrior. After the deaths of the Emperor Aurangzeb in A.D. 1707 the provincial discipline was much relaxed, and owing to the denudation of the province of troops in order to check the Maráthás, no spare troops were available to assist in maintaining order in the province. Meramanji now resolved to conquer Rajkot and effected his purpose and acquired most of the dependent villages. But in 1720 , Masum Khan, the deputy faujadar of Junagadh reconquered Rajkot ,kling Meramanji , and obtained the post of foujdar of the mahal of Rajkot and Sardhar , which at this time included Jasdan ,Anandpur , Bhadla , &c . This district was granted to him in jagir by the Emperor Muhammad Shah in A. D. 1720 on condition of his discharging the duties of foujdar. This Masum Kuli Khán afterwards built the fort of Rajkot in A.D. 1722, naming the town after himself Masumabad. After the death of Merámanji, Masum Khan, otherwise called Shujaat Khau, ruled at Rájkot till his death in 1782 .
Merámanji had in all seven sons, to whom afterwards Ranmaljj granted holdings as under after the reconquest of Rajkot .
1 - Ranmalji who was succeeded .
2-Modji, who received Gavridar.
3- Kalaji , who received Shahpur. 4- Harbhamji, who received Pal.
5- Dadoji , who received Kothária; 6- Jasáji, who received Bhichri .
7-Phulji, to whom was allotted Khokhardar.
Rajkot was thus entirely surrounded by the possessions of the brethren of Ranmalji and his own villages. Merámanji was killed in A.D. 1720 and was succeeded by his son Ranmalji.
Ranmalji on succeeding to the gadi resolved to profit by the warlike temper of the times, and determined to recover Rajkot as well as to conquer the neighbouring thanáh of Sardhár. After some difficulty he contrived in A.D. 1732 to wrest Rájkot from Masum Khán, who was killed in the battle, and almost immediately after he summoned Sardhár, which however refused to surrender .
He accordingly asked assistance from Haloji of Gondal, but that chieftain refused to co-operate with him. Tejmálj of Kotra Sángani was more accommodating, and uniting their forces they attacked Sardbár. But the place was strong and the garrison both brave and numerous and ably directed by a gallant thánakdár named Bákar Khan and the confederates were compelled to retire unsuccessful. Ranmalji now despaired of direct attack, but lay in wait for the thánahdar whenever he should go to any distance from the thanah. One day Bákar Khan, attended by but one horseman, rode in the direction of Kalipát. Ranmalji with chosen band of good horsemen at once gave him chase. Bakar Khán's horse got entangled in the river and he was overtaken and killed after a valiant resistance on the Sardhari Dhár not far from that village. But ere Ranmalji could collect his forces to attack the thanah, Lakha Kháchar of Bhadla besieged it with a large force of Kathis and took the place. Ranmalji now again applied to Tejmálji of Kotra, and the two chieftains uniting their forces conquered the town, which has ever since remained in the possession of Rajkot, Once indeed during Ranmalji's life Sardhár was surprised and conquered by Ráma Kháchar of Anandpur during the absence of Ranmalji at Rájkot and Tejmálji at Kotra. But it was speedily recovered, and Anandpur was in turn laid waste, and the gates brought thence and built into the Sardhár gateway. After these conquests Ranmalji granted his brethren holdings as above mentioned out of his new conquests.
Ranmalji had four sons:
(1) Lakhoji, otherwise called Bávoji, who succeeded him.
(2) Vajeráj, who received Mánkhávad.
(3) Akheráj, who received Gadhka, and
(4) Prathiraj, who received Tramba.
Ranmalji died in A.D. 1746 and was succeeded by his son Lakhoji.
Lákhoji ---
He was succeeded his father Ranmalji in A.D. 1746. Lákhoji was unfitted to rule and during his lifetime resigned the gádi to his eldest son Morámanji who ruled at Rájkot in his place.
Lákhoji had however four sons besides 1, Merámanji, viz. 2, Verájí and 3, Togáji. These two sons received between them the three villages of Khambha, Samadhiala , and Sajadiáli; 4, Suráji, who received Pádásan and half of Káthrota, and, 5, Visoji, who was killed fighting with the Káthis at Varjátírth where his páliyo or monument stands to this day. It is customary in the clan of Vibháni Jádejás when any of them ascend the gádi or marry to pay their respects to Visoji's monuments both at Sardhar and Varjátirth. Veroji observing the weakness of Lákhoji seized upon Sandhár, and but for Colonel Walker's permanent settlement in 1807-8 the Rájkot estate would have been dismembered. Merámanji was one of the confederates who incited Jamádár Fateh Muhammad to invade Navánngar, but his great namesake Meráman Khavás completely turned the tables on him by ravaging the Sardhár parganah. Merámanji is famed as a poet and in A.D. 1782 he composed a work called Pravin Ságar. At this time he was detained by the Marátha army at Limbdi as security for the payment of jama. Merámanji died at the end of A.D. 1794 during his father's lifetime, leaving a son named Ranmalji, then a youth. On Merámanji's death Lakhoji resumed the rule , but in a year and a half he was expelled by his grandson. After however some negotiation he was recalled and allowed to again conduct affairs with the aid of Veroji of Sardhar. But he soon weared of the cares of rule and retired to Navánagar, where he died in A.D. 1796.
