Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/164

 Rutlam.

THE Rulers of Rutlam are Rathor Rajputs and are directly descended from the Jodhapur family. The common ancestor was Udai Singh whose grandson, Mahesh Das, assisted Shah Jahan in the capture of Dowlatabad. Mahesh Das's son, Ratan Singh, displayed daring courage in arresting the destructive course of a wild (mast) elephant in the populous streets of Delhi. His conspicuous services against the Persians in Khorasan and in quelling the rebellion raised by Uzbeks at Kandhar were rewarded by the Emperor by assigning him twelve districts in Malwa. Thus Ratan Singh became the founder of the Rutlam State which he ruled from 1637 to 1647 A.D. This assignment was commuted to a free grant to his successors when Ratan Singh was killed in a battle fighting in support of Shah Jahan against Aurangzeb. Ratan Singh's eldest son. Ram Sirtgh, was superseded by a younger but bolder son, Chhatra Sal, who succeeded at Rutlam, while Ram Singh became chief of Sailana, A dispute between the descendants of Chhatra Sal, led to further disturbances, in the State: and his two grandsons, Man Singh and Jai Singh, became chiefs of Rutlam and Sailana States respectively in the year 1709 A.D.

Parbat Singh was the fourth in descent from Man Singh, in whose favour Sir John Malcolm mediated with Dowlat Rao Sindhia in 1818 A.D. Parbat Singh died without issue, and was under a special arrangement succeeded by Balwant Singh, a cousin of the Chief of Salumbar. Balwant Singh died in 1 857 A.D. having done good service to the British Government, and was succeeded by his adopted son, Bahram Singh, who received a dress of honour from Government in recognition of his father's services in the critical days of the Mutiny.

Captain His Highness Raja Sir Sajjan Singh, K.C.S.I., is the present ruler of Rutlam. His Highness succeeded his father, Sir Ranjit Singh, K.C.I.E., to the gadi in 1893 A.D. and was invested with ruling powers, in 1898 A.D. His Highness Sir Sajjan Singh is a very popular ruler. The following is a happy characterization of His Highness by the highest political authority in Central India, who recently visited Rutlam State: —

"In His Highness we all recognise the best type of a Rajput gentleman, as high "a type as can be found, a thorough sportsman who has never failed to play the game, a capable ruler who works steadily and unostentatiously for the good of his people, a loyal chief second to none in devotion to the Crown, and a brave soldier who, if occasion arose, would not hesitate to show, in the cause of the King' Emperor, the same splendid valour and self-sacrifice that won for his great ancestor, Ratan Singh, undying glory on the fatal field of Fatehabad."

The Rutlam State comprises an area of 1,130 square miles with a population of 85,000 souls. The revenue of the State js Rs. 9,00,000. It is the premier Rajput State in the Malwa political charge of the Central India Agency.

Captain His Highness Raja Sir Sajjan Singh K. C. S. I. is entitled to a salute of 1 1 guns.