Gwalior State
Gwalior State | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1731–1948 | |||||||||||
(1947–1948) | |||||||||||
Capital | |||||||||||
Common languages | Bundeli, Hindi, Marathi | ||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
Raja | |||||||||||
• 1731 – 1745 (first) | Ranoji Scindia | ||||||||||
• 1925 – 1948 (last)[a] | Jiwajirao Scindia | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
• Established | 1731 | ||||||||||
• Accession to Dominion of India | 15 June 1948 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Today part of | Madhya Pradesh, India |
Gwalior state was a semi-autonomous Maratha state. It was centred in modern-day Madhya Pradesh, arising due to the rise of the Maratha Empire and fragmentation of the Mughal Empire.
It was ruled by the
Under
Geography
The state had a total area of 64,856 km2 (25,041 sq mi), and was composed of several detached portions, but was roughly divided into two, the Gwalior or Northern section, and the
The Malwa section, which included the city of Ujjain, had an area of 20,774 km2 (8,021 sq mi). It was made up of several detached districts, between which portions of other states were interposed, and which were themselves intermingled in bewildering intricacy.
In 1940, Gwalior State had 4,006,159 inhabitants.[5]
History
The predecessor state of Gwalior was founded in the 10th century. In 1231 Iltutmish captured Gwalior and from then till 1398 it was a part of Delhi Sultanate.
In 1398, Gwalior came under the control of the
It came under the Mughals in 1528 and was a part of the empire till 1731.
The founder of the ruling house of Gwalior was
In 1726, Ranoji along with
Rulers
Mahadji Sindhia (1761–1794)
Madhavrao I, Mahadji, and his successor Daulatrao took a leading part in shaping the history of India during their rule. Mahadji returned from the Deccan to Malwa in 1764, and by 1769 reestablished his power there. In 1772
Sindhia took full advantage of the system of neutrality pursued by the British to establish his supremacy over Northern India. In this he was assisted by the genius of
In 1785 Sindhia reinstated the Mughal emperor
Daulatrao Sindhia (1794–1827)
Mahadji left no heir, and was succeeded by Daulat Rao, a grandson of his brother Tukaji, who was scarcely 15 years of age at the time. Daulat Rao saw himself as the chief sovereign in India rather than as a member of the Maratha Confederacy. At this time the death of the young Peshwa,
Finally, on 31 December 1802, the Peshwa signed the
In 1805, under the new policy of Lord Cornwallis, Gohad and Gwalior were restored, and the Chambal River was made the northern boundary of the state, while certain claims on Rajput states were abolished, the British government at the same time binding itself to enter into no treaties with Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kotah, or any chief tributary to Sindhia in Malwa, Mewar, or Marwar. In 1811, Daulat Rao annexed the neighboring kingdom of Chanderi. In 1816 Sindhia was called on to assist in the suppression of the Pindaris. For some time it was doubtful what line he would take, but he ultimately signed the Treaty of Gwalior in 1817 by which he promised full cooperation. He did not, however, act up to his professions, and connived at the retention of the fort of Asirgarh, which had been ceded by the treaty. In 1818, after the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the rule of the Peshwa was formally ended. A fresh treaty effected a readjustment of boundaries, Ajmer and other lands being ceded.[9]
Jankojirao II Sindhia (1827–1843)
In 1827 Daulat Rao died, leaving no son or adopted heir. His widow, Baiza Bai, adopted Mukut Rao, a boy of eleven belonging to a distant but legitimate branch of the family, who succeeded as Jankojirao Sindhia. Jankojirao was a weak ruler and feuds were constant at his court, while the army was in a chronic state of mutiny. Upon his succession, difficulties arose as to whether the Bai should ruler in her own right or as regent, and her behaviour towards the young king finally caused a rise in feeling in his favour which impelled the Bai to take refuge in British territory. She returned after an interval and lived at Gwalior until her death in 1862. The chief's maternal uncle, known as Mama Sahib, had meanwhile become minister. The most important event during this period was the readjustment of the terms for maintaining the contingent force raised under the treaty of 1817.[10]
