Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/214

 Idar.

THE State of Idar, popularly known as 'Nam Marwar' is the principal Rajput State under the Mahikantha Agency, and the third Native State in the Bombay Presidency The present dynasty of the Sooryavanshi Rathor clan was founded in Idar by the two brothers, Anand Singhji and Rai Singhji, who came with a few followers from Jodhapur, and getting local adherents to their standard, gained an easy conquest and settled at Idar in 1729 A.D. Since then the territory of Idar has con* tinued under the sway of the Rathors, though from time to time certain portions of the country such as Prantij, Bijapur, « Harsole, and others, were snatched by the Peshwas. Anand Singh)i was the first Maharaja of Idar and his direct male descendants Maharajas ( 2 ) Shiv Singhji ( 3 ) Bhowani Singhji ( 4 ) Gambhir Singhji ( 5 ) Juwan Singhji ( 6 ) Kesan Singhji, succeeded to the gadi one after another. The infant son of Maharaja Kesan Singhji died shortly after his birth, and the line of direct male descendants having thus terminated, the right to the gadi devolved on H. H. Maharajadhiraj Major^General Sir Pratap Singhji Bahadur G. C. S. I., K. C. B., L. L. D. A. D. C. to H. M. the King-Emperor, as the eldest surviving son of Maharaja Takhta Singhji, who was the last chief of the Ahmednagar principality, which had reverted to Idar on his adoption at Jodhapur in 1843 A.D. Sir Pratap Singhji accordingly succeeded to the gadi of Idar in February 1902 A.D. and ruled for nine years. In May 1911 A.D. he abdicated the gadi of Idar to assume the charge as Maharaja-Regent of Jodhapur, consequent on the minority which followed the untimely demise of his nephew Maharaja Sardar Singhji of Jodhapur.

H. H Maharaja Dowlat Singhji, the adopted son of Major-General Sir Pratap Singh Bahadur, is the present ruler of the State, who was formally installed on the gadi on July 24th, 1911 A.D. He was educated at the Mayo College. He received military training in the Imperial Service Cavalry, Jodhapur; and subsequently worked in the same army as Squadron'Commandant and Adjutant for some years. He was also the Military Secretary and a Member of the State Council in Jodhapur. The Maharaja accompained his father Sir Pratap Singhji to England o be present at the coronation of His late Majesty King Edward VII, and it was then that he was made an A.D.C. to the present King-Emperor, then H. R. H. the Prince of Wales. He visited England a second time as Maharaja of Idar in June 1911 A.D. and was present at the coronation of His Majesty King George V.

The State has an area of 1,669 square miles with a population of 2,02,811 souls. The revenue of the State is about five lacs of rupees per annum.

His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shri Dowlat Singhji Bahadur, who is styled the Maharaja of Idar, is entitled to a salute of 15 guns, and enjoys plenary jurisdiction in matters both civil and criminal.