Palitana State


Palitana was a princely state in India during the British Raj until 1948. The center was the city of Palitana. The last ruler of the state received a privy purse of 180,000 Rupees at the state's accession to independent India on 15 February 1948.

History

Of Western India; on 1 April 1937, in direct relations with the Crown Representative through the Resident for the States of Western India; on 10 July 1944, in direct relations with the Political Agent, Eastern Kathiawar Agency and for Sabar Kantha; and on 12 June 1947, in direct relations with the Political Agent, Western and Eastern Kathiawar Agencies. On 23 January 1948 the Maharaja Thakor Saheb signed the Saurashtra Covenant, and on 15 February 1948 Palitana was merged in the United State of Kathiawar. In 1948 it was included in Bhavnagar District, which became part of Bombay on 1 November 1956 and of Gujarat on 1 May 1960.
Seats: Gariadhar 1-16, Palitana 16- Title: Thakor Saheb
Salute: 9 guns
Chandravanshi Rajput: Gohel Clan
At the time of the merger the area of the State was 300 square miles, the population 76,432 and the approximate revenue Rs. 8.21 lakhs.
For an account of the Gohels, see the section on Bhavnagar. In 1226 Shahji, third son of Sejakji, received the Mandvi Chovishi from either his brother-in-law Khengarji Chudasama, Ra of Junagadh, or his elder brother Sarangji, Chief of Arthila. Shahji later founded the village of Gariadhar near a desolate mound of Gahario Chudasama, Ra of Junagadh, and made it his according to one account, he established an independent principality after the Muslim conquest of Mandvi.
Shahji’s great-grandson Nonghanji I is said in one account to have recaptured Mandvi; from Umar, a Sindhi adventurer who had seized it, he is also said to have been granted the twelve villages under Trapaj by Sarangji Gohel, Raol of Umrala, whom he had helped gain the throne.. In 1619 Nonghanji II lost Gariadhar to Khuman Loma, Chief of the Kathis of Kherdi, but he later re-gained his capital. About a hundred years later, Prithirajji moved the seat of the family of Palitana.
From 1821 to 1844 Palitana was held in farm by two Jains to whom the Rulers owed money, Vakhatchand Khushahalchand and his son Hemchand.
From 1863 to 1925 the Ruler was a Second Class Chief. In 1877 Sursinhji was granted a personal salute of 9 guns. In 1878 the Ruler was granted a permanent salute of 9 guns. From 1921 to 1947 he was a member of the Chamber of Princes in his own right, and in 1948 his Privy Purse was set at Rs. 1,80,000 a year.
The State paid a tribute of Rs. 7,874 to the Gaekwad, and of Rs. 2,490 to Junagadh.
Palitana was included in the Kathiawar Agency 1820-1924, in the Western India States Agency 1924-1944 and in the Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency 1944-1947. Until 1924 it was in political relations with the Government of Bombay, from 1924 to 1937 with the Government of India and from 1937 to 1947 with the Crown Representative. In 1863 it was placed in direct relations with the Assistant Political Agent, Eastern Prant. In 1922 it was placed in direct relations with the Government of Bombay through the Agent to the Governor, Kathiawar; on 10 October 1924, in direct relations with the Government of India through the Agent to the Governor-General in the States.
Origins of the Gohels
The Ruler of Bhavnagar is Head of the Gohels. The Gohels claim to be the ancient Pauravas, descended from ¹Puru, second son of the Lunar King Yayati. A later ancestor was Shalivahan, King at Peithan in the Deccan in AD 77. The family once lived in Saurashtra, but on the collapse of the Maitraka Dynasty of Valabhi conquered the kingdom of Juna Khergarh in Marwar from its Bhil Ruler Khedwa and established an Independent Kingdom there. The Gohels held Juna Khergarh for 20 generations. In ca 1260 the Gohels were expelled from Marwar by Shiyoji Rathor, founder of the present Rathor dynasty of Marwar, and under the leadership of Sejakji they returned to Saurashtra. From Sejakji’s eldest son Ranoji are descended from the families of Bhavnagar, Vala and Rajpipla; from his third son Shahji, the family of Palitana; and from his fourth son Sarangji, that of Lathi.
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¹Puru’s descent is as follows: Mahavishnu – Brahma – Atri – m Anasuya – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – m Urvashi – Ayus, m Svarbhanu – Nahusha – Yayati, m Sharmishtha – Puru.

