Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/98

 Banswara.

THE greater part of the state, now styled Banswara, was formerly ruled by the chiefs of Dungarpur, and it became a separate state about 1530 A.D. The chiefs of Banswara belong to a junior branch of the Dungarpur family, and consequently, they are Sesodia Rajputs of the Aharia sept. Of the subsequent chiefs, two are worthy of mention; namely, Kushal Singh, who, towards the end of the seventeenth century, is said to have wrested from the Bhils the country in the southeast and called it Kushalgarh after himself; and Prithwi Singh (17.4 7^86), who plundered the neighbouring state of Sunth and seized its districts of Chilkhari in the soutlveast of Banswara. These two tracts are now held respectively by the Raos of Kushalgarh and Garhi, two of the principal nobles of the Banswara Durbar.

Towards the end of the eighteenth century, Banswara became more or less subject to the Mahrattas and paid tribute to the Raja of Dhar. In 1812 A.D. the Maharawal offered to become tributary to the British Government on condition of the expulsion of the Mahrattas, but no definite relations were formed with him till the end of 1818 A.D. By the treaty then concluded, he agreed to act in subordinate co'Opera' tion, and settled his affairs in accordance with the advice of the British Government.

The late Maharawal, Luchman Singh, who came to the gadi in 1844 A.D., ruled the Banswara State with tact and zeal for a period of 61 years. He died in the year 1905 A.D. and was succeeded by his eldest son, Shambhu Singh, who was born in October 1868 A.D. and was invested with ruling powers in 1906 A.D. He has been conducting the administration in an efficient manner.

The area of Banswara State is 1,946 square miles, with a population of 1,65,350 souls. The normal revenue of the State excluding the income of the nobles is about Rs. 1,75,000.

The present chief, His" Highness Maharawal Shri Shambhu Singh Bahadur, is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.