Jhalawar State, 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
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Jhalawar State
Physical aspects
State in the south-east of Rajputana, with an area of about 810 square miles. It consists of two separate tracts. The smaller, barely 14 square miles in extent, is known as Kirpapur, and is quite unimportant. The main tract lies between 23 degree 45' and 24 degree 41, N. and 75 degree 28' and 76 degree 15' E., and is bounded on the north-east and north by Kotah ; on the north-west and west by the Rampura-Bhanpura district (of Indore), and the Agar tahsll (of Gwalior) ; on the south- west by Sltamau and Jaora ; on the south by Dewas and Agar ; and on the east by Pirawa (of Tonk) and Rampura-Bhanpura. In shape it resembles the letter S, with a length of about 85 miles and a breadth varying from 3 to 17 miles. The country rises gradually from 1,000 feet above sea- level in the north to 1,500 feet in the south. A narrow range of low and fairly wooded hills runs south-east past the town of Jhalrapatan in the north, and the southern half of the State is generally hilly, and inter- sected by small streams, but the rest of the country is a rich undulating plain. The principal rivers are the Chambal and the Kali Sind, but neither ever actually enters the State, the former flowing for 9 miles along the south-western, and the latter for about 17 miles along the north-eastern boundary. The Chhoti Kali Sind enters the State in the south-west, and after flowing for about 20 miles through the centre of the Gangdhar tahsil, joins the Chambal. The Au or Ahu river rises near the cantonment of Agar and flows north, generally along the borders of Jhalawar, till it reaches the Mukandwara range of hills in the extreme north of the State, when it turns abruptly to the south-east, and about 8 miles lower down joins the Kali Sind near G5graun.
The rocks of Jhalawar consist generally of shales, limestone, and sandstone belonging to the Upper Vindhyan group. Besides the usual small game, antelope and ' ravine deer ' are found in the plains. Tigers are occasionally met with in the forests near the capital, but leopards and wild hog are fairly common. Sambar (Cervus unieolor), chital (Cervus axis) 9 and nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamclus) frequent certain localities, but only in limited numbers.
The climate resembles that of Malwa, and is generally healthy. The hot season is less severe than that of Northern and Western Raj pu tana, and though hot winds sometimes blow in April and May, the nights are usually cool and refreshing. The annual rainfall for the State averages 37. inches, of which about 25 are received in July and August, and 10 in June and September. The rainfall has varied from about 13J inches at the capital in 1877 to over 68 inches at Gangdhar (in the south-west) in 1900.
History
The ruling family belongs to the Jhala clan of Rajputs, which has given its name to the State. One Rajdhar is said to have founded the petty chiefship of Hal wad in KSthiawar about 1488 ; and the eighth in succession to him had a son, Bhao Singh, who left his own country and proceeded first to Idar, and next to Ajmer, where he married the daughter of the Sesodia Thakur of Sawar, by whom he had a son, Madho Singh, and a daughter. Nothing more is known of Bhao Singh ; but Mad ho Singh proceeded to Kotah in the time of Maharao Bhim Singh, gained the favour of that chief, and obtained the estate of Nanta with the post of Faujdar or commander of the troops as well as of the fort About the same time his sister was married to Arjun Singh, the eldest son of the Kotah chief; and this family connexion, while adding to Madho Singh's authority, procured for him the respectful title of mama, or maternal uncle, from the younger members of the Kotah family. Madho Singh was succeeded as FaujdUr by his son Madan Singh, and the post became hereditary in the family. Himmat Singh followed Madan Singh, and was in turn succeeded in 1758 by his famous nephew, Zalim Singh, whom he had adopted, and who was at the time only eighteen years of age. Three • years later Zalim Singh was the means of securing victory for the troops of Kotah over the army of Jaipur at Bhatwara ; but he afterwards fell into disfavour with his master (Maharao Guman Singh) in consequence of some rivalry in love, and, being dismissed from his office, he migrated to Udaipur, where he did good service, and received from the Maharana the title of Raj Rana. Later on, he retraced his steps to Kotah, where he was not only pardoned but reinstated in his old office ; and when the Maharao was on his deathbed, he sent for Zalim Singh and com- mitted his son, Umed Singh, and the country to his charge. From this time (1771) Zalim Singh was the real ruler of Kotah. He raised it to a state of high prosperity, and under his administration, which lasted for more than fifty years, the Kotah territory was respected by all parties. Through him a treaty was made with the British Government in 1817, by which Kotah was taken under protection; and by a supple- mentary article, added in 181 8, the entire administration was vested in Raj Rani Zalim Singh and his heirs in regular succession and per- petuity. Zalim Singh, the Machiaveili of Rajasthan, as Tod calls him, died in 1824, and his son, Madho Singh, received undisputed charge of the