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| Current Family Tree of Bilaspur Royal Family |
Raja Mahan Chand ( 1778 – 1824 A.D )
o
He was a minor at the time when his father Raja
Devi Chand died.
o
Administration remained under Ramu of “Darol
Family”, in association with Queen. When Ramu Wazir died in 1785, Rani called
in “Bairagi Ram” who was formerly the Wazir of Mandi for performing duties.
This attempt was quite unsuccessful and the younger brother of Devi Chand -
“Zoravar Chand” was appointed as Wazir. Later, Mahan Chand took the reins of
the throne.
o
Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra invaded the
territory of Bilaspur at the left banks of river Satluj and occupied ‘Chauki
Hatwar’. Mahan Chand being a weak ruler, the Queen called upon Raja Dharam
Prakash of Sirmour to help. Though, the efforts went futile.
o
Sansar Chand built a fort on Dhar Janjrar and
called it Chhatipur ( on the chest of Bilaspur ). Mahan Chand called for Sikh
Sardars – Gurdit Singh & Desa Singh residing in Anandpur to resist the
intrusion of Raja Sansar Chand.
o
In 1808, Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed Hathawat,
Jahanbhari & Dharkot.
o
In the later part of the 18th
century, Gurkhas from Nepal had become a dominant force. Their headquarters was
at Garhwal. Mahan Chand called upon them for help. With the help of Gurkha
Commander Amar Singh Thapa, in 1805, Sansar Chand of Kangra was defeated at
Mahal Morian ( a place nine kms from Ladraur in Hamirpur ).
o
Gurkhas laid seize till 1809 till Maharaja
Ranjit Singh liberated Kangra. Ranjit Singh compelled the Gurkhas to retire
across the Satluj. Though, Gurkhas continued their occupation in Bilaspur and
other hill states till 1814 A.D.
o
Jahanbhari annexed by Sikhs in 1808 was not
restored to Bilaspur. It is now known as Hoshiarpur in the state of Punjab.
o
Mahan Chand’s son Kharak Chand was born in 1813
A.D.
o
In 1819, Desa Singh Majithia (Nizam of Kangra Hills)
, assisted by Raja Sansar Chand captured the forts of ‘Pichrota’, ‘Nihalgarh’
and ‘Biholi Devi’
o
Mahan Chand died in 1824 A.D.
2 Raja
Kharak Chand ( 1824 – 1839 A.D.)
o
His reign is considered to be the darkest period
in the history of Bilaspur due his inefficient and atrocious rule.
o
When atrocities became unbearable, people went
to Mian Jagat Chand who was Raja Kharak Chand’s uncle. A revolt was led against
the Raja and the throne was taken over by his uncle.
Raja
Jagat Chand ( 1839 – 1857 A.D. )
o
Raja Kharak Chand had died childless. Later, one
of his Ranis (of Kharak Chand) gave birth to a son at her parental house in
Sirmour. Furnished by the Raja of Sirmour and Suket, Rani came to Bilaspur to
claim the throne for the legitimate heir. Under the prevailing circumstances,
Raja Jagat Singh fled to Hindur. On receiving information regarding the fall,
the states of Ambala and Hindur ( Raja Ram Saran ) helped Jagat Singh to regain
power.
o
In 1847, he got back his territory, which was
annexed by Sikhs in 1809.
o Jagat Chand had a son - Narpat Chand who died (in 1844) during his reign
without acceding to the throne. He later abdicated the throne for his grandson Hira Chand in 1850 and retired to 'Brindavan'. He died in 1857 A.D.
Raja
Hira Chand (1857 -1882 A.D.)
o
His reign is known as the ‘golden age of
Bilaspur state’.
o
He provided support to British during the 1857
revolt. In acknowledgement of which a salute of eleven guns was granted to the
state by the British.
o
In 1857, his son Amar Chand was born.
o
Till 1863, the land revenue was paid in kind. Hira Chand reorganised the revenue system. The revenue was now to be paid partly in
cash and remaining in product kind.
o
In 1867, a long strip of land called ‘Based’
(Bachchretu) was restored to the territory.
o
Mian Bhangi Purgnia was his Wazir.
o In 1882, Hira Chand paid a visit to Shimla
accompanied by his son – “Tikka Amar Chand”. He died on his way back in a
palanquin in a place called ‘Mahol’.
