Bashahr (Princely State)

Information

DynastyBhati
StateHimachal Pradesh
Gun Salutes9
Accession15th April 1948
Revenue₹ 50,000 (1892)
Area8,907 km²
Population64,345 (1892)
Privy Purse₹ 80,000
ReligionHinduism
Hindi Nameबशाह्र
Also known asBushehr
Last Updated13th Jul, 2021

Present Head/Ruler

Raja VIKRAM ADITYA SINGH, Raja of Rampur-Bashahr since 2021, born 17th October 1989 at Simla, educated at Bishop Cotton School, Simla; married to Rani Sudarshana Kumari, daughter of Thakur Dheer Singh of Amet (Rajasthan).

Short History

One of the oldest hill states after Kashmir, traditionally founded by Pradhuman, the son of Lord Krishna. According to C. F. Kennedy, it was founded by Rana Danbar Singh, an immigrant Rajput from the Deccan in 1412.

Predecessors

  • Rana CHATTAR SINGH, 110th Rana of Bashahr, brought the whole of the state under his power during his reign.
  • Rana KALYAN SINGH, 112th Rana of Bashahr
  • Rana KEHRI SINGH, 113th Rana of Bashahr.
  • Rana VIJAY SINGH, 114th Rana of Bashahr -/1708.
  • Rana UDAI SINGH, 115th Rana of Bashahr 1708/1725, married and had issue.
    • Rana Ram Singh (qv)
    • Mian Pabar Singh [Shaminder Singh], married and had issue, the only legitimate collateral line of the royal family.
      • Mian Madho Singh, married and had issue.
        • Mian Asa Singh, married and had issue.
          • Mian Saran Singh, married and had issue.
            • Mian Man Singh, married and had issue.
              • Mian Hira Singh, married and had issue.
                • Raja Narain Singh, present head (1910), jagirdar and lambardar of Kakrola in the Dassau pargana of Rampur tahsil; married and had issue.
                  • Rajkumar Bhawani Singh
                • Mian Raghbir Singh
                • Mian Tej Singh
            • Mian Ishri Singh
              • Ratan Singh
              • Lal Singh
            • Mian Karam Singh
              • Dharam Singh
              • Sheo Singh
          • Mian Badri Singh
            • Bhup Singh
              • Dev Singh
              • Bai Singh
            • Bhagtu Singh
              • Laxmi Singh
          • Mian Diwan Singh
            • Bishan Singh
          • Mian Narsingh Singh
            • Kehri Singh
              • Hari Singh
            • Ishru Singh
              • Gulab Singh
              • Ram Singh
  • Rana RAM SINGH, 116th Rana of Bashahr 1725/1761, made Rampur his capital, lost much conquered land in wars with the Raja of Kullu; married (amongst others) (a), a daughter of Rana Anup Singh, Rana of Kumharsain, and had issue. He died 1761.
    • Rana Udar Singh (qv)
    • Mian Bhim Chand, married and had issue.
      • Mian Prem Singh, married and had issue.
        • Mian Rai Singh
          • Devi Singh
          • Shyam Singh
            • Ram Singh
        • Mian Jai Singh
          • Man Singh
          • Bahao Singh
            • Hira Singh
          • Karam Singh
            • Padam Singh
  • Rana UDAR SINGH, 117th Rana of Bashahr 1761/1785, married 1stly, a daughter of Raja Kirat Prakash of Sirmur, married 2ndly, a daughter of the Thakur of Dhami, and had issue. He died 1785.
    • Rana Ugar Singh (qv)
  • Rana UGAR SINGH, 118th Rana of Bashahr 1785/1803, during his reign, Bashahr was conquered by the Gurkhas who maintained their hold until 1815, married 1stly, a Rani from Sirmur, she died sp, married 2ndly, a Rani of Dhami, and had issue (by second Rani). He died 1810.
    • Raja Mahendra Singh (qv)
    • Kumari (name unknown), married (as his second wife), Raja Ishwari Sen of Mandi.