administration. His unfitness for office was a matter of notoriety, and he was in turn succeeded by his son, Madan Singh. In 1834 dis- putes between the chief of Kotah and his minister were constantly occurring, and there was danger of a popular rising for the expulsion of the latter. It was therefore resolved, with the consent of the Maharao of Kotah, to dismember the State and to create the new principality of Jhalawar as a separate provision for the descendants of Zalim Singh. Seventeen districts, yielding a revenue of 12 lakhs, were made over to Madan Singh and his heirs and successors, being the descendants of Raj Rani Zalim Singh, according to the custom of succession obtaining in Rajwara ; and by a treaty dated 1838 this new principality was taken under the protection of the British Government, and agreed to supply troops according to its means, and pay a tribute of Rs. 80,000. The Jhalawar State thus dates from 1838 ; and its first chief, Madan Singh, , on assuming charge, received the title of MahSraj Rana, was entitled to a salute of 15 guns, and was placed on the same footing as the other chiefs of Rajputana. He died in 1845 and was succeeded by his son, Prithwl Singh, who, during the Mutiny of 1857-8, did good service by conveying to places of safety several Europeans who had taken refuge in his State. He received the usual sanad guaranteeing to him the right of adoption in 1862, and on his death in August, 1875, was suc- ceeded by his adopted son, Bakht Singh, of the Wadhwan family in Kathiawar. The latter, in accordance with family custom, which enjoined that only the four names of Zalim Singh, Madho Singh, Madan Singh, and Prithwl Singh should be assumed by the rulers of this house, took the name of Zalim Singh. As he was a minor, the administration was carried on by a Political Superintendent assisted by a Council, and he himself joined the Mayo College at Ajmer. He attained his majority in 1883 and was invested with governing powers (subject to certain restrictions) in 1884 ; but as he failed to administer his State in accor- dance with the principles laid down for his guidance, the Government of India was compelled to withdraw his powers in 1887, and to restore the arrangements which were in force during his minority. In 1892 Zalim Singh promised amendment, and was entrusted with the charge of all the departments except that of land revenue, which was to remain under the Council, while in September, 1894, this reservation was with- drawn and he obtained full powers. But he failed to govern the State properly, and was deposed in 1896 ; he now lives at Benares, and receives an allowance of Rs. 30,000 a year. Zalim Singh had no sons ; and there being no direct descendants of his namesake, the great regent, the Government of India restored to Kotah part of the territories which had been made over in 1838 to form the principality of Jh&lawftr, and formed the remaining districts into a new State for the descendants of the family to which the first Raj Rana (Zalim Singh) belonged, and for those Sardars and others whose allegiance it was considered un- desirable to transfer to Kotah. In 1897 Kunwar Bhawani Singh, son of Thakur Chhatarsal of Fatehpur, and a descendant of Madho Singh, the first Jhala Faujdar of Kotah, was selected by Government to be the chief of the new State. Arrangements were completed by the end of 1898, and the actual transfer of territory took place on January 1, 1899, from which date the new State of Jhalawar came into existence. Bhawani Singh was installed as ruler, under the title of Raj Rana, with a salute of 1 1 guns, and was at the same time invested with full powers of administration. The tribute payable to the British Government is now Rs. 30,000 a year. His Highness was educated at the Mayo College. The principal events of his rule have been the famine of 1 899- 1 900; the adoption of Imperial postal unity in 1900; the intro- duction of British currency and weights in 1901 ; and his visit to Europe in 1904.
The places of archaeological interest are the remains of the old city of Chandravati close to Jhalrapatan Town, and the rock-cut stupas at the village of Kholvi 1 in the Dag tahsil in the south. The latter are interesting as being probably the most modern group of Buddhist caves in India.
Population
The number of towns and villages in the State is 410, and the popu- lation at each of the three enumerations was: (1881) 340,488, (1891) 343,601, and (1901) 90,175. The decrease since 1 89 1 was of course due mainly to the remodelling of the State in 1899, but to a considerable extent also to the famine of 1 899- 1 900 and the severe epidemic of malarial fever which followed. Although vital statistics in Native States are not very reliable, it may be mentioned that in the entire State in 1900 only 941 births were registered, while deaths numbered 13,872. The State is divided into five tahsils and possesses two towns, Jhalrapatan and the chhaoni or cantonment of the same name, both administered as municipalities. The table on the next page gives the chief statistics of population in 190 1.
In 1901 Hindus numbered 78,107, or 86 per cent, of the popu- lation, the majority being Vaishnavas; Musalmans, 8,845, or nearly 10 per cent, mostly of the Sunni sect; and Jains, 3,129, or 3 per cent. The languages mainly spoken are Malwi (or Rangrf) and Haraotl, both dialects of Rajasthani.
