Sirmur State

Last updated

Sirmaur State
Sirmoor State
Nahan State
Princely State of British India
1095–1948
Sirmur State CoA.png
Coat of arms
Punjab-Districts 1911.png
Sirmur State in a 1911 map of Punjab
Capital Nahan
Area 
4,039 km2 (1,559 sq mi)
Population 
135,626
History 
 Established
1095
1948
Succeeded by
India Flag of India.svg
Today part of Himachal Pradesh, India
Gazetteer of the Sirmur State. New Delhi: Indus Publishing. 1996. ISBN   978-81-7387-056-9. OCLC   41357468.
Portrait of Maharaja Kirat Prakash of Sirmur. Late 18th century. Indian - Portrait of Kirat Prakash of Sirmur - Walters W898.jpg
Portrait of Maharaja Kirat Prakash of Sirmur. Late 18th century.
The Fort of Nahan, the capital of princely-state of Sirmur The Fort of Nahan, c.1850.jpg
The Fort of Nahan, the capital of princely-state of Sirmur
Stamp of Sirmour in 1800s NahanStamp1800s.jpg
Stamp of Sirmour in 1800s

Sirmur (also spelled as Sirmor, Sirmaur, Sirmour, or Sirmoor) was an independent kingdom in India, founded in 1616, located in the region that is now the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. The state was also known as Nahan, after its main city, Nahan. The state ranked predominant amongst the Punjab hill States. It had an area of 4,039 km2 and a revenue of 300,000 rupees in 1891.[ citation needed ]

Contents

History

Origin

According to Mian Goverdhan Singh in Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh, the principality of Sirmaur was founded in the 7th to 8th century by Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs, and Rathore noble. [1]

Nahan State

Nahan, the predecessor state of Sirmur, was founded by Soba Rawal in 1095 AD who assumed the name Raja Subans Prakash.[ citation needed ]

Near the end of the 12th century in the year 1195, a flood of the Giri River destroyed the old capital of Sirmaur-Tal, which killed Raja Ugar Chand. [1] A ruler of Jaisalmer, Raja Salivahana, thought this was an opportune time to attack the state as it was in a state of disarray due to the natural disaster and death of its ruler, so he sent his son Sobha to conquer the state. [1] The attack was successful and a new dynasty headed by Bhati Rajputs was established. [1] Sirmur was invaded by invader Jasrath's army, who also invaded fragments of Punjab and Jammu. [2]

Sirmur State

The new capital was founded in 1621 by Raja Karam Prakash, and the state was renamed to Sirmur.[ citation needed ]

Sirmur was surrounded by the hill states of Balsan and Jubbal in the North, Dehradun district in the East, Ambala district in the South West, and the states of Patiala and Keonthal in the North-West.[ citation needed ]

But by chance, shortly after this event a prince of Jaisalmer visited Haridwar as a pilgrim, and was invited by one of the minstrels of the Sirmoor kingdom to become its sovereign.[ citation needed ] He accordingly sent a force under his son, the Rawal or prince Sobha, who put down the disorders which had arisen in the state, and became the first Räjã of Sirmur, under the title of Subhans Parkash, a title which the Rajãs have ever since retained.[ citation needed ]

Rajban became the capital of the new king in 1095.[ citation needed ] The eighth Rãjã conquered Ratesh, later a part of the Keonthal State, about 1150 and his successor subdued Jubbal, Balsan, Kumharsain, Ghond, Kot, and Theog, thus extending his dominions almost to the Sutlej.[ citation needed ] For many years these territories remained feudatories of the State; but its capital was at Kälsi, in Dehra Dun, and the Rajas’ hold over their northern fiefs appears to have been weak until in the fourteenth century Bir Parkash fortified Hãth-Koti, on the confines of Jubbal, Retwain, and Sahri, the last of which became the capital of the State for a time.[ citation needed ]

Eventually in 1621 Karm Parkash founded Nahan, the modern capital. [3] His successor, Mandhata, was called upon to aid Khalil-ullah, the general of the emperor Shah Jahan, in his invasion of Garhwãl, and his successor, Sobhag Parkãsh, received a grant of Kotaha in reward for this service.[ citation needed ] Under Aurangzeb this Rãjä again joined in operations against Garhwãl.[ citation needed ] His administration was marked by a great development of the agricultural resources of the State, and the tract of Kolagarh was also entrusted to him by the emperor.[ citation needed ]

