My Morbi 8# The Jadejas of Kutch (III)

The Jadejas of Kutch (III)

In 1829 Jiyaji died. He was succeeded by his son Prathirajji who freed the State from its indebted condition. A dispute was raised by the Kutch Darbar in regard to sovereignty over the Adhoi Mahal in Kutch and Government after extensive inquiry decided it in favour of Morbi.

Prathirajji died in 1846 AD. He was succeeded by His late Highness Thakore Sahib Sir Waghji. Being born on 17^th April 1858 AD, he was a minor at the time of his father’s death and the affairs of the State were therefore placed under a joint administration of Rao Bahadur Shambhuprasad L. and Jhunjabhai S. After completing his studies in the Rajkumar College he made a touring India and attended the Imperial Assemblage at Delhi in 1877 AD on which occasion his salute was raised from nine to eleven guns as a personal distinction. He assumed the sole charge of his State on 1^st January 1879 AD. 

The introduction of telephonic communication which was the first of its kind in Kathiawar, a network of district tramways throughout the State, the erection of fine bridge over the Machhu River and the improvements to the city were carried out during the reign of His late Highness. 

During the Great War His Highness Thakore Sahib Sir Waghji placed his resources at the disposal of Government. In 1887 AD he was created a K. C. I. E. and the State was raised to the First Class. In 1897 AD he was honoured with the distinction of G. C. I. E. 

His late Highness was connected by ties of marriage with the States of Palitana, Sayala and Tharad. By the Palitanawala Rani Saheba he had two sons, Lakhdhirji who was born on 26^th December 1876 and another who died young. He was present in London to represent Kathiawar Chiefs in the rejoicings at the Jubilee of Her Majesty the late Queen-Empress.

References

1.       Interact club of Morbi, article by Sheth Ami H. And Patel Kavita B. 1994-95

2.       The Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages in the Western India States Agency. Second Edition. Published by the Manager, Government of India Press, New Delhi, 1935.
3.   Photographs courtesy Kaushika Rawal

 http://www.royalark.net/India/morvi5.htm

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Indian_Empire

 

My Morbi 7# The Jadejas of Kutch (II)

The Jadejas of Kutch (II)

Allyaji was succeeded by his son Rawaji. Rawaji on succeeding to the Gadi attacked Paddhadri and laid it waste (by sowing salt in its fields) in revenge for his father’s murder claiming compensation from the Nawanagar Darbar and finally receiving seven villages of which Ghunda still remains under Morbi. Rawaji enlarged and beautified the town of Morbi and surrounded it by a wall.

On Rawaji’s death in 1764 AD, he was succeeded by his son Pachanji, after whose death in 1772 AD without issue his brother Waghji came to Gadi. With the help of Amirji Diwan of Junagadh, Waghji invaded Wagad in Kutch. The Rao of Kutch instead of meeting them in battle appeased them with rich presents. Waghji overran Khakhreechi, the town under Malia and laid it waste with help of Gaekwar troops led by Fatehsinh Rao. He died in 1785 AD and was followed by his eldest son Hamirji who died without issue and was succeeded by his brother Jiyaji.

Throughout his reign Jiyaji knew no peace. At the instigation of Khawas Meraman of Nawanagar, Dado Khachar of Jasdan made inroads on the Morbi territory more than once; but in 1792 AD, he was overtaken near Chotila by the Morbi army and a hand-to-hand fight ensued which resulted in Dado Khachar and his followers being killed. The next foe confronting Jiyaji was Jadeja Junoji of Nagdawas who was plundering Morbi territory. With the help of the Peshwa’s army, he took Nagdawas, demolished its fort wall and compelled Junoji to flee. This was in 1795 AD.

Kutch then attacked him. In 1880 AD Mehta Bhanji led a large Kutch army which besieged the port of Vavania. Jiyaji not only offered a stout resistance but eventually defeated the invaders in 1801 AD. Jiyaji then feigned peace and goodwill with Malia subjects and with the help of Mianas headed by Chief Dosaji of Malia overran a great part of Wagad. On his return the Chief of Malia was taken prisoner by Jiyaji. This roused the Mianas against Morbi itself. Jiyaji however subsidized Babaji Apaji, a Gaekwar Officer, who had encamped near Morbi on a Mulkgiri expedition, to reduce the Mianas; Babaji marched against Malia but failed to take it. Nevertheless he compelled the Morbi Darbar to hand over to him the village of Hadala which was promised as a reward for his services and his descendants enjoy the village to this day. The Mianas did not cease to give trouble until they obtained the liberation of Dosaji, the Chief of Malia.

The Khavas of Jodiya and Balambha when driven away by the Jam Saheb of Navanagar sought shelter with Jiyaji who gave them the village of Kanpar where they resided unmolested until they were re-installed in the District of Amran.

On the arrival of Colonel Walker in Kathiawar, Morbi was in a distressed condition but no less than other States it regained prosperity and peace with the settlement. In 1820-21 AD Kutch incursions recommenced and the Morbi Darbar invoked the aid of British Government. A small English contingent was dispatched to assist Morbi and the Rao of Kutch compromised by paying compensation.


  

References

1.       Interact club of Morbi, article by Sheth Ami H. And Patel Kavita B. 1994-95

2.       The Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages in the Western India States Agency. Second Edition. Published by the Manager, Government of India Press, New Delhi, 1935.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyana

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaekwar

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