Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/131

 Chhatarpur.

CHHATARPUR 's a sanad State in Central India under the Bundelkhand Agency. It was formed in the latter part of the eighteenth century by Kunwar Sone Shah Panwar, a retainer of Maharaja Hindupat of Panna, out of territories belonging to that State. On Hindupat's death in 1776 A.D., his son Sarnat Singh was compelled to leave Panna. He retired to Rajnagar near Chhatarpur and died. Kunwar Sone Shah Panwar, then a military officer of Panna, took possession of the jahagir of Sarnat Singh about 1785 A.D., and added much territory to it during the disturbed period of the Mahratta invasion. In 1800 A.D. he was confirmed in its possession first by the Nawab of Banda, and then by the British Government in 1806 A.D. by a sanad On Sone Shah's death, his eldest son Pratap Singh was recognised as his successor by a sanad granted in 1817 A.D., while the remaining four sons obtained shares which reverted to the State on their deaths. One of these shares included a muafi (or free grant) of three villages to the Dikshit family of Bilheri, which has been declared to be a guaranteed feudatory of the Chhatarpur State, a position which was re-affirmed in August 1906 A.D. on the succession of Radha Charan Dikshit, the present incumbent. Pratap Singh died in 1854 A.D. without any issue, and his adopted son Jagat Raj was recognised as his successor under a fresh sanad in 1854 A.D. In 1862 A.D. a sanad of adoption was granted to the Chief by Lord Canning, in consideration of the loyalty of the family to the British during the Mutiny.

From 1854 to 1863 A.D. the State was administerd by Pratap Singh's second Rani; but had to be kept under British superintendence from 1863 to 1867 A.D. when Jagat Raj was given powers of administration. He died soon after leaving an only infant son, Vishwanath Singh, to succeed him.

The State again came under British supervision and remained so till 1 887 A.D., when Raja Vishwanath Singh was invested with powers. In 1895 A.D. the title of Maharaja was conferred on him as a personal distinction. His Highness is an educated chief and has been taking a lively interest in the administration of his State.

There are numerous archaeological remains in the Chhatarpur Raj, the most important of them being those at Khajraho, where, perhaps, the finest group of temples in Northern India is to be seen.

The area of the State is about 1,100 square miles with a population 1,55,000, and an average revenue of 3. J lacs of Rupees per annum. The Chief has entire control of the State in civil and administrative matters; but in criminal cases he has been specially empowered by a sanad granted in 1894 A.D. to try heinous crimes, referring all sentences of death to the Agent to the Governor-General for confirmation.

His Highness Maharaja Vishwanath Singh Bahadur is the present Chief of Chhatarpur who bears the hereditary titles of "His Highness" and "Raja Bahadur," and the personal title of "Maharaja." He receives a salute of II guns.