Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/188

 Balasinor.

THIS is the only Mahomedan State of importance in the Rewa^Kantha Political Agency. The family of the chief of this State is descended from Sirdar Salabat Khan. He was made "Babi" (door-keeper), a patronymic which the members of the family have retained to this day, of the Imperial Court during the latter part of the Seventeenth century A.D. and subsequently commandant of the Koli district of Chunual on the nortlvwest of Ahmedabad.

In the general scramble for power and independence on the disruption of the Mogul Empire, Salabat Mahamad Khan "Babi remained contented with the district of Balasinor, while the members of the other branches of the Babi family secured to themselves the territories forming the states of Junagarh, Radhanpur, and Bantwa.

Salabat Mahamad Khan was succeeded by his son Jamiyat Khan, who was followed by his son, Salabat Khan. It was during his life'time that the control over the State came into the hands of the British Government. Both the Peshwa and the Gaekwar had previously established their rights of tribute over Balasinor: those of the former became transferred to the British Government in 1817 A.D., while those of the latter came under the general settlement between the Mahi-Kantha tributaries and the Gaekwar in 1 820 A.D. followed by Abut Khan Edul Khan.

After a peaceful reign of half a century Jorawar Khan, the third successor of Salabat Khan, died in the year 1882 A.D. His name Jhas been held in respectful memory by his subjects for his remarkable kindness and generosity. He was succeeded by his son, Manawar Khan, who was 36 years of age at the time of his accession. Though this ruler had not had any English education yet his natural desire to rule his subjects justly and kindly impelled him to inaugurate a number of measures calculated to improve the material prosperity of his subjects. It was during his reign that the long-standing dispute regarding some villages and lands between Balasinor and Lunawada was brought to an amicable termination. In 1890 A.D. a sanad was conferred upon the Nawab of Balasinor guaranteeing him, succession in his family according to the Mahomedan Law of inheritance.

Nawab Manawar Khan died in 1899 A.D., when his son, Jamiyat Khan, a child of five years, was duly installed on the masnad. He is being educated at the Rajkumar College, Rajkot; and the State is at present under British management on account of the minority of its Chief.

The military force of the State consists of 98 infantry, 19 cavalry, and 10 pieces of artillery. The area of the State is 189 square miles having a population of 40,563 inhabitants according to the census of 1911 A.D. The annual revenue of the State is Rs. 1,45,261.

Nawab Jamiyat Khan, Babi of Balasinor, is a Chief of the Second Class and is entitled to a salute of 9 guns.