Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/255

 Miraj.

1 . Senior Branch.

MIRAJ was onginallay a portion of Sangli from which it was detached in 1808 A.D. The fort of Miraj was granted by Madhav Rao Peshwa in 1761 A.D. to Govind Rao, the fourth son of Harbhat, the original founder of the family.

As has already been mentioned elsewhere the several members of the Patwardhan family, though undivided according to law, lived separately, and at the time of the subversion of the Peshwa dynasty the Miraj family was represented by Madhav Rao and Gopal Rao, the sons, and Ganapat Rao and Krishna Rao, the grandsons of Gangadhar Rao, between whom and Chintaman Rao the Miraj and Sangli states had been divided. In 1789 A.D. Madhav Rao on behalf of his nephew, Ganapat Rao, agreed with the British Government to serve it with 300 horse and to keep up such establishment as was necessary for the preservation of order in his limits. Gopal Rao was dissatisfied with the whole arrangement, and demanded a division of the ahagir. It was sanctioned by the Paramount Power. Ganapat Rao being the elder son of Narayan Rao was the head of the family, and, therefore, entitled to the estate of Miraj (senior). He was too young to manage his affairs. Madhav Rao was left in charge of the minor's Estate, and the fort was in his possession, as guardian. With some difficulty Ganapat Rao and his brother, Moroba, got possession of their Estate from the guardian in 1825 A.D. There was not much harmony between the two brothers and a further partition into twain of the senior portion of the Estate was imminent, but for the death of Ganapat Rao in 1 833 A.D., who left behind him two sons, Gangadhar Rao and Narayan Rao.

The Estate was found heavily encumbered and badly managed. By dint of patient investigation on the part of the Political Officer the encumbrances were eschewed of all frauds, and Gangadhar Rao Balasaheb was put in charge of his Estate in 1849 A.D. He rendered excellent help to the British Government during the Mutiny of 1857 A.D. which won him their thanks, and as a special mark of approbation the Paramount Power acceded to his request for permission to adopt a son and successor. He adopted Trimbak Rao Appasaheb, a cousin of his, and named him Ganapat Rao Tatyasaheb. He attained majority in 1871 A.D. when he was entrusted with the full management of his jahagir, and was shortly after appointed member of the Bombay Legislative Council. He expired in 1874 A.D. without issue. His widow, with the sanction of the Paramount Power, adopted the grandson of the chief of Sangli, who was named Gangadhar Rao Balasaheb on his adoption. During his minority the State was under the control of the Political Agent, Kolhapur and Southern ' Mahratta Country. He was educated at the Rajkumar College, Rajkot. The family of the Chief holds a sanad authorising adoption.