Lying in the foothills of the Himalayas Bilaspur State was Situated between 31°-12’ 30” & 31°-35’45” North Latitude and between 76°-23’45” & 76°-55’40”. It had a superficial area of 453 square miles and a population of nearly 130,000 as per the Census of 1941. Hills and vales were a common feature of the territory which rising from a height of over 800 feet above the mean sea level at the village of Majari touching the Punjab Province, rose at Bahadurpur to a height of nearly 6200 feet above sea level, the highest point in the State. Bahadurpur, which had an old Fort of the same name, touched the Hill State of Baghal, which was towards Shimla, and had a very cool climate throughout the year. Bilaspur Town itself was situated pat on the banks of the Sutlej River, which divided the State into two almost equal halves, and had a height of 1600 ft above sea level. It was a typical Hill Town with slated or thatched houses and the Main Bazaar, with shops in a row on both sides of a narrow winding road, consisted of a population of no more than 3,000 souls by the 1941 Census figures.
The State was interspersed by Hills & dales as already stat and these Hills, seven in number were called ‘Dhars’ in the local dialects. Hence the title of Rajah of the Seven Dhars by which the Ruler was sometimes called.
To name they were the Hill or Dhars of
1.Jhanjiar
2.Tiun
3.Screewan
4.Kot
5.Shri Nainadevi
6.Rattanpur; and
7.Bahadurpur.
The valleys which were fertile and thickly populated lay between these ranges and there were important tributaries of the Sutlej which flowed between these valleys. Known as the “Khud (streams) of Gambha, Ghamrola, Seer, Sukkar, & Sariali, these khads were quite often in floods during the monsoon and presented a hazard in crossing, the water discharge in some cases, increasing at the alarming rate of a few thousand cusecs in less than an hour!
The ruling family of Kehloor claims descent from Sishupal, a hero of the Mahabharata, who resigned in Chanderi to the south of Rajputana. Hence they are known as Chandel Rajputs. The story runs that Hari Har Chand, the seventieth of his line, succeeded to a diminished heritage, and encouraged by dream in which the goddess Jowala Mukhi appeared to him, sought his fortune at her shrine in the Kangra valley.
His youngest son, Govind, was given the kingdom while four sons came in search of adventure with their father. The Raja of Kangra met the pilgrim army at Nadaon, and the retinues of the two Chiefs held a friendly tournament, in which the Southern knights were successful. The Raja thereupon arranged a tent-pegging contest for the following day, and promised his daughter to the man who succeeded in taking a certain peg. This peg was in reality the trunk of a tree. Sabir Chand, the youngest son of the Chanderi King, entered the lists, promising the bride to his eldest brother Bir chand. The day broke inauspiciously and a terrific storm raged. Sabir Chand, losing control of his horse, was killed, and the deception practiced by the Kangra Chief was discovered. A battle ensued, and the Kangra forces were defeated. The Kangra Tikka and Hari Har Chand were both among the slain.
Raja Bir Chand (697 to 730 A.D.):
Bir Chand, Kabir Chand and Ghambir chand, the surviving princes retreated to the shrine of Jowala Mukhi, where the presiding goddess, in reply to long and earnest supplication, promised each of them a kingdom. In fulfillment of her prophecy, Kabir chand wandered to Kumaon, and was adopted by the Raja of that State; Ghambir Chand took possession of Chanehni; and Bir chand, the eldest seized Jhandbari now in Hoshiarpur District. Inspired by a dream vouchsafed by Naina Devi in whose service he had raised a shrine, he gradually enviced the local Thakurs, called Rhunds and carved out for himself the Kingdom of Kahlur. He waged many wars during his reign of 33 years, and subjugated no fewer than fifteen neighbouring states. But he was ultimately checked by the Raja of Sirmur, with whom he was glad to make peace and agree to a boundary between the kingdom.
Kahal Chand (804 to 902 A.D.):
Raja Kahal Chand, the sixth of the line, built Kot Kahlur, and the State subsequently derived its name from this ancient citadel.
Kahn Chand (1057 to 1099 A.D):
Kahn Chand, the eleventh Raja, had three sons Ajit cha,d Ajai Chand and Tegh Chand. On their father’s death, these attacked and dispossessed the neighbouring Brahman Thakur, Handu, of his kingdom. Ajit Chand was installed in his place and founded the present ruling dynasty of Hindus, now called “Nalagarh” after its later capital. Ajit Chand Succeeded his father. Ajit Chand and Ajai Chand had different mothers, and it is sometimes said that Ajai Chand was the elder of the two. According to an account given in the Nalagarh Gazatteer, the brothers spent the latter portion of their lives at war with one another.
Sangar Chand (1197 to 1290 A.D.):
Sangar Chand, sixteenth of the line, was remarkable as the father of ten sons, seven of whom were the ancestors of as many Rajput families, which still hold jagirs in Bilaspur.
Megh Chand (1220 to 1251 A.D.):
The people of the State first showed their insubordinate temper, proved by frequent rebellions throughout its history upto the present date, during the rule of Megh Chand, son of the last named Raja, whom they exiled into Kulu. He reinstated himself with the held of the “Emperor of Delhi” (presumably Shams-uddin Altamash).
Abhaisand Chand (1302 to 1317 A.D.):
Abhaisand Chand, 21st Raja, He was contemporary of Sikandar Lodhi.
