Cutch State
Kingdom of Kutch (1147–1819) Cutch State (1819–1947) કચ્છ | |||||||||||
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1147–1947 | |||||||||||
Company | 1819 | ||||||||||
1947 | |||||||||||
Area | |||||||||||
1901[1] | 19,725 km2 (7,616 sq mi) | ||||||||||
Population | |||||||||||
• 1901[1] | 488,022 | ||||||||||
Currency | Kutch kori | ||||||||||
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Today part of | India |
Kutch, also spelled Kutch or Kachchh and also historically known as the Kingdom of Kutch, was a kingdom in the
in the north, Cutch State was one of the few princely states with a coastline.The state had an area of 7,616 square miles (19,725 km2) and a population estimated at 488,022 in 1901.[1] During the British Raj, the state was part of the Cutch Agency and later the Western India States Agency within the Bombay Presidency. The rulers maintained an army of 354 cavalry, 1,412 infantry and 164 guns.[citation needed]
History
A predecessor state known as the Kingdom of Kutch was founded around 1147 by Lakho Jadani of the
As Othaji was the eldest he ascended to the head throne of Lakhirviro and the rest became a part of Bhayyat or the Brotherhood in a federal system of government. However, internal rivalry between them escalated over the generations and until they merged into the two groups of Othaji and Gajanji of Bara.
The first incident among the rivals which changed the history of Kutch was the murder of Jam Hamirji of Lakhiarviro, chief of the eldest branch of the Jadejas and descendant of Othaji, by
Lakhiarviro remained the capital of Cutch from its foundation in 1147 until the time of Jam Raval in 1548.
Rulers
Cutch was ruled by the
After the demise of Rayadhan II in 1698, the regularity of succession was again deviated, Raydhunji had three sons, Ravaji, Nagulji and Pragji.Ravaji the eldest son was murdered by Sodha Rajputs, his second brother Nagulji had died of natural causes before, both the brothers, however had left sons, who by right were entitled to succeed the throne of Kutch, but as they were young, Pragji, the third son of Rao Raydhunji eventually usurped the throne of Cutch and became Maharao Pragmulji I.[8]
Kanyoji, the eldest son of murdered Ravaji escaped and established himself at
Bhuj was later fortified by
Deshalji was succeeded by his son Rao Lakhpatji (1741–61), who appointed Ram Singh Malam, to build the famous Aina Mahal. Ram Singh Malam also started a glass and ceramic factory near Madhapar. During reign of Lakhpatji maritime business of Cutch flourished and it was during his regime,Cutch issued its own currency, Kutch kori, which remained valid even during British Raj till 1948, when they were abolished by independent India.
Later, during the rule of Rao Godji II (1761–1778), the state faced its biggest defeat at hands of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro of Sindh, who attacked Cutch twice once in 1763–64, (when hundreds of Kutchi people died in the battle near Jara, Kutch) and again in 1765. Godji had to make a truce with him after losing several territories. Later in 1770, a daughter of his cousin Wesuji was married to the Mian Kalhoro and the marriage was celebrated with great pomp and splendor on both the sides. In consideration of this relationship, the towns of Busta Bandar and Lakhpat and others territories that had been conquered by the Mián Kalhoro, were returned to the Rao of Cutch.
His successor,
On 15 December 1815, the army of Cutch state was defeated near
After the victory the British deposed the ruling king Jam Bharmulji II and his son Deshalji II, a minor was made the ruler of Cutch State. During his minority the affairs of the State were managed by Council of Regency, which was composed of Jadeja chiefs and headed by Captain MacMurdo.[11][12][13]
During his reign Kutch suffered a severe earthquake in 1819 followed by severe famine in 1823, 1825 & 1832.[citation needed] Further, Kutch was attacked by marauding band from Sindh.[citation needed] Deshalji II although 18 years of age took the management of law in his own hands and defeated aggressor from Sindh. His reign saw maritime trade with Africa, Oman and especially Zanzibar improve significantly. Slowly and steadily the industrialisation in Cutch got a set back which was started by Lakhpatji and Godji.[14] He was succeeded by his son Pragmalji II in 1860.
During later half of the 19th century and first half of the 20th century state progressed under leadership of Pragmalji II and his successor Khengarji III. The educational, judiciary and administrative reforms, which were started by Pragmulji II, were carried further by Khengarji III, who also laid foundation of Cutch State Railway, Kandla port and many schools. Khengarji III was the longest ruling king of Cutch. Khengarji also served as Aide-De-Campe to Queen Victoria for some years. Under him state was elevated to status of 17-gun salute state and title of rulers of Cutch also was elevated as Maharao.[citation needed]
Cutch was one of the first princely states to accede to India upon its independence on 15 August 1947. Vijayraji was away for medical treatment at London. Upon his order Madansinhji, on behalf of his father, signed the Instrument of Accession of Kutch, on 16 August 1947, in his capacity as attorney of Maharao of Kutch.[17] Later, Madansinhji acceded the throne, upon death of his father Vijayaraji on 26 January 1948 and became the last Maharao of Cutch, for a short period of time till 4 May 1948, when the administration of the state was completely merged in to the Union of India.
The princely State of Cutch upon merger into India, was made a separate centrally administered Class-C state by the name Kutch State in 1948.
