Nawanagar State (1540-1948) and Coins

 

Nawanagar was an Indian princely state in the historical Halar region, located on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch. It was ruled by the Jadeja Rajput dynasty from its formation in 1540 until 1948 when it became part of the new state of Saurashtra. It had an area of 3,791 square miles (9,820 square km) and a population around 3,36,779 in 1901.                                                                              

Nawanagar, 5 Kori, Jam Shri Vibhaji,  1888-1890  AD

Navanagar, part of Bombay Presidency, 1909 

Nawanagar was founded by Jam Sri Rawalji, a descendant of the Jadeja ruler of Kutch, and was thereafter in an almost constant state of war with its neighbours and with the Mughal Empire. Two such major battles were the Battle of Mithoi and the Battle of Bhuchar Mori fought in 1591. 

Flag                                             

Coat of Arms                                           

Its rulers, who used the title of ''Jam Saheb'' were of the same clan as the Rao of Kutch. They were entitled to a 13-gun salute. During the British Raj, the state, was part of the Kathiawar Agency, within the Gujarat Division of Bombay Presidency 

Nawanagar came under the British protection in 1812. Colonel KS Ranjitsinhji ( 1872-1933), was one of the world's greatest Test cricketer who played for the English cricket team. He was also a first -class cricket player for Cambridge University and  played for Sussex. He later, became Jam Saheb in 1907 until 1933. After his death, Ranji Trophy, a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India started in 1934 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

                                             

Ranjitsinhji, a celebrated cricketer and Maharaja of Nawanagar

                                              

Colonel HH Maharaja Jam Shri Ranjitsinhji of Nawanagar
          

He was succeeded by his nephew Jam Saheb Shri Sir Digvijatsinhji. In 1942 the Maharaja set up a refugee camp for Polish children in Balachadi.

The incredible story. During World War II, Stalin's attack on Poland orphaned thousands of children, who were then relocated to the Soviet Union in camps and temporary orphanages. Suffering from illness and hunger, hundreds of Polish children escaped the dire circumstances. At a time when no country was ready to help them, and even the British governor refused them entry at the Mumbai port, Maharaja Digvijaysinghji Ranjitsinghji Jadeja ordered the ship to dock at Rosi port in his state. He not only ensured that these children and women had access to basic necessities but went beyond to ensure they had a home away from home. The Maharaja claimed that they were part of his family, even going so far as to provide the government with adoption certificates for them. 

                                             

      The Maharaja with the children
   

                                           

          The home away from home

He made efforts to ensure that these children received proper education and encouraged them to keep their Polish culture and traditions alive. He even bought seven cooks from Goa. They spent four years under his care.

                                           

Children set up a dance group to practice Polish folk dances, like the Kujawiak, Polonaise and Highland Robber's Dance

                                               

     The group of women and the children

The Maharaja's  gesture went on to inspire many to open their  hearts and homes to the innocent victims of war  across the world.       

                                           

Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji attending a Chrismas party for Polish children in 1942 in London. Standing next to him is Polish President Wladyslaw Raczkiewicz and slightly behind is the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Stanislaw Mikolajczyk

  

After Poland became independent in 1989, a square in Warsaw as well as a school was named after him. The Maharaja was honoured by the Polish parliament in a special resolution in 2016, 50 years after his death and was awarded the Commander's Cross of Order of Merit by the President of Poland.

                                             

City of Warsaw unveils Jam Saheb of Nawanagar memorial in the ''Square of Good Maharaja''

An illustrative documentary about these 1000 children, titled ''Fajna Ferajna w Indiach'' (Brave bunch in India) and based on the true story, received its world premiere in June 2021 at the Krakow Film Festival. It took four years to make this film.  The film is to be screened at international film festivals to bring the story to a wider audience.

                                          

Directed by Thomasz Stankiewicz and produced by Warsaw- based charity Nil Desperandum Foundation, screened in Polish and English languages.

In 1959, the boundaries of the district were enlarged by the inclusion of the adjoining Okhamandal, and the district was renamed Jamnagar. The district became part of the new state of Gujarat on the division of the State of Bombay in 1960. 

