History of Shimla | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

History of Shimla Hill States

The present district of Shimla includes many princely states such as Bushahr, Balsan, Bhajji, Koti, Darkoti, Tharoch, Dhadi, Kumarsain, Khaneti, Delath, Dhami, Jubbal, Ratesh, and others.

Balsan (Ghondha)

• Balsan is an offshoot of the ancient Sirmaur state.
• Founded before the 12th century AD by Alak Singh, a Rathore from Sirmaur, with ties to the Malwa Royal Family.
• It was subordinate to Kumarsain during the Gurkha invasion of 1805, ruled by Jog Raj Singh, who supported the British against the Gurkhas.
• Chiefs of Balsan were feudatories of Sirmaur until 1815 when they received a sanad from the British.
• Jog Raj Singh also helped the British during the 1857 revolt and died in 1867.
• In 1893, the state maintained a military force of 50 infantry.
• Vidya Bhushan Singh was the last ruler before Balsan was merged with Himachal Pradesh on 15th April 1948.

Bhajji

• Located on the bank of Nauti Khad near River Satluj and Shali peak.
• Founded by a prince from Kutlehar (Kangra).
• The four sons of the Kutlehar Raja, Cheru, Chand, Shogu, and Bhogu, crossed the Satluj and settled in Mool Bhajji.
• Cheru founded Bhajji and later changed his name to Udai Pal. Chand founded Koti.
• Sohan Pal, a descendant of Cheru, founded Sunni village and moved the capital from Mool Bhajji to Sunni.
• The Rana of Bhajji, Rudar Pal, received a sanad after the Gurkha defeat, with a promise of support to the British during war.
• In 1893, Bhajji maintained a military force of 60 infantry and 1 gun.
• In 1948, Bhajji became part of Sunni Tehsil, known for its medicinal sulphur springs.

Darkoti

• Founded either by Raja Durga Singh Kachhawa in the 11th century or by a Rajput from Marwar.
• Overrun by the Gurkhas but restored by the British in 1815.
• Maintained a military force of 10 infantry.
• Merged with Mahasu district on 15 April 1948.

Tharoch

• Founded by Sisodia Rajput Kishan Singh around the 15th century.
• During the Gurkha attack, Thakur Karam Singh ruled Tharoch.
• The state was merged with Jubbal in 1941, but in 1943, a sanad was granted to Ranjeet Singh, son of Karam Singh.
• On 16 April 1948, Tharoch was merged with Chaupal, becoming part of Himachal Pradesh.

Founding of Kumarsain

• The state of Kumarsain was founded by Kirat Chand around the 11th century A.D. on the left bank of the River Satluj.
• Kirat Chand came from Gaya, fleeing from Mahmud Ghazni.
• Before his arrival, the territory was ruled by Koteshwar Devta.
• Ajmer Singh, a ruler of Kumarsain, acquired the forts of Shari and Shangri from Raja Man Singh of Kullu.

Keher Singh's Rule

• During the Gurkha invasion, Raja Keher Singh took refuge in Kullu.
• He returned to Kumarsain in 1815 after the expulsion of the Gurkhas.
• General Ochterlony granted a sanad to Raja Keher Singh in 1815.
• Keher Singh died in 1839 without a male heir, leading the state to lapse to British control.

Pritam Singh's Appointment

• In 1840, Pritam Singh, a district collector, was appointed to rule the state.
• Rana Pritam Singh and his successors remained loyal to the British.

Merger with Himachal Pradesh

• On 15th April 1948, Kumarsain was merged with the then Mahasu district.
• It is now a part of the Shimla district.

Khaneti

• Founded by Sabir Chand, son of Kirat Singh.
• After the expulsion of the Gurkhas, Khaneti became a feudatory of the Bushahr state.

Delath

• Founded by Prithvi Chand, brother of Kirat Chand (founder of Kumarsain).
• After 1815, it became part of Bushahr.
• Presently, it is part of Rampur Tehsil.