List of rulers
Rulers regional name | Accession year (CE) |
---|---|
Lakho Jadani | 1147–1175 |
Ratto Rayadhan | 1175–1215 |
Othaji | 1215–1255 |
Rao Gaoji | 1255–1285 |
Rao Vehanji | 1285–1321 |
Rao Mulvaji | 1321–1347 |
Rao Kaiyaji | 1347–1386 |
Rao Amarji | 1386–1429 |
Rao Bhhemji | 1429–1472 |
Rao Hamirji | 1472–1536 |
Jam Raval
|
1540–1548 |
Khengarji I | 1548–1585 |
Bharmalji I | 1585–1631 |
Bhojrajji | 1631–1645 |
Khengarji II | 1645–1654 |
Tamachi | 1654–1665 |
Rayadhan II | 1665–1698 |
Pragmalji I | 1698–1715 |
Godji I | 1715–1719 |
Deshalji I | 1719–1741 |
Lakhpatji (regent) | 1741–1752 |
Lakhpatji | 1752–1760 |
Godji II | 1760–1778 |
Rayadhan III (1st time) | 1778–1786 |
Prithvirajji | 1786–1801 |
Fateh Muhammad (regent) | 1801–1813 |
Rayadhan III (2nd time) | 1813 |
Husain Miyan (regent) | 1813–1814 |
Bharmalji II | 1814–1819 |
Deshalji II | 1819–1860 |
Pragmalji II | 1860–1875 |
Khengarji III | 1875–1942 |
Vijayaraji
|
1942–1948 |
Madansinhji | 1948 |
Titular Maharaos
- Madansinhji — 1948–1991
- Pragmulji III — 1991–2021
- Hanvantsinji — since 2021
Religion
The Jadejas were followers of Hinduism and worshiped
Demographics and economy
There were eight main towns in the State −
The various
Hindus numbered around 300,000, Mohammedans around 110,000 and Jains were 70,000 in population as per 1901 census.[1] About 9% of population were Rajputs and Brahmins & other Hindu caste formed another 24% of population of State.[1] The most common language spoken was Kutchi language and Gujarati language. Gujarati was language used in writings and courts & documents.[1]
Agriculture was the main occupation of people, who take produce of wheat,
Rulers and chiefs gallery
-
Lakhpatji : r - 1741–1760.
-
Deshalji II : r -1819-1860.
-
Pragmalji II : r-1860-1875.
-
Khengarji III : r-1875-1942.
-
Pragmulji III : titular Maharao from 1991 to 2021
See also
- List of Rajput dynasties
- Kutch kori
- Kutchi language
- Kutchi people
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Cutch". The Imperial Gazetteer of India. 11: 75–80. 1908.
- ^ a b Panhwar, M.H. (1983). Chronological Dictionary Of Sind. Jamshoro: Institute of Sindhlogy, University of Sind. pp. 170–171.
The eldest son Unar born of Gaud Rani succeeded him but was murdered by his step brothers Mod and Manai. Gaud Rani managed the succession of her grandson and therefore Mod and Manai escaped to Cutch with a few followers and took refuge with their Chawra maternal uncle at Patogh (6 miles West of Lakhpat, now in ruins). Finding an opportunity they killed him and seized his city and surrounding territories with the help of their clansmen from Sind. They then subdued Guntn, which was ruled by Vaghelas. Finally they annexed Anahilapataka
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ a b The Land of 'Ranji' and 'Duleep', by Charles A. Kincaid by Charles Augustus Kincaid. William Blackwood & Sons, Limited. 1931. pp. 11–15.
- ^ a b The Paramount Power and the Princely States of India, 1858–1881 – Page 287
- ^ Princely states of India: a guide to chronology and rulers – Page 54
- ^ Katariya, Adesh (2007). Ancient History of Central Asia: Yuezhi origin Royal Peoples: Kushana, Huna, Gurjar and Khazar Kingdoms. Adesh Katariya. p. 348. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ISBN 9781890206802. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ Gujarat State Gazetteer – Volume 1 – pp. 275–276
- ^ a b Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Pálanpur, and Mahi Kántha – Page 149
- ^ "Glimpse of Anjar, Kutch". Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ISBN 978-1-890206-80-2.
- ^ Jadeja Rulers of Kutch : Deshalji II (1814–1860) Archived 13 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kutch State : Maharao DESALJI BHARMALJI II (Daishalji) 1819/1860 Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The presence of a glass factory and good breed of horses led Maharao Deshalji II (1819–1960) to maritime long distance trade with Zanzibar and most of all with Sultan of Oman. Makran, Oman, and Zanzibar: three-terminal cultural corridor in the western By Beatrice Nicolini, Penelope-Jane Watson.
- ^ The Politics and Poetics of Water: The Naturalisation of Scarcity in Western ... By Lyla Mehta. 2005. pp. 87, 88.
- ^ State Transport Undertakings: Structure, Growth and Performance by P. Jagdish Gandhi – 1998– Page 37.|Hyderabad (1932) and Travancore (1938) which owned State enterprises, operated fleets of passenger buses. The small State of Kutch joined then in 1945.
- ISBN 978-0-406-87652-2.
Bibliography
- Burnes, James (1831). A Narrative of a Visit to the Court of Sinde [Sindh]; A Sketch of the History of Cutch, from its first connexion (sic) with the British Government in India till the conclusion of the treaty of 1819. Edinburgh: Robert Cadell; London:Whittaker, Treacher and Arnot.
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 669–670.
External links
- Media related to Cutch State at Wikimedia Commons