Coins of Navanagar

                                           

Dokdo, Jam Shri Satalji Vibhaji, 1569-1593 AD, copper, weight 7.7 gm, Obverse has date AH 978, Sri Jamji                      

                                               

One Trambiyo, 1701 AD, copper, weight 3.3 gm, Obverse has Frozen Date (9) 78 Nagari with legend below, lettering translated to Sri Jam
 

                                              

Three Dokda, Jam Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji Jadeja, 1885 AD, copper, weight 19.2 gm, Obverse has legend in persian ''Muzaffar Shah/AH 978, and Devanagri ''Shri Jaam Ji/ VS 1942, and Reverse legend in Devnagri ''Tran Dokda, dagger below, lettering translation ''Three Dokdas''

                                              

5 Kori, Jam Shree Vibhaji,  1888-1890 AD, silver, weight 14.gm, Obverse has legend in Devnagri translated to ''Jam Shree Vibhaji'' Reverse has date VS 1946 (1892 AD) inDevnagri

                                              

One Kori, Vibhaji, 1877-1879 AD, silver, weight 4.7 gm, Obverse has a legend in Devnagri ''Shri Jam Vibhaji, Reverse has VS year 1935 and  Devnagri script Kori 1, Navanagar 

                                                

One Dhinglo, Jaswant Singh, 1899 AD, VS 1956, copper, weight 9.6 gm, 

                                               

One Kori, year 1571 AD, (AH 978), silver, weight 4.7 gm, with lettering Sri Jama. 

Navanagar State

Coins of Navanagar 

Rohilkhand State (1721-1774) and Coins

 

The Kingdom of Rohilkhand was a powerful Indian State, nominally under Mughal Suzerainty, that arose under the declining Mughal Empire in 1721 and continued to exist until 1774 when annexation by the British transformed its significantly reduced borders into the Princely State of Rampur. 

                                            

Rohilhkand Coin, Shah Alam II, 1784 AD

 

The ancient name for Rohilkhand was Katehir. Located on the eastern side of the Ganges, Rohilkhand lies much over the plain that eventually leads to Oudh. There is no no natural barrier between them and both share a damp climate due to their location next to the Himalayan range.

                                           

          Rohilkhand Territory in 1765 AD
 

In the beginning of the 18th century, Afghans had migrated to the region in large quantities and sought employment under the Mughal Empire especially in the military. With the death of Aurangzeb and the collapse of the administration under emperor Muhammad Shah, an enterprising soldier, Ali Mohammad Khan established the Kingdom of Rohilkhand

Flag of the Kingdom of Rohilkhand

                                             

Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan, a scion of the ancient Barha Dynasty became the first Nawab of Rohilkhand, having been previously elected as overlord by various Afghan Chiefs at the age of fourteen. By 1740 he was officially recognized by Emperor Muhammad Shah as governor. For the next five years his authority was unchallenged. In 1748, the invasion by Ahmad Shah Abdali allowed Ali Mohammad the opportunity to return to Katehir and re-establish his rule. Soon he was the independent ruler of Rohilkhand with all positions of power given to the Afghans.

 He would carve out the future kingdom from the collapsing Mughal Empire and go on to found the Rohilla Dynasty. The kingdom came to an end in 1774 and thereafter the dynasty ruled over Rampur. The weakening of the central government led to the division of Rohilkhand at the request of the Afghan Emperor Ahmed Shah Abdali for the sons of Ali Muhammad. These were Badaun, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Najibabad, Farrukhabad, Pilibhit and Bisollee.

                                            

Tomb of Ali Mohammad Khan, Aonla, Bareilly

At the time of its annexation in 1947, Rohilkhand represented an area of 12,000 square miles, with a population of 6 million people. It extended from Haridwar to Oudh. 

                                             

Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly

                                            

         Bareilly College

Coins of Rohilkhand

                                           

One Rupee, Alamgir II, 1755-1760 AD, silver, weight 10.9 gm, Bareilly mint, obverse has Alamgir II with date and reverse has regnal year 4

 

                                               

One Rupee, Shah Alam II, 1759 AD, silver, weight 11.2 gm, obverse has inscription ''Alamgir'' II with date and on reverse has mint name and regnal year ''Nun'' and five dots, Muradabad mint

                                                

   

One Rupee, Shah Alam II, 1759-1806 AD, silver, weight 11.1 gm. obverse has Haft kishwar couplet. leterring ''sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya-yi fazl hami-yi din-i ilah muhammad shah alam badshah'' and reverse has a vertical dagger or katar mint mark, RY 26 to left with leterring ''zarb Najibabad, sanah, julus, manus, maimanat''

                                                   

One Rupee, Shah Alam  II, 1763 AD, silver, weight 11.2 gm with obverse having inscription ''Shah Alam II'' and date and reverse having mint name, Muradabad and regnal year 4 

