Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/162

 Rajgarh.

THE Rajgarh chiefs belong to a very ancient family and are said to have descended from the great Vikramaditya, King of Ujjain, who established his own era, which is still current in Northern India and is known as "Samvat" year.

One of the ancestors, Umarji or Umaji, founded the famous fort of Umarkote in Sindh and after him was named the present territory of Rajgarh and Narsingarh, which is still known as "Umatwara." About the year 1681 A.D. when Mohan Singh was the ruler of Umatwara, Diwan Parashram induced the chief to divide the country, and the old Umatwara was made into two States known as Rajgarh and Narsingarh.

Rawat Moti Singh, the seventh in descent, was a wise ruler, who sided with the British in the dark days of the Mutiny of 1 857 A.D. and, for his services, gained the honour of the hereditary salute of 11 guns. He was succeeded in 1880 A.D. by Rawat Bakhtawar Singh, who ruled the State only for two years and died in 1882 A.D. He was a man of ability and of commanding appearance, and is still remembered for his generosity and love of justice. He was succeeded by his son, Bal Bahadur Singh, who managed the State affairs very satisfactorily. In 1885 A.D. during the viceroyalty of H. E. the late Marquis of Dufferin, the hereditary title of " Raja " was conferred on Rawat Bal Bahadur Singh, who died on the 19th January 1902 A.D. without issue. Beni Singh, his uncle, was selected by the Government of India to succeed him to the chiefship of Rajgarh.

H. H. Raja Beni Singh, the present Chief succeeded to the gadi in 1902 A.D. Since His Highness assumed the reins of the administration, the State has made good progress in every branch. All the existing institutions in the Rajgarh State are the outcome of the enlightened rule of the present Chief, who takes a keen interest in the welfare of his subjects and personally looks after the administration.

Raja Beni Singh attended the Coronation Durbar at Delhi in 1903 A.D. and received the gold medal. He was presented in 1905 A.D. to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Government of India conferred upon the Chief the insignia of K.C.I.E., in 1908 A.D.

The State has an area of 962 square miles and a population according to the census of 1911 A.D. of 1,27,293 souls. The income of the State including the jahagir is about 6 J lacs of rupees.

The present Chief of Rajgarh, His Highness Raja Rawat Sir Beni Singh Bahadur K.C.I.E., enjoys full administrative powers, and is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.