Budh Parkãsh, the next ruler, recovered Pinjaur for Aurangzeb’s foster-brother.[ citation needed ] Raja Mit Parkãsh gave an asylum to the Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, permitting him to fortify Paonta in the Kiarda Dun; and it was at Bhangani in the Dun that the Guru defeated the Rajäs of Kahlur and Garhwäl in 1688. [3] But in 1710 Kirat Parkãsh, after defeating the Räja of Garhwal, captured Naraingarh, Morni, Pinjaur, and other territories from the Sikhs, and concluded an alliance with Amar Singh, Raja of Patiala, whom he aided in suppressing his rebellious Wazir; and he also fought in alliance with the Raja of Kahlür when Ghuläm Kãdir Khan, Rohilla, invaded that State. [4] He supported the Rajã of Garhwãl in his resistance to the Gurkha invasion, and, though deserted by his ally, was able to compel the Gurkhas to agree to the Ganges as the boundary of their dominions.[ citation needed ] His son, Dharm Parkãsh, repulsed the encroachments of the chief of Nalagarh and an invasion by the Rãjã of Garhwãl, only to fall fighting in single combat with Rãjã Sansãr Chand of Kangra who had invaded Kalhur, in 1793.[ citation needed ]

Painting of a panoramic view of pilgrims visiting holy sites at the Shivalik Hills near Sirmaur, Jodhpur, 1824 Painting of a panoramic view of pilgrims visiting holy sites at the Shivalik Hills near Sirmaur, Jodhpur, 1824.jpg
Painting of a panoramic view of pilgrims visiting holy sites at the Shivalik Hills near Sirmaur, Jodhpur, 1824

Rulers

The rulers of Sirmur bore the title "Maharaja" from 1911 onward [ citation needed ]

NamePortraitRuled fromRuled untilCitation
Subhansh Prakash10951099
Mahe Prakash10991117
Udit Prakash11171127
Kaul Prakash11271153
Sumer Prakash11531188
Suraj Prakash11881254
Bhagat Prakash I12541336
Jagat Prakash13361388
Bir Prakash13881398
Naket Prakash13981398
Ratna Prakash13981413
Garv Prakash14131432
Brahm Prakash14321446
Hams Prakash14461471
Bhagat Prakash II14711538
Dharam Prakash15381570
Deep Prakash15701585
Budh Prakash16051615
Bhagat Prakash III16151620
Karam Prakash I Raja Karam Pragash of Sirmur (1616-30) with his son and two nobles (6124585105).jpg 16211630
Mandhata Prakash Painting of Raja Mandhata Prakash of Sirmur State, Punjab Hills, possibly Bilaspur, ca.1720.jpg 16301654
Sobhag Prakash16541664
Budh Prakash16641684 [1] [5]
Mat Prakash 16841704 [1] [5]
Hari Prakash17041712 [5]
Bijay Prakash17121736
Pratap Prakash17361754
Kirat Prakash Painting of Raja Kirat Prakash of Sirmur State, Guler, ca.1765-70 (detail).jpg 17541770
Jagat Prakash Painting of Raja Jagat Prakash of Sirmur State worshipping Rama and Sita, ca.1790.jpg 17701789
Dharam Prakash17891793
Karam Prakash II (died 1820)17931803
Ratan Prakash (installed by Gurkhas, hanged by the British in 1804)18031804
Karma Prakash II (died 1820)18041815
Fateh Prakash18151850
Raghbir Prakash18501856
Shamsher Prakash Painting of Raja Shamsher Prakash of Simur State with the Rani of Simur and his son Surendra Prakash, Simur, ca.1869.jpg 18561898
Surendra Bikram Prakash 18981911
Amar Prakash 19111933
Rajendra Prakash 19331947

Demographics

Religious groups in Sirmur State (British Punjab province era)
Religious
group
1901 [6] 1911 [7] [8] 1921 [9] 1931 [10] 1941 [11]
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hinduism Om.svg [a] 128,478130,276132,431139,031146,199
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 6,4146,0166,4497,0207,374
Sikhism Khanda.svg 6882,1421,4492,4132,334
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 6149655281
Christianity Christian cross.svg 4637445238
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 001000
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 00000
Judaism Star of David.svg 00000
Others00000
Total population135,687138,520140,448148,568156,026
Note: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.