He fought a victorious battle against Tatar khan Amir.
Later on, Raja and his son Sundar Chand were killed by Tatar’s son treacherously, they harried a Mohammadan force advancing from Delhi to Makhowal (Anandpur), and was subsequently trapped and murdered by the Generals of a relieving force. His death, however, was avenged by his son after a battle lasting several days.
Rattan Chand (1355 to 1406):
His grandson, Rattan Chand had a more pleasant connection with the Court at Delhi, for he distinguished himself by slaying a lion, which was distressing the suburbs of that city. For this feat he received a reward of a lakh and a quarter rupees from the Emperor.
Gyan Chand (1518 to 1555):
Gyan Chand 27th Raja, quarreled with the Mohammadan Governor of Sirhind, and being defeated in battle was forced to embrace Islam. He married the Governor’s daughter, whose descendants are now the only landowning Mussalmans in the State. Gyan Chand’s tomb is still shown at Kiratpur, now in the Hoshiarpur District.
He had three sons, Bikram Chand elder son remains Hindu but Younger son Ram Chand and Bhima Chand also converted to Islam.
Bikram Chand married to the daughter of Raja Trilok Chand of Kangra (1600-1612).
Bikram Chand (1555 to 1593):
Bikram Chand, his son by his Hindu wife, only won his inheritance by battle with his Mussalman brothers. He abdicated during his lifetime in favour of his son Sultan Chand, who had in his turn to fight for the kingdom with his own half-brothers.
Raja Kalyan Chand (1600 to 1636):
Sultan Chand’s son, Kalyan, He Built fort on the border of Hindur which cause a war between two states.
In the battle, Raja of Hindur was killed.
He was married to the daughter of Raja of Suket Raja Shyam Saran Sen invading the territory of the Raja of Suket, whose daughter he had married, and was there slain. His son, Tara Chand, attempted to avenge his father, but with only partial success.
Raja Tara Chand (1636 to 1653)
Raja Tara Chand son of Kalyan Chand succeeded in 1636, He built Taragarh fort in Hindur.
When Sikh Guru Hargobind was attacked by Mughals, he was forced to leave Punjab plains for hills. Raja Tarachand of Kahlur received and protected Guru Hargobind. He did not pay homage to Shah Jahan.
Raja Tarachand donated the land for the Guru. Here Guru Hargobind built Kiratpur.
MahaRaja Dip Chand (1653 to 1665):
Dip Chand, son of Tara Chand succeeded in 1653 A.D. He was a man of religious tendencies, and so evil were the omens at his succession, that he removed his capital from Sunhani to a place called dholra on the Sutlej, close to which were a shrine of Rangnath Shiva and a cave of Vyasji. Here he founded the present capital of the State, which was first called “Byaspur”, a name subsequently corrupted to Bilaspur. He assisted the Emperor Aurangzeb in his attack campaign and received, as a reward of his services, a khillat of five lakhs and a sanad authorizing his suzerainty over no less than 22 States including Kulu, Kangra, Kotkehr, Mandi, Suket and Chamba. But on his way home from the imperial army he was poisoned at Nadaon by the Raja Chander Bhan Chand of Kangra.
Maharaja Bhim Chand (1665 to 1692):
The Mians, whose influence on the subsequent history of the State has been at times so troublous, seem first to have arisen to power during the reign of dip Chand. On his death, they claimed the throne from one of their own member, Manak Chand, and with the help of the Raja of Kangra attacked the rightful heir, Bhim Chand, then a boy of fourteen. Bhim Chand, however, gained a signal victory over the combined forces, an exploit which was the first of a brilliant series of successes in the field of arms. He defeated the Rajas of Bashahr, Mandi and Kotkhai and one by one subdued and subjugated the twenty two hill states whose over lordship had been passed to his father by the Emperor Aurangzeb. In his time, the territorial limits of Kehloor reached a new height, comprising all the areas between Kulu and Hathawat and Bushahr and Gorakhgadhi. In the words of the Banswara: “Kepoo Khepu Kheksoo, Duttnagar Nurmand, Dehu Raju Bhim Ki, Bhoop Barenge dand.” (Keppo Khepu & Kheksoo, Duttnagor & Narmand (Bushahr State) the Hill Chiefs bow to the Commands of MahaRaja Bhim Chand). He built the temple of Mariaridevi (at present in Mandi Distt.) and when the Raja of Kangra asked for his aid against the Moghals he advanced to Nadaon and in conjunction with Guru Govind Singh defeated the Moghal Governor Alif Khan in battle. Raja Bhim Chand later on fell out with the Guru who had been given an asylum by his grandfather Raja Tara Chand in Parganas Kiratpur and Kalyanpur; and fought many an indecisive battle with the Sikhs in the areas adjoining the present towns of Anandpur and Kiratpur. These are described in great detail in the History of the Sikhs and need not be referred to here. It may, however, be noted that this unnecessary warfare dissipated the energies of the MahaRaja Bhim Chand and made the last years of his reign far from pleasant. He abdicated in 1692 in favour of his son Ajmer Chand and spent the rest of his days as a hermit.
