Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/263

230 and Maloji was wounded. In consequence of this the village of Padsalgi was granted to Ranoji's son, Bahirji Rao. Shankroji, about the same time, received the saranjam comprising the districts of Bilgi, Bidri, and Tikota, yielding an annual income of about 60,000 rupees.

In the battle of Kharda, Maloji and his eldest son. Govind Rao. were on opposite sides, and met in a hand to hand encounter where the latter was dangerously wounded by his father.

During the absence of Maloji, his son, Malhar Rao, used to look after the affairs at Mudhol, where he made himself very disagreeable and unpopular. So the people requested Maloji Rao's grandson to come over to Mudhol. There was a struggle between the two, and Malhar Rao had to run away. He then went to the Maharaja of Kolhapur for help and came to take over Mudhol with the Maharaja's army, but was defeated by Narayan Rao. He then went to Gwalior. where he was received by the Sindhia, since he was the brother of Govind Rao Raje, the son-in-law of the Sindhia. He returned afterwards to Mudhol.

In 1805 A.D. Maloji died and was succeeded by his grandson, Narayan Rao, the son of Govind Rao. He died in 1816 A.D. leaving three sons, Govind Rao, Lakshman Rao, and Venkat Rao. Venkat Rao, though the youngest, succeeded to the gadi, since he was the only son of the eldest wife of Narayan Rao. Lakshman Rao then went to Baroda, where he began to serve under the Gaekwar in place of the substitute appointed by Maloji Rao.

It was in the time of Venkat Rao, that a treaty was concluded with the British Government. In the year 1854 A.D. Venkat Rao died leaving a son, Balwant Rao, then only 14 years of age. Government appointed a Karbhari, who looked after the State, until the powers were handed over to Balwant Rao Raje in 1859 A.D., whose career lasted for only 14 months. He died leaving an infant son, Venkat Rao, heir to the State and there was, thus, a long minority of 20 years, during which period the State affairs were looked after by the British Political Officers. Venkat Rao Raje was given charge of the State in 1882 A.D. with full powers.

His regime, which lasted till 1900 A. D., at the early age of 39 was marked by works of great public utility. Thus during the famine of 1895'96 A.D., which affected the State most, relief works were opened, corn brought by the State from a distance and distributed among the famine-stricken, and in this and various other ways efforts were made to alleviate their sufferings.

The present Raje Saheb was born in 1 8.84 A.D. and invested with full powers in 1904 A.D. Since then he has been taking pains to improve his State. He was the first Chief to make primary education free in his State. The Raje Saheb takes very keen interest in agriculture and has opened extensive farms of his own, where various experiments on modern lines are carried on under his personal supervision. In recognition of all this Government was pleased to confer on him a salute of 9 guns as a mark of personal honour.