Artwork

Fresco depicting a Devi Mahatmya scene from Indic mythology from a Shiva temple located in Nahan, painted during the reign of Sirmur State Fresco depicting a Devi Mahatmya scene from Indic mythology from a Shiva temple located in Nahan, painted during the reign of Sirmur State (3).png
Fresco depicting a Devi Mahatmya scene from Indic mythology from a Shiva temple located in Nahan, painted during the reign of Sirmur State

Not many paintings depicting the historical rajas of Sirmur State have survived due to the Gurkha occupation of the state between 1803–14, which led to the loss and destruction of much artwork, including any portraits of earlier rulers produced in Sirmur itself. [12] [13]

Notes

  1. 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kangra district</span> District in Himachal Pradesh, India

Kangra district is the most populous district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Dharamshala is the administrative headquarters of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamba district</span> A district in Himachal Pradesh, India

Chamba district is the northwestern district of Himachal Pradesh, in India, with its headquarters in Chamba town. The towns of Dalhousie, Khajjhiar and Churah Valley are popular hill stations and vacation spots for the people from the plains of northern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandi district</span> A district in Himachal Pradesh, India

Mandi district is one of the central districts of Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. The town of Mandi is the headquarters of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nahan</span> A town in Himachal Pradesh, India

Nahan is a town in Himachal Pradesh in India and is the headquarters of the Sirmaur District. It was the capital of the former Sirmur princely state. Nahan is also known as the "town of ponds".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushahr</span> Princely state during British Raj

Bushahr, also spelt as 'Bashahr' and 'Bussahir' or 'Bushair' was a Rajput princely state in India during the British Raj. It was located in the hilly western Himalaya promontory bordering Tibet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoshiarpur</span> City in Punjab, India

Hoshiarpur is a city and a municipal corporation in Hoshiarpur district in the Doaba region of the Indian state of Punjab. It was founded, according to tradition, during the early part of the fourteenth century. In 1809, it was occupied by the forces of Maharaja Karanvir Singh and was united into the greater state of Punjab in 1849.

The Hill States of India were princely states lying in the northern border regions of the British Indian Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilaspur State (princely state)</span> Princely state of British India

Bilaspur State or Kahlur State, sometimes Kahloor Riyasat, was a kingdom (697–1849) and later princely state (1849–1948) in the Punjab Province ruled by a separate branch of Chandravanshi Chandel rajput dynasty. Raja Bir Chand 697–730 was the founder of the state but it was named Kahlur only after the Construction of Kahlur Fort by Raja Kahal Chand around 890–930CE and Raja Anand Chand the 44th Raja was the last ruler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Punjab</span> Former province of India from 1947 to 1950

East Punjab was a province of India from 1947 until 1950. It consisted parts of the Punjab province that remained in India following the partition of the province between the new dominions of Pakistan and the Indian Union by the Radcliffe Commission in 1947. The mostly Muslim western parts of the old Punjab became Pakistan's West Punjab, later renamed as Punjab Province, while the mostly Hindu and Sikh eastern parts remained with India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punjab States Agency</span> Agency of British India

The Punjab States Agency was an agency of the British Raj. The agency was created in 1921, on the model of the Central India Agency and Rajputana Agency, and dealt with forty princely states in northwest India formerly dealt with by the Province of Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimla district</span> District of Himachal Pradesh in India

Shimla district, known as Simla district until 1972, is one of the twelve districts of the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Its headquarters is the state capital of Shimla. Neighbouring districts are Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, Uttarakhand in the southeast, Solan to the southwest and Sirmaur in the south. The elevation of the district ranges from 987 metres (3,238 ft) to 4,500 metres (14,764 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jubbal</span> Tehsil in Himachal Pradesh, India

Jubbal is a tehsil, town and a nagar panchayat in Shimla district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh which shares its boundary with the state of Uttrakhand towards south-east. Jubbal is recognised as a major apple producing area in Shimla district along with Kotgarh, Kumarsain, Kotkhai and Chopal. It is famous for its Hindu temples, picturesque mountains and its royal palace situated in the town.