                                                

One Rupee, Shah Alam II, 1770-1778 AD, silver, weight 11.2 gm, obverse has ''Shah Alam II, and AH date and reverse has cluster of cross-like ornaments, regnal year 19 and mint name Anwala

                                              

One Rupee, Shah Alam II, 1784 AD, silver, weight 10.9 gm, obverse has an umberella, '' in the name of Shah Alam II, AH 1198 and reverse has regnal year 25, Qasbah Panipat mint

                                               

 

Mohur, Shah Alam II, 1762-1773 AD, gold, weight 11.3 gm, RY 13, Zabita Khan

Kingdom of Rohilkhand

Coins of Rohilkhand

Lunavada / Lunawada State and Coins

 

Lunavada/ Lunawada Princely State lay in the political agency of Rewa Kantha, Bombay during the British-Raj. It was bounded on the north by the Rajputana State of Dungarpur, on the east by Sunth and Kadana States of Rewa Kantha, on the south by Godhra taluka of Panch Mahal district and on the west by Idar (Mahi Kantha). 

                           

  Lunavada, Wakhat Singhji, copper, paisa      

Presently Lunavada/ Lunawada is the administrative headquarters of the Mahisagar district and a developing town of central Gujarat. The name Lunawada is derived from Luneshwar Mahadev, a temple of lord Shiva. Lunawada is surrounded by water, the source being the Panam river, Vasant Sagar, Kishan Sagar, Kanka Talav, Veri, Mahi river and Darkoli Talav lake.

                                           

      Location of Lunavada

                                           

Lunavada State (violet) within Rewa Kantha Agency.
 

According to tradition the predecessor state was established in 1225 by descendants of Sidhraj, Raja of Anhilwara Patan, as a state of Virpur. In 1434, Rana Bhimsinghji moved the capital to Lunavada on the other side of Mahi river. Before the town was established, the area was controlled by the princely Sant State.

In 1826, Lunavada State became a British protectorate and was in the Rewa Kantha Agency. The capital was Lunavada town, founded in 1434. The state had an area of 1,005 km. The rulers had the title ''Rana'' and were accorded a status of 9 gun salute.

Flag

                                             

Coat of Arms

                                          

Emblem

                                            

Solanki Rajputs of Lundawada state are also called as Virpura/Virpara because Maharaja Bhimsinghji established their rule by winning over the ruler of Virpur which is currently located near Lunawada.                                       

Bhim Singh's direct descendants continued to rule Lunavada until around 1600. The first half of the 1500's apparently saw conflicts with the Gujarat Sultanate. Around 1600, the direct line descendents from Bhim Singh died out, and a collateral relative named Kumbho Rano was brought from the village of Gandhari to become King of Lunavada. One of his descendants Nar Singh, laid the foundation of the historical Lunavada town wall in 1718. Throughout the 1700s, Lunavada state lost territory to neighbouring Balasinor State, but gained new lands in the south due to decline of the Godhra chiefs and the Solanki thakurs.

                                               

             Lunavada Palace

In the 1872 census, the population recorded wad 9662 of whom 7206 were Hindus and 2456 were Muslims. One important ruler was Wakhat Singhji (1867-1919), a Solanki Rajput Maharana.

                                         

Maharana Wakhat Singh ji Dalel Singh ji.

The last ruler was Maharaja Vir Bhadra Singh. 

                                               

      Maharana Virbhadra Singh

The present Maharana since 2017, Siddhraj Singhji Dhirendra Singhji, the 25th Maharana was installed on the gaddi in the Raj Tilak ceremony on 10th February 2018.   

                                               

Maharana Siddhraj Singh with his wife Maharani Nina Kumari and their daughter Mrinalini Kumari

Coins of Lunavada State

Wakhat Singh, Paisa, 1867-1929, copper, weight 7.5 gm, obverse has a lotus flower

                                         

Wakhat Singh, 1/2 Paisa, 1867-1929, copper, weight 3.3 gm, obverse has hand in a square, reverse has Nagari text

                                         

One Paisa, 1885, copper, weight 5.7 gm, obverse has a hand and reverse has Nagari script                                                                           

                                              

Wakhat Singh, one paisa, 1892, copper, weight 7.8 gm, obverse has a lion to right and reverse has Nagri script 

                                              

Wakhat Singh Paisa, copper, weight 7.6 gm, obverse has a lion and date and reverse has Gujarati legend in three lines

                                             

Wakhat Singh, 1/2 paisa, 1892, copper, weight 3.7 gm, obverse has a lion to left and reverse has Gujarati script

Lunavada State

Lunavada State Coins

Tonk Princely State (1806-1949) and Coins

 

Tonk State was located in the region bordering present day Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states that is now Tonk district. The total area of the princely state was 2553 square miles and the total population in 1901 was 273,201.

