Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/80

62 THE IMPERIAL DURBAR ALBUM. was in turn succeeded by his son Madan Singh. Kishor Singh died in 1828 A.D. and was succeeded by his nephew Ram Singh II.

A dispute arose between Ram Singh and his minister. The British Government saw that the arrangement of a hereditary minister was unworkable. In 1838 A.D., therefore, with the consent of the Chief seventeen districts of Kotah were formed into a new principality called Jhalawar, and bestowed upon Madan Singh and his heirs. A new treaty was concluded between the Government of India and Kotah, which reduced the tribute by Rs. 80,000 and required the Maharao to keep an auxiliary force, afterwards called the Kotah Contingent. In 1862 A.D. Ram Singh received the usual sanad guaranteeing to him and his successors the right of adoption. He died in 1866 A.D. leaving the affairs of the State in a very unsatisfactory condition.

Ram Singh was succeeded by his son Chhatar Sal. Soon after his accession the affairs of the State went from bad to worse. At His Highness' request Nawab Faiz Ali Khan C.S.I, afterwards K.C.S.I., sometime minister of Jaipur, was entrusted with the administration of the State, subject to the advice and control of the Governor' General's Agent in Rajputana. He resigned his post in 1876 A.D., and the administration was placed in the hands of a Political Agent assisted by a Council. All the State debts were gradually paid off by the end of 1885 A.D., and many reforms introduced. Chhatar Sal died in 1889 A.D. and was succeeded by his adopted son Umed Singh. He was educated at the Mayo College, Ajmer; installed on the gadi in 1892 A.D., and invested with full powers in 1896 A.D. He was made a K.C.S.I. in 1901 A.D., an Honorary Major of the 42nd Deoli Regiment in 1903 A.D., and a G.C.l.E. in 1907 A.D.

The most important event of His Highness' reign is the restoration by the Government of India, on the 1st of January 1899 A.D., 15 out of the 17 Jhalawar parganas which had been sliced off from Kotah in 1838 A.D. Maharao Umed Singhji takes keen interest in the welfare of his people, and his administration is considered progressive. Under his enlightened rule Kotah rightly ranks among the most prosperous and best governed States of Rajputana.

The military force which the Maharao may maintain is limited to 15,000 men. The present strength, however, is 7,913 all ranks, namely, 6,650 infantry, 910 cavalry, and 353 artillerymen, with 193 guns of which 131 are serviceable.

The total area of the State is 5,684 square miles containing 2,613 towns and villages of which the population, according to the latest Census, is 6,37,834, and the gross annual revenue about 33 lacs of Rupees.

His Highness the Maharajadhiraj Maharaj Mahi-Mahendra Maharao Rajah Major Shri Umed Singhji Bahadur, G.C.S.I., K.C.S.I., has full civil and criminal powers, and is entitled to a salute of 17 guns.