A Brief Historical account of the Yadava(Jadon) Nobles and Sardars of Karauli State —
Introduction—
Area -1,878 sq. miles.
Ravenu- 3,00,000 rupees.
This small state lies to the south of Bharatpúr. To the east of it is Dholpur; to the south-east runs the river Chambal, separating it from Gwáliár; to the south-west the river Banás, dividing it from Jaipur; and to the north-west, also, is Jaipúr. The early records of this state are very obscure. It would appear to have had no separate history prior to the decline of the Mugal empire. In the history of the Márhátás, the Rájá of Karauli is mentioned as a dependant of the Peshwa, to whom the Rájá paid a tribute of 25,000 rupees per annum. He was the first to accept the protection offered by the British Government in 1817. He agreed then to acknowledge the supre- macy of the British Government, and in return for this he was guaranteed in his possessions, and the tribute paid to the Marhátás was remitted.
The ruling family of Karauli belonged to the Jadu /Jadon Kshatriyas clan .It is said that at one time the Jadons who lived near the territory of Braj around Mathura held half of Alwar ,the whole Bharatpur ,Dholpur and Karauli ,the British districts of Gurgaon and Mathura ,the greater part of Agra to the west of Jmuna and the portion of Gwalior lying along the river Chambal . Thahan Pala ,the eldest son of Bijai Pala of Bayana ,settled himself there about 1058 A.D in the Dang area and founded Tahangarh fort .The real founder of Karauli family was Maharaja Vijaypala of Bayana.
Who were the Yadus or Yadavas? —
The word “Yadava ” is admittedly a vedic patronymic derived from Yadu .
Mahabharat says — “It has been remberbed the Yadavas were the descendants of Yadu , the son of Yayati -Nahusa. “The Philologists declare that the ” Y” in “Yadava “may be replaced by “J” ,that is both the forms “Yadava ” and “Jadava “are permissible and therefore interchangeable . According to several historians like Wilson ,James Tod and S.W Elliot the Yadava is a Sanskrit word and it’s hindi version is Jadon . transformation.Yadava onward came to the substituted for Surasena in early eleventh century .From Yadavas to Jadavas and then to Jadon or Jadaun was an early ethymological transformation.(Indian History Congress, ,Vol.60, p.1122,1127,2000.)Dr Hoernle has pointed out Badon might be simply a corruption of Bhadava as Jadon is for Jadava.Jadava vulgarly Jadon clan (F.S.Growse).Jadu being for Sanskrit Jadava.
Origin of the name Jadon in place of Yadava––
The origin of the name , “Jadon “, is traced by Sir Henry Elliot to ancient Yadus or Yadavas ,but it would perhaps be more correct to say that Jadon ,Jadu and Yadavas are etymologically the same ,the former being corruption of the last.The tribe traditionally belongs to the Lunar Race and processes to trace its descent in a direct line from Krishna.The title of “Jadon “,is now exclusively applied to that tribe which appears never to have strayed far from the limits of the ancient Suraseni (James Tod .)
The leading personages of Karauli State—
Nobles and Sirdars —
Karauli nobles who are divided into Thikanedars, Bapotidarsand other hereditary office bearers and other officials.
The feudal aristocracy of the State consists of the Jadon Thakurs connected with the ruling house.
These pay as tribute a fixed sum, which, though nominally one fourth of the produes of the soil, is in reality much less than half the share paid by common landholders. This tribute is in lieu of constant military service which is not performed in Karauli. case of military emergencies or State pageants, the Thakurs and Jaginlars come in with their reteiners, who, on these occasions, are maintained at the expense of the Darbar, but on ordinary occasions they attend the Darbar at their own expense.
Thikanedars—-
The Thakurs families (Kotries) paying tribute are thirty-seven in number of which those of Hadoti, Amargarh, Rawantra, Inaiti, Bhartun and Pardampure are known as Thikanedars.
The Bapotidars—
The remainder are styled Bapotidars.The other families of nobles are
of little importance and belong chefly to the Hari Das and Mukand Kotris or to the Pal family. Succession is generally by primogeniture, but by custom a Thakur on succeeding to the estate is bound to assign grants of land for maintenance to his younger brothers.In some cases estates are equally divided among all sons and in others partition takes place, the eldest receiving a double share.The Nobles, though for the most part illiterate, are a powerful body in the State and have in the past time defied the authority of the Darlar.
(1)-Hadoti–
The original seat of the Hadoti family was the neighbouring village of Gareri .The first Rao was Kirat Pal , second son of Raja Dharmpal , who succeeded to the Karauli gaddi in Samay 1701.In A.D.1697 the thakur of Hadoti and Fatehpur being unable to settle their boundary disputes , a panchayat of their brethren assembled to arbitrate.The disputants , however , could not refrain from violence , shots were fired , and a stray bullet from the Hadoti party killed Kirat Pal of Gareri ,one of the arbitrators .The maharaja thereupon authorised Kirat Paul’s son to take possession of Hadoti ,which has been the seat of the family ever since.The Rao is said to be able to furnish 25 horse and 200 foot.Like the others this kotris has not been remarkable for its loyalty , and Maharaja Har Bakhsh Pal took and sequestrated the estate after a hard fight for it at the Ekat Nala ,through which the path to Hadoti runs .Six years afterwards the estate was restored on payment of fine .