                                           

Tonk State coin, Muhammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, 1/2 Rupee, AH 1317
                                              

Tonk state in the Imperial Gazetteer of India 
 

The history of Tonk is very old as it is connected with Bairath culture. It was known as ''Samwad Lakshya'' in Mahabharata period. The region was under the Mauryas before it merged with the Malvas. Later most of the region was part of Harsh Vardhan empire. In the regime of Rajputs, the parts of this state were under Charvas, Solankis, Kachvahs, Sisodiyas and Chouhans. Jaipur's King Man Singh conquered Tari and Tokra janpad in the regime of Akbar. In 1643 twelve villages of Tokra janpad were given to Bhola Brahmin who gave the name of Tonk to these 12 villages.

The founder of the Tonk state was Nawab Muhammad Amir Khan (1769-1834), an adventurer and military leader of Pashtun descent. He was a military commander in the service of Yashwantrao Holkar of the Maratha empire in 1798. In 1806, Khan received the state of Tonk from Yashwantrao Holkar.

Flag                

                           

Flag of the Tonk state

Coat of Arms              

                             

Coat of Arms, Tonk State

In 1817, after the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Amir Khan submitted to the British East India Company. on the condition that the British enlist his men and buy his artillery. The army consisted of 52 battalions of infantry, 15000 cavalry and 150 artillery.  As a result, he kept the territory of Tonk and received the title of Nawab. 

                                           

Jama Masjid, Tonk, started by Amir Khan in 1830, and completed by his son

While retaining internal autonomy and remaining outside British India, the state came under the supervision of the Rajputana Agency and consisted of six isolated districts. Three of these were under the Rajputana Agency, namely, Tonk, Aligarh (formerly Rampura) and Nimbahera. The three others, Chhabra, Pirawa and Sironj were in the Central India Agency. It was the only princely state of Rajasthan with a Muslim ruling dynasty.

                                                                                       

Bisaldeo Temple, on Banas river, with submerged courtyard, commissioned by Chahamana ruler, Vigraharaja in the 12th century

Following the Independence of India, Tonk acceded to the dominion of  India on 7 April 1949. Subsequently, most of the area of the state was integrated into Rajasthan state, while some of its eastern enclaves became part of Madhya Pradesh.

Coins of Tonk State

                                           

One Rupee, Wazaif Muhammad Khan, 1805-1853, silver, weight 10.6 gm, obverse has inscription, ''sikka mubarak, sahib-e-qiran sani'' and reverse has mint Sironj 

                                              

One Rupee, Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, 1875-1898, silver, weight 10.9 gm, obverse has a leaf (Tonk mint mark) and AH 1305, lettering Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, Reverse has Georgian date in Persian 1888 and lettering Victoria Empress

                                             

One Rupee, Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, 1911-1930, silver, weight 11.1 gm, Obverse has inscription and date, George V, 1925, Reverse has lettering Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan and date

  

                                               

1/8 Rupee, Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, 1922-1928, silver, weight 1.3 gm, Obverse has George V and Reverse has lettering Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan

                                               

1/8 Rupee, Mohammad Saádat Ali Khan, 1935, silver, weight 1.3 gm, Obverse has lettering Muhammad Sa'adat Ali Khan Nawab and Reverse has inscription King George V with lettering Mua'zzam Qaisar Shah George Pancham, zarb Tonk

                                               

 

1Pice, Mohammad Saádat Ali Khan, 1932, copper, weight 4.8 gm, Obverse has star within crescent moon, crossed swords and shield. date below inside circle ''Sanah hijri 1350'', legend outside circle ''hiz hainess nawab muhammad sa'adat ali khan sahib bahadur, wali riasat tonk'' and Reverse has leaf mark, date below, legend in Pashto within circle (above leaf mark) ek paisa, below leaf mark, sanah iswy 1932, legend outside circle, ''Bi''ahdi malikah muazam qaiser-i-hind, George pancham''

                                               

1/4 Rupee, Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, 1935, silver, weight 2.7 gm, AH 1317, with the name of Victoria Empress RY 13

Tonk Princely State

Coins of Tonk State