Jayajirao Sindhia (1843–1886)
Jankojirao died in 1843; and in the absence of an heir, his widow Tara Bai adopted Bhagirath Rao, a son of Hanwant Rao, commonly called Babaji Sindhia. He succeeded under the name of Jayajirao Sindhia, the Mama Sahib being chosen as regent. Tara Bai, however, came under the influence of Dada Khasgiwala, the comptroller of her household, an unscrupulous adventurer who wished to get all power into his own hands. A complicated series of intrigues followed, which it is impossible to unravel. The Dada, however, succeeded in driving Mama Sahib from the state and became minister. He filled all appointments with his relatives, and matters rapidly passed from bad to worse, ending in the assemblage of large bodies of troops who threatened an attack on Sironj, where Mama Sahib was then residing. War was impending in the Punjab, and, as it was essential to secure peace, the British Government decided to interfere. Colonel Sleeman, the Resident, was withdrawn, and the surrender of Dada Khasgiwala was demanded.[11]
A British force under Sir Hugh Gough moved on Gwalior, and crossed the Chambal in December 1843. On 29 December followed the simultaneous Battles of Maharajpur and Panniar, in which the Gwalior army was annihilated. A treaty was then made, under which certain lands to the value of 1.8 million, including Chanderi District, were ceded for the upkeep of a contingent force, besides other lands for the liquidation of the expenses incurred in the late war, the State army was reduced, and a Council of Regency was appointed during the minority, to act under the residents advice.
In 1852
Development in Gwalior State
Jayajirao Shinde was the founder of Development in Gwalior after 1857 and worked for the people of Gwalior to establish their own businesses. He was a very good artist of Gwalior Gharana classical music and opened a school for learning music. The Gwalior got its music in his regein.[check spelling] GCB – Knight Grand Cross Order of the Bath (medal 1.1.1877), GCSI – (25.6.1861), CIE (1.1.1878). In 1872 the state lent 7.5 million for the construction of the Agra-Gwalior portion of the
In 1885 Gwalior fort and Morar cantonment, with some other villages, which had been held by British troops since 1858, were exchanged for Jhansi city.[13]
Madhavrao II Sindhia (1886–1925)
Jayaji Rao died in 1886 and was succeeded by his son, Madho Rao Sindhia, then a boy in his tenth year. A council of Regency conducted the administration until 1894, when the Maharaja obtained powers. He took a deep and active interest in the administration of the state, and had a comprehensive grasp of the work done in each department. In 1900 the Maharaja went to China during the Boxer Rebellion, at the same time presenting a hospital ship for the accommodation of the wounded.
Jivajirao Sindhia (1925–1948)
Jivajirao Sindhia ruled the state of Gwalior as absolute monarch until shortly after India's independence on 15 August 1947. The rulers of Indian princely states had the choice of acceding to either of the two dominions (India and Pakistan) created by the India Independence Act 1947 or remaining outside them. Jivajirao signed a covenant with the rulers of the adjoining princely states that united their several states to form a new state within the union of India known as Madhya Bharat. This new covenanted state was to be governed by a council headed by a ruler to be known as the Rajpramukh. Madhya Bharat signed a fresh Instrument of Accession with the Indian dominion effective from 13 September 1948.[14] Jivajirao became the first rajpramukh, or appointed governor, of the state on 28 May 1948. He served as Rajpramukh until 31 October 1956, when the state was merged into Madhya Pradesh.
