Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/120

 Ali-Rajpur.

ALI'RAJPUR is a State in Central India under the Bhopawar Agency. It is situated in the Rath division of Malwa, and was formerly known as Ali or Ali^Mohan from the two forts, Ali and Mohan, of which the latter is now in the Chota Udaipur State. Its present name is derived from Ali and the new capital town of Rajpur.

Nothing very certain is known about the early history of its rulers. It was founded by one Ude Deo or Anand Deo. He is said to have been a Rathor of the same family as that now ruling in Jodhapur. After wandering in this part of the country, Anand Deo finally took up his abode at Ali and founded the fort there in 1437 A.D. Anand Deo had two great-grandsons, Gugal Deo and Kesar Deo. Of these, Gugal Deo succeeded to Ali' Rajpur, while Kesar Deo obtained the territory which now forms the Jobat State.

In 1818 A.D. the State was virtually in the control of a Makrani adventurer, known as Musafir Makrani, who acted as minister to Rana Pratap Singh. Ali' Rajpur, locally known as Rajpur, was made the capital in place of the old town of Ali in the year 1800 A.D. by the Makrani minister. On the death of Pratap Singh, the Makrani managed the State in trust for the Rana's posthumous son, Jaswant Singh. He was opposed by Kesari Singh, a nephew of the late chief; but the British authorities supported Jaswant Singh, and the Makrani was put as manager during the minority. An engagement was at the same time mediated between him and the Dhar Durbar, by which, in lieu of trjbute, the sayar (customs) duties in Ali'Rajpur were made over to that State. This system led to endless disputes between the officials of the two States; and finally an arrangement was effected, when the Dhar Durbar handed over the pargana of Berasia to British management, by which the British Government was to pay the Dhar Durbar Hali Rs. 10,000 a year in lieu of tribute, and collect Rs. 11,000 from Ali'Rajpur, all feudal rights on the part of the Dhar state ceasing with this new engagement. From the balance of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 250 are paid towards the up keep of the Agra'Bombay'road police.

Jaswant ^Singh died in 1862A.D., leaving a will, by which the State was to be divided between his two sons. The Government, after consulting the neighbouring chiefs, set aside the will, and the eldest son, Gang Deo succeeded to the gadi, suitable provision having been made for his younger brother. Gang Deo was deposed in 1869 A.D. for incompetency, and his younger brother, Rup Deo, succeeded him. He died childless in 1881 A.D. and although no sanadoi adoption is held by the chief, the British Government decided to forego the escheat, and a boy named Bijai Singh was selected from the Sondwa Thakor family. Opposition was made by Thakor Jit Singh of Phulmal, who also belonged to the ruling family. He raised the Bhils and proceeded to plunder and raid, but was suppressed by a force of the Malwa Bhil Corps and Central India Horse, and his estate lapsed to the State. During the minority of Bijai Singh the management of the State was entrusted to Thakor Jawan Singh till 1 888 A.D., when Bijai Singh returned from the Rajkumar College, Indore, and took charge of his principality. Bijai Singh died in 1890 A.D. and was succeeded by his cousin, Pratap Singh of Sondwa, the present Chief.