Rulers

Thakor Saheb SEJAKI, Thakor Saheb of Sejakpur 1194/1254 and 1st Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1194/1226, married and had issue. He died 1254.
Thakor Ranjoi Sejakji, ancestor of the Thakor Sahebs of Bhavnagar.
Kumar Shri Sarangji Sejakji, ancestor of the Thakor Sahebs of Lathi, received the chovisi of Arthila as his patrimony.
Thakor Saheb Shahaji Sejakji
Kumari Shri Amar Kunwarba Saheba , married Kumar Shri Khengarji of Junagadh.
Thakor Saheb SHAHJI SEJAKI, 2nd Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1226/1246
Thakor Saheb SARTANJI SHAHJI, 3rd Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1246/1250
Thakor Saheb ARJANJI SARTANJI, 4th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1250/1300
Thakor Saheb NONGHANJI I ARJANJI, 5th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1300/1360
Thakor Saheb JASAJI NONGHANJI, 6th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1360/1400
Thakor Saheb BANAJI JASAJI, 7th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1400/1455
Thakor Saheb SAVAJI I BANAJI, 8th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1455/1487
Thakor Hadaji
Thakor Govindji, granted Khadsaliya.
Thakor Sadaji, granted Gundi.
Thakor Saheb HADAJI SAVAJI, 9th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1487/1519
Thakor Saheb KANDHAJI I HADAJI, 10th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1519/1579
Thakor Saheb NONGHANJI II KANDHAJI, 11th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1579/-
Thakor Saheb ARJANJI II NONGHANJI, 12th Thakor Saheb of Palitana
Thakor Saheb KANDHAJI II ARJANJI, 13th Thakor Saheb of Palitana
Thakor Saheb SAVAJI II KANDHAJI, 14th Thakor Saheb of Palitana
Thakor Saheb SARTANJI I SAVAJI, 15th Thakor Saheb of Palitana
Thakor Saheb KANDHAJI III SARTANJI, 16th Thakor Saheb of Palitana
Thakor Saheb PRITHVIRAJJI KANDHAJI, 17th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1697/1734
Thakor Saheb NONGHANJI III PRITHVIRAJJI, 18th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1734/-, married and had issue.
Thakor Saheb Sartanji II Nonghanji
Thakor Saheb Unadji Nonghanji
Kumar Shri Alubhai Nonghanji 1766/1770, married and had issue.
Kumar Shri Khodaji Alubhai
Thakor Saheb SARTANJI II NONGHANJI, 19th Thakor Saheb of Palitana -/1766
Thakor Saheb UNADJI NONGHANJI, 20th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1770/1820, married and had issue.
Thakor Saheb Kandhaji IV Unadji
Kumari Vakhtuba Saheba , married, Raj Saheb Amarsinhji Raisinhji of Dhrangadhra, and had issue.
Thakor Saheb KANDHAJI IV UNADJI, 21st Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1820/1840
Thakor Saheb NONGHANJI IV KANDHAJI, 22nd Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1840/1860
Thakor Saheb PRATAPSINHJI NONGHANJI, 23rd Thakor Saheb of Palitana in 1860 for 8 months, married and had issue. He died 1860.
Thakor Saheb Sursinhji Pratapsinhji
Rani Kasi Kunwarba Saheba, married, Raj Saheb Mansinhji II Ranmalsinhji of Dhrangadhra, and had issue.
Thakor Saheb SURSINHJI PRATAPSINHJI, 24th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1860/1885, born 1844, succeeded 1 June 1860, married and had issue. He died 1885.
-Thakor Saheb Shri Sir Mansinhji Sursinhji
-Rani Kesaba Kumari Saheba, born 1869, married 1893,, Raj Saheb Mansinhji II Ranmalsinhji of Dhrangadhra, and had issue. She died 1895.