Maharaja Ajmer Chand (1692 to 1738 A.D. ) and Maharaja Devi chand (1738 to 1778):
Maharaja Ajmer Chand reigned for over forty years and was at war most of that time. His son, Devi Chand succeeded him in 1738 and was a contemporary of Nadir Shah soon afterwards coming into collision with the Afghanis forces he was taken prisoner, but was subsequently released on payment of ransom. After a fight with Nalagarh, when the Raja there was killed in battle, Devi chand was offered the rulership but declined and placed a Mian called Gajay Singh on the Gaddi of Hindoor. Later he built a fort and tank at Mahalmorian in Kangra whose signs are present even to this day. Devi Chand did a lot to improve the trade and commerce of Bilaspur and the town became most populous, yielding a revenue of over Rs. 25,000/- per year as octroi duty alone.
It would be correct to say that the decline of the Moghal Empire in Delhi synchronized with the reigns of very successful rulers and administrators in Bilaspur State and the names of Dip Chand, Bhim Chand, Devi Chand, and Ajmer Chand stand out during this period. Whereas Dip Chand consolidated his hold over the Hill States with the help of the Moghal Emperor Aurangzeb, it was left to his son Bhim Chand to stabilize the position and to carry his name and fame to the remote corners of Bushahr. Ajmer Chand stood firm against the invasions from the west and extended his domain upto the Jamuna river, on the banks of which he constructed a fort bearing his name.
Later MahaRaja Devi Chand maintained the territorial integrity and independence of the State at a time when Nadir Shah had marched right upto the gates of Delhi and the Moghal power was crumbling throughout Hindustan.
In this task he was helped by his feudatories from whom he began to levy cash tributes of which the Banswara gives the following list: (1) Kenthal – Rs. 3,000/-; (2) Baghat and (3) Baghal – Rs. 1,000/- each; (4) Bhajji and (5) Mailog – Rs. 700/- each; (6) Dhami and (7) Kotkhai – Rs. 300/- each; (8) Balsan and (9) Mehra – Rs. 200/- each; and (10) Bija (11) Mangal (12) Kuthar and (13) Kunihar – Rs. 100/- each. Loved by his friends and dreaded by his foes, he proved to be a fearless soldier and a good administrator and enhanced the prestige of Kahloor at a difficult period in its long and chequered history.
Raja Mahan Chand (1778 A.D. to 1824 A.D.):
Raja Devi Chand was married to Katoch (Kangra) Princess named Nagar Devi and late in life had a son named Mahan Chand, born in 1772 who was six years old at the time of his father’s death. Mahanchand, being a minor, the administration was carried on by his mother assisted by Ramu of the Derol family and other officers. Rani Nagar Devi was a very shrewd and able women and conducted the affairs of State with remarkable ability. Early after her husband’s death the Raja of Keonthal one of the tributaries showed, signs of insubordination and Nagar Devi had him promptly brought to Bilaspur and put in prison which action had a salutary effect on all to other “thakurais”. In 1781 when Kangra Fort was besieged by the Sikh, Sai Ali Khan the last Mughal Kiladar appealed to the Rani for help which was promptly rendered.
In March 1783 Forester, the traveler passed through Bilaspur in the guise of a Muhammadan merchant on his way to Jammu and his reference to the siege is of much interest. He states that the Bilspur camp through which he passed consisted of “about 800 horses and 8,000 footmen armed with matchlock, swords, and spears…” The Fort was surrendered to the Sikhs soon afterwards and came into the hands of Raja Sansarchand of Kangra in 1786, who did not forget to reply in kind the part played by the Bilaspur forces in the siege.
Ramu Wazir died in 1785 and was replaced by Airagiram but his oppression and tyranny made the people revolt and kill him. Shortly afterwards Raja Mahanchand assumed full powers but showed no interest in State affairs and spent his time in sensual pleasures. This alienated from him the loyalty of the people and brought disaster upon the State. Firstly the Ranas of the “Bara Thakurain” (feudatories) renounced their allegiance in 1793 and shortly afterwards Raja Ram Saran of Handur (Nalagarh) his own kinsman forsook him and allied himself to Sansarchand. In 1795 Sansarchand invaded the territory of Kehloor on the right bank of Sutlej and although Mahanchand and Rani Nagardevi were successful in getting military aid from Raja Dharam Prakash of Sirmoor, the latter was killed in battle and the combined forces of Kehloor and Sirmoor utterly routed. Sansarchand thereafter occupied all the territory on the right bank and build a fort on Dhar Jhanjiar which he called “chhatipur” (i.e. on the “chhati” (chest) of Kehlooris). Rani Nagardevi died shortly afterwards.
Mohanchand was much depressed by this double tragedy and retired to Anandpur leaving his ministers in Bilaspur to avenge the Kangra victory. In the meanwhile Raja Ram Saran of Handur had attacked Bilaspur and sacked the town. He also captured the forts of Fatehpur, Bahadurpur and Rattanpur and desecrated the temple of Sakrithin. Consequently the territorial limits of Bilaspur had shrunk to a few sq. miles of area on both sides of the river Sutlej and in dire distress Mahanchand sent emissaries to the Gurkhas of Nepal who had conquered the Hill tracts west of the Sutlej by 1803 and had their headquarters at Garhwal.