On the failure of direct issue to the Ruler, the Rao of Hadoti is regarded as heir to the gadi.
(2) Amrgarh–
Thakur of Amargarh was Amar Man, son of Raja Jagman, who succeeded to the Gadi of Karauli in Sambat 1662, corresponding to 1605 A.D. Amar Man is said to have gone to Delhi and to have obtained a command (Mansab ) of horse from the Emperor.The thakur is said to be able to furnish 25 horses and 200 foots.
Maharaja Jagoman bestowed Utgarh on his son Amar Man , who founded Amargarh ; but his descendants were rebellious and in Maharaja Manakpal,s time Amolak Pal took Untgiri fort ,Sambat 1859 (A.D 1800 ) , and it has remained in the hands of the Darbar ever since .Amar Man is said to have gone to Delhi ,and to have obtained a command of hourse (Mansab ) from the emperor . Amargarh maintains the same force as Hadoti ,25 horse , and 200 foot.In the wars with Marhattas the Rao ,who had lands in Sabalgarh across the Chambal , is said to have intrigued with Sindhia , and to have facilitated the capture of Sabalgarh by Sindhi’s French general , Baptiste .
The revenue now paid to Gwalior for the Sabalgarh estate of the thakur is about Rs.20 ,000.In Maharaja Manak Pal ‘s time Amargarh was taken by the young chief Amolak Pal , the thakur imprisoned , and the estate sequestrated ,but subsequently restored by Manak Pal .Maharaja Har Bakhsh Pal also in A.D. 1847 deprived the thakur of his estate for a time .In Maharaja Partab Paul’s time Thakur Lachhman Chand of Amarnath was the leader of the disaffected , and he continued to fan the flame of rebellion throughout the few months Narsingh Pal was on the “Gaddi” .It was not till brought to his bearings by Lieutenant Monck Mason that he became politically innocuous .He was subsequently discovered to be a patron of coiners , for which offence he was fined Rs.15,000by the Jaipur Court of Vakils .It was ordered that the amount be spent on public works in Karauli .
At the time of Maharaja Bhompal of Karauli ,Thakur Kulbhan Chad , was a Tazimi. Sardar and next in rank and dignity to the Rao of Hadoti. He was born on 20th August 1880.
(3)Ramanthara—
The first thakur of Ramanthra was Bhojpal ,son of Maharaja Dharmpal who succeeded to the Gaddi of Karauli in 1644 A.D. .The thakur has a force of about 10 horse and 50 foot.He has a fort.At the time of Karauli Maharaja Bhompal ji ,Thakur Bhuwendra Raj Pal, was a Tazimi Sirdar.He was the son of Thakur Dhujraj Pal. Thakur Dhujraj Pal was adopted by late thakur Harnath Pal of Ramanthara , who died in 1894.Dhujraj Pal was the son of Gajaraj Pal of Baroda thikana in Karauli , brother of Harnath Pal. Dhujraj Pal, the thakur of Ramthara was the third in rank among the Karauli State Sardars . The Thakur of Ramanthra claims equality with the Thakur of Amargarh in rank and dignity.
(4) Inaiti—
The first Rao of Inaiti was Bhup Pal ,son of Maharaja Chhatra Man ,the date of whose accession is Sambat 1788.The Rao has 10 horse and 10 foots.At the time of Karauli Maharaja Bhompal Pal ji ,
Thakur Brij Raj Pal was the Tazimi sardar of the State.He was descended from Rao Bhoop Pal , sixth son of Maharaja Chatraman who ascended the Karauli Gaddi in Samvat 1688.
(5) Bhartoon—
Thakur Kalyan Singh of Bhartoon , was descended from Madan Man ,fourth son of Maharaja Mukund ji who ascended the
Karauli Gadi in Samvat 1641 (A.D.1584) .He was one of the Tazimi Sardar of State.The force at thakur ‘s command is 5 horses and 50 foots.
(5) Pardampura—
Thakur Moti Pal of Pardampura ,
a hindu rajput, was born on the 5th March 1876. He is a Tazim Sardar and was the younger brother of the present maharaja Bhom Pal and uncle of Maharaj Kumar Ganesh Pal ,the Rao of Hadoti. He was edueated
At Mayo College, Ajamer.
He was the Commander-in-Chief of the State Forced at time of Maharaja Bhompal ji.