  • Raja MAHENDRA SINGH, Raja of Bashahr 1815/1850 , born 1805 or 1809, confirmed in his possessions by the sanad of 6th November 1815, married and had issue, as well as further issue. He died 1850.
    • Raja Shamsher Singh (qv)
    • Mian Fatteh Singh (natural son), died sp in 1876.
  • Raja SHAMSHER SINGH, Raja of Bashahr 1850/1887 and 1898/1914, born 1838, abdicated in favour of his legitimate son in 1887, married Ranis from Kangra, Koti and Kumharsain, and had issue, one son and two daughters, as well as further natural issue. He died 5th August 1914.
    • Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Shiv Raj Singh of Kashipur, and had issue.
      • Rajkumar Raghunath Singh, adopted to Bashahr, but was overlooked in the succession.
    • Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Shiv Raj Singh of Kashipur, and had issue.
    • Tikka Raghunath Singh (by the Kumharsain Rani), later Raja Raghunath Singh (qv)
    • Raja Sir Padam Singh (by a secondary union) (qv)
  • Raja RAGHUNATH SINGH, Raja of Bashahr 1887/1898, C.I.E., born 1868, married 1stly, and 2ndly, two daughters of Rana Bishan Chand of Koti, married 3rdly, in a double ceremony in 1884, twin daughters of Raja Bijai Sen of Mandi, and had issue, six daughters and one son. He died in February 1898.
    • Tikka Marender Singh (by a Mandi Rani), born 1886, died in January 1899.
    • Kumari (name unknown) (by the Koti Rani), married Raja Udai Raj Singh of Kashipur.
    • Kumari (name unknown) (by the Koti Rani), married into Kashipur.
    • Kumari (name unknown) (by the Koti Rani), married into Kashipur.
    • Kumari (name unknown) (by the Koti Rani), married into Tehri-Garhwal.
    • Kumari (name unknown) (by the Koti Rani), married into Tehri-Garhwal.
  • Raja Sir PADAM SINGH, Raja of Bashahr 1914/1947, born 1873, succeeded 5th August 1914, installed 30th November 1917, C.I.E. [June 1931], married 9 wives (4 from Kotkhai, one fom Mandi, one from Suket, married (a), a daughter of Rai Mian Hira Singh, Rai of Sangri, married 8thly, Rani Jwale Dei, daughter of Col. Maharaja Sir Jai Chand of Lambagraon, died 22nd July 1949, married 9thly, Rani Shanta Devi [later Rajmata of Bashahr], daughter of Thakur Bir Singh of Dhadi, and had issue. He died April 1947.
    • Shri Devinder Singh, died young in 1922.
    • Shri Ranbir Singh, married and had issue. He died 1921.
      • Shri Hardev Singh, born 1920, died 1939.
    • Shri Jagatjit Singh, born 4th November 1904, married 1stly, 1929, Jai Devi of Karangla, married 2ndly, daughter of a Kanwar of Dada-Siba, and had issue, as well as further issue. He died 1961.
      • Kanwar Lokendra Singh
      • Rani Mina Kumari, born 1934, married 1949, Rao Raja Yogendra Singh Jamwal, and has issue.
        • Rajkunwar Randhir Singh
        • Rajkumari Seema Kumari, married Kanwar Bhanu Pratap Singh of Darkoti, and has issue.
      • Kanwar Raj Pal Singh, born 8th March 1947, married 25th November 1975, Kanwarani Romila Kumari, daughter of Kanwar Rajendra Singh of Kotkhai, and his wife, Kanwarani Rajpriya Kumari, and has issue.
        • Kumari Ravija Kumari, born 12th October 1976 in Shimla, married 3rd May 1997, Tikka Danvender Singh of Kullu, and has issue.
        • Kumari Vibha Kumari, born 5th December 1977 in Kotkhai, married 3rd August 2000, Kanwar Hiteshwar Singh of Kullu, and has issue.
        • Kumari Devika Kumari
        • Kumari Madhvi Kumari [Tikkarani Madhvi Kumari of Khaneti], married 2008, Tikka Gaurav Chand of Khaneti, and has issue, one daughter.
        • Kumari Tushanika Kumari
