Bilaspur (State)

	Bilaspur / Kahlur
	697-1948
flag	coat of arms
Capital	Bilaspur
Form of government	Princely state (11 shot salute)
surface	1173 km²
population	115,000 (1941)
founding	697
resolution	October 12, 1948
	State religion: Hinduism ; Dynasty: Chandella
	Princely states of the Shimla Hills, Bilaspur in the south on Sutlej (1911)

Bilaspur (also Kahlur ) was one of the 18 princely states of the Shimla Hill States , in the foothills of the Himalayas in British India that were then administratively part of the Punjab . In the early 19th century, the Gurkhas occupied the country until they were driven out by the British. Bilaspur was a British protectorate from 1815 to 1947 . In 1941 it had an area of 1173 km² and 115,000 inhabitants. From August 1948, the principality did not become part of a federal state, but was directly subordinate to the central government without its own legislature.

history

The ruling family of the Rajas of Bilaspur trace their origins back to Damghokh , the ruler of a principality in southern Rajasthan . One of his descendants, Harihar Chand , is said to have made a pilgrimage to Jawalamukhi near Kangra . He settled in nearby Jhandbari. One of his sons became ruler of Chamba . Another created the principality of Kanidon . The third son, Bir Chand , founded Bilaspur around 880, originally called Kahlur .

His 12th generation descendant, who became the ancestor of the Hindur dynasty, Ajit Chand , conquered Nalagarh , which he gave to his brother Suchet Chand . The Miān of Ramgarh descend from the builder of a fort there, Khushal Singh , whose lineage is said to go back to the Raja of Khalur Singar Chand . Mohan Chand was an ally of the invading Gurkhas, who returned him parts of the land that had been conquered by other Rajas the previous decade. At first he remained an opponent of the British under Gen. David Ochterlony in the expulsion of the Gurkhas (1815) submitted in time. He was made into an example of "British magnanimity" and confirmed in all of his possessions. The Rana of Dhami were tributaries until 1815.

After the First Sikh War in 1847, tribute payments ceased, but the British demanded that all road tolls be abolished to compensate.

On October 12, 1948, the Raja Anand Chand (1927–56) joined India . On January 26, 1950, Bilaspur became a C-State of the Republic of India (see History of India ) under the central government, with the Raja as Chief Commissioner. In 1954, in connection with the construction of the Satluj Dam , which flooded a large part of the country , Bilaspur was incorporated into the state of Himachal Pradesh and dissolved on November 1, 1956, like all Indian principalities.

Family tree of the Hindur dynasty

Rajas in historical times
1st generation

Bhim Chand (r. 1665-1712)

2nd generation

Ajmer Chand (r. 1712–1741)

3rd generation

Devi Chand (r. 1741–1778)

4th generation

Mohan Chand (* 1772, r. 1778-1824). Ally of the invading Gurkhas , who returned him parts of the land that had been conquered by other Rajas the previous decade. Initially opponents of the British under Gen. David Ochterlony in the expulsion of the Gurkhas (1815) he submitted in time. He was made into an example of "British magnanimity" and confirmed in all of his possessions.

5th generation

Kharak Chand (* 1813, r. 1824 - March 29, 1839). Died childless, the country was not annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse to avoid a conflict with the Sikhs ruling in Lahore. Shortly after his death, one of the widows, the sister of Fateh Prakash of Sirmur , claimed to have become pregnant by the deceased. The claims were not recognized, whereupon the Rani organized an uprising that initially drove Kharak Chand from the capital, but was crushed by the British.

6th generation

Jagat Chand, Ajmer's descendant (r. Apr. 1839-1850, † 1857), was deposed due to mental illness.

7th generation

Hira Chand (* 1835, r. 1850-1883). The Rani came from the Rajput house of Ambala. Loyal in 1857, the reward was the right to 11 rounds of salute.

8th generation

Amar Chand (* 1857, r. Jan. 1883 - 3. Feb. 1889) married a woman from the house of Gwalior .

9th generation

Bijai Chand (= Bije Chand; * 1873, r. Feb. 3, 1889 - Nov. 18, 1927, † 1931), married to a daughter of the Raja of Mankot .
both of Amar's daughters were married to the Raja of Punch Moti Singh.

10th generation

Tikka Anand Chand (* 1913, r. Until Aug. 15, 1947, † 1983)

The Rajas are not to be confused with those of a Pashtun dynasty who resided in the town of the same name in the Atraula (Gonda) region of Oudh . There is also a district of the same name in the state of Chhattisgarh today .

literature

William Barton: The princes of India . With a Chapter on Nepal. Nisbet, London 1934, (Reprinted edition. Cosmo, New Delhi 1983).
Bilāspur State. In: The Imperial Gazetteer of India. Volume 8: Berhampore to Bombay. New Edition. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1908, pp. 233-234 .
Andreas Birken : Philatelic Atlas of British India. CD-ROM. Birken, Hamburg 2004.
Chaman L. Datta: The Raj and the Simla Hill States. Socio-economic Problems, Agrarian Disturbances and Paramountcy. ABS Publications, Jalandhar 1997, ISBN 81-7072-072-9 .
Lepel H. Griffin: The Rajas of the Punjab. Being the History of the Principal States in the Punjab and their Political Relations with the British Government. sn, Lahore 1870, ( digitized version ).
Charles Francis Massy: Chiefs and Families of Note in the Delhi, Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat Divisions of the Panjab. Pioneer Press, Allahabad 1890, ( digitized version ).
Joseph E. Schwartzberg (Ed.): A historical atlas of South Asia (= Association for Asian Studies. Reference Series. 2). 2nd impression, with additional material. Oxford University Press, New York NY et al. 1992, ISBN 0-19-506869-6 .

Web links

Commons : Principality of Bilaspur - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ Section (up to the 19th century) after: Charles Francis Massy: Chiefs and Families of Note in the Delhi, Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat Divisions of the Panjab. 1890, p. 28 ff.
^ Roper Lethbridge: The Golden Book of India. A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and other Personages, titled or decorated of the Indian Empire. Macmillan and Co., London 1893, ( digitized version ).
↑ for 20th century: Jagdish C. Dua: Illustrated Encyclopaedia & Who's Who of Princely States in Indian Sub-Continent. Kaveri Books, New Delhi 2000, ISBN 81-7479-036-5 .
↑ Holden Furber: The Unification of India 1947–1951. In: Pacific Affairs. Vol. 24, No. 4, 1951, ISSN 0030-851X , pp. 352-371, doi : 10.2307 / 2753451 .
↑ Main town: 22 ° 5 'N, 82 ° 9' E

[1] Section (up to the 19th century) after: Charles Francis Massy: Chiefs and Families of Note in the Delhi, Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat Divisions of the Panjab. 1890, p. 28 ff.

[2] Roper Lethbridge: The Golden Book of India. A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and other Personages, titled or decorated of the Indian Empire. Macmillan and Co., London 1893, ( digitized version ).

[3] r 20th century: Jagdish C. Dua: Illustrated Encyclopaedia & Who's Who of Princely States in Indian Sub-Continent. Kaveri Books, New Delhi 2000, ISBN 81-7479-036-5 .

[4] Holden Furber: The Unification of India 1947–1951. In: Pacific Affairs. Vol. 24, No. 4, 1951, ISSN 0030-851X , pp. 352-371, doi : 10.2307 / 2753451 .

[5] Main town: 22 ° 5 'N, 82 ° 9' E