The Princely State of Baghal, also known as Indaur, was amongst main states during the rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect rule of the British administration. The region was scattered over a total area of 312 sq km and is a part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The kingdom of Baghal was founded in the year 1643 by Rana Sabha Chand. Baghal state had its capital at Arki. The region comprised of a total population of 27,529 in the year 1941. The Princely State of Baghal was incorporated as a part of the Punjab States Agency.
History of Princely State of Baghal
The Baghalia dynasty of the Puar Rajputs, was the ruling family of the princely state of Baghal. The Parmars ruled the kingdom of Malwa in Central India during the Middle Ages. Their capital was at Ujjain. After the death of King Udayaditya of Malwa in the year 1086, Randhaval, who was his third son, took over the administration of the region of Dhar. He held as a fief of his elder brother, who was the new king of Malwa. Ajai Dev, one of the descendants of Randhaval, along with his brother Bijai Dev left the territory of Dhar and traveled to the Hill country. There Ajai Dev established the kingdom of Baghal and his brother Bijai founded Baghat. Until the year 1815, the state of Baghal was a tributary of Bilaspur. The princely state of Baghal ranked 4th among the Shimla Hill States in order of precedence until the eradication of the separate agency in 1936 and its inclusion in the Punjab States Agency.
Baghal state was one of the 18 Simla Hill States. The region is bounded in the north by Mangal; by Suket in the northeast; by Bhajji in the east; by the region of Dhami in the southeast; by Mahlog and Kunihar in the south; by Patiala in the southeast; and by Nalagarh in the west. The native ruler of the state held the title of Raja who exercised full ruling powers and took charge of the administration of the territory. According to tradition, the younger brother of the Native ruler was appointed as the state`s Wazir. The Princely State of Baghal was segregated into 17 parganas. It is one of the original constituent members of the Chamber of Princes, a number of smaller states indirectly represented by 12 princes who were elected periodically by them. According to the 1943 Attachment Scheme and as per the plan proposed by the Resident of British India appointed the Punjab States Agency on April 17, 1944, the princely state of Baghal was attached to Nalagarh.
After the withdrawal of the British and the independence of India on 15th August 1947, the native ruler acceded his state to the newly formed Union of India, also known as the Dominion of India on 15 April 1948.
Rulers of Princely State of Baghal
The chronology of the native rulers of the princely state of Baghal is mentioned below-
* Rana Prithvi Chand (1670- 1727)
* Rana Mehar Chand (1727- 1743)
* Rana Bhup Chand (1743- 1778)
* Rana Jagat Singh (1778- 1805)
* Rana Jagat Singh (1815- 1828)
* Rana Shiv Saran Singh (1828- 1840)
* Raja Kishan Singh (1875- 1877)
* Raja Moti Singh (1877)
* Raja Dhyan Singh (1877- 1904)
* Raja Tikka Bikram Singh (1904- 1922)
* Raja Surendra Singh (1922- 1945)
* Raja Rajendra Singh (1945- 1947)