History of Kotda -Sangani a minor state of Jadeja Rajputs--

History of  Kotda -Sangani a minor  state of Jadeja Rajputs   ---

Area-37 sq. miles.
Revenue. 90,000 rupees.

Sagramji and Sangoji were the two sons of Kumbhoji I., the founder of the Gondal State. The former ascended the paternal throne on the death of his father, the other receiving in appanage the village of Ardoi in 1654-55. He was the founder of the principality, which derived its name of Sangani from him. He extended his sway over the neighbouring villages and raised his estate to the dignity of a Taluka. On one occasion in 1699 he encountered the Kathis at Raiga, three miles from Rajkot, where he lost his life. He had three sons, of whom the eldest, Tejoji, succeeded him to the gadi, while Togaji and Hakoji were granted the estates of Rajpura and Bhadwa. Tejoji seems to have been a lover of peace and to have totally abstained from taking part in contemporary turmoils and strifes. In the year 1727 he expired leaving behind him three sons, Jasoji, Sartanji and Devoji, of whom the eldest ascended the gadi.

Jasoji was a gallant prince, who extended the limits of his Taluka. Sorath had then become a scene of constant rapine and blood-shed owing to the daring on-slaughts of the Kathis, and the life and property of the people had become unsafe throughout the whole province. While the Mughal viceroy was engaged in preserving peace and order, other chiefs too, great or small, were on their guard against the aggressions of those invaders. Prince Kumbhoji of Gondal and Jasoji entered into an alliance for the defence of Gondal and Kotda. The alacrity of the enemy's movements was simply surprising and their plunders were characteris ed by unheard of cruelties. Khuman Vaijo Jogio frequently sacked Gondal and Kotda. Once he succeeded in seizing Kotda, but he could not hold it long, for, in 1750 it was reconquered by Kumbhoji and Jasoji. It was agreed between them to appoint a Patel to collect revenues on their behalf. Spear-in-hand Jasoji would always threaten the Patel with expulsion from Gondal and Kotda. As long as the Patel stayed there he remained in constant dread of that powerful Rajput. Kumbhoji, who was a silent spectator of all this, did not think it prudent to take up arms against Jasoji, though he secretly resolved to remedy the evil. Once upon a time, a bard while reciting some verses in praise of the gallantry of Sheshamalji of Sayla, was interrupted by Jasoji, who spoke slightingly of him. When this incident was mentioned to Kum bhoji he invited Sheshamalji to Gondal and reported to him the exact words which Jasoji had spoken and thus incited him to attack Kotda. At that time the Khumans of Anandpur and Bhimora and the Sanganis were not on friendly terms with each other. Sheshamalji gained them over to his side and led an attack against Jasoji. A fierce battle was fought between them near Rajpipla, eight miles to the east of Kotda, in 1755, in which Jasoji and Sartanji were slain, and Devoji fatally wounded. The cenotaphs erected in memory of Jasoji and Sartanji are still standing at Rajpipla. Devoji returned to Kotda, and was enthroned, but within a few days died of the wounds received on the fatal field.

Hothiji succeeded Devoji and it was during his reign that Colonel Walker first arrived in Kathiawad. It appears from his Report that Hothiji plundered the goods, of a cloth merchant of Dholka, worth about 1,500 Rs. while he was passing through his territory on his way to Kutch. A complaint was regularly lodged against him and though he admitted his guilt he refused to return the property. He was, however, compelled to pay a compensation equivalent in amount to the full price of the stolen property.

The chief of Sardhar resumed possession of the three villages, the revenues of which were assigned to the ancestors of the Kotda Chief in lieu of their services to the Sardhar chiefs during their adversity. Hothiji plundered Sardhar, but was afterwards reconciled with its ruler.

Hothiji after a pretty long rule died in 1812, leaving behind him three sons, Bhojrajji, Bamanioji and Bhagwanji. The eldest succeeded and died childless in 1825; when Bamanioji was placed on the gadi. He had two sons, Sabloji and Veroji. He died in 1838; his successor Sabloji died in 1840, and Meroji died in 1862. Meroji left behind him three sons, Togoji, Khengarji and Muluji, of whom, the eldest Togoji succeeded to the gadi. He was addicted to drinking and opium eating which prevented him from paying any attention to the management of the State. With the per mission of the Supreme Government he was reduced to the position of a fifth class chief. He died in 1879 and was succeeded by his minor son Mul voji. During the minority of Mulvoji the State was managed by a Kamdar under the supervision of the British Political Agent, but on his attaining the age of majority he was entrusted with sole management on the 7th of April 1895.

Genealogical tree of the State--

Sangoji had three sons --

A-Tejoji.

B-Togaji.

C-Hakoji.

A-Tejoji had three sons --

1-Jasoji.

2-Sartanji.

3-Devoji.

3-Devoji had one son named Hothiji .

Hothiji -had three sons --

A-Bhojrajji.

B-Bamanioji.

C-Bhagwanji

B-Bamanioji had two sons --

1-Sabloji.

2-Veroji.
1-Sabloji had one son named Meroji.

Meroji had three sons --

1-Togoji.

2-Khengarji.

3-Muluji.
Togogi had one son Mulvoji

Mulvoji was the present Thakore.

Residence.-Kotda-Sangani, Kathiawad; Bombay Presidency.

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.
14-Gujrat state Gazetteer :Amreli 1972 .
15-Gazetteer of Bombay presidency , vol 9, part I ,p.129.
16-The Hind Rajasthan or The Annals of the Native states of India., Voll.2 , issue I, part 2.complied by Manu Nandshankar Mehta and Markand Nandshankar Mehta.
16-History of the Dhrangadhra state by C.Mayne.
17-History of Sama and Soomra Rajputs of western India by Bipin Shah

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.