(6)- Raja Bahadur Lakhapat Singh–
He was a Tawar Rajput , one of the priacipal Tazimi Sardars and holds the hereditary title of Raja from the Darbar. His father Bhagwan Singh, died in July 1892 .Birakhbhan
Singh , grand-father of Lakhpat Singh ,originally came froma Gwalier State.The Maharaja of Gawalior granted Pahargarh to him for his life . He was the superintendent of the Charity Departmet.
References —–
1-Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana By C. S. Bayley · 2004,p.
2-The Knights of England
A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of All the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of Knights Bachelors · Volume 1 By William Arthur Shaw · 1906.
3-Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire
Volume 60, 1898.
4-List of Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages
Issues 2-13 By Rajputana (Agency), Charles Stuart Bayley · 1938.
5-The Golden Book of India. A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. With an Appendix for Ceylon
By Sir Roper Lethbridge · 1900.
6-A Collection of Treaties, Engagements, and Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries
Volume 3
By India. Foreign and Political Department · 1892.
7-Portraits in the India Office Library and Records
By India Office Library and Records, Pauline Rohatgi · 1983.
8-Who was who
A Companion to Who’s Who, Containing the Biographies of Those who Died, 2002.
9-The London Gazette
1897.
10-Who’s who
Volume 58, 1906.
11-First Report of the Royal Commission on Opium
With Minutes of Evidence and Appendices… · Volumes 3-4
1894.
12-The India List and India Office List for …
By Great Britain. India Office · 1819.
13-The King’s Indian Allies
The Rajas and Their India
By St. Nihal Singh · 1916.
14-Memoranda on Native States in India, Together with a List of Independent Ruling Chiefs, Chiefs of Frontier States, and Other Notables with Their Proper Forms of Address,1911.
15-The Indian Year Book
Volume 12, 1925.
16-The Rajputs: a Fighting Race
A Short Account of the Rajput Race, Its Warlike Past, Its Early Connections with Great Britain, and Its Gallant Services at the Present Moment at the Front
By Jessrajsingh Seesodia · 1915
17-The Ruling Chiefs, Nobles and Zamindars of India
Volume 1
By A. Vadivelu · 1915
18-Directory and Year Book Including Who’s who,1920.
19-Who’s who in India.
Volume 5,1911.
20-History of Shekhawats
By Ranbir Sinh · 2001.
21-Who’s who in India, Containing Lives and Portraits of Ruling Chiefs, Notables, Titled Personages, and Other Eminent Indians
1911
22-The Rulers of India and the Chiefs of Rajputana, 1550 to 1897
By Thomas Holbein Hendley · 2001
23-A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads, Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries,Volume 3,By India. Foreign and Political Dept, Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison ·
24-History of the Delhi coronation durbar held on the first of January 1903 to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII, Emperor of India
By Stephen Wheeler · 1991.
25-Constitutional Development of Eastern Rajputana States
By D. D. Gaur · 1978.
26-Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, ʻOmān, and Central Arabia: Historical. 4 v
By John Gordon Lorimer · 1970
27-Imperial Gazetteer of India
Provincial Series · Volume 23,
1908.
28-Provincial Series
Central Provinces, 1908.
29-A History of Rajasthan
By Rima Hooja · 2006.
30-Gazetter of the Karauli State by Captain Percy .W .Powlett.,1874,
31-Mediaeval History of Rajasthan: Western Rajasthan
By Rajvi Amar Singh · 1992,p.1396
32- Rajputana -Ka-Itihas by J.S.Gahlot.
33-Reports on the administration of the Karauli State for the Sambat year (1902-1903 to 1939-40. A .D.)Rajasthan Archives Bikaner.
34–Sherring M.A.The Tribes and Castes of Rajasthan together with description of the sacred and operated places of historical value .
35-Living without Silver .The Monetary History of Early Medieval North India .By Johan Scott Deyell ,1982,p.130.,196.
36–Life and culture in Medieval India .By Bhanwarlal Nathuram Luniya ,1978,p.111.
37–A .History of Rajasthan .By Rima Hooja ,2006,p.401-402,411.
38–Rajasthan State Gazetteer :
History and Culture . 1995,p.57.
39-A Comprehensive History of India :The Delhi Sultnate .( A.D. 1206-1526 ) Ed By Mahammad Habib and Khaliq .Ahmad Nizame ,1970,p.838.
40-Mediaeval History of Rajasthan : Western Rajasthan .By Rajvi Amar Singh ,1992,p.1391-1396.
41- -Madan Mohan :An Encharting Saga.By Sushant Bharti .,2024,p.1
42-Rajasthan Studies by G. N.Sharma .,1970,p 10.
43- Rajasthan Through the Ages: From the Earliest Times to 1316A.D.By Dasharath Sharma ,1966.,p.43,287,699.
44-The Tribes and Castes of the North-Western Provinces and Qudh .By William Crooke ,1996,Voll.4,p218.
Auther-Dr Dhirendra Singh Jadaun
Village-Larhota ,Sasni
Distt.Hathras (U.P)
Principal Government Post Graduate Girls College ,Sawaimadhopur Rajasthan.