Scindia Maharajas of Gwalior
The rulers of Gwalior bore the title of Maharaja Scindia.[8] The Gwalior State
Reigning Maharajas
- Ranoji Scindia, Maharaja (1731–1745)
- Jayappaji Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1745–1755)
- Dattaji Scindia, Regent (1755–1760)
- Jankoji Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1755–1761)
- Kadarji Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1763–1764)
- Manaji Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1764–1768)
- Mahadaji Shinde, Maharaja (1768–1794)
- Daulat Rao Sindhia, Maharaja (1794–1827)
- Baiza Bai, Regent (f) (1827–1832)
- Jankoji Rao Scindia II, Maharaja (1827–1843)
- Tara Bai, Regent (f) (1843–1844)
- Jayajirao Scindia, Maharaja (1843–1886)
- Sakhya Bai, Regent (f) (1886–1894)
- Madho Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1886–1925)
- Chinku Bai, Regent (f) (1925–1931)
- Gajra Rajebai, Regent (f) (1931–1936)
- Jiwajirao Scindia, Maharaja (1925–1948)
Titular Maharajas since Union
- Jiwajirao Scindia, (1948–1961)
- Madhavrao Scindia, (1961–2001)
- Jyotiraditya Scindia, (2001–present)
Administration
The revenue of the state in 1901 was Rs. 150,00,000.[17]
For administrative purposes the state was divided into two prants or divisions; Northern Gwalior and Malwa. Northern Gwalior comprised seven zilas or districts:
, the villages in a pargana being grouped into circles, each under a patwari.The administration of the state was controlled by the Maharaja, assisted by the Sadr Board. This Board consisted of seven members, the Maharaja himself being president and the members being in charge of different departments, of which the most important were the Revenue, Land Records and Settlement, Forest, Accounts, Public Works, Customs, and Post Office. The Maharaja had no minister, but a staff of secretaries, supervised by a chief secretary, prepared cases for the final orders of the Maharaja. The zilas were overseen by
The numerous feudal estates under Gwalior were administered by the local rulers, and were outside the administration of the zilas and prants. The small estates (
See also
- Political integration of India
- List of Maratha dynasties and states
- Scindia dynasty under the Maratha empire
- List of Indian princely states
- Rane Khan
- 84 (Scindia) Field Battery
- 74 (Gwalior) Battery
References
- ^ "Gwalior – Princely State (21 gun salute)". Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ Website of Shri Mahakaleshwar temple, Ujjain
- ISBN 9780203402900.
- ^ Great Britain India Office. The Imperial Gazetteer of India. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908.
- ^ Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, p. 740
- ^ Paul E. Schellinger & Robert M. Salkin 1994, p. 312.
- ISBN 9781576079256.
- ^ a b c Princely States of India
- ISBN 9781139449083.
- ISBN 9781848858787.
- ISBN 9780887066597.
- ISBN 9781408822906.
- ^ Markovits, Claude (ed.) (2004). A History of Modern India: 1480-1950. Anthem Press, London.
- ^ Madhya Bharat- Execution of Instrument of Accession signed by Maharajadhiraja Sir George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Raj Pramukh of Madhya Bharat State on 19.7.1948 and its acceptance by Governor General of India on 13.09.1948. New Delhi: Ministry of States, Government of India. 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via National Archives of India.
- ISBN 9788120805279. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ Russell, Robert Vane (1916). "Pt. II. Descriptive articles on the principal castes and tribes of the Central Provinces".
- ^ "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 12, page 433 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library".
Notes
Sources
- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gwalior". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
- Paul E. Schellinger; Robert M. Salkin, eds. (1994). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania. Vol. 5. Routledge/Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1884964046.
Further reading
- Breckenridge, Carol Appadurai (1995). Consuming Modernity: Public Culture in a South Asian World. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 9781452900315.
- Farooqui, Amar (2011). Sindias and the Raj: Princely Gwalior C. 1800-1850. Primus Books. ISBN 9789380607085.
- ISBN 9780140246025.
- Major, Andrea (2010). Sovereignty and Social Reform in India: British Colonialism and the Campaign against Sati, 1830-1860. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780203841785.
- McClenaghan, Tony (1996). Indian Princely Medals: A Record of the Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Indian Princely States. Lancer Publishers. pp. 131–132. ISBN 9781897829196.
- Pati, Biswamoy, ed. (2000). Issues in Modern Indian History: For Sumit Sarkar. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 9788171546589.
- Neelesh Ishwarchandra Karkare (2014). Shreenath Madhavji : Mahayoddha Mahadji Ki Shourya Gatha. Neelesh Ishwarchandra (Gwalior). ISBN 9789352670925.
- Neelesh Ishwarchandra Karkare (2017). Tawaareekh-E-ShindeShahi. Neelesh Ishwarchandra (Gwalior). ISBN 9789352672417.