Bilaspur State (princely state)

Bilaspur State or Kahlur was a princely state in the Punjab Province during the era of British India, ruled by Chandel dynasty.

Bilaspur State
Kahlur State

1815–1948
Flag
Coat of arms
Princely States of the Shimla Hills, Bilaspur in the south straddling the Sutlej (1911)
StatusPrincely state of the British Raj
CapitalBilaspur, Sunhani[1]
GovernmentMonarchy
History 
• Established
1815
• Disestablished
1948
Area
19311,173 km2 (453 sq mi)
Population
• 1931
100,994
Succeeded by
Bilaspur State (1950–54)
Today part ofHimachal Pradesh, India
Raja Bijai Chand with Rajput chiefs.
Dan Chand, prince of Bilaspur. Last quarter of the 18th century.

The state was initially known as Kahlur and was later renamed Bilaspur.[2] It covered an area of 1,173 km2 (453 sq mi), and had a population of 100,994 according to the 1931 Census of India. The last ruler of Bilaspur State acceded to the Indian Union on 12 October 1948.

Bilaspur State remained Bilaspur Province in independent India until 1950 when the province was briefly renamed "Bilaspur State" before it was merged with Himachal Pradesh state as a district in 1954.[3]

History

According to local myths compiled during the reign of Raja Hira Chand the predecessor state was founded around 697 CE by Bir Chand. After Kahal Chand had built Kahlur Fort the state was named after it. Initially the capital of the state was at a place named Jhandbari — now in Hoshiarpur district — and then it was transferred to Kahlur Fort, but was later moved permanently to Bilaspur[2] by Dip Chand, the 32nd Raja of Kahlur (reigned 1663–1665). Since the 18th-century the rulers of Bilaspur State patronised artists of the Kangra painting style.[4]

Bilaspur State came under British protection in 1815[5] under Raja Mahan Chand and became one of the Simla Hill States. Raja Anand Chand was the last ruler of the princely state and Pandit Sant Ram was the last Home Minister. As Bilaspur acceded to India on 28 October 1948, Bilaspur retained an independent identity as a separate province and as a part-C State of India. The Raja was appointed commissioner of the State. In following years after Raja resigned his deputy Chhabra, who was appointed by govt of India, helped run the temporary govt of Bilaspur while the territory of the princely state was politically integrated into the Indian Union.

From 26 January 1950 Bilaspur was administered by the Government of India as a separate C-Class state named Bilaspur State which in 1954 was incorporated into the State of Himachal Pradesh as a province.[3]

The Family

Chandel Rajputs in Bilaspur belong to different branches of the ruling family.These families are numerous, and all enjoyed jagir pensions from state amounting in aggregate to Rs. 40,000 a year in 1933.The chief names are:

  • Ajmerchandia
  • Kaliyanchandia
  • Tarachandia
  • Sultanchandia

Rajas
  1. Bir Chand, founder; (r. 697–730) or fl. 880
  2. Udhran Chand
  3. Jaskarn Chand
  4. Madanbrahm Chand
  5. Ahl Chand
  6. Kahal Chand, 6th Raja
  7. Slar Chand
  8. Men Chand
  9. Sen Chand
  10. Sulkhan Chand
  11. Kahn Chand, 11th Raja. Conquered Hindur, which he created as a separate realm for his second son.
  12. Ajit Chand, 12th Raja (son of Khan Chand)
  13. Gokul Chand
  14. Udai Chand, (r. 1133–1143)
  15. Gen Chand
  16. Pruthvi Chand
  17. Sangar Chand, (r. 1197–1220)
  18. Megh Chand, (r. 1220–1251)
  19. Dev Chand
  20. Ahim Chand
  21. Abhisand Chand, (r. 1302–1317)
  22. Sampurn Chand (r. 1317–1355)
  23. Rattan Chand (r. 1355–1406)
  24. Narandar Chand
  25. Fath Chand
  26. Pahar Chand
  27. Ram Chand
  28. Uttam Chand
  29. Gyan Chand (r. 1518–1555)
  30. Bikram Chand (r. 1555–1593)
  31. Sultan Chand (r. 1593–1600)
  32. Kalyan Chand (r. 1600–1636)
  33. Tara Chand (r. 1636–1653)
  34. Dip Chand (r. 1653–1665)
  35. Bhim Chand (Kahlur) (r. 1665–1692)
  36. Ajmer Chand (r. 1692–1728)
  37. Devi Chand (r. 1738–1778)
  38. Mahan Chand (r. 1778–1824)
  39. Kharak Chand (r. 1824 – March 1839)
  40. Jagat Chand (r. March 1839 – 1850)
  41. Hira Chand (r. March 1850 – January 1883)
  42. Amar Chand (r. January 1883 – January 1889)
  43. Bijai Chand (r. 3 February 1889 – 18 February 1927)
  44. Anand Chand (r. 18 February 1927 – 12 October 1983)
  45. Gopal Chand (r. 26 October 1983 – present)
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References
  1. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0208_PART_B_DCHB_BILASPUR.pdf page 11
  2. States before 1947 A-J
  3. Social, cultural, and economic history of Himachal Pradesh By Manjit Singh Ahluwalia
  4. Hindu Hill Kingdoms Archived 30 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine V&A Museum.
  5. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kahlur" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 634.

Further reading
  • Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). History of the Panjab Hill States, Vol. II. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, Pujab, Lahore, 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter XIII Bilaspur State, pp. 494–518.
  • Media related to Bilaspur State at Wikimedia Commons

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