Jodhbir Chand
| Jodhbir Chand | |
|---|---|
| Raja | |
| Raja of Nadaun | |
| Predecessor | Position established |
| Successor | Amar Chand |
| Born | c. 1815 |
| Died | c. 1873 |
| Dynasty | Katoch |
| Father | Sansar Chand |
| Mother | Gulab Dassi |
Sir Jodhbir Chand KCSI (1815 – 1873) was the Raja of Nadaun from 1823 until his death in 1873.
Early life and background
[edit | edit source]He was born in 1815 to Sansar Chand and a concubine of his by the name of Gulab Dassi.[1][2] He was a member of the Katoch dynasty.[3] His ancestors had ruled the Kangra for centuries.[3] He gave two of his sisters, Mehtab and Raj, in marriage to Ranjit Singh, the Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.[3][4]
Reign
[edit | edit source]Ranjit Singh conferred on him the title of Raja and a jagir of Nadaun that yielded an annual revenue of Rs. 100,000 in 1823.[3][5] He initially acquired great influence at Lahore, being a personal favourite of Ranjit Singh.[3] However, over the years, their friendship lessened.[3] He was gradually stripped of the jagir lands until his income dropped to just Rs. 30,000.[3] From 9 March 1846 onward—when Kangra was ceded to the East India Company by his brother-in-law, Ranjit Singh—he pledged loyalty to the Company.[6] During the Katoch insurrection in Kangra (1848–49), he sided with the British.[6][7] As a reward, the British confirmed his jagir upon the annexation of Kangra.[8] During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, he once again supported them and sent his second son to fight on their side.[6][7] His son was awarded the Order of Merit for his services.[6]
Death
[edit | edit source]He died in 1873 and was succeeded by Amar Chand as the Raja of Nadaun.[9][10] Upon his death, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, Robert Henry Davies, paid tribute to him in the following words:[11]
... whose upright and honourable character had secured the respect and esteem of all , while he had discharged the duties of his position to the entire satisfaction of Government.
Honours
[edit | edit source]In 1868, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India and was granted a salute of seven guns.[8]
References
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