Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/207

 Dhrangadhra.

THIS is one of the more important states in Kathiawar. The ruling family belongs to the Jhala tribe of the Makwana Rajputs. Kesar, one of the prominent members of the band of these Makwana Rajputs, fought with Hamir Sumro, the king of Sindh, and defeated him. After a time Hamir attacked Kesar, killed him, and demo^ hshed his capital. On the death of Kesar his three sons, Harpal, Vijaipal and Santaji, made their escape into Gujrath. Harpal was cordially received by the king of Gujrath, and was conferred a jahagfr of 2,300 villages, of which Patadi was made the capital.

Rajodharji, one of the descendants, of Harpal, founded the village of Halwad in 1488 A.D. During the time of Raj -Man Singhji, the grandson of Rajodharji, Bahadur Shah, kjng of Gujrath, sent a large army under Khan Khanan to bring the ruler of Halwad under subjection. Man Singhji -was defeated, but escaped and went into outlawry, against the Mahomedan Emperor. One of the sisters of the step-mother of Man Singhji was married to Bahadur Shah. Under her advice Man Singhji gave up outlawry and surrendered himself to the Emperor, whereupon his principality was restored to him. Raj Man' Singhji died in 1564 A.D. and. was succeeded by his eldest son, Rai Singhji. He was taken prisoner by the gosain troops of Makan Bharati and sent to king Akbar, by whom he was released* and he accompanied Khan Khanan who reinstated him on his ancestral gadi.

The successors of Man Singhji had a very troublesome career till the time of Raj Gaj Singhji, who 'died in 1782 A.D. His son; Jaswant Singhji, made Dhrangadhra his seat of government. He died in 1801 A.D. and was succeeded by Rai Singhji, who reigned only three years, leaving his principality to his eldest son,* Amar Singhji. In his reign Col. Walker, the Resident of Baroda, accompanied by Babaji Appaji, Diwan of the .Gaekwar, came into Kathiawar. to fix the tributes payable to the Gaekwar by the several chiefs of the peninsula, and the question of tribute payable by Dhrangadhra was settled in 1807 A.D.

Amar Singhji died in 1843 A.D. and was succeeded by Ranmal Singhji, who introduced several reforms in his State and undertook large irrigational schemes. He died in 1869 A.D. and was~ succeeded by his son, Man Singhji 11, who was a good and noble- minded ruler like his father.' He was followed by his son, Ajit Singhji, in 1900 A.D. who died only a few months back, and has been succeeded by his son. Raj Saheb Ghanashyam Singhji.

The area of the State is 1,156 square miles with a population of 70,880. The gross revenue of the State is about five lacs of rupees.

The State maintains a military force of 335 men, of whom 75 are mounted and it has besides a police force of 229 men.

His Highness Maharana Raj Saheb Ghanashyam Singhji is a first class Chief in Kathiawar and is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.