Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/108

 Khetri.

THE Chiefs of Khetn belong to the Shekhawat clan of Kachhwaha Rajputs, who are descended from Shekhaji, grandson of Balaji, fourth son of Raja Udai Karan of Amber ( 1 367-1 388). Shekhaji, not being content with his ancestral appanage of Amritsar, ventured into the inhospitable deserts now called Shekhawati, which were then "no man's land." His great grandson, Rai Sal, was created a Durban by Akbar, and his territories were extended; a later descendant, Sardul Singh, wrested Shinijhun from the Kayamkhani Nawabs.

For many generations the Shekhawats continued to be hardy free-booters and free-lances, and Sir Walter Scott's picture of the Borderer might well have been drawn from them; however, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of the city of Jaipur, forced them to relinquish this semi independence, and from his time they have all been dependent on and tributary to Jaipur.

Bhopal Singh, grandson of Sardul Singh, captured Khetri (then a small village) from the Nirban Rajputs; here he settled down and built a fort which he named Bhopalgarh after himself. His son, Abhai Singh, who received the title of 'Raja' from the Jaipur Durbar, sent three hundred cavalry to help Lord Lake, and they renderd a good account of themselves at the capture of Agra and the battle of Laswari in 1803 A.D. In the war that followed with Holkar, Abhai Singh placed 3,000 Rajput horse and foot at the disposal of the British; part of this force was employed in clearing Narnaul and the neighbourhood of Delhi, of the Mahrattas, and part being in the unfortunate expedition of Colonel Monson was cut down to a man. For these services the pargana of Kot Putli was given to Abhai Singh in 1806 A.D. as a jahagir in perpetuity, without any tribute to be paid. When negotiations between the Company and the Rajputana Chiefs were being delayed. Sir Charles (afterwards Lord) Metcalfe issued a provisional sanad to Raja Abhai Singh, promising him that he would be recognised, whether any alliance between Jaipur and the Company took place or not.

After two uneventful reigns came. Raja Fateh Singh, who was a well educated man, and made a special study of medicine. He was succeeded by Raja Ajit Singh, who did much to improve the resources of the State. His only son, Jai Singh, was born at Agra, and succeeded his father in 1900 A.D. He joined the Mayo College in 1904 A.D. He was a boy of great promise, whose good nature and cheerfulness endeared him to all he met. While studying at the college he contracted pthisis at Khetri during the Christmas holidays of 1909, and succumbed to this dreadful disease on March 3rd, 1910 A.D. at Jaipur, and his untimely death cast a gloom over Khetri. The late Chief has left a minor son and the administration is being carried on by a Regency.

The State of Khetri has an area of about 80 miles and a population of about nine thousand. The Chiefship consists of three towns and 255 villages. The normal income of the State is about five lacs of rupees. The Raja pays to the Jaipur Durbar a tribute of Rs. 73,780.