Kahlur

"Bilaspur State" redirects here. For the post-independence administrative division, see Bilaspur State (1950 - 1954).
Bilaspur State
Kahlur State
बिलासपुर रियासत
Princely state of the British Raj
697–1948
Flag Coat of arms
Princely States of the Shimla Hills, Bilaspur in the south straddling the Sutlej (1911)
Capital Bilaspur
Government Monarchy
History
 •  Established 697
 •  Disestablished 1948
Area
 •  1931 1,173 km² (453 sq mi)
Population
 •  1931 est. 100,994 
     Density 86.1 /km²  (223 /sq mi)
 Succeeded by
Republic of India
Today part of Himachal Pradesh, India
Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "article name needed". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
Raja Bijai Chand with Rajput chiefs.
Dan Chand, prince of Bilaspur. Last quarter of the 18th century.

Bilaspur State or Kahlur was a princely state in the Punjab Province during the era of British India, ruled by a Hindu Rajput dynasty.

The state was initially known as Kahlur and was later renamed Bilaspur.[1] It covered an area of 1173 km², and had a population of 100,994 according to the 1931 Census of India. The last ruler of Bilaspur State signed the accession to join the Indian Union on 12 October 1948.[2]

Bilaspur State remained Bilaspur Province in independent India until 1950 when the province was briefly renamed "Bilaspur State" before it was merged with Himachal Pradesh state as a district in 1954.[3]

History

According to local myths compiled during the reign of Raja Hira Chand the predecessor state was founded around 697 by Bir Chand.[4] After Kahal Chand had built Kahlur Fort the state was named after it. Initially the capital of the state was at a place named Jhandbari —now in Hoshiarpur district— and then it was transferred to Kahlur Fort, but was later moved permanently to Bilaspur[1] by Dip Chand, the 32nd Raja of Kahlur (1653 - 1665).[2] Since the 18th century the rulers of Bilaspur State patronised artists of the Kangra painting style.[5]

Bilaspur State came under British protection in 1815 under Raja Mahan Chand and became one of the Simla Hill States.[6] Tikka Anand Chand was the last ruler of the princely state and Pandit Sant Ram was the last Home Minister. As Bilaspur acceded to India on 12 October 1948, Pandit Sant Ram administered the state's accession ensuring that Bilaspur retained an independent identity as a separate province and as a part C state while the territory of the princely state was politically integrated into the Indian Union. From 26 January 1950 Bilaspur was administered by the Government of India as a separate C-Class state named Bilaspur State which in 1954 was incorporated into the State of Himachal Pradesh as a province.[3]

Rajas

  1. Bir Chand, founder
  2. unknown
  3. unknown
  4. unknown
  5. unknown
  6. Kahal Chand, 6th Raja
  7. unknown
  8. unknown
  9. unknown
  10. unknown
  11. Kahn Chand, 11th Raja. Conquered Hindur, which he created as a separate realm for his second son.
  12. Ajit Chand, 12th Raja (son of Khan Chand)
  13. unknown
  14. Udai Chand, raja 1133-1143.
  15. unknown
  16. Sangar Chand, 16th Raja, 1197-1220.
  17. Megh Chand, Raja 1220-1251.
  18. unknown
  19. unknown
  20. unknown
  21. Abhaisand Chand, Raja 1302-1317.
  22. unknown
  23. Hari Om Chand, date of rule disputed.
  24. Ratan Chand, Raja 1355-1406.
  25. unknown
  26. unknown
  27. Gyan Chand, dates of rule disputed.
  28. Bikram Chand, abdicated in either 1593 or 1620.
  29. Sultan Chand, died in either 1600 or 1630.
  30. Kalyan Chand, died 1636 or 1645.
  31. Tara Chand, ruled from either 1636 or 1645, died in 1653.
  32. Dip Chand, Raja 1653-1665.
  33. Bhim Chand, Raja 1665-1692
  34. Ajmer Chand,Raja 1692-1738
  35. Devi Chand, Raja 1738-1778
  36. Mahan Chand (born 1772 - died 1824), Raja 1778-1824
  37. Kharak Chand (died 1839), Raja 1824 - March 1839
  38. Jagat Chand (died 1857), Raja March 1839 - 1850
  39. Hira Chand (died 1883), Raja March 1850 - January 1883
  40. Amar Chand (born 1859 - died 1889), Raja January 1883 - January 1889
  41. Bijai Chand (born 1873 - died 1931), Raja June 1889 - 1927
  42. Tikka Anand Chand (born 1913 - died 1983), Raja 18 November 1927 - 12 October 1948

The Mian Families

Most of the Rajputs in Bilaspur are Chandelas, that is they belong to different branches of the ruling family. These families are numerous, and all enjoyed jagir pensions from state amounting in aggregate to Rs. 40,000 a year in 1933. They are called 'the Mian families', and the chief names are:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 States before 1947 A-J
  2. 1 2 Bilaspur Princely State (11 gun salute)
  3. 1 2 Social, cultural, and economic history of Himachal Pradesh By Manjit Singh Ahluwalia
  4. ↑ Gazetteer Of The Simla Hill States 1910, p. 4
  5. ↑ Hindu Hill Kingdoms V&A Museum.
  6. ↑ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 8, p. 233.
  7. ↑ History of the Punjab Hill States,Volume 2, J. Hutchinson and J. Ph. Vogel, P - 513, 1933, by Superintendent, Government Printing, Lahore, Punjab

Further reading

Coordinates: 31°19′N 76°50′E / 31.317°N 76.833°E / 31.317; 76.833

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