| Princely State of Jawhar | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princely State ofBritish India | |||||||
| 1343–1947 | |||||||
 Flag .jpg) Coat of arms | |||||||
 Jawhar State in Thana Agency during British India | |||||||
| Capital | Jawhar | ||||||
| Demonym | Koli people | ||||||
| Area | |||||||
• 1901 | 1,383.054[1] km2 (534.000 sq mi) | ||||||
| Population | |||||||
• 1901 | 50,538 | ||||||
| Government | |||||||
| • Type | Absolute Monarchy | ||||||
| • Motto | Jay Malhar (Victory to godMalhar) | ||||||
| Historical era | 19th century | ||||||
• Established | 5 June 1343 | ||||||
| 1947 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Today part of |  India | ||||||
TheJawhar State[2] was aprincely state in India. As a princely state, it became a part ofBombay Presidency during theBritish Raj.[3] It was the only state belonging to theThana Agency.
The coat of arms consisted of a shield in three parts; dexter, tenne a dexter fist holding two crossed arrows (points dexter) and a bow, all argent; sinister, argent a round shield sable bordured or, in the chief argent, a sword or pointed sinister. The flag was a rectangular saffron swallow-tail with a star of eleven rays, yellow in the canton.
Up to thefirst Muslim invasion of theDeccan (1294) the greater part of the northernKonkan was held by Koli and Varli chiefs. Jawhar was held by a Varli chief and from him it passed to a Koli namedPaupera. According to the Kolis' story, Paupera who was apparently called Jayaba, had a small mud fort atMukne near the Tal pass. Once when visiting a shrine of Sadruddin Chishti at Pimpri, he was blessed by five Koli mendicants and saluted as the ruler of Jawhar. Paupera thereupon collected a body of Kolis, marched northwards, and was acknowledged by the people ofPeint andDharampur. He went toSurat and as far north asKathiawar where he remained for seven years. On his return from Kathiawar he went to Jawhar and asked theVarli chief to give him as much land as the hide of a bullock could cover. The Varli chief agreed, but when the hide was cut into fine shreds or strips, it enclosed the whole of the Varli chief's possessions.Gambhirgad about twelve miles north-west of Jawhar and the country round were given to the Varli chief, and Paupera became the sole master of Jawhar.[4]
On 6 June 1306,Jayabha Mukne, aPoligar, took possession of thefort atJawhar. His elder son, Dulbarrao, expanded his patrimony and conquered a large territory, controlling 22 forts, comprising most of theNasik andThanadistricts, and yielding annual revenues valued at £90,000. He received recognition as ruler bySultanMuhammad bin Tughlaq, receiving the new name of NimShah and the hereditary title ofRaja on 5 June 1343.[5] This event was marked by the creation of a new calendar era used within the state for over six hundred years.[6]
The grandson of Nimshah, Deobarrao, fought a battle with theBahmani SultanAhmad Shah I Wali. During his capture atBidar, he fell in love with the Sultan's daughter. The marriage was solemnised after he converted toIslam and took the name Muhammad Shah. He returned to Jawhar and continued to rule his state unmolested, for the rest of his life. At his death, the powerfulHindusardars and nobles refused to recognise his son as his successor, on account of his Muslim faith. In his stead, they chose the Hindu grandson of Holkarrao, the younger brother of Nimshah. Thereafter, his Hindu descendants ruled the little state in relative peace until the advent of theMaratha power.[6]
Raja Vikramshah I metShivaji atShirpamal, during the latter's march to Surat and then joined him in the plunder of that city in 1664. However, he soon fell-out with theMarathas. From then on, the Marathas slowly and steadily tightened their grip on theMukne rulers, annexing district after district and imposing ever-increasing taxes, levies and fines. They took control of the state in 1742, 1758 and 1761. Each time releasing control to the Mukne family on condition that territories were ceded and the tribute increased. In 1782 the Raja was allowed to retain for himself, a land-locked territory in the hills, yielding no more than £1,500 to £2,000 p.a.
The advent ofBritish rule brought a degree of stability unknown for more than a century. However, development was extremely slow, given the low level of revenue receipts and haphazard organisation of the administration. Little or no improvements were made until the reign of Patangshah IV. An enlightened and well-educated ruler, he immediately set about improving conditions, streamlining the government, building roads, schools and dispensaries. At his death in 1905, conditions had improved beyond measure.
The relatively short reigns of Patangshah's two sons, Krishnashah IV and Vikramshah V, also saw steady improvements. The last named was especially diligent in improving the agricultural sector, constructing wells, securing lad rights and improving the infrastructure of the state. He contributed substantially towards the war effort during the Great War, and received a9-gun salute in recognition of his services. His early death in 1926 ushered in a ten-year regency for his son, Yeshwantrao Patangshah V. The latter assumed full ruling powers in 1938, having received perhaps the best education by any member of his family. He continued the good work achieved under the regency by expanding development activity, encouraging the chemical, paper, textile, dyeing, printing, liquor and starch industries. The state provided free primary schooling and medical relief, ran both middle and high schools, a central library and museum, hospital and maternity home, and provided touring dispensaries for the rural areas.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Raja immediately volunteered for service and served for four years with theRIAF.
Yeshwantrao Patangshah V assumed the title of Maharaja, shortly before he signed the instrument of accession to theDominion of India in 1947.[7][8] He then merged his state into the Bombay Presidency early in the following year. The Maharaja Medal (Maharaja Padak), awarded in a single class, was instituted by Maharaja Yeshwantrao Patangshah V in 1947 to commemorate his assumption of the title of Maharaja and to reward those who had served the state during his reign.[9]
Patangshah V then embarked on a political career, was a member of the national parliament and the state assembly.[10] He died in 1978 and was succeeded by his only son, Digvijaysinhrao. The latter died in 1992, leaving his only son, Mahendrasinhrao, to represent his line.
Mukne Royal Dynasty
