The Princely State of Maihar was one of the 9 Gun Salute States of India that were administered by native rulers or Indian princes under the indirect control of the British Government of India. The state covered a total area of 407 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 79,558 in the year 1941. Maihar state was located in the Baghelkhand region. It included around two hundred and two villages and one town. The princely state was situated in the eastern portion of the Central India Agency. It was under the administrative control of the Bundelkhand Agency, which was a sub- division of the Central India Agency. The territory of Maihar was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect control of the British Empire in India during the early 19th century. The state was bounded by the princely state of Panna in the southwest; by the southern district of the princely state of Ajaigarh in the west; by the princely state of Nagod (Unchahra) in the north; by the British district of Jubbulpore (Central Provinces and Berar) in the south; and by Rewa in the east.
History of Princely State of Maihar
The Kachhwaha Rajputs claimed to be the ruling family of the princely state of Maihar. The territory was founded around 1778 by Beni Singh Hazuri, the grandson of Thakur Bhim Singh. He was granted land by the ruler of the adjacent state of Orchha. After the death of Beni Singh in the year 1788, Rajdhar, his son, succeeded him, who was later conquered by Ali Bahadur of Banda during the early 19th century. Later the state was reassigned to the younger son of Beni Singh Hazuri, Durjan Singh by Ali Bahadur. In the years 1806 and 1814, the British East India Company granted him sanads which confirmed him in the possession of his state. Later the territory was split between Bishan Singh and Prag Das, after his death in the year 1826. His elder son Bishan Singh succeeded in Maihar.
The eastern states of Bundelkhand Agency, including the princely state of Maihar, were detached in order to create the new Bagelkhand Agency in Central India in the year 1871. Later in the year 1933, Maihar and 10 other princely states in western Bagelkhand, were reassigned to the Bundelkhand Agency.
The Princely State of Maihar was honoured as an Indian salute state with a gun salute of 9 guns. The native ruler held the title of Maharaja. The Maharaja was invested with the powers of a ruling chief and was supported by a Diwan. He exercised unrestricted judicial powers in civil cases but the criminal jurisdiction of the native ruler was rather restricted. The Maharaja of the princely state of Maihar was an original member of the Chamber of Princes in his own right.
In the year 1948, the last native ruler of Maihar state acceded the princely state to the Dominion of India, also known as Union of India, after the country gained independence from the British Government on 15th August 1947. At present, Maihar is a municipality and a city in the district of Satna in Madhya Pradesh state.
Rulers of Princely State of Maihar
The chronology of the rulers of the princely state of Maihar is discussed as flows-
* Thakur Benisinhji (1778- 1788)
* Thakur Rajdharsinhji Benisinhji (1788- 1790)
* Thakur Durjansinhji Benisinhji (1790- 1825)
* Thakur Bishansinhji Durjansinhji (1826- 1850)
* Thakur Mohanprasadsinhji Bishansinhji (1850- 1852)
* Regency (1852- 1865)
* Raja Raghubirsinhji Mohanprasadsinhji (1852- 1908)
* Raja Jadubirsinhji Raghubirsinhji (1908- 1910)
* Regency (1911- 1917)
* His Highness Maharaja Sir Brijnathsinhji Randhirsinhji Ju Deo Bahadur K.C.I.E (1911- 1968)
* His Highness Maharaja Govind Singh Ju Deo Bahadur (1968- 1981)
* His Highness Maharaja Shrimant Saheb Charnamirit Singh Ju Deo Bahadur (1981)
* His Highness Maharaja Shrimant Saheb Aksayraj Singh Ju Deo Bahadur (until 1947)