Raja Mahanchand’s emissary invited the Gurkha General Amarsingh Thapa and being in full accord with their designs, this invitation was readily accepted. The Gurkha forces crossed the Sutlej in 1805 and defeated Sansarchand at Mahalmori. Thereafter they laid siege to the Kangra Fort for four years but were compelled to withdraw owing to the outbreak of cholera in their ranks. Meanwhile all the “Thakurain” had fallen to the Gurkhas one by one and although they handed over Bhajji, Dhami and Koti to Mahanchand the rest were kept by them for expenses.
Ram Saran of Nalagarh also got his due and after his complete route at Nalagarh large portions of his territory were annexed by the Gurkhas and he was forced to seek asylum in the fort of Plassi on the banks of the Sirsa nadi. In 1808 Ramu Kotwal of Hathawat (an area on the left bank of Sutlej including Anandpur Sahib) had a quarrel with the Anandpur Sodhis and in consequence they appealed to Maharaja Ranjit singh for help.
This was readily extended and after a short battle Hathawat was lost to Bilaspur. Later Maharaja Ranjit Singh was willing to give up the conquered territory to Mahanchand in lieu of war expenses totaling Rs. 5,000/- but the Rajas advisors gave him wrong advice and thus one of the most fertile areas of the State was lost for ever. The Nepalese war began in 1814 and Raja Ramsaran of Nalagarh and the “Bara Thakurain” asked the British for help against the Gurkhas and Mahanchand who had driven them out of their homes. This was assented to and a column under the command of General Ochterlony advanced through Nalagarh to Malaun where a pitched battle was fought between the British forces on one side and the forces of the Gurkhas and Raja Mahanchand on the other.
Truce was subsequently declared and the Gurkhas retired to their old border at the end of hostilities. Meanwhile Mahanchand had sent emissaries to General Ochterlony asking for protection and this was granted to him under the terms of the British declaration issued at the commencement of hostilities. A “Sanad” confirming Mahanchand in the ancient territories of Kehloor on this (left) bank of the Sutlej was accordingly granted on 6th March, 1815 but his claim on the “Bara Thakurain” was rejected and most of them were made independent. In 1819 the Sikhs once again invaded Bilaspur territory on the right bank of the Sutlej and occupied Dhar Kot which was subsequently given by them to the Majithia family.
Although Raja Mahanchand asked the British for help in its restoration this was denied owing to the fact that the English were not going to interfere in trans-Sutlej areas which were under the complete sway of the Sikh power at Lahore. Mahanchand’s only son Kharakchand was born in 1813 and the Jyotshi in drawing out his horoscope found that he had been born under an unlucky star and would cause a great calamity to the State. Mahanchand was forbidden to see him for 12 years and the boy was sent for village Kallar to be brought up. In 1823 Mahanchand at the end of 10 years yielded to an overpowering desire to see his young son and sent for him. This action on the part of the Raja was regarded as a bad omen and his death in the following year (1824) was attributed to his not having complied with the terms of the warning. Mahanchand’s long reign of 46 years was an eventful epoch in Bilaspur’s history. It is true that this weak and ease loving Ruler reduced the once powerful State of Kehloor to a third rate British dependency and lost much of its original territory but considering the tumultuous times in which he ruled these calamities may be taken as inevitable. The emergence of the powerful Sikh kingdom upon the disintegration of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Akbar Shah II was a new challenge to the old Rajput States of the Punjab Hills and many of them were completely liquidated by the Sikhs including the once powerful State of Kangra. Thus Mahanchand’s move for British protection was a timely gesture and it must be said to his credit that inspite of his deep friendship for the Gurkhas he was able to preserve the entity of Bilaspur through British aid although he had once openly fought them in the battlefield. The loss of the “Bara Thakurain” was also a natural corollary to the new order that was emerging and all said and done they had already forsaken allegiance to Kehloor many years before. Their subsequent recognition by the British as full fledged States was a political gesture which could not be circumvented.
Rang Mahal, Kahlur Bilaspur
Raja Kharak Chand (1824 to 1839 A.D.):
Kharak Chand’s reign marks the darkest page in the history of Bilaspur. From early youth he seems to have fallen under evil influence and vicious habits, that remained with him during his short life. For some years in the beginning, however, there was peace and quiet in the State but suddenly the Raja’s wrath fell on his officials many of whom were caused to be publicly hanged for no apparent fault. Thereafter he confiscated the jagirs of most of his collateral Mian’s and persecuted them from pillar to post.
This continuous tyranny and oppression resulted in open civil war in which the Raja’s chief opponent was Mian Jangi, grandson of Mian Chimna, the younger brother of Raja Ajmer chand. The Raja now enlisted a force of nearly 300 Rohilla Pathans to put down the open rebellion and many skirmishes took place between the Mians and Rohillas in which neither gained a signal victory.
The Mians thereafter approached Major Clark, the British Political Officer at Ambala but Kharak Chand refused to listen to his advice and so increased his terror that the Town was half-depopulated, the inhabitants having fled to other States for security. Shops were looted in broad daylight and heavy fines were imposed on all sympathiesers of the popular movement. In 1835 A.D. Raja Kharak Chand married the younger siste of the Raja of Sirmoor and thereafter toured the whole State. Later he invaded the State of Mandi whose ruler Raja Zalimsen fled from the capital and left Kharakchand in virtual control for nearly a fortnight.
