History of Bundi

History of Bundi, now in the Rajasthan state of India.

In ancient times, the area around Bundi was apparently inhabited by various local tribes, of which the Parihar Meenas were prominent. Bundi and the eponymous princely state are said to derive their names from a former Meena chief called Raja Bunda Singh Meena. Bundi was previously called “Bunda-Ka-Nal", Nal meaning “narrow ways”. Bundi is situated in a narrow valley within the Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan. Later the region was governed by Rao Deva Hada, who took over Bundi from Jaita Meena in 1342, renaming the surrounding area as Haravati or Haroti. For the next two centuries, the Hadas of Bundi were the vassals of the Sisodias of Mewar and ruled by the title of Rao until 1569, when Akbar conferred the title of Rao Raja upon Rao Surjan after the surrender of Ranthambore Fort and his submission. In 1707, Bahadur Shah I conferred the title of Maharao Raja upon Raja Budh Singh.[1]

Rulers

Meena tribe ruled this area till 1342 CE. Later the rulers of Hadoti belonged to the Hada dynasty.

Rulers of Bundi:

  • Rao Deva (1342 to 1343).
  • Rao Napuji.
  • Rao Hamuli (1384 to 1400).
  • Rao Birsingh (1400 to 1415).
  • Rao Biru (1415 to 1470).
  • Rao Bandu (1470 to 1491).
  • Rao Narayan Das (1491 to 1527).
  • Rao Suraj Mal (1527 to 1531).
  • Rao Surtan Singh (1531 to 1544).
  • Rao Raja Surjan Singh (1544 to 1585).
  • Rao Raja Bhoj Singh (1585 to 1608).
  • Rao Raja Ratan Singh (1608 to 1632).
  • Rao Raja Chhattar Sal Singh (1632 to 1658).
  • Rao Raja Bhao Singh (1658 to 1682).
  • Rao Raja Anirudh Singh (1682 to 1696).
  • Maharao Raja Budh Singh (b. ... – d. 1739) (1696 to 1735).
  • Maharao Raja Dalel Singh (b. 1729 – d. 1804) (1735 to 1749).
  • Maharao Raja Umaid Singh (1749 to 1770) and again (1773 to 1804).
  • Maharao Raja Ajit Singh (b. ... – d. 1773) (1770 to 1773).

Princely State

After 1818, Bundi came under British rule and became a Princely state.

Watercolour painting of the town and pass of Bundi in Rajasthan, by an anonymous artist working in the British school, c. 1840.
Sukh Niwas Palace on the edge of the Jait Sagar tank at Bundi, c. 1900
1577-The Battle Preceding the Capture of the Fort at Bundi Rajasthan-Akbarnama

British era

View looking along a bazaar at Bundi taken by Gunpatrao Abajee Kale, c.1900.

In 1804 Rao Raja Bishan Singh (1773–1821) gave valuable assistance to Colonel Monson in his disastrous retreat before Holkar, in revenge for which the Maratha Empire and Pindaris continually ravaged his state and forced the kingdom to pay tribute up to 1817. Consequently, Bishan Singh made a subsidiary alliance with the British East India Company on 10 February 1818, which brought him under its protection. was responsible for the creation of the pleasure palace of Sukh Niwas on the outskirts of Bundi.

When dying of cholera, Bishan Singh entrusted James Tod with guardianship of his 11-year-old son, Ram Singh. Maharao Raja Ram Singh (1821–89) grew up to be a much respected ruler who initiated economic and administrative reforms and established schools for the teaching of Sanskrit. On the throne for 68 years, he was described as a grand specimen of the Rajput gentleman and "the most conservative prince in conservative Rajputana."[2] His rule was popular and beneficial; and though during the mutiny of 1857 his attitude was equivocal, he continued to enjoy the confidence of the British, being created G.C.S.I. and a counselor of the empire in 1877 and C.I.E. in 1878. He was succeeded by his adopted son Raghubir Singh (1889–1927), who was made a K.C.S.I. in 1897 and a G.C.I.E. in 1901. His reign was blighted by two disastrous famines. Despite his best efforts at alleviation, the population of his kingdom was reduced from some 258,000 to 171,000 by 1901 due to death and emigration.[2] Raghubir Singh supported the British during the World War I.

Maharao Bahadur Singh (1945–77) also supported the British and served in the Burma campaign, where he earned the Military Cross for his gallantry before succeeding to the throne. He was a guest at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. [3]

Accession to India

At the time of the partition of India in 1947, the British abandoned their suzerainty over the princely states, which were left to decide whether to remain independent or to accede to the newly independent Dominion of India or to Pakistan. The ruler of the state of Bundi decided to accede to India, which later became the Union of India. This brought the internal affairs of Bundi under the control of Delhi.


References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.