Karauli Maharaja Ganesh Pal Deo Bahadur Yadukul Chandra Bhal : A Biography
Origin of the Karauli–
Karauli derives its name from the headquarter town of the same name, which was the capital of the erstwhile Princely State of Karauli. The word “Karauli” is an aberration of the name “Kalyanpuri”. The ancient name of this state was “Karkralagiri”, as it was
circumscribed by mountains. The princely state of Karauli was founded by Yaduvanshi King
Arjun Dev, a descendant of Lord Krishna, in 1348 AD. The temple of Kalyanrai (Lord Krishna)
is synonymous to the foundation of Karauli.
Location of Karauli–
The Karauli is located towards north eastern Rajasthan, between the north latitudes 26°3’ and
26°49’ and between the east longitudes 76°35’ and 77°26’. It is surrounded by Dholpur district
in the north east, by Sawai Madhopur district in the south west, by Dausa district in the west, by Bharatpur district in the north and by the state of Madhya Pradesh towards its southeast.
The area of the Karauli state is 5524 sq. km.
During the Mahabharata period, Karauli was a part of Matsya Pradesh, and later it was
controlled by various dynasties – Maurya, Malwa, Yodheyaya and Gupta. Throughout the
years, several battles ensured that the territory as well as the Mandrayal fort, was recaptured
and lost by Yaduvanshis several times. Eventually, Yaduvanshi King Arjun Dev defeated the
representative of Tughlaqs and established the princely state of Karauli in 1348 AD. During
the period, 27 kings ruled the land. Karauli came under subjugation of British rule by the treaty
signed by King Harbakshpal on 9th November 1817AD with them. Ganeshpal was the last ruler
of Karauli. On 17th March 1948 Karauli State was merged with the Matsya State and later on,
Karauli along with the Matsya Union merged into the Rajasthan province on 15th May 1949.
Meaning of Word Jadon : (Sanskrit .Yadava)—
Yadava is a Sanskrit word and hindi version is as” Jadon”(Crooke ,C.A.).
A clan (Sept ) of Yaduvanshi Rajput who claim their descent and name from Yadu , son of Yayati , the fifth monarch of the Lunar dynasty .The original name has become strangely corrupted , and the race is now seldom designated as Yadu ,Yadava or Yaduvansi , but commonly by the term Jadu , or Jadon /Jadaun , or Jaduvansi ( Sherying , M.A.).
Ruler of Karauli State.-—
Maharaj Kumar Ganesh Pal, who was born on the 3rd February 1906,
Maharaja Shri Ganesh Pal, the only son of His Highness, late Maharaja Sir Bhom Pal Deo Bahadur Yadukul Chandra Bhal , K C.E.I.
Education—
He was educated at the Mayo College Ajmer, where he studied upto the Diploma Course of that institution.
Married—
MaharajaGanesh Pal , was married 1st, sister of late Raja Saheb Pratap Singhji of Khandela Senior (Jaipur State); 2nd, sister of Raja Yuveraj Dutt Singhji of Oel and Kaimarah Raj (U.P.); He has two sons. one daughter. Maharaj Kumar Shri Brijendra Pal and Bhanwar Surendra Pal .
Social work—
By obtaining studied at the Mayo College, Ajmer and gained higher education in the technical field most of the infrastructural projects that took place during his father’s reign were undertaken by him only. Under him, Karauli State was renamed as Karauli Government, and the Customs and Revenue Officer was now called the Collector. Soon after he held a charge, the freedom struggle across the country was at its peak. After independence was ultimately gained in 1947, most princely states found it fitting to merge with the Indian Union, as did the Riyasats in Rajputana. On March 17, 1948 CE, four Riyasats namely Karauli, Dholpur, Alwar and Bharatpur joined hands to form the United State of Matsya. The first chief of this newly formed union was the Maharaja the of Dholpur Udaibhan Singh. Meanwhile, other Riyasats were also merging, and Rajputana as a State of India was itself taking shape. On April 4, 1949, the United State of Matsya also merged with Rajputana State (later renamed as Rajasthan).
Maharaja Ganeshpal and his family continued to stay relevant with the changing political order.
His elder son Brjiendrapal stepped out of the royal palace and fought the Vidhan Sabha elections from Karauli. He remained the Member of Legislative Assembly from here for many years and contributed towards many district-level committees, the university and other public welfare facilities. Ganeshpal constituted trusts for looking after the Kaila Devi Temple and the Madan Mohan Temple. The former was managed by Brijendrapal and the latter by Surendrapal, the younger son. Unfortunately, both sons passed away in emergency circumstances.
Surendrapal met with a car accident at Dausa while travelling back from Jaipur to Karauli on May 24, 1982 CE. On August 9, 1983 CE, Brijendrapal died of a massive cardiac arrest. The passing away of both sons was difficult for the erstwhile Maharaja and he himself breathed his last on February 25, 1985 CE. Ganeshpal is remembered as the last autonomous ruler of the
State of Karauli.
In 1985 CE (Vikram Samvat 2042), his grandson Krishna Chandra Pal was crowned as the Maharaja of Karauli.
Address: Karauli ,Rajputana, India
State Emblem of Karauli State—-
The state emblem of Karauli princely state was a shield, in which there is a sheep on the left, a lion on the right and a cow symbol in the middle; Nagara (kettle drum) and Moon in the left corner of the cow, the head of a deer in the upper part of the shield and ‘Shri Madan Mohan Ji Sada Sahay’ written below. On the seals of the state of Karauli, the words of the princely state ‘Shri Radha Madan Mohan’ and on top .
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