History of Lunar Race Yaduvanshi Jadeja Rajput's State Gondal --
History of Lunar race Yaduvanshi Jadeja Rajput 's State Gondal ---
Ancient History--
Gondal is the chief town of the State of the same name , and is prettily situated on the western bank of the Gondli river , a tributary of the Bhadar.Gondal is connected with Rajkot ,Jetpur , Junagadh , Dhoraji , Upleta and Manikvada by made roads , and the state has also constructed made roads up to its frontier in the directions of Kotra Sangani and Ramod ,respectively.
The first mention of Gondal in history occurs about the year A.D.1350 in which year the Emperor Muhammad Tughlak fill sick at Gondal of a fever and consequently was detained here some time.He marched hence to the northwards and cross over the Ran and entered Kutch and Sindh.Afterwards Gondal became waste . Gondal is mentioned as a paraganah of the Sorath Sarkar in both the Ain-i-Akbari and Mirat-i-Ahmadi.In the former time it is mentioned as a Vaghela holding.
Modern History--
The chief of the Gondal State Belongs to a Jareja Rajput (Hindu) family and tracing its origin to the renowned Krishna; descended from the Nawanagar-Rajkot family(Jam Raval's descendants ) . He exercises jurisdiction of the second class., is a Kumbhani, being a descendant of Kumbhoji I., founder of the Gondal dynasty ; was only four years old when he succeeded his father, who died in 1869, when on a visit to Bombay. The following is a brief summary of the history of this ruling family: (i) Kumbhoji I., founder of the Gondal dynasty; 1634-49 A.D. Succeeded by his son (2) Sagramji I., 1649-1714 A.D. Succeeded by his son (3) Haloji, 1714-53. Succeeded by his son (4) Kumbhoji II., 1753-90 A.D., was a most powerful chief; was both a warrior and a statesman, and aggrandised his possessions by conquest and statecraft. Succeeded by his grandson (5) Muluji, 1790-92 A.D. Succeeded by his son (6) Dajibhai, 1 792-1800 A.D., was a patron of letters, and was especially fond of poetry. Succeeded by his uncle (7) Devaji, 1800-12 A.D, was a brave soldier and a wise ruler. Succeeded by his four sons one after another — (8) Nathuji, 1812-14 A.D .; (9) Kanuji, 1814-21 A.D ; (10) Chandra Sinhji, 1820-41 A.D ; (11) Bhanabhai, 1841-51 A.D . ; (12) Sagramji II., 1851-70 A.D., was a very quiet and pious Chief. Succeeded by his son Bhagvatsinghji , the present Thakur Saheb During his minority the State was at first administered direct by the British Government, but afterwards a Joint- Administration was introduced. Gondal , HH Thakur Saheb Sir Bhagwatsingh ji , was educated at the Rajkot Rajkumar College and also at the Edinburgh University. His College career has been reported to be eminently successful ; in order to give the finishing touch to his education, he undertook a voyage to Europe in 1883, in the company of Major (now Colonel) Hancock ; returned after six months ; published an account of his tour under the title "Journal of a Visit to England in 1883 "; was associated with Major (now Colonel) Nutt in the administrative business of his State, and assumed sole charge on the 24th August 1884. The reply made by him on the occasion of his installation to the address of the Political Agent, Colonel West, was pronounced by Government to be highly creditable to him, both as regards the tone and the matter of it, showing " good feeling and good taste, and his description of his duties as a ruler evinces a sound . and clear judgment." Three years after his installation the Thakur Saheb was publicly complimented by the Governor, Lord Reay, in the following words " Thakur Saheb, though you have only been three years on the gadi , I believe you have acted up to the pledges you then gave." Nominated a Fellow of the Bombay University ; and a Vice-President of the Deccan Education Society at Poona. Having been imbued with a love of science, he again proceeded to Scotland in 1886, to reside for a time at the Edinburgh University ; which, in appreciation of his " exemplary quest of knowledge," conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1887. The same year he was requested to be a member of the deputation from the Kathiawar Chiefs that waited on Her Majesty the Queen Empress at the time of the celebration of Her Most Gracious Majesty's Jubilee; and on that occasion was made a K.C.I.E. Returned to India in August 1887. Takes a keen interest in the adminis- trative business of the State, and is a joint-proprietor of the " Bhaunagar- Gondal " and " Gondal-Porbandar " railways, in which concerns he has invested about ; Rs. 5oo,ooo. Is taking steps to connect his capital with the main line of railway. Besides railways, the territory has many macadamised roads, schools, hospitals, municipalities, rest-houses, infirmary, post and telegraph offices, courts of justice, and other appliances of an improved administration. Owing to the excellence of his administration, the British Government was pleased to raise Gondal from the rank of a second-class to that of a first-class State in Kathiawar. In 1889 his wife — daughter of His Highness the Maharana of Dharampur — being taken very ill, the doctors advised her to go to England for a change, and His Highness was obliged to take her there for the benefit of her health. This is the first instance of a Rajput consort of a Ruling Chief ever venturing to overcome her caste prejudices. Her Highness was received by Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen Empress, and personally invested with the Imperial Order of the Crown of India. The Thakur Saheb has contributed numerous donations to deserving public institutions ; has relieved his subjects of the burden of many obnoxious taxes, and remitted a vast amount of debt which his people owed him. His subjects, in return, have voted him a statue by public subscription.
Area of the State--
The state has an area of 1087 square miles and consists of seven mahals or parganahs containing in all 178 villages.The annual revenue is about ten Lakhs of rupees .It pay an annual tribute to the Gaekwar of Rs.61, 017 , to the British Government of Rs.50, 207 -4-0 and a Zorlalabi to the Junagadh Nawab of Rs.955.
The present inner fort of Gondal was built by Kumbhoji II.The founder of the state was Kumbhoji I , who received Ardoi and other villages in the seventeenth century from his father Meramanji .Ardoi is mentioned In the Mirat-i-Ahmadi as having a fort ,as also had Gondal .The fort constructed by Sagramji was probably the interior fort.Kumbhoji I was succeeded by Sagramji who is said to have moved his capital to Gondal .
Arms. —
A belt and sword with the word "Gondal" at the top.
(Sanskrit) Sajyam cha Saiyam, in Devanagari character, meaning " Ready and True." His Highness's sons are — Kumdr Shri Bhojraj, heir- apparent, born 1883 ; is being educated in Edinburgh. Kumir Shri Bhupat Sinhje, born 1888 ; is in England with his parents.
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.
Author- Dhirendra Singh Jadaun
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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