Fateh Shah was the Hindu Rajput king of Garhwal, a small kingdom in North India, from 1684 to 1716.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamba State</span> One of the oldest princely states in present-day Republic of India

Chamba State was one of the oldest princely states in present-day Republic of India, having been founded during the late 6th century. It was part of the States of the Punjab Hills of the Punjab Province in India from 1859 to 1947. Its last ruler signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union of 15 April 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patiala State</span> Indian royal state that existed from 1763 to 1947

Patiala State was a kingdom and princely state in British India, and one of the Phulkian States, that acceded to the Union of India upon Indian independence and partition in 1947. The state was founded by Ala Singh in 1762. Patiala State was the largest and most important princely state in the Punjab Province. The state's ruler, the Maharaja of Patiala, was entitled to a 17-gun salute and held precedence over all other princes in the Punjab Province during the British Raj. The state was ruled by Jat Sikhs of the Sidhu gotra (clan).

Mat Prakash, also known as Medini Prakash, was a king of Sirmur State in present-day Himachal Pradesh, India. He ruled from 1684 until his death in 1704.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandi State</span> Princely state of India

Mandi State was a native state in the Himalayas, with the town of Mandi as its capital. The state of Mandi, which included two towns and 3,625 villages, was part of the States of the Punjab Hills. It was located in the Himalayan range, bordering to the west, north, and east on the British Punjabi district of Kangra; to the south, on Suket; and to the southwest, on Bilaspur. As of 1941, population of Mandi State was 232,598 and area of the state was 1,139 square kilometres (440 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suket State</span> Princely state of India

Suket State was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. The capital of the state was Pangna. Its last ruler signed the accession to the Indian Union on 15 April 1948. Formerly it belonged to the States of the Punjab Hills and currently, it is part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The present-day Mandi district was formed with the merger of the two princely states of Mandi and Suket.

Jubbal State was a non-salute state of the Simla Hill States Superintendency of the Punjab States Agency. Thought to have been founded in the twelfth century, it merged with the Indian Union in 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajputs in Himachal Pradesh</span> Indian caste

The Rajputs in Himachal Pradesh are members of the Rajput community living in the North Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. They ruled a majority of kingdoms of the region and even dominate in Himachal Pradesh politics. The kingdoms of the Hill States of India were mostly in the present day state of Himachal Pradesh, and mostly had Rajput rulers. All of the Chief Ministers who served Himachal Pradesh except for Shanta Kumar belong to the Rajput caste. The Rajputs of Himachal Pradesh fought battles with Tughlaq, Mughal, and Sikh forces, most notable being the Battle of Bhangani, when the Hill States made an alliance against the Sikhs. While some Rajput kingdoms and clans have a long history in Himachal Pradesh, others were established due to the Rajput migrations to the hill regions mostly due to the Islamic invasions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Singh, Mian Goverdhan (1999). Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing. pp. 48–49. ISBN   9788173870941.
  2. Panikkar, Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 72. ISBN   978-81-260-0365-5.
  3. 1 2 Sen Negi, Thakur (1969). Himachal Pradesh District Gazetteers: Sirmur. Government of Himachal Pradesh. pp. 52–54.
  4. Sen Negi, Thakur (1969). Himachal Pradesh District Gazetteers: Sirmur. Government of Himachal Pradesh. pp. 55–57.
  5. 1 2 3 Archer, William George (1973). Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills. Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills: A Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting. Vol. 1. Sotheby Parke Bernet. p. 414. ISBN   9780856670022.
  6. "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. p. 34. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25363739 . Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  7. "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. p. 27. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25393788 . Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  8. Kaul, Harikishan (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II". p. 27. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. p. 29. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25430165 . Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  10. "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1931. p. 277. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25793242 . Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  11. "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab". 1941. p. 42. JSTOR   saoa.crl.28215541 . Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  12. Plumbly, Sara (2020). "RAJA JAGAT PRAKASH OF SIRMUR (R.1770-89) WORSHIPPING RAMA AND SITA". Christie's. Retrieved 23 October 2024. Very few portraits of Sirmur rulers remain as the Gurkha occupation of the state in 1803-14 is thought to have destroyed any earlier paintings.
  13. Galloway, Francesca. Pahari Paintings From the Eva and Konrad Seitz Collection (PDF). www.francescagalloway.com. p. 48.