      • Kumari Krishna Kumari, married Kanwar Ishwari Singh of Bilaspur, and has issue.
      • Kumari Santosh Kumari
      • Kumari Nirmila Kumari, married Thakur Narender Singh of Dhadi, and had issue.
      • Kumari Lakshmi Kumari, married 1959, Kanwar Dalip Singh of Mandi, and has issue.
      • Kanwar Sagar Singh, born 9th February 1932, married Kunwarani Savitri Devi (Manjit Sagar), daughter of Rana Goverdhan Sinh of Karangla (Jjagirdari) and has issues, 3 children, eldest son died after birth (9 months old).
        • Deepika Kumari, born 6th October 1982, married.
        • Kanwar Ripudaman Singh, born 6th October 1983.
      • Shri Gopal Singh, born 15th March 1946, married Kanwarani Sheela Kumari (born 1st January 1952) and has issues.
        • Tikkarani Gitanjali Kumari, married Tikka Yogendra Chand of Madhan, and has issue.
        • Pratibha Kumari, born 28th November 1971, married Kanwar Mohender Singh of Madhan.
        • Bhawna Kumari, born 11th April 1974.
        • Mamta Kumari, born 23th September 1975, married Kanwar Yashpal Singh
        • Kanwar Ravinder Pratap Singh, born 30th July 1983, married Kanwarani Ronika Kumari (born 8th November 1986) and has issue.
          • Kumari Suhavi Singh, born 5th October 2006.
    • Tikka Virbhadra Singh (by Rani Shanta Devi) [later Raja Virbhadra Singh (see below)]
    • Kumari (name unknown) (by Rani Jwale Dei), married Lt. Rana NARENDRA SINGH of Manaswal.
    • Rajkumar Rajendra Singh (by Rani Jwale Dei), born 28th July 1935 at Sarahan-Bashahr, married 20th June 1957, Rajkumari Rajendra Kumari, daughter of HH Maharaja Sir Brijnath Singh Ju Deo Bahadur of Maihar in M.P., born 5th November 1943 at Jabalpur in M.P., and had issue, three children. He died in November 1997, and was cremated at the Royal Cemetary in Rampur-Bashahr.
      • Kanwar Rajeshwar Singh, born 31st May 1958 at Simla, Heir Apparent to the gaddi of Rampur Bushahr until 1989, married 1stly, 1984 (div. 1996), Miss Parminder Singh Oberoi, married 2ndly, 1st December 1997 at Simla, Rajkumari Shrikriti Kumari, born 10th May 1965 at New Delhi, daughter of Raja Rana Yogendra Chand of Jubbal, and his wife, Rani Sudha Kumari, and has issue. (Padam Castle, Jakhu Road, Simla, Himachal Pradesh, India)
        • Kanwar Prakram Singh (by 1st marriage), born 28th October 1984.
        • Kumari Rajnandini Kumari (by 2nd marriage), born 30th April 2001 at Simla.
      • Kumari Purnima Kumari, born 27th June 1962 in Shimla. Educated in Tara Hall Convent School, Shimla. Married on 27th April 1990 to Thakur Pranai Singh, son of Rawal Chakrapani Singh ji of Bissau and his wife Rani Saheb Sharda Kumari of Khairagarh and has issue. The wedding was a grand affair and took place in Holly Lodge and Padam Castle Shimla (residence of the Bashahr family and Chief Minister of Himachal Raja Virbhadra Singh ji). A massive number of attendees traveled from Jaipur to Shimla in the baraat including Late His Highness Maharaja Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur of Jaipur.
      • Kumari Namrata Kumari, born 19th December 1963.
    • Kumari (name unknown) (by Rani Jwale Dei), married the Rana of Manswal.
