Ramdurg 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.
Ramdurg State
State under the Political Agent of Kolhapur and the Southern Maratha Jagirs, Bombay, with an area of 169 square miles. It is bounded on the north by the Torgal subdivision of Kolhapur State; on the south by Nargund m Dharwar District, on the east by the Badami taluka of Bijapur District, and on the west by the Navalgund taluka of Dharwar District. The population in 1901 was 37,848, dwelling in 2 towns, of which the larger is RAMDURG (popu- lation, 9,452), the head-quarters, and 37 villages. Hindus numbci 35,072 and Muhammadans 2,716
The general appearance of the country is that of a plain surrounded by undulating lands and occasionally inteisected by ranges of hills. The prevailing soil is rich black. The Malpiabha liver flows through the State, and is utilized foi irrigation. The staple crops are wheat, gram, jowdr, and cotton. Coarse cotton cloth is the principal manu- facture. The climate is the same as that of the Deccan geneially, the heat from March to May being oppressive.
Nargund and Ramdurg, two strong forts in the Kanarese-speaking country, were occupied by the Marathas m their early struggles } and, by favour of the Peshwas, the ancestors of the present Ramdurg family were placed in charge of them. About 1753 the estates yielded 2-^ lakhs and were required to furnish a contingent of 350 horsemen. They were held on these terms until 1778, when the country was brought under subjection by Haidar All. In 1784 Tipu Sultan made further demands. These were resisted, and, in consequence, the foit of Ramdurg was blockaded by Tipu. After a siege of seven months, Venkat Rao of Nargund surrendered, and, m violation of the teims of capitulation, was carried off a prisoner with his whole family into Mysore. On the fall of Sermgapatam in 1799 Venkat Rao was leleased, and the Peshwa restored to him Nargund and lands yielding 1 1- lakhs, and granted to Ram Rao the foit of Ramduig, with lands yielding Rs. 26,000. The two branches of the family continued to enjoy their respective States till 1810, when the Peshwa made a new division of the lands, in equal shares, between Venkat Rao and Narayan Rao, the sons of Ram Rao. On the fall of the Peshwa in 18185 the estates were continued to these two chiefs by an engagement. Nargund subsequently lapsed, and is now included in the Navalgund taluka of Dharwar District.
The chief, who is a Konkanasth Brahman, ranks as a first-class Sardar m the Southern Maratha Country, and has powei to try his own subjects for capital offences. He enjoys a levenue of nearly 2 lakhs. The family of the chief hold a sanad authorising adoption, and follow the rule of primogeniture. There are two municipalities, with an aggregate income in 1903-4 of Rs. 6,280. In the same year the police force numbered 80, and the only jail had a daily average of 31 prisoners. The State contained 17 schools in 1903-4, with 1,059 pupils. Two dispensaries were attended by about 11,000 patients in the same year, and nearly 900 persons were vaccinated.
