Princely State of Paldeo

The Princely State of Paldeo was amongst the major native 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 territory covered a total area of 53.14 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 9,820 in the year 1941. Paldeo state included around 21 villages during the year 1941 and was located in the Baghelkhand region. The jagir contained 2 main blocks of land and various small enclaves. The northern block, including the capital of Chitrakut, was enclaved in the British United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. It shared a diminutive border in the northwest with Kamta Rajaula. The state of Paldeo was incorporated as a part of the Central India Agency.

History of Princely State of Paldeo
The Jhujotia Brahmins (Chaturvedis) were the ruling family of the princely state of Paldeo. Jhujhotia Brahmins were known as such after the thirteen Brahmins who agreed to officiate at the funeral rites of Hardaul, who was a prince of Orchha state. He was poisoned by Raja Jhujhar Singh, his brother, during the 17th century. Chaube Brahmins officiated at Vaishavite shrines in holy cities in North India and also became moneylenders and grain dealers. The state of Paldeo was granted to the head of the Chaube family, Dariyao Singh in the year 1812. He was the foremost of the 5 extant Chaube jagirs.

The Princely State of Paldeo was one of the non- salute states of India. The native ruler of the state, who held the title of Jagirdar exercised the powers of a ruling chief. In the year 1862, the British Government of India abolished the compulsion of the princely state to pay annual revenue or nazarana to its overlord on each succession, as a reward for providing support to the British forces during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Paldeo was 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.

In the year 1948, the last native ruler of Paldeo state, who was the ninth ruler in his line, acceded the princely state to the Dominion of India, also known as Union of India, after the country gained independence from the British Dominion in the year 1947. It was incorporated as a part of the former state of Vindhya Pradesh in the year 1948. Later it was merged with the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Rulers of Princely State of Paldeo
The chronology of the native rulers of the princely state of Paldeo is mentioned below-
* Chaube Baldeo Singh
* Chaube Dariao Singh
* Chaube Nathu Ram
* Chaube Raja Ram
* Chaube Sheo Prasad
* Chaube Mukund Singh
* Rao Chaube Aniruddh Singh
* Chaube Narayan Das,
* Rao Bahadur Chaube Jagat Rai
* Chaube Shiva Prasad