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

Introduction to Una District

• Una, situated on the southwestern border of Himachal Pradesh, was previously a part of the Kangra state. 
• The major portion of Una, known as Jaswan Dun, was governed by the Katoch family of Kangra.

Jaswan State

• Establishment of Jaswan State: Jaswan State, with its capital in Rajpura near Amb, was founded by Purab Chand around 1170 A.D. Over time, 27 rulers governed the state until it came under Mughal rule during Emperor Akbar's era.
• Transition of Power: With the decline of the Mughal Empire and the emergence of the Sikhs, Jaswan State fell under Sikh dominance and was incorporated into Maharaja Ranjit Singh's realm in 1815 A.D.
• Events Leading to Decline: Ranjit Singh demanded Umed Singh's presence at an assembly in Sialkot, leading to Umed Singh's refusal and subsequent financial penalties. Unable to pay, Umed Singh renounced his state and accepted a modest annual allowance. During the Second Sikh War in 1848, Umed Singh rebelled against the British, resulting in his exile and demise.
• Restoration and Succession: In 1879, Umed Singh's grandson, Ram Singh, reclaimed the ancestral jagir at Jaswan, comprising 21 villages in Jaswan Dun, a family garden in Amb, and the former palace in Rajpura. After Ram Singh's passing in 1892, Raja Raghunath Singh and later Laxman Singh succeeded him.

History of Una District

• Origins of Princely States: Apart from Jaswan state in the north, Siba was a princely state stemming from the Kangra ruling family. The eastern side of modern Una district was ruled by the Kutlehrias, believed to have migrated from Uttar Pradesh.
• Formation of Kutlehr State: Kutlehr, once a princely state, now part of Una district, was the smallest among the Kangra principalities. Its capital was Kot-Kutlehr.
• Composition of Present Una District: Present-day Una comprises the princely states of Jaswan, Dun, Siba, and Kutlehr.
• Administrative Changes: During the British rule, excluding the Bangana block, Una was a part of Punjab's Hoshiarpur district. After Punjab's reorganization, Una became part of Himachal Pradesh, with its headquarters in Dharamshala. In 1972, Himachal Pradesh divided Kangra district into three, creating Una, Hamirpur, and Kangra districts. The new Una district was formed by moving Una tehsil, Amb sub-tehsil, and some villages from Kangra district.