Raja
Amar Chand ( 1883 – 1888 A.D. )
o
During his reign, there was a revolt against the
revenue administration. Thereafter, the revenue records were kept in ‘Nagari’
(Hindi)
o
The suspension bridge over Satluj was
constructed during his period.
o
He died in 1888 A.D.
Raja
Bijai Chand (1889 A.D.)
o
In 1889, he was installed as the 43rd
ruler in the genealogy.
o
He laid the water supply system in Bilaspur.
o He built two houses for his residence - one in
Varanasi (1896 – 1902) and another - a summer house ‘Bahadurpur’ at a place called
Haridwar near Bilaspur.
o
Rang Mahal in Bilaspur was constructed by him.
o In 1901, Chandel Rajputs revolted against him.
Lala Hira Chand – who was a retired tehsildar was appointed as Wazir in 1902.
o
In 1903, Rai Mian Amar Singh – a tehsildar of
Jalandhara division was appointed as the manager of the state. He carried out various
efficient administrative reforms.
o Raja Bijai Chand who had been living in
Varanasi, returned to the state in 1908 and took control of the administration
with Rai Amar Singh as Wazir.
o During World War 1 (1914 – 1919 ), he extended
his support to the British. As an acknowledgement, he was decorated with
K.C.I.E – (Knight Companion in the most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire) in
1918. Also, an honorary rank of Major was bestowed upon him.
o
He died in Varanasi in 1931 at the age of 59.
7 Raja
Anand Chand ( 1928 -1948 A.D.)
o He was born on 26th January , 1913.
After Raja Bijai Chand abdicated the throne on 18th February, 1927,
he acceded as Raja.
o
He abolished child marriage, beggary and brought
about these prohibitions in Bilaspur through
an Act in 1942.
o
He was instrumental in constructing new roads
linking capital with Suket and Mandi.
o He built the Gopalji Temple and New Palace ( now
submerged into the Bhakhra Reservoir )
o
He was educated at Mayo College, Ajmer. Also, he
was bestowed with K.C.I.E in 1945.
o
Bilaspur acceded to the Indian dominion after
signing the instrument of accession. On 9th October, 1948 – Bilaspur
was made a Part ‘C’ state vide agreement dated on 15th August, 1948.
o On 12th October, 1948 – Anand Chand
was appointed as the first Chief Commissioner of the newly formed Part ‘C’
state and continued till 1st April, 1949.
o On 2nd April, 1949, the charge of
Chief Commissionership was handed over to Sri Chand Chhabra. He held the office
till 3rd November, 1953 until Major General Himmat Singh – the Lt. Governor
of Himachal Pradesh took additional charge of Chief Commissionership of
Bilaspur.
o
On 1st July, 1954, Bilaspur was
merged into Himachal Pradesh forming a new district.
o
Raja Anand Chand was a member of the Constituent
Assembly from 1947-48
o
As mentioned earlier, he served as the Chief
Commissioner of Bilaspur from 1948 to April,1949
o He was a member of Lok Sabha from 1952 – 1957.
Also, he served as a member of Rajya Sabha from 1964 – 1970.
o
He was also a member of Himachal Pradesh
Legislative Assembly ( 1977 – 1982 )
o
He married twice. Firstly, he married on 18th
May, 1931 to Rani Umavati Kumari (born in 1916 and died on 13th
March, 1961). She was a princess from Jubbal state. His second wife was Sudarshana Kumari ( born
in 1940) who was the daughter of Raja Mehar Chand of Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh.
o
He wrote a book titled “ Bilaspur Past, Present
and Future”
o
He died on October 1983 in London. He had six
children.
Bilaspur Economy to be continued in Bilaspur District Explained - Part - 3 - Economy
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ReplyDeleteThanks Avantika for the same ! Will revamp the website with new updates ! Stay atuned :-)
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