Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/155

 Maihar.

THIS State was originally a dependency of Rewah. In the year 1708 A.D. Maharaj Hirdasah, the eldest son of Raja Chhatra Sal of Panna, conquered Maihar and incorporated it with his own state. In the year 1 770 A.D. the Maihar State was granted as jahagir to Thakur Beni Singh Hazuri, who was one of the nobles of the Panna Durbar. He in turn left the management of the jahagir to his son, Thakur Durjan Singh, and died in the battle of Gathowra in the year 1788 A.D.

On the occupation of Bundelkhand by the British, Thakur Durjan Singh was confirmed in his possession on his executing a deed of allegiance in 1806 A.D.; and about the year 1814 A.D. a revised sanad was given to him. On the death of Thakur Durjan Singh in 1826 A.D., the State was divided between his two sons, Thakur Bisan Singh and Thakur Prag Das, the former receiving the district of Maihar, and the latter that of Bijai-Raghogarh. The State of Bijai-Raghogarh was confiscated in the year 1858 A.D. on account of the disloyal conduct of its chief, Sarju Prasad, son of Prag Das.

Bisan Singh became deeply involved in debt, and at his own request, the Maihar State was taken under British management in the year 1846 A.D. when an agreement was taken from him. Bisan Singh died in 1850 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Thakur Mohan Prasad, who died in 1852 A.D. leaving a son, Thakur Raghubir Singh, then about 7 years of age. A promise was given to the young Chief that the State would be restored to his management, if he proved himself fit to be entrusted with the administration. In the meantime, a British officer was deputed to Maihar for the management of the State, and to instruct the young Chief in his duties.

The State was restored to Thakur Raghubir Singh in the year 1865 A.D. He was a man of wonderful genius, and administered his State so well, that the British Government was pleased to confer on him the hereditary title of 'Raja' in the year 1869 A.D., and a salute of 9 guns was also bestowed upon him in 1877 A.D. on the occasion of the Delhi Durbar. In his time the State prospered in every way. Notwith' standing the grants of jahagirs of nearly 20,000 rupees, the revenue increased from 6,200 to nearly a lac of rupees. Almost all the boundary disputes were settled. After a prosperous reign of 43 years. Raja Raghubir Singh breathed his last at Benares on the 4th March 1908 A.D. leaving behind him three sons, Jadubir Singh, Ranadhir Singh and Brajbir Singh, of whom the eldest son, Kumar Jadubir Singh succeeded to the gadi on the 17th June 1908 A.D., but, unfortunately, after a short reign of 2 years he died on the 18th July 1910 A.D. without any issue, and was succeeded by his brother, Kumar Ranadhir Singh, the present Raja, on the 7th July 1911 A.D.

The area of Maihar is about 425 square miles, the population 73,021, and the annual revenue about a lac of rupees.