-Thakor Shri Samantsinhji Sursinhji, Tilayat of Adpur and Pachegani, Bhayat of Palitana; married Thakorani Makunvarba Saheba of Dharampur, and had issue. He died after 1901.
-Kumar Shri Vijaysinhji Samantsinhji, died in year 1916.
-Kumar Shri Sujjansinhji Vijaysinhji, Tilayat of Adpur and Pachegani, Bhayat of Palitana; married Rani Vijayaba Saheba of Ganod in Gondal, and had issue.
-Kumar Shri Vijaysinhji Sujjansinhji, engaged 1903 to Ba Shri Hajuba of Rajkot. He died after 1909.
-Rani Bhagwatiba Saheba, married Maharaj Mahavir Singh of Amleta.
-Kumari Shri Jayvant Kunvar Ba Saheba, married Thakor Harishchandrasinhji of Malia, and had issue.
-Kumari Shri Pramila Kunvar Ba Saheba, married Kumar Shri Balwantsinhji Sahebsinhji
-Kumari Shri Chandra Kunvar Ba Saheba, married Thakor Sahebsinhji Vaghela of Gangad, and had issue.
-Kumar Shri Balwantsinhji Sahebsinhji, married Kumari Shri Pramila Kunvar Ba Saheba of Malia.
Thakor Saheb Shri Sir MANSINHJI SURSINHJI, 25th Thakor Sahib of Palitana 1885/1905, born 7 June 1862, succeeded 24 November 1885, K.C.S.I. , educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot; married, a daughter of Thakor Saheb Suraji II Surtanji of Virpur, and had issue. He died 29 August 1905.
-Kumar Shri , born 1890, died young.
-Thakor Saheb Shri Bahadursinhji Mansinhji
-Rani Hari Kunwarba Saheba, married 1912, Capt. Rana Sir Ranjit Singhji of Barwani. She died sp.
Thakor Saheb Shri Sir BAHADURSINHJI MANSINHJI, 26th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1905/1964, born 3 April 1900, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., he was granted the title of Maharaja as a personal distinction in 1944; married 2 December 1919, Kunwari Shri Sitaba Saheba , daughter of Maharajah Shri Bhojrajsinhji Bhagwatsinhji Saheb of Gondal, and his wife, Maharani Raj Kunverba Saheb, and had issue. He died on 18 July 1964.
-Maharani Indira Devi, married 12 December 1941, Lt. Maharaja Rajendra Prakash Bahadur of Sirmur.
-Rani Saheb Drupad Kumari, married 20 February 1944, Maharaja Bir Pratap Singh Deo of Sonepur, and had issue.
-Maharani Gita Kumari, married 30 January 1948, Umdae Rajhae Buland Makan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sumar Singhji of Kishangarh.
-Kumari Rajendra Kumari
-Kumari Brinda Kumari, married Maharajkumar Yashwant Singh of Alwar, and has issue.
-Kumari Gayatri Kumari , married 1960, Maharawal Shri Virendrasinhji Natwarsinhji Sahib of Chhota-Udaipur.
-Thakor Saheb Shri Shivendrasinhji Bahadursinhji
Maharaja Thakor Saheb Shri SHIVENDRASINHJI BAHADURSINHJI, 27th Thakor Saheb of Palitana 1964/1990, born 23 September 1936, married 1stly Ritika Loraiya by whom he had a son, married 2ndly Thakorani Sonia Devi , and had issue. He died 29 June 1990.
-Dhirendra Sinhji
-Maharaj Kumar Shri Ketan Shivendra Sinhji Gohel, born 10 November 1976 in Bangalore, India, studied in Mayo College Ajmer Batch of 1995, graduated in Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Hospitality and Tourism Management sponsored by Bournemouth University, UK and Higher Diploma in Hotel Management from IHTTI, Switzerland; married 13 April 2004 in Mumbai, Kumar Rani Saheba Nisha Sinhji Gohel, and has issues, two sons.
-Rajkumar Veer Sinhji Gohel, born 29 Feb 2008.
-Rajkumar Arjun Sinhji Gohel, born 31 October 2012.