Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/117

 Ajaigarh.

THIS State is situated in Bundelkhand and its rulers are related to the family of the

Maharaja of Orchha or Tehri. They claim to be Suryavanshi and descended

from King Rama, the deified hero of Ramayan. They belong to the clan known as the Bundela Rajputs.

The State was founded by Jagat Raj, the second son of Chhatra Sal, the celebrated Bundela Chief, who was a contemporary of Aurangzeb and Shah Alam. Bakhat Singh, the fourth in descent from Jagat Raj, was reduced by Ali Bahadur, an illegitimate grandson of the Peshwa Baji Ra'o I, to such a plight as to be entirely dependent even for his very maintenance on whatever cash allowance was granted to him.

The greater part of Bundelkhand and the principalities in it came under the control of the British after the treaty of Bassein in 1802A.D. The British Govern- ment first settled a pension of Rs. 3,000 on Bakhat Singh. In the year 1807 A.D. a sanad was passed to him, whereby a part of his original possessions was restored to him. One Lakshman Deo, a military adventurer, seized the fort of Ajaigarh from its owner; but it was soon restored to him by British assistance. Since the establish' ment of British supremacy in Bundelkhand, the Maharaja of Ajaigarh has been in peaceful and undisturbed possession of his territory.

Bakhat Singh died in 1837 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Madho Singh who died childless in 1849 A.D. and was succeeded by his brother, Mahipat Singh, In 1853 A.D. Mahipat Singh died and his son Bijai Singh was recognised as chief. He ruled at Ajaigharh till 1855 A.D. and died issueless. The state was considered to have escheated to the British Government, but advantange was not taken of this opportunity and Ranjor Singh was recognised as Maharaja of Ajaigarh.

The present ruling Chief of Ajaigarh, H. H. Maharaja Ranjor Singh, ascended the gadi in the year 1855 A.D. when he was a minor. A Council of Regency was appointed by the British Government which managed the State upto 1 868 A.D. when the Maharaja was installed on the throne and invested with full powers. During the troublous times of the Mutiny 1857 A.D., the State rendered valuable help to the English officers and others located in the vicinity of Ajaigarh, by giving them shelter in the fortress regardless of the result. The Chief, though he was quite young, took part in several engagements with the mutineers and fought bravely with them at Jhansi, Kalpi and other places. Generals Sir Hugh Rose and Whitlock have appreciated his gallant services. The Chief possesses numerous letters and documents testifying the hospitality and attention shown by him to the British officers. These services were fitly rewarded by the British Government.

The Maharaja received the dignified appellation of "Sawaf as an hereditary distinction in the year 1877 A.D. at the Delhi Assemblage.

Maharaja Ranjor Singh has been known to attend to all details of administration and takes interest in the happiness of his subjects. In the dreadful famine of the year 1896 A.D. he adopted such judicious and liberal measures that they elicited a recognition