This invasion was prompted by the alleged support by Zalimsen to Mian Jangi and was given up after the former had pledged to withdraw all help. During the last years of his reign Kharakchand made peace with the Mians and returned to them their Jagirs. Mian Jangi who had been living as an exile in Hathawat was recalled and reinstated in his previous rank. Shortly afterwards the Raja contracted smallpox and dies in 1839 at the early age of 26 years.
Raja Jagat Chand (1839 to 1850 A.D):
Kharakchand died issueless and on hearing of his death Mian Jangi performed his funeral rites. Notice was sent to the Political Agent at Ambala who came at once and after satisfying himself that none of the widow ranis was enceinte he reported to Government in favour of Mian Jangi who was duly installed as Jagatchand in April 1839. Later one of the two Sirmoori ranis of Kharakchand said that she was pregnant and a son named Garabh Chand was said to have been born to her in November of the same year. Jagatchand, however, affirmed that the child was surreptitious and this view was accepted by the British Government.
The Rani did not accept this and with the help of her brother Raja Fateh Parkash of Sirmoor she invaded Bilaspur and succeeded in ousting Jagatchand from his newly acquired Chiefship. Jagatchand thereafter fled to Hindur and informed that Political Agent who came with a force and restored Jagatchand to power. The Rani fled to Subathu and passed the rest of her days there.
Raja Jagatchand was of a devotional spirit and spent much time daily in the performance of the rites of his religion. In 1847 on the Cession of the Jullundhar Doab to the British after the First Sikh War, Jagatchand was confirmed in the possession of the territory on the right bank of the Sutlej also and a Sand was granted to him on 21st October of the same year. The Raja also extended his unstinted aid to the British in the Second Sikh War and turned the Sikh forces out of the territory of Kot Dhar and Hathawat. The East India Company, however, refused to accept his claims to these ancient lands of Bilaspur and he had to hand them over to the British at the cessation of hostilities.
Jagatchand had only one son, Narpatchand, who died in 1844 leaving a son named Hirachand, nine years of age. As the Raja was now well advanced in years, his chief concern was to equip his grandson in every way for the high position he was destined to fill. In 1850 when Hirachand was only 15 years of age he was married to the sister of Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and soon afterwards Jagatchand abdicated in favour of his grandson and himself retired to Brindaban.
Raja Hirachand (1850 to 1882 A.D.):
Hirachand’s kindly reign of 32 years is still remembered as a golden age in Bilaspur’s history. He was assisted by a Wazir of excepted ability named Mian Bharji who organized the government in a very complete and efficient manner. All branches of administration were overhauled and much attention was given to the provision of tanks and other public conveniences at different places. He also constructed various public and private buildings amongst the latter of which the Houses at Hardwar and Simla are notable.
Raja Hirachand gave effective support to the British during the rising of 1857 and in 1863 he changed the land revenue structure of the State fixing the State share at 1/3rd of the total produce. The Revenue demand was also made payable partly in cash and partly in kind. In 1867 the long strip of territory called Kot Dhar which had been occupied by the Sikhs during Mahanchand’s reign in 1819, was restored to Bilaspur. This was an occasion of much rejoicing in the State. In 1871 Lord Mayo, the Viceroy and Governor-General passed through Bilaspur on his way to Kangra. In the winter of 1882 Raja Hirachand had gone to Simla with his son yuvraj Amarchand and was taken seriously ill there. He died at Namhol on his way to Bilaspur the same year.
Raja Amarchand (1883 to 1888 A.D.):
Raja Amarchand was installed in January 1883 and had a short reign of 6 years. He was unfortunate in the administration of the State owing to the inadequate assistance rendered by his officials. The affairs of State became chaotic resulting in disorders and outbreaks of violence from discontent at changes made in the tenure of land. The first of these broke out in Pargana Geharwin where many lives were lost. Later the new impositions were completely withdrawn and resulted in the restoration of complete peace in the State.
Raja Amarchand opened the first hospital in the State and organized a Forest Department. He re-organized the State militia and rearranged the administrative sub-divisions of the State into Tehsils and Thanas. He also opened the first Hindi Pathshala in Bilaspur and ordered that henceforth all work of the State be conducted in that lanuage. Raja Amarchand had a good command of Sanskrit and was also fond of painting. He built the famous Rang Mahal Palace at Bilaspur at a cost of over 2.5 lakhs and also constructed a bridge across the Sutlej at Bhajwani. He dies in 1888 at the age of 31 years.
Raja Bijai Chand (1888 to 1927 A.D.):
Yuvraj Bijai Chand was only 16 years old when he was installed as Ruler in May 1889. As he was a minor the Political Agent appointed a Council to administer the State under the President ship of Mian Badan Singh, and sent the young Raja to the Chief’s College at Lahore for education. He was formally invested with ruling powers in 1893. Almost from the beginning Raja Bijai Chand seems to have been discouraged about State affairs. Although he was desirous of introducing reforms on the British model still his rather limited education proved to be a serious handicap and the officers whom he selected were selfseekers who only promoted their self-interests. Consequently the Political Agent advised the Raja to appoint a Council under him and although this was done the result were not satisfactory. Thereafter one Dr. Thakurdas was appointed as Wazir on a salary of Rs. 1,500/- p.m. but the Political Officer was against this appointment and consequently Thakurdas had to go and another Council was appointed.