Ranmalji --
Ranmalji on Lakhoji's death was succeeded to the Rajkot portion of the estate, but Veroji kept a firm hold upon Hardhar, Things remained in this state until the arrival of Colonel Walker in 1807-8. This officer gave separate guarantees to both Ranmalji and Veroji Captain Ballantyne however caused Veroji to withdraw from Sardhar to Khambha , and awarded to Sängaji (also called Dadoji , brother of Ranmalje, the village of Dholera as gras. In this way Sardhar was restored to the Rajkot house. Ranmalji married three wives: (1) Jámba, the daughter of a Bhayad of saela ,(2) Adiba, the daughter of the Ankevalin Grásia, a Bhayad of Limbdi and (3) Motiba, the daughter of a Rajput of Anand Mogri in Gujarát. Of these Jámba gave birth to his eldest son Suraji and Motiba had also one son Hothiji. Of these Suráji succeeded his father, and Hothiji had a son named Bhupatasing, who was granted the village of Dholera in gras. This village hind reverted to the Darbar on the death of Dadoji without issue male.
Suráji ---
He was succeeded his father in A.D. 1825. He married two wives, (1) Amjiba, daughter of the Thakor of Saela and (2) Nániba , daughter of Jhala Abhesinghji of Chuda. Amjiba had a son named Gagubha, who died when only five years of age. Nániba had a son named Merámanji. Suráji died in 1844 and was succeeded by Merámanji.
Meramanji ---
Meramanji was a chief but moderate ability. He had four wives, (1) Hajuba, daughter of the Ráj of Vánkáner; (2) Hariba , daughter of Akherájji of Lakhanka a Bhavnagar Bhayád ; this lady was the mother of Bávoji the present chief: (3) Báiráj; daughter of the Kudla Grásia, a Chuda Bhayad; (4) Bákunvarba daughter of the Vaghela of Machhiav under Ahmadabad and mother of Ladhubha.
Thakor Bavoji ---
The present Thakor who is named Bávoji, was born on Saturday August 30th, 18356. He succeeded his father on Saturday, November 8th, 1862. His grandmother Nániba carried on the affairs of the tälukah until 1867, when Colonel Keatinge entrusted the management of this state and that of Limbdi to Captain (now Major) J. H. Lloyd. This officer and his successors carried on the affairs of the State until November 1874, when the present Thakor was entrusted with limited powers. Finally on the 17th January 1876 he was invested with the full powers of a tálukdár of the second class. Bávoji was educated at the Rájkumar College at Rájkot. He has married eight wives, of whom four only are now alive but one of them only has a son. His younger brother Ladhubha is a very promising youth. He too has been educated at the Rajkumar College.
Status of the Rajkot state--
The state is divided into three maháls or revenue sub-divisions, Rájkot, Sardhár, and Kuadva. The annual income is about Rs. 200,000 (£20,000). The talukah comprises about sixty-one villages .It was a 9 gun salute state .Area of the state is 730 square Km.
The Rajkumar College --
It was originally founded by Colonel Keatinge, but was opened by the Governor of Bombay Sir Seymour Fitzgerald in the year 1870. Mr. Chester Macnaghten has been Principal since the first opening of the College, and has most ably discharged these duties and won the entire confidence of all chiefs and officials in the province. Many of his pupils are now ruling chiefs, for instance the chiefs of Bhavnagar, Limbdi, Wadhwan, Rajkot, &c. The College building, which was designed and built by the Agency Engineer Mr. R. B. Booth, is a handsome commodions building in the Venetian-Gothic style of architecture. The play-ground is large and spacious, and there is a capital racquet court. Already the education acquired at the college has had a perceptible influence for the better on the character of the chiefs, and consequently on the civilization of the province generally. In a few years more, the sons of the old pupils will be taking their fathers' places at the college. A few of the young chiefs, or their Bháyád, have visited or are visiting England, and have thereby acquired a interesting recollections and impressions which will not easily be series of effaced. The Thákor Jasvantsingji of Limbdi, who is one of those who has performed this journey, is an exceedingly favourable specimen of the native gentleman, as well as being an intelligent chief. Another fine building within civil limite in the Káthiáwár Alfred High School, built and designed by Mr. R. B. Booth, This building was erected at the cost of His Highness Mahabat Khánji. There is a fine bridge over the Aji river called the Kaisar-i-Hind Bridge, leading into the camp and civil station. This bridge was built at the expense of the present Thakor Sahib of Bhavnagar, but was designed and erected by Mr. R. B. Booth. There is an excellent dharmshála at Rájkot . His Highness the Raj Sahib of Dhrángadra defrayed the cost of building the dharmashala
References--
1-History of Gujarat by J.W.Watson .
2-History of Gujarat by Edalji Dosabhai.
3-The History of Sindh by K.R.Malkani.
4-Bombay Gazetteers, Kathiawar III.p ,554.
5-The Golden book of India ,a Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the ruling Princes , Chiefs by Roper Lethoridge.
6-Imperial Gazetteer of India ,v, 11.p78.
7-The Rajputs of Saurashtra by Virbhadra Singh.
8-Yaduvamsh prakash .,pp.,263-287.
9-History of Kathiyawar from Earliest Times .,p177, by Harold Wilberforce -Bell.
10-Bombay Gazetteer , 8,p-489-90, 565-66, p124-126.
11-Glimpses of Bhartiya History by Rajendra Singh Kushwaha.
12-A History of the Indian State forces by HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur.
13-Gujarat State Gazetteers :Rajkot.
Village-Larhota near Sasni
District-Hatharas ,Uttar Pradesh
Associate Prof in Agriculture
Shahid Captain Ripudaman Singh Govt.College ,Sawai madhopur 'Rajasthan ,322001.
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