Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/176

 Mahammadgarh.

MAHAMMADGARH is a petty mediatised State in Central India, in the Bhopal Political Agency. Mahammadgarh was originally included in Kurwai and Basoda. Nawab Mahammad Izzat Khan of Kurwai made over the two parganas of Basoda and Mahammadgarh to his brother, Ahsan Ullah Khan, who in 1753 A.D. divided the two parganas between his two sons, Baka Ullah Khan and Mahammad Khan; the latter founded the town and State of Mahammadgarh. Nawab Mahammad Khan was succeeded by his grandson, Nawab Ahmad Kalu Khan, and who in return was succeeded by his son, Nawab Hafiz Kalu Khan, who died in 1897 A.D. and his son, Nawab Hatim Kalu Khan, was installed on the gadi by the Political Agent in Bhopal in the same year. He continued to occupy the chiefship up to 1909 A.D., when he abdicated in favour of his eldest son. The Government of India accepted his resignation and recognized his son, Nawab Saddiq Kalu Khan, as his successor. The latter was proclaimed Nawab and Chief of Mahammadgarh in a Durbar held by the Political Agent in Bhopal on 1st February 1910 A.D. He is in his 21st year. He received education at the Sehore High School, which he attended till 1910 A.D. On the 20th December, he was sent to Kurwai by the Political Agent in Bhopal to gain an insight into administrative work under the Superintendent, Rai Sahib Munshi Kedar Nath Bhargava, who holds the joint charge of both Kurwai and Maham^ madgarh states. The family belongs to the Feroz Khel clan of Pathans.

This State is situated on the Malwa plateau, with an area of about 29 square miles, and according to the latest census has a population of 2,863. Its revenue amounts to about Rs. 15,000. The town of Mahammadgarh, which is the headquarters of the State, is situated in 23°-39' north and 78*- 10' east, and lies at the foot of a small hill; it has a population of 758 souls. The State is independent of any other Durbar and pays no tribute to Government or to any other State.