Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/199

 Bhor.

THIS small State is situated between the districts of Poena and Satara, the Collector of the former being its Political Agent. Immediately after the death of the great Shiwaji, the Mahratta Empire fell into confusion on account of the misrule of his son and successor Sambhaji. The Mogul Emperor seized Sambhaji and beheaded him in 1689 A.D. His son, Shahu, was captured and kept a close prisoner at Delhi. Sambhaji's tragical end at the hands of the Moguls infused a new life among the Mahrattas, and it quickened their resolve to resist a foutrance. A council of the Mahratta chiefs was held, in which Yesubai, the widow of Sambhaji, consented that Rajaram should be made Regent and all energies concentrated on recovering what had been lost during Sambhaji's fatuous reign. The desperate condition of affairs awakened a number of Mahratta leaders into enthusiasm and activity. Among them were Dhanaji Jadhao, who undertook the supervision of the military, and Shankraji Narayan, who took upon himself the task of managing the civil side of the destructed and disorganised State.

This enthusiastic and energetic finance minister was the ancestor of the Pant Sachivas of Bhor. In 1692 A.D. Shankraji himself scaled the walls of the fort of Raigarh and captured it. Next year he reduced the forts of Torna and Rohida. Shankraji Narayan safely escorted his master Rajaram from Jinji when it was decided to surrender the fort to the Moguls. Shankraji enjoyed the highest confidence of his master. In 1697 A.D. he was made Sachiva' a member of the cabinet.

Shahu continued Shankraji's office and its iahagir to his descendants. For five generations the estate went on from father to son in regular succession, and the Pant Sachivas served the Peshwas till their downfall in 1818 A.D. For three generations the Sachivaship descended by adoption, the last Pant Sachiva being Chimnaji Raghunath, who died in 1871 A.D. He was succeeded by his son, Shankar Rao, who was invested with full powers in 1874 A.D.

During the regime of Shrimant Shankar Rao Pandit Pant Sachiva, the jahagir has been brought up to the level of the adjoining territories and is now looked upon as one of the welLmanaged native states.

Shrimant Shankar Rao has a son and successor, Shrimant Raghunath Rao Baba Saheb, who is about thiry-two years old and has received sound liberal education and full practical training. In 1908 A.D. H. E. Sir George Clarke observed that he considered "Shrimant Babasaheb (the heir^apparent ) to have received a training adapted to fit him to be a worthy successor."

The area of the State is 925 square miles containing 502 villages and a population of 1,44,587 souls, according to the latest census. The annual revenue of the State is Rs. 4,83,500.

The Chief of Bhor exercises the powers of the Court of Sessions and High Court in judicial matters. He enjoys the honour of a personal salute of 9 guns.