Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/186

 Bansda.

THE State of Bansda is situated in the Surat Agency of the Bombay Presidency. Solanki Rajputs of the Lunar race and descendants of the great Sidhraj Jai Singh rule this State. Prior to the 15th century A.D. the history of Bansda is untraceable. In the beginning of that century the Mahomedans under Ahmed Shah, the King of Ahmedabad, invaded the Solanki Rajputs who were ruling at Kalarigarh, signally defeated them after a fierce and obstinate struggle. The victory of the Mahomedans compelled the Solankis to scatter in all directions. Some took shelter at Bansda and founded a small principality there. The latter part of the 15th century may be, therefore, taken as the period of the foundation of the State of Bansda; and Rai Muldeoji appears to have been its founder. Affairs went on smoothly till the death^of Rai Bhanji who died in 1739 A.D.

Rai Bhanji had two sons, Gulab Singh and Jorawar Singh, by two wives; both of them urged their claim to the gadi before Damaji Gaekwar, who cut the gordian knot by dividing the kingdom into two halves, assigning one portion to Gulab Singh with Bansda as its capital, and the other to Jorawar Singh with Basanpore as its capital. The latter was afterwards absorbed and annexed to his own territory by the Gaekwar.

Gulab Singh died without an heir in 1753 A.D. so did his two cousins one after another, who became his successors by creating influence at the Peshwa's Court. Vir Singh, a descendant of the Bisanpore branch, came to the gadi in 1780 A.D. with the sanction of the Peshwa. It is said Nawanagar was the capital of the State and it was removed to the town of Bansda by Vir Singh. He died in 1789 A.D. As he left no direct heir, his brother Nahar Singh succeeded him and continued in peaceful rule till 1793 A.D. and in due time was followed by his son Rai Singh.

During the time of Rai Singh, the treaty of Bassein between the British and the Peshwa was signed in 1802 A.D. by which all the states in subordinate relation with the latter became the feudatories of the British Government. It was thus that Bansda came into direct contact with the British.

Rai Singh had no son and heir. He adopted a distant cousin, named Udai Singh, who ascended the gadi in 1815 A.D. He too died without issue in 1829 A.D. His widows adopted Hamir Singh, a distant relative, who was recognised by the Paramount Power. During his minority the State was managed for some time by the widows, but later on it was put under British supervision and entrusted to Hamir Singh on his attaining majority in 1852 A.D. He too died childless in 1861 A.D. and the State passed to Gulab Singh who was found to be the rightful heir. He was granted a formal sanad of adoption by the British Government. In 1873 A.D. an agreement was entered into whereby he abolished all transit duties in his terrtories. He died in 1 876 A.D. after a peaceful reign, leaving behind him his only one son, ' Pratap Singhji who succeeded the gadi in the same year. He was put in full charge of his State in 1885 A.D when he attained majority and had completed his education at college and received practical training in administration.