Raja Bijai Chand greatly resented this continuous intereference by the Political Agent and submitted a Memorandum to the Viceroy against these encroachments on his powers. As a result the Council was dissolved but the Political officers became the firm enemies of the Raja and struck at the very first opportunity. This was not long in coming. The Mians at that time had very large civil and criminal powers in their Jagir villages and used to harass the peasants. Raja Bijai Chand abolished these completely and also forbade them to charge any Nazrana on the escheated land which henceforth was declared to be State property. This put the Mians up and a minor rising took place which resulted in the political officers forcing the Raja to appoint Shri Harichand, a Punjab officer, as Wazir.
The Raja was now fed up and after going to Benares where he had earlier built a house he refused to return to the State. This happened in 1902. Next year the Government of India forbade the Raja to have anything to do with the State administration and appointed one Mian Amar Singh, a Punjab Tehsildar as Manager of the State. Amarsingh was an able administrator and conducted the first revenue settlement of the State on the British Indian model. He recognized the administration and had many new buildings erected, the chief amongst which was the High School and the State hospital. Nearly 100 miles of new roads were also built and the finances of the State put on a sound footing. In the meanwhile there was almost continuous agitation for the recall of the Raja by the States people and this led to the Government of India reconsidering their earlier decision.
Raja Bijai Chand was accordingly recalled from Benares and he once again assumed control of State affairs in the summer of 1909. This was heartily welcomed all round and there was great rejoicing throughout the State. The same year Mian Amarsingh was transferred to Keonthal State and Mian Durga Singh, another lent officer from the Punjab was appointed as Wazir. Mian Durgasingh continued in his post for 9 years i.e., till 1918. In the meanwhile the outbreak of World War I caused Raja Bijaichand to place all the resources of his State at the disposal of the King Emperor and he also rendered all possible assistance in the successful prosecution of the war. Over a thousand recruits were enlisted in the Dogra regiment and a war loan of over 3 lacs of rupees was subscribed.
These services were suitably recognized by Government and at the conclusion of hostilities Raja Bijaichand was invested with the KCIE and also given the rank of Hon. Major in the Dogra regiment. Durgasingh was replaced by Sardar Indersingh as Dewan in 1918 but the latter only served for a year and was succeeded by Babu Hardyalsingh, a local B.A., LL.B. Hardyalsingh was wazir for nearly 3 years but his maladministration resulted in a Court of Enquiry into his conduct.
He was later charge-sheeted on 17 different charges ranging from nepotism to criminal misappropriation of the State monies and sentenced to 2.5 years simple imprisonment on six counts and the other 11 having been withdrawn. Indersingh was once again recalled and on his recommendation Hardyal Singh was set free before serving his full sentence. He thereupon retired to Hardwar from where he made such a dramatic come-back in 1949. Dewan Inder Singh had bitter experience of party politics for the one year he had served as Wazir and he now aligned himself with the “Hazari” group in power. “Hazari” was the term used for the personal servants in attendance on the Raja and they were a very powerful force to reckon with in 1922-23, having as their head one Finaram.
Mian Mansingh a jagirdar from Raghunathpur and the Superintendent of Police at that time also joined hands with the group and Indersigh’s complete surrender to them ushered in an ear of maladministration in Bilaspur which has had few parallels. Henceforth no one’s land or property was safe from the depredations of this clique. There was an old law in the State under which all land to which there were no claimants within the 5th degree escheated to the State and the “hazaris” now embarked upon a policy of progressively snatching away all such lands for themselves without the payment of even nominal nazarana.
Raja Bijai Chand hardly noticed those irregularities and Dewan Indersingh reports, invariably directed by the Hazris, got ready approval. Consequently each influential Hazri as well as Mian Man Singh took possession of large areas of lands and so widespread was the consequent agitation that the State people approached the Agent to the Governor-General at Lahore for redress. Nor was this all. The Raja was hence onwards in domestic trouble with his only surviving Rani Shrimati Surajdevi, who advised him not to yield to the Hazari clique and to devote more time and attention to state affairs. The Raja was married six times and had no male issue by his previous wives who died one by one till he married Rani Surajdevi in 1898 when she was a girl of 12. To her was born a son in 1913 and named Anand Chand. In view of her coveted position the Rani had great influence on the Raja and this coupled with the fact that she came from a village in Bilaspur itself gave her a unique position amongst the States people.
The hazari group naturally looked upon her as a serious rival and so poisoned the Raja’s ears that relations between husband and wife got highly strained. The Rani therefore removed herself to Simla in 1925/26 and refused to return. In 1927 matters had reached such an impasse that the Raja considered it fit to abdicate in favour of his son Tika Anand Chand, and himself retire to Benares. This met the Govt. of India’s approval and Raja Anand Chand was installed the same year. He was then 14 years of age and studying in the Mayo College at Ajmer. A Council of Regency was therefore formed to carry on the administration till the young Ruler came to age. Raja Bijai Chand was now a broken man. Too late he realized the treachery and selfishness of the Hazris who now forsook him one by one. Hereafter he completely shut himself up at Benares where he suddenly died of heart failure in 1931. Thus ended a long career of nearly 37 years.