1 Archaeological Survey of Northern India, voL ii, pp. 280-8 ; and J. Fergnsson, History of Indian and Eastern Architecture (1889), pp. 132 and 162.
Among castes and tribes the most numerous are the Sondhias, who number 22,000, or 24 per cent of the total population. They claim to be Rajputs, but are probably of mixed descent ; they are described as idle, ignorant, immoral, and given to cattle-lifting. Next come the Charters (workers in leather and agriculturists), forming 8 per cent, of the total ; Brahmans, some of whom are cultivators, while others are engaged in religious or menial services, 7 per cent. ; Mahajans (bankers and traders), 6 per cent. ; Balais (cultivators, workers in leather, and village chaukiddrs) and Gujars (cattle-breeders and dealers, and agricul- turists), each between 4 and 5 per cent More than 54 per cent, of the people live by the land, and many others combine agriculture with their special occupations.
Agriculture
The soils may be divided into three classes : namely, kali, a rich black loam ; mail a loam of a lighter colour but almost as fertile ; and barli, often of a reddish colour, generally stony and sandy, and always shallow. Of these classes, it is estimated that the second supplies about one-half and the others about one-fourth each of the cultivable area.
Agricultural statistics are available only for the khalsa portion of the State, the area of which is about 558 square miles. From this must be deducted 158 square miles occupied by forests, rivers, towns, roads, &c, leaving 400 square miles available for cultivation. The average net area cropped during the last four years has been about 125 square miles, or 31 per cent of the khalsa area available for culti- vation. The principal crops and the area (in square miles) ordinarily cultivated in each case are : jawdr, 85 ; maize, 14 ; cotton, 8 ; and poppy, gram, and wheat, each about 7.
Cattle are plentiful and of a good stamp, being largely of the Malwa breed. The State used to be noted for its ponies, but excessive mor- tality in the recent famine has greatly reduced their numbers. The goats and sheep are of the ordinary type, and are largely kept to pro- vide wool, meat, milk, and manure. Cattle fairs are held yearly at Jhalrapatan town at the end of April and beginning of November.
The area ordinarily irrigated is about 19 square miles. Irrigation is
chiefly from wells, of which more than 6,000 are in working order,
about 1,350 being masonry. Leathern buckets drawn up with a rope
and pulley by bullocks are always used for lifting the water, except
when the latter is near the surface and the area to be irrigated is small,
when a dhenkli, or long pole supported by a prop, with a jar or bucket
at one end and a weight at the other, is used.
Forests cover an area of nearly 8 square miles, and are looked after by a department called Dungar-Bagar. The principal trees are the dhao (Anogeissus pendula), dhdk (Butea frondosa) gurjan (Diptero- carpus turbinatus), and tendu (Diospyros tomentosd), and such fruit trees as the bel(Aegle Marmelos), mango, and mahua (Bassia latifolia). The forest income in 1903-4 was about Rs. 4,300, and the expenditure Rs. 1,800.
Trade and communication
The hills near the capital contain large quantities of excellent sand- stone, mostly of a greyish colour, but in places almost white or deep red. The stone is much used for building purposes. Iron and copper have been found in places, but these minerals are not now worked.
The manufactures are unimportant, and consist of rough cotton fabrics, floorcloths, brass utensils, knives, and sword- blades. The chief exports are opium (to Ujjain and conSuliiSions. Indore), oilseeds, and cotton ; while the chief im- ports are food-grains (mainly from Haraoti), salt, sugar, cloth, and metals.
There is at present no railway in the State, but the Nagda-Muttra line, now under construction, will pass through three tahslls. The total length of metalled roads is 64 miles, and of unmetalled roads 72 miles. The State adopted Imperial postal unity in 1900, and now contains six British post offices, two of which (at Jhalrapatan and the chhaoni) are also telegraph offices.
Famine
Owing to its geographical position, the State has generally a very good rainfall, and scarcities and famines are uncommon. Indeed, during the last hundred years the only famine appears to have been that of 1 899-1 900. The rain practically ceased after July, 1899, with the result that the autumn crop failed almost entirely, and there was considerable scarcity of fodder. The Darbar started numerous works and poorhouses, at which nearly 1 ½ million units were relieved at a cost exceeding 2 lakhs, and, besides making liberal advances to agriculturists, granted remissions and sus- pensions of land revenue.
The State is governed by the Raj Rana, with the assistance of a Diwan. In charge of each of the five tahsil is a tahsildar, who is assisted by a naib-tahslldar in the large Patan tahsil.
