Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/191

 Baria-Deogarh.

THE Rajas of Baria are said to belong to the Kinchi Chawan race of Rajputs, and are related to the rulers of Chhota Udaipur, as also to Prithi Raj Chawan of Delhi, and to Patai Rawal alias Pratap Singh, the ruler of the celebrated fortress of Champaner.

Prithi Raj and Duhgar Singh, the grandsons of Patai Rawal, wandered from place to place after the fall of Champaner, and established themselves at a village called Hamph on the banks of the Narmada. By their combined efforts they acquired vast territories, and amicably portioned them between themselves; Prithi Raj set himself up at Mohan, while Dungar Singh established himself at Baria.

On the death of Man Singh, the fourth in descent from Dungar Singh, a Baluchi soldier of fortune invaded the territories of Baria and usurped the gadi in 1720 A.D. The widow of Man Singh had to fly with her young son, Prithi Raj. She took shelter with her maternal grandfather at Dungarpur. The young scion of the house of Baria grew up under the care and training of his grandfather into a vigorous soldier. With the help of an army from Dungarpur, he successfully ejected the Baluchi usurper from Baria in 1732 A.D., and established himself on the ancestral gadi. As a precaution he built the fortress of Deogarh, which became the seat and residence of the ruler and since then the State came to be known as Baria-Deogarh.

Prithi Raj was not destined to rule in peace. About the middle of the eighteenth century, the Mahratta armies under Udaji Pawar, Malhar Rao Holkar, and Jankoji Sindhia entered the territories of Baria, where they met with very little resistance.

It was during the time of Jaswant Singhji, the fifth in descent from Prithi Raj, that the chief of Baria came in contact with the British, when he was assured of the integrity of his State under the protection of the Paramount Power. It was Prithi Raj, grandson of Jaswant Singhji, who entered into a formal treaty with the Paramount Power in 1 824. A.D. He was a ruler of the old school, but was much liked and respected by' his subjects. His son, Man Singhji, succeeded him after his death in 1864 A.D

Maharawal Man Singhji did much to improve the condition of his subjects and to induce them into a settled and peaceful mode of life. Moreover, he opened communication with different parts of the country by laying out good roads, and under- took various works of public utility. He died in 1908 A.D. leaving behind him two sons, Ranjit Singh and Nahar Singh, of whom the first was duly installed on the gadi. He is about 23 years of age. He has received his education at the Rajkumar College, Rajkot, and has had a full course of practical training in administration under the direct supervision and guidance of his father.

The area of the State is 813 square miles. Its population is 1,15,201 according to the census of 1911 A.D. and the average yearly revenue is Rs. 4,32,584.

The ruler of Baria-Deogarh is entitled to a salute of 9 guns.