My Morbi 6# The Jadejas of Kutch (I)

The Jadejas of Kutch (I)

Rao Raidhanji, fifth descent from Rao Khengarji had ten sons. His eldest son, Noaghanji who had pre-deceased him had taken the Abdasa district of Kutch as his portion and settled there. The next heir, Rao Rawaji was killed by his nephew Gorji in pursuance of pre-concerted design to secure the Gadi for his father, Pragmalji, the younger brother of Rao Rawaji. Thus Raidhanji was succeeded by Pragmalji though the rightful claimant was Kayaji, the youthful son of murdered Rawaji. Pragmalji ascending the throne, Kayaji at once took possession of Morbi and returned to Kattaria in Wagad. From the date (1698 AD) Morbi became independent of Kutch. Kayaji carried out desultory warfare with Kutch until his death. Once with the help of Sherbulundkhan, Subah of Gujarat, he made a vigorous attack on Kutch, with an army of 50,000 men and success seemed almost assured to him until the re-enforcements from various Bhayads defeated. Thus the Rulers of Morbi, Jadeja Rajputs came from the same stock as the Rulers of Kutch, and claim to be descended from the senior branch of the Kutch dynasty.
Kayaji had eight sons. He reserved Morbi and Adhoi Mahal for the eldest son and gave appanage some Giras to the remaining sons either in Machhu-Kantha or in the Wagad. The Chiefs of Malia, Lakadia, Chitrod, Vanadia, etc, who are descendants of Kayaji are still known by the same patronymic “Kayanis” as the Rulers of Morbi
Kayaji died in 1734 AD and was succeeded by Allyaji, the eldest Tejmalji having predeceased him. He opened the port of Vavania. When returning from pilgrimage to Dwarka he was treacherously murdered in 1739 AD at Paddhadri by Haloji alias Kakabhai. During his reign his brother Modji imported Mianas, a refractory tribe from Sindh and induced them to settle in Malia by assigning Giras to them. By their help Modji threw off the allegiance of the parent State and asserted his independence.

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/Jadeja