Dhami

• The only state founded by Govind Pal, a descendant of Prithvi Raj Chauhan.
• The capital of Dhami was Halog.
• During the Gurkha invasion, Raja Dalel Singh ruled Dhami.
• The last ruler was Rana Dalip Singh, during whose reign the Praja Mandal movement peaked and the Dhami firing tragedy occurred in 1939.
• He imposed a ban on liquor in 1930.
• On 15th April 1948, Dhami became part of the Shimla district.

Jubbal (Jubble)

• Jubbal was founded by Karam Chand, son of Raja Ugar Chand of Sirmaur.
• Karam Chand initially made Sonepur his capital and later shifted it to Purana Jubbal.

Raja Bhag Chand

• The 5th ruler, expanded the state by destroying many Thakurais.
• He was captured by the Garhwal Raja but managed to escape.
• His successor, Narayan Chand, died in the custody of Garhwal.

Raja Gohar Chand

• He shifted the capital from Purana Jubbal to Deorha, the present-day Jubbal.

Raja Puran Chand

• During his reign, the Gurkha invasion took place.
• His Wazir, Dangi, supported the British against the Gurkhas.

Gyan Chand (Jubbal)

• Gyan Chand died in 1910, and after his death, his mother attempted to grant the throne to her second son, Durga Singh.
• A legal case was filed in Calcutta, but the court ruled in favor of Bhagat Chand, the stepbrother of Gyan Chand.

Bhagat Chand (Jubbal)

• Represented Shimla hill states in the Council of Princes from 1921 to 1924 and again in 1933.
• Elected to the standing committee of the Chamber of Princes in 1939.
• Made Jubbal the first princely state in Shimla to have electricity by constructing a hydroelectric plant in 1924.
• Made educational and medical services free and established a college in Shimla.
• Died in 1951 at Woodville Palace, Shimla.

Yogender Chand (Jubbal)

• Owner of Jubbal Palace since 1966.
• The Raja’s residence was built in Chinese architectural style.
• Jubbal became part of Himachal Pradesh on 15th April 1948.

Rawingarh

• Founded by Dhuni Chand, son of Raj Ugran Chand of Jubbal.
• After the expulsion of the Gurkhas, Rawingarh was divided among the British, the Raja of Garhwal, and the Rana of Rawin.
• In 1830, the British exchanged their part of Rawingarh with Keonthal for the Shimla station.
• Presently, Rawingarh is part of Jubbal Tehsil.

Ratesh

• Founded by Raj Singh, brother of Raja Karam Prakash (1616-1620) of Sirmaur.
• The last ruler was Thakur Shamsher Singh, who signed the document of accession with Himachal Pradesh.

Keonthal

• Founded by Giri Sen, son of Rup Sen of Ropar, after fleeing from Muslim invaders.
• Keonthal had control over 18 Thakurais before the Gurkha invasion, including Koti, Ghund, Theog, Dhami, Kumarsain, and Tharoch.
• In 1809, Rana Raghunath Sen fled to Suket during the Gurkha attack.
• After the Treaty of Sangauli in 1815, the British granted a sanad to Sansar Sen.
• Rawin and Kotgarh were exchanged with Keonthal to gain control of the Shimla station.

Raja Balbir Sen

In 1884, ceded the area of Kasumpati to the British to be part of Shimla.

Bijay Sen

• In 1901, ceded full control of land required for the Kalka–Shimla railway to the British.
• Keonthal became part of the Mahasu district in 1948 and is now part of the Shimla district.

Theog

Founded by Jaya Chand in the 17th century.

Kotkahi

Founded by Ahimal Singh.

Sairie

Founded by Mool Chand in the 12th century.

Karangla

Founded by Sansar Chand.

Sangri

• Located on the bank of the River Satluj near Kumarsain.
• Originally part of the Bushahr state.
• Conquered by Raja Man Singh of Kullu.
• In 1815, the area was restored to Bikram Singh by the British.

National Freedom Movement and Shimla

• The Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 motivated Samuel Evan Stokes, an American missionary, to oppose the government.
• He raised his voice against the practice of "Begar" in Shimla, where peasants were forced to work as coolies without pay.
• In 1921, Begar was abolished in Shimla.
• Stokes met Gandhi several times and attended the Nagpur session of Congress in 1920.