Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/125

 Barwani.

THE Ranas of Barwani are Sesodia Rajputs, and claim their descent from the royal house of Udaipur. They separated from the parent stock about the fourteenth century. From the beginning of the last century, the power of the Ranas of Barwani gradually declined. Their country, originally of cosiderable extent, was devastated by the Mahrattas, and at length only a strip of the Satpuda range, 80 miles in length with the low-lands on either side, remained to them. They did not, however, become tributary to any of the Mahratta chiefs. In I860 A.D. owing to the incapacity of the Rana Jaswant Singh, the State was taken 'under British management, and so remained till 1873 A.D. when it was restored to the Rana, on the understanding that his continuance in power would depend on his ability to administer his State rightly.

Rana Jaswant Singh carried on the administration in a satisfactory manner, and was presented by the Empress of India with a flag recognising him as " Ghat^wat' dateshwar" i. e. "Lord of the landing places (on the Narbada, ) of roads, and of thick forests."

The present Rana Ranjit Singh was born in Barwani, the capital of the State, in 1888 A.D. and was installed on the gadi in 1895 A.D. after the death of his father, Rana Indrajit Singhji, successor of Jaswant Singhji. The Rana Ranjit Singh received his education at the Daly College at Indore and Mayo College at Ajmer. He was a very brilliant student in his college career and carried away prizes in almost all the subjects. After completing his college education, he was trained in the administrative work, under the guidance of Major H. K. Barr, son of the Hon'ble Sir David Barr, with whom the Rana made a tour of six months all over India in 1908 A.D. The Rana was invested with ruling powers on the 12th January 1910 A.D. by Col. Daly, the Agent to the Governor-General, Central India. The Rana takes keen interest in the administration of his State and has become popular with his subjects.

The State has an area of 1,178 square miles, with a population of 1,08,583 souls according to the census of 1911 A.D. It is mostly inhabited by Bhils and Bhilalas. The State has an annual revenue of about six lacs of rupees excluding the jahagirs.

Rana Ranjit Singh Bahadur of Barwani enjoys a salute of 9 guns.