In the administration of justice the courts follow generally the Codes in force in British India. The lowest courts are those of the tahsil ddrs ; they decide civil suits not exceeding Rs. ioo in value, and can sentence to one month's imprisonment and fine up to Rs. 30. Over them are the Diwani Adalat, which tries civil suits not exceeding Rs. 5,000 in value, and the Faujdarl Addlat, which can pass a sentence of two years' imprisonment and fine up to Rs. 300. The next court is the Appellate Court ; its powers on the civil side are unlimited, while on the criminal side it can pass any sentence allowed by law, but its proceedings in capital cases require the confirmation of the Mahakma khds, which is presided over by the Raj Rana, and is the final appellate authority in the State.
The normal revenue is at present about 4 lakhs a year, the chief sources being land (3 lakhs) and customs (Rs. 60,000). The ordinary expenditure is slightly less than the revenue ; and the main items are army and police (Rs. 75,000), revenue and judicial staff (Rs. 72,000), palace and privy purse (Rs. 45,000), public works and tribute to Government (Rs. 30,000 each), and stables (about Rs. 20,000). The State is free from debt.
Jhalawar had formerly a silver and copper coinage of its own, known as Madan shahi (after its first chief), and up to about 1893 the value of the local rupee was always equal to, and sometimes greater than, that of the British coin. Subsequently it began to decline in exchange value, till, in 1899, 123 Madan shahi rupees exchanged for 100 British. The Raj Rana, thereupon decided to abolish the local coinage, and introduce British in its stead as the sole legal tender in the State ; and this was carried out, with the assistance of Government, between March 1 and August 30, 1901.
The State may be divided into two main areas : namely, that paying revenue to the Darbfir and called khalsa, and that granted revenue-free to jagirdars and muafidars. The former occupies about 558 and the latter 252 square miles. The majority of the jagirdars pay a small tribute yearly or every second year to the Darbar, and some have to supply horses and men for the service of the State. Mudfi lands are those granted for religious or charitable purposes or in lieu of pay, and some of the holders have to pay certain dues (sisala) every other year. In the khalsa area there are two tenures : namely, khatedari, which is the same as ryoiwari and wafanddri, which is somewhat similar to zamindari. The former prevails in the Patan tahsil; each individual holder is responsible directly to the State for the revenue of his holding, and possesses certain rights which are heritable, and which can be mortgaged but not sold. In the rest of the State, the other tenure prevails. The watanddrs are members of the village community, and their interests are hereditary and transferable, and not lost by absence. They are responsible for payment of the State demand, and arrange among themselves for the cultivation of the village lands and the distribution of the revenue.
Formerly the land revenue was paid in kind; but in 1805 Zalim Singh substituted a money-rate per Hgha for each class of soil, and his rates remained nominally in force till the present settlement was made in 1884. This settlement was concluded directly with individual holders (khatedars) in the Patan tahsil, and with the watandars in the rest of the State. The rates per acre vary from about Rs. 5 to over Rs. 23 for 'wet’ land, and from about 13 annas to Rs. 6 for 'dry’ land, but the pan or betel-leaf gardens near the capital pay more than Rs. 44 per acre.
The military force consists of 100 cavalry, 71 gunners, and 420 infantry, and there are 20 field and 25 other guns classed as serviceable. The majority (about 300) of the infantry are employed on police duties in the districts.
The police force proper numbers 366 officers and men, 30 of the latter being mounted, distributed over seven police stations. There are also 166 village chaukidars who hold lands revenue-free for their services.
Besides the Central jail at the chhaoni, there are lock-ups at the head- quarters of each tahsil, in which persons sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding one month are confined.
In regard to the literacy of its population, Jhalawar stands seventh among the twenty States and chiefships of Rajputana, with 3.4 per cent. (6-4 males and 0.2 females) able to read and write. There are now nine schools in the State, and the daily average attendance during I 904-5 was 424. The only notable institution is the high school (at the chhaoni), in which English, Urdu, Hindi, and Sanskrit are taught The other schools are all primary, and include one for girls (attended by twelve pupils) and one specially for Sondhias. No fees are charged anywhere, and the yearly expenditure on education is about Rs. 6,000.
In the beginning of 1904 there were four hospitals and two dispen- saries, but one of the latter was closed during the year. The hospitals have accommodation for 34 in-patients. During 1904 the number of cases treated was 38,177 (189 being those of in-patients), and 1,533 operations were performed.
Vaccination was commenced about 1 870-1, but is nowhere com- pulsory. A staff of two vaccinators is kept up, and in 1904-5 the number of persons successfully vaccinated was 2,114, or more than 23 per 1,000 of the population. The total State expenditure on medical institutions and vaccination, including a share of the pay of the Agency Surgeon and his establishment, is about Rs. 1 7,000.
[Rajputana Gazetteer, vol. ii (1879, under revision); H. B. Abbott, Settlement Report (1885); P. A. Weir and J. Crofts, Medico-topographical Account of Jhalawar (1900).]
