Sakti
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.
Sakti
Feudatory State in the Central Provinces, lying between 21 55' and 22 n' N, and 82 45' and 83 2' E., with an area of 138 square miles. It is bounded by Bilaspur District on the west and by the Raigarh State on the east. The head-quarters are at Sakti (popu- lation, 1,791), a station on the Bengal-Nagpur Railway. Along the north of the State extends a section of the Korba range of hills, and beneath these a strip of undulating plain country of Chhattlsgarh tapers to the south. The ruling family are Raj Gonds. The legend is that their ancestors were twin brothers who were soldiers of the Raja of Sambalpur, but they only had wooden swords. When the Raja heard of this, he determined to punish them for keeping such useless weapons , and, in order to expose them, he directed that they should slaughter the sacrificial buffalo on the next Dasahra festival.
The brothers, on being informed of the order, were in great trepidation, but the goddess Devi appeared to them in a aream and said that all would be well. When the time came they severed the head of the buffalo with one stroke of their wooden swords. The Raja was delighted at their marvellous performance, and asked them to name their reward. They asked for as much land as would be enclosed between the lines over which they could walk in one day. This request was granted, the Raja thinking they would only get a small plot. The distances walked by them, however, enclosed the present Sakti State, which their descendants have since held. The swords are preserved in the family and worshipped at the Dasahra. The last chief, Raja Ranjit Singh, was deprived of his powers in 1875 for gross oppression and attempts to support false representations by means of forged documents, and the management of the State was assumed by the British Government. In 1892 Rup Narayan Singh, the eldest son of the ex-Raja, was installed as chief of Sakti, on his engaging that he would be guided in all matters of administration by the advice of a Dlwan appointed by Government. This restriction was subsequently removed, but was reimposed in 1902. The relations of the State with Government are in charge of a Political Agent, under the supervision of the Commissioner, Chhattisgarh Division. The population in 1901 was 22,301, having decreased by 12 per cent during the preceding decade. The number of inhabited villages is 122, and the density of population 162 persons per square mile. Gonds and Kawars are the most numerous castes, and the whole population speak the Chhattis- garhl dialect of Hindi.
The yellow rice land of Chhattisgarh extends over most of the State. No regular agricultural statistics have been prepared since 1893, in which year the last settlement of revenue was made. It 1904 it was estimated that 73 square miles, or 53 per cent, of the total area, were cultivated. Of this, 50 square miles were under rice, the other crops being kodon and urad. It is believed that there has been little alteration in the cropping since 1893. The State contains 258 iniga- tion tanks. The forests he in the sal belt, and sal (Shorea robusta) is the principal timber tree, but there is also a little teak. Timber and other forest produce are exported, and tasar silk cocoons are gathered for the local demand.
The revenue in 1904 was Rs. 38,000, of which Rs 21,000 was derived from land, Rs. 6,900 from forests, and Rs. 4,000 from excise. The State has been cadastrally surveyed, and in 1893 a summary settle- ment was made on a rough valuation of the village lands The villages are generally let to thekadars or farmers, and many of these have been secured against ejectment. The expenditure in 1904 was Rs. 31,000, the principal items being general administration (Rs. 11,000), expenses of the ruling family (Rs. 8,600), and repayment of loans (Rs. 1,200). The Government tribute is Rs. 1,300, and is liable to revision. The chief also owns ten villages in Bilaspur District m ordinary proprietary right. The State has not sought the assistance of the Engineer of the Chhattisgarh States division, and manages its own public works. It supports four vernacular schools, with 280 pupils, at an annual expenditure of Rs. 400, and a dispensary at Sakti.