  • Raja VIRBHADRA SINGH, Raja of Rampur-Bashahr since 1947. (Holly Lodge, Jakhu Road, Simla, Himachal Pradesh, India and The Palace, Rampur-Bushahr, District Simla, Himachal Pradesh, India). Born 23rd June 1934 in Sarahan District,Shimla. B.A.(Hons), M.A.; educated at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi; Honorary Captain in the Indian Army; elected Member of the Lok Sabha in 1962, 1967, 1972 and in 1980; Member of Indian Delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations, 1976; Deputy Minister, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Govt. of India, 1976/1977; Minister of State for Industries, Government of India, 1982/1983. Associated with various Cultural and Social Organisations, remained President, Sanskrit Sahitya Sammelan and Friends of Soviet Union Society (H.P.State Branch); Elected twice to the Legislative Assembly from Jubbal-Kotkhai Constituency (first in 1983, in a by-election; and again in 1985 general elections), Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, 1983/1990 and again in 1993/1998, five times in total. Elected from nearby Rohru Constituency in 1990 and 1993; Elected President State Congress Committee, 1992/1994; re-elected to State Assembly in 1998; Leader of the Congress Legislative Group in the Assembly, he became Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh in March 2003, and served till December 2007. He contested the Vidhan Sabha election from Rohru in December 2007 and won as an M.L.A. He remained an M.L.A.till June 2009, and then contested the Mandi Parliamentary seat on a Congress ticket. He won the election and was appointed Union Minister of Steel, Government of India, in June 2009; married 1stly, 28th May 1954, Rajkumari Rattan Kumari, born 16th August 1934 in Jubbal, died 27th September 1983 in Simla, daughter of HH Raja Rana Digvijay Chand of Jubbal, and his wife, Rani Hemant Kanwar, married 2ndly, 28th November 1985 at Junga, Rani Pratibha Kumari, born 16th June 1956, Member of the Lok Sabha, daughter of Raja Hitendra Sen of Keonthal, and his first wife, Rani Shanta Devi, and has issue, four daughters by the first wife, and one son and one daughter by the second wife. He died on 8th July 2021 after a prolonged illness.
    • Rajkumari Abhilasha Kumari, born 23rd February 1956, appointed a High Court Judge of the Gujarat High Court by the Government of India in May 2006; married 7th November 1979 in Simla, Kunwar Prithvindra Sinh Gohil of Dared in Gujarat, born 11th July 1950, and had issue.
      • Kunwar Raghavendra Sinh Gohil, born 11th July 1981 in New Delhi; married 7th December 2008 at Lucknow, U.P., Raj Kumari Shruti Devi, daughter of Raja Anand Singh of Khapradih, U.P.
    • Rajkumari Jyotsna Kumari, born 27th February 1958, married Rajkumar Rajiv Singh of Kashipur, and has issue.
    • Rajkumari Anuradha Kumari, born 14th December 1960, died unmarried 4th May 1999.
    • Rajkumari Meenakshi Kumari, born 27th June 1966 at Simla, married November 1988 at Simla (div.), Yuvraj Jaideep Sinh Jhala of Limbdi, and has issue.
    • Rajkumari Aprajita Kumari, born 6th December 1986 at Simla, educated at The Lawrence School, Sanawar, District Solan and at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, studying for her B.A. in Mathematics, from 2005. Married on 7th March 2015 to Angad Singh, son of Sardar Gurpal Singh Sandhu of Delhi, and his wife, Sardarni Jai Inder Kaur, daughter of Capt. HH Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia Mansur-i-Zaman Amir-ul-Umra Maharaja Dhiraj Rajeshwar Sir Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan Maharajadhiraj Shri Amarinder Singh Mahendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala.
    • Tikka Vikram Aditya Singh (qv)
  • Raja VIKRAM ADITYA SINGH (see above)

Other Members

  • Kanwar Durga Singh of Bashahr, married and had issue.
    • Kanwarani Meera Kumari, married Kanwar Anup Singh of Sirmur, and has issue.