Bilaspur State (princely state)

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Bilaspur StateorKahlur State,sometimesKahloor Riyasat,was a kingdom (697–1849) and laterprincely state(1849–1948) in thePunjab Provinceruled by a separate branch ofChandravanshiChandelrajput dynasty. Raja Bir Chand 697–730 was the founder of the state but it was named Kahlur only after the Construction of Kahlur Fort by Raja Kahal Chand around 890–930CE and RajaAnand Chandthe 44th Raja was the last ruler.

Bilaspur State
Kahlur Riyasat
Kahlur (कहलूर)
697–1948
Flag of Bilaspur State (princely state)
Flag
Coat of arms of Bilaspur State (princely state)
Coat of arms
Princely States of the Shimla Hills, Bilaspur in the south straddling the Sutlej (1911)
Princely States of the Shimla Hills, Bilaspur in the south straddling the Sutlej (1911)
StatusPrincely state of Hills.
CapitalBilaspur,Sunhani[1]
GovernmentMonarchy
History
• Established
697
• Disestablished
1948
Succeeded by
Bilaspur State (1950–1954)
Today part ofHimachal Pradesh,India
RajaBijai Chandwith other Rajput chiefs.
Dan Chand, prince of Bilaspur. Last quarter of the 18th century.

The state was earlier known asKahlurRiyasat and was later renamedBilaspur.[2]It covered an area of 1,173 km2(453 sq mi), on the name of Sage Bias (from Biaspur later became Bilaspur) and had a population of 100,994 according to the1931 Census of India.The last ruler of Bilaspur State acceded to theIndian Unionon 12 October 1948.

Bilaspur State remainedBilaspur Provincein independent India until 1950 when the province was briefly renamed "Bilaspur State" before it was merged withHimachal Pradeshstateas adistrictin 1954.[3]

In thepre-partitionedPunjab,theRajaofKahlur(Bilaspur) elevated theKolisto the status ofKshatriyaand he wanted them to serve in his army and Raja did so.[4]

History

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According to local oral tradition and records during the reign of Raja Harihar Chand, a new state was founded around 697 CE by his son First Ruler Raja Bir Chand. After Raja Kahal Chand had builtKahlur Fortthe state was named Kahlur (probably from Kahal-pur) and the rulingChandel Dynasty of Kahlurwas also Known asKahluria. Initially the capital of the state was at a place named Jandbari — in(now in punjab after 1953)— and then it was transferred to Kahlur Fort, but was later moved permanently to present townBilaspur[2]by Dip Chand, the 32ndRajaof Kahlur (reigned1663–1665)

RajaBhim Chandwho succeeded Raja Deep Chand foughtBattle of NadaunagainstMughalsand came out victorious.Mughalsunder Alif Khan were supported by Raja ofKangraand RajaDayalofBijarwal[5] When RajaBhim Chandabdicated in 1692 to lead a life of sanyasi the state was at previously unknown heights. The reign ofBhim Chand's son Ajmer Chand was of conquest as well. By the end of his forty years reign the number of states paying tribute was considerable:Baghal State,Baghat,Keonthal,Beja, Mangal,Bhajji,Mahlog,Dhami,Kuthar,Kotkhai,Kunihar,Balsan, and Nehra among others. All continued to pay tribute until Mahan Chand reign 1778 but by 1790 onlyMangal Statecontinued to acknowledge Bilaspur'so suzerainty.[6] Since the 18th-century the rulers of Bilaspur State patronised artists of theKangra paintingstyle.[7]

Detail of the territory of Kahlur (Bilaspur) State from a map of the various Hill States of the Punjab Hills region, copied in 1852.

Bilaspur State came underBritish protectionin 1815[8]under Raja Mahan Chand and became one of theSimla Hill States.[citation needed]RajaAnand Chandwas the last ruler of the princely state and Pandit Sant Ram was the last Home Minister. As Bilaspur acceded to India on 28 October 1948, Bilaspur retained an independent identity as a separate province and as a part-C State of India. The Raja was appointed commissioner of the State. In following years after Raja resigned his deputy Chhabra, who was appointed by govt of India, helped run the temporary govt of Bilaspur while the territory of the princely state was politically integrated into the Indian Union.

From 26 January 1950 Bilaspur was administered by theGovernment of Indiaas a separateC-Classstate named Bilaspur State which in 1954 was incorporated into the State of Himachal Pradesh as a province.[3]

Demographics

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Religious groups in Bilaspur State (British Punjab provinceera)
Religious
group
1921[9] 1931[10] 1941[11]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Hinduism[a] 96,000 97.96% 99,023 98.05% 108,375 98.22%
Islam 1,559 1.59% 1,458 1.44% 1,498 1.36%
Sikhism 437 0.45% 507 0.5% 453 0.41%
Christianity 4 0% 6 0.01% 7 0.01%
Jainism 0 0% 0 0% 3 0%
Zoroastrianism 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Buddhism 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Judaism 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Others 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Total population 98,000 100% 100,994 100% 110,336 100%
Note:British Punjab provinceera district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historicPunjab Province regionduring the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.

