Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/136

 Dewas.

1. Senior Branch.

THE Parmars or Pawars of Dewas are Kshatriya Mahrattas and claim their descent from Vikramaditya of Ujjain. Shambhu Singh, the founder of the family, is said to have come from Mewar to the Deccan and founded a village called Sukhawadi or Supa (in Ahmednagar) about the beginning of the seventeenth century. It was about this time (1615 A.D.) that Ahmednagar, one of the five famous Mahomedan kingdoms of the Deccan, was at its lowest ebb, and good many adventurous persons rose to prominence and established their own supremacy in the Nizam-shahi court. Shambhu Singh" who was a brave warrior was killed in an encounter with Shiwaji, the founder of the Mahratta Empire, who being struck with the valour and exploits of this brave soldier, granted a jahagir to his son Krishnaji. This may be called the beginning of the fortunes of this historical and ancient dynasty being tied with those of the Mahratta nation. This happened about 1680 A.D. shortly before the death of the Mahratta King Shiwaji.

In the long struggle that ensued after the death of Shiwaji between Aurangzeb and the Mahrattas, Bubaji, along with his two younger brothers, Rayaji and Keruji, displayed tremendous valour and tried his utmost to keep the Mahomedan army out of the district of Ahmednagar and its environments. Bubaji, who was the eldest son of Krishnaji, received for his great deeds the title of "Sapta^Sahasra^Senapati," (Commandar of 7,000 troops) from the Mahratta King Rajaram Chhatrapati. Bubaji had two sons, the elder being named Kaluji and the younger Sambhaji. Kaluji's rule was one of peace and happiness for his State. He had four sons, the eldest was named Krishnaji who succeeded to Supa jahagir after the death of Kaluji. Manaji, the youngest of the four, remained by Krishnaji's side and served him. The second son Tukoji became conspicuous in the history of the Mahrattas.

Tukoji Rao with his army was deputed by Raja Shahu of Satara along with his younger cousin Udaji Rao (son of Sambhaji, Kaluji's younger brother), to accompany the Peshwa Bajirao I, in his invasion of Northern India in 1738 A.D. In this expedition, it may be noted, were the renowned generals of the Peshwa viz., Ranoji Rao Sindhia and Malhar Rao Holkar. Tukoji Rao Pawar and Udaji Rao Pawar rendered great services in this expedition. It was the army of these two Pawar Chiefs who fought the first battle in Malwa against the forces of the Delhi Emperor in those parts. The Pawar army forming the vanguard of the whole Mahratta army, naturally had to bear the whole brunt of the fight, which took place near the village named Tirala (not far from Dhar and now in the Dhar State). The Mahomedan governor of Malwa was completely routed and shortly after received a crushing defeat at the battle of Bhopal. In this battle also, Tukoji Rao rendered very valuable services to the Mahratta cause, which were, later on, duly recognised by Raja Shahu of Satara and his Prime Minister the Peshwa. After the conquest of Malwa in 1739 A.D. the Raja Shahu granted Dewas and Dhar with their respective districts in jahagir to Tukoji Rao and Udaji Rao respectively. Gwalior and Indore were about the