Raja Bijai Chand was a generous man and although he was faced with administrative difficulties throughout his long reign still he was deeply loved and respected by his people to whom he was always available. Denied the loving influence of mother who died when he was on a very tender age and not much looked after by his father the Raja often chose as his companions men of low birth and doubtful wisdom. Nevertheless he tried his best to improve the State administration and introduced many reforms, principal of which was the complete breaking up of the feudalism of Jagirdars. He also had a water supply system laid out in Bilaspur proper and the first Forest Settlement was conducted under his order. He abolished many obsolete taxes and raised the local Middle school to high school standard. The Raja also built an estate at Benares called “Bilas-Bhawan” and summer houses at Bahadurpur and Haridwar in Bilaspur.
Minority Administration (1927 to 1933 A.D.):
The Council of Administration appointed by the Resident Punjab States consisted of three members of whom the President was Mr. P.L. Chandulal was a Punjab civilian and the Home member was Mian Mansingh, whose name has been mentioned previously. One Lal Lachhumal was appointed as the Judicial member but he was replaced in 1929 on the commencement of the second settlement by Shri Sarwan Das.
The Council started with many initial difficulties. The pays of State employees were in arrears for the last 4 years and even otherwise there was heavy debts to be defrayed by the administration. The Resident accordingly drew out a strict schedule of work and himself sanctioned the Budget each year after due scrutiny. The financial powers of the Council were practically nil and each and every new matter had to be referred to the Resident for approval.
The first step taken by the Council was the imposition of “Naz rana” on lands grabbed by the “Hazaris” and their confiscation and subsequent transfer to the rightful heirs where such nazarana was not paid. This yielded over a lac and a quarter rupees and included Rs. 20,000/- received from Mian Mansingh, the new Home Member. Later on tax an incomes were also levied for the first time and the rate of rent on water mills considerably enhanced. The Council also prohibited fishing without licence and imposed other taxes of various kinds. These steps might have been advisable from the point o view of financial solvency but they irked the State people and there was much resentment.
In 1929 the Council of Regency embarked upon the Second Revenue Settlement after sanction had been obtained from the Resident at Lahore. This measure was long overdue since twenty years had elapsed when Amarsingh conducted the first Settlement in 1905 and in addition it was hoped that the resultant increase in income would be in the neighbourhood of at least Rs. 50,000/- per year thus is improving the finances of the State. For a year or so the work continued satisfactorily but suddenly in 1930 there was universal demand from the States people for its postponement and when this was not agreed to by the Council, there was open rebellion.
The rising of 1930:
The start of the unrest attracted little notice. It was the refusal of some zamindars of Bahadurpur Pargana to supply free firewood to the Settlement Staff working in their villages. But when the President of the Council went personally to enquire into the matter he was presented with a lengthy charter of grievances which included such matters as high rates of Nazarana, fishing licenses and other taxes, indiscriminate policy of Forest Officers and high handed behaviour of the revenue staff who were publicly accused to molesting village ladies. Later many more grievances were added to the list and it soon became clear that this was not a minor affair but an organized rising against the unjust and unfair impositions of the Council. At the root of all this agitation was the economic factor which resulted from the slump that had suddenly hit India that year and the people feared that any enhancement of Land Revenue as a direct result of the settlement should be entirely beyond their means to pay.
Mr. Chandulal could not rise to the occasion and in spite of his best efforts he failed to satisfy the people. Soon the disaffection spread to other areas and as the local police force was quite unable to cope with the situation, frantic appeals were made to the Resident to send exterior aid. This he refused to do so still he had himself examined the whole situation and came to Bilaspur soon after. After studying the situation on the spot he made a public announcement of many concessions to the States people and exhorted them to let the Settlement operations continue in their own interests. But the people were bent in getting the settlement postponed and the rebellion against authority continued unabated. The Resident (Sir James Fitzpatrick) now asked Mr. Chandulal to proceed on leave and appointed Mian Man Singh, the Home Minister as acting President. He had hoped that the local influence of the latter would quell the revolt but the people know the Mian’s antecedents and refused to listen to him. Thereafter a pose of armed police was called from the Punjab and some of the ring leaders were arrested at a village festival at Namhol and brought to Bilaspur. The next day about a thousand persons collected at Headquarters and demanded the release of their leaders. They were declared an unlawful assembly and mercilessly lathi charged by the Punjab Police, after which they dispersed. The Resident now sent two companies of troops on Flag Marches to Bilaspur and after three months of constant touring they were able to create peaceful conditions. Nineteen ring leaders had in the meanwhile been arrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment ranging from two to seen years. A collective fine of Rs. 25,000/- was also imposed on the villages which had taken the initiative in the popular movement. In April 1931 Raja Anand Chand finished his studies at the Mayo College by standing first in the Post Diploma examination and shortly afterwards he was married to Princess Umawati of Jubbal. The “barat” which started from Simla was a picturesque affair and had the good fortune of coming across Gandhiji who was on his way to meet the Viceroy Lord Irwin for what later came to be known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Later the same year the young Raja was sent for his administrative training in the Gurgaon District of the Punjab. After completing the same he toured the whole of the State with Mr. Chandulal in the winter of 1932 and renewed his acquaintance with the people.