The Family

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Chandelin Bilaspur belong to different branches of the ruling family. These families are numerous, and all enjoyedjagirpensionsfrom state amounting in aggregate to Rs. 40,000 a year in 1933. The chief names are:

  • Ajmerchandia
  • Kaliyanchandia
  • Tarachandia
  • Sultanchandia

Rajas

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  1. Bir Chand, founder; (r. 697–730)
  2. Udhran Chand
  3. Jaskarn Chand
  4. Madanbrahm Chand
  5. Ahl Chand
  6. Kahal Chand, 6th Raja;(r. 890–930)
  7. Slar Chand
  8. Men Chand
  9. Sen Chand
  10. Sulkhan Chand
  11. Kahn Chand, 11th Raja. ConqueredHindur,which he created as a separate realm for his second son.
  12. Ajit Chand, 12th Raja (son of Khan Chand)
  13. Gokul Chand
  14. Udai Chand, (r. 1133–1143)
  15. Gen Chand
  16. Pruthvi Chand
  17. Sangar Chand, (r. 1197–1220)
  18. Megh Chand, (r. 1220–1251)
  19. Dev Chand
  20. Ahim Chand
  21. Abhisand Chand, (r. 1302–1317)
  22. Sampurn Chand (r. 1317–1355)
  23. Rattan Chand (r. 1355–1406)
  24. Narandar Chand
  25. Fath Chand
  26. Pahar Chand
  27. Ram Chand
  28. Uttam Chand
  29. Gyan Chand (r. 1518–1555)
  30. Bikram Chand (r. 1555–1593)
  31. Sultan Chand (r. 1593–1600)
  32. Kalyan Chand (r. 1600–1636)
  33. Tara Chand (r. 1636–1653)
  34. Dip Chand (r. 1653–1665)
  35. Bhim Chand (Kahlur)(r. 1665–1692)
  36. Ajmer Chand (r. 1692–1728)
  37. Devi Chand (r. 1738–1778)
  38. Mahan Chand (r. 1778–1824)
  39. Kharak Chand (r. 1824 – March 1839)
  40. Jagat Chand (r. March 1839 – 1850)
  41. Hira Chand (r. March 1850 – January 1883)
  42. Amar Chand (r. January 1883 – January 1889)
  43. Bijai Chand (r. 3 February 1889 – 18 February 1927)
  44. Anand Chand(r. 18 February 1927 – 12 October 1983)

Currency

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No coins from Bilaspur State have been found, and the state may have simply been too small and remote, with little demand for currency, to mint its own. There was little long-distance trade that required currency. Any coins that did circulate in the area were probably originally from elsewhere, such as theDelhi Sultanate.After the British gained influence in the region in the mid-1800s, theBritish system based on the rupeepredominated. For everyday transactions, though,barterwas the main way that most people exchanged goods and services.[12]: 37, 222 

Notes

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  1. ^1931-1941: IncludingAd-Dharmis

References

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  1. ^http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0208_PART_B_DCHB_BILASPUR.pdfpage 11
  2. ^abStates before 1947 A-J
  3. ^abSocial, cultural, and economic history of Himachal Pradesh By Manjit Singh Ahluwalia
  4. ^Sadasivan, S. N. (2000).A Social History of India.New Delhi, India, Asia: APH Publishing. p. 244.ISBN978-81-7648-170-0.
  5. ^Singh, Kartar (1967).Guru Gobind Singh and the Mughals.Chandigarh:Guru Gobind Singh Foundation. p. 55.OCLC49259.
  6. ^Mark Brentnall (2005).The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh.Indus. p. 52.ISBN9788173871634.
  7. ^Hindu Hill KingdomsArchived30 March 2010 at theWayback MachineV&A Museum.
  8. ^Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Kahlur".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 634.
  9. ^"Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables".1921. p. 29.JSTORsaoa.crl.25430165.Retrieved30 March2024.
  10. ^"Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables".1931. p. 277.JSTORsaoa.crl.25793242.Retrieved30 March2024.
  11. ^India Census Commissioner (1941)."Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab".p. 42.JSTORsaoa.crl.28215541.Retrieved30 March2024.
  12. ^Mamgain, M.D. (1975).Himachal Pradesh District Gazetteers: Bilaspur.Retrieved8 April2023.

Further reading

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  • Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933).History of the Panjab Hill States,Vol. II. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, Pujab, Lahore, 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter XIII Bilaspur State, pp. 494–518.
  • Media related toBilaspur Stateat Wikimedia Commons

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