Raja Anand Chand (1933 to 1948):
Raja Anand Chand was formally invested with full ruling powers on 9th January, 1933 and the administration of the Regency Council thus came to an end. Its term of administration had however been marred by the uprising of 1930, the arrest of the leaders and their subsequent imprisonment at Faridkot jail. The first step of the new regime therefore was to complete the settlement and mollify public opinion. Mr. Chandulal, continued as Dewan and he completed the Settlement early in 1934. By this time the prisoners from Faridkot had also been brought back and set free. This had salutary effect and although the new assessment resulted in an increase of nearly Rs. 17,000/- per annum it was gladly paid and attracted very few objections. The new administration thus made a good beginning and a closer study of the people grievances showed their hopes and aspirations. Every effort was therefore made to modernize the administrative structure and bring it to the standard of modern requirements.
The overhauling started from the Judiciary which was separated from the executive and henceforth only law graduates could be appointed in its cadre. A department of law was created and all legislation duly codified. On the Executive side the Dewan was replaced by Secretariat system of Government on late in 1934 and start was made with three Secretaries for the departments of Revenue, Home and Relations with other States. This number was increased to nearly a dozen by the end of 1946. In the same year three ministers for Revenue, Home Affairs and Development were duly appointed and henceforth the Raja began to exercise his functions through them. A separate High Court for the State was also established in 1045. Many reforms were made in the Revenue department and the Revenue Law and procedure prevalent in the Punjab was extended into Bilaspur.
A number of rules and regulations peculiar to the needs of the people were introduced and forced labour was abolished throughout the State in 1935-36. The exercise administration also received due attention and total prohibition of liquor was enforced under the provisions of the Bilaspur State Prohibition Act 1942. Development of forests next engaged attention and their commercial exploitation yielded handsome results. Resin tapping started in 1938-39 began to yield an income of nearly 3 lac rupees a year by 1946 and the extraction of “katha” from “Kher” trees began to bring in another couple of lacs per annum. The department of Police was modernized and its training and discipline placed in the hands of local officers trained in the police schools in the Punjab. Modern arms were provided for the force which had a strength of nearly 200 men in 1947-48. In no field of administrative requirements was so much attention bestowed as on education.
This period of 15 years saw the start of nearly 30 new elementary schools and two middle school one for boys and one for girls. Compulsory teaching of the mother tongue and craft became regular features of the school curriculum and agricultural plots were attached to each of these institutions where the young scholars worked with their own hands. Many adult literacy centres were opened and free distribution of books was made in them. As a result of these efforts the number of scholars studying in public institutions rose from 300 in 1933 to over 4,000 in 1944 and the percentage of literacy quadrupled itself from 2.5% in 1931 to over 10% in 1944-45. Medical and public health also received a good deal of attention and in 1936 a new modern hospital was opened at headquarters with accommodation for 24 indoors. Thereafter 12 health centres were opened at each of the Pargana headquarters in the muffasil and the more important of these were manned by qualified medical officers. In the matter of public health a lot of work was done for the eradication of malaria and smallpox and there were regular health visitors for women and children. Many roads were constructed and realigned for vehicular traffic and the first motorcar reached Bilaspur in 1936.
A State controlled Transport therefore took over the transport system that was fully developed and had a dozen vehicles in 1947-48. Many buildings were also constructed during this period notable amongst which are the Hospital, the Girls school, the New Palace, the Ladies Club and Shri Gopalji’s temple. The PWD also supervised the construction of the elementary schools and health centres opened in the villages. In the matter of local self Government the towns of Bilaspur and Shri Nainadeviji were put under the charge of elected Small Town Committees and by 1946 the whole of the State had been divided into 40 Panchayat areas each with an elected Panchayat under adult sufferage. Financial aid was given to these bodies from State funds and they were also authorized to raise their own monies.
It is interesting to see that all the above improvements in the administration were effected without additional taxation. On the contrary taxes amounting to nearly Rs. 37,000 a year were totally abolished as obsolete. The careful husbanding of financial resources and tapping of new sources of income however paid very good dividends and the revenues of the State which stood at nearly 3 lacs in 1933 and exceeded the figure of rupees 12 lacs in 1946-47. These 15 years were a period of great change not only in India but throughout the World. In 1935 there was the question of the Indian Federation which did not materialize and in 1939 came the Government sponsored scheme of a joint administration for smaller Indian States in order to give them viability.
Bilaspur however, successfully opposed these measure and was left untouched. From 1939-45 there was the Second World War in which the small State of Bilaspur played its full part. Nearly 3,000 men enlisted in India’s armed forces and won many awards including the coveted victories Cross and the George Cross. Then came the great political turmoil in India which started with the “Quite India” demand in 1942 and brought Independence to the country in 1947. Thereafter Bilaspur as one of the Indian States acceded to the Indian Dominion and signed the Instrument of Accession on 10th August 1947 which was ratified by the Governor-General on the 16th of the same month.
The new changes in India’s political conditions after Independence resulted in the integration of the Indian States as a result of which most of them ceased to exist as separate entities. Here Bilaspur’s ease for separate existence was based on the fact that an overwhelming majority of its people were opposed to merger with Himachal Pradesh and the interests of the great BhakraNangal Project could only be safeguarded if the State were taken under direct central administration Detailed negotiations with the Government of India resulted in the Cession Agreement of 15th August 1948 under the terms of which the Raja handed over the administration to the Government of India who on their part agreed to administer it as a separate Unit. Fuller details of this arrangements Bilaspur was accepted as a part “C” State in the Indian Constitution and is being administered as such upto....
