Bilaspur District History| Brief explanation
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| Bilaspur District History |
Establishment of Kahlur Princely State –
Bilaspur Past and Present, Bilaspur Gazetteer and Ganesh Singh’s book Chandravansh Vilas and Shashivansh Vinod confirm that the foundation of Kahlur Princely State was laid by Birchand in 697 AD. While According to Dr. Hutchison and Vogel’s book History of Punjab Hill State, Birchand established the princely state of Kahlur in 900 AD. Shashivansh Vinod was composed during the time of Raja Hirachand of Bilaspur (1857–83).
Birchand Chandel was a Chandel Rajput from Bundelkhand (Madhya Pradesh) of Chanderi. Birchand’s father Harihar Chand had five sons. Birchand crossed the Sutlej and first defeated the Ruhand Thakurs and established the fort, which was later called Kot – Kahlur Fort. Birchand established the Naina Devi temple at the insistence of Naina Gujjar and made her capital under it. According to old mythology eyes of Devi Sati fell in Naina Devi. Raja Veer Chand under the control of 12 Thakurais (Baghal, Kunihar, Beja, Dhami, Kyothal, Kuthad, Jubbal, Baghat, Bhajji, Mahalog, Mangal, Balsan).
Kahalchand –
Ajaychand, son of Kahalchand, founded Hundur Riyasat (Nalagarh).
Meghchand –
Due to his harsh behavior, the public forced him to leave the state. Meghchand take refuge in Kullu. Meghchand regained the throne in the Kullu princely state with the help of the Asylum Flame and Iltutmish.
Abhisand Chand –
Abhisand Chand was a contemporary of Sikandar Lodi. He defeated Tatar Khan in battle.
Sampoorna Chand –
Sampoorna Chand was killed by his brother Ratanchand.
Gyanchand (1570 AD) –
The princely state of Kahlur came under the Mughals during the reign of Gyanchand. Gyanchand was the contemporary king of Akbar. Gyanchand had converted to Islam under the influence of the Mughal Viceroy of Sirhind. Gyanchand’s tomb can still be seen in Kiratpur Punjab. Out of the 3 sons of Gyanchand, 2 (Ram and Bhima) converted to Islam, while Bekchand adopted Hinduism.
Bekchand (1600 AD) –
Bekchand around 1600 AD changed his capital from Naina Devi /Kotkahlur to Sunhani.
Kalyan Chand (1630 AD) –
Kalyan Chand built a fort on the border of Hundur princely state, which led to a war between the two princely states in which the king of Hondur died.
Deepchand (1650–1667 AD) –
In 1654 AD Deepchand, Shifted its capital from Sunhani to Beaspur (Bilaspur) near Beas Cave. Bilaspur city was founded in 1654 AD by Deepchand Chandel. Deepchand built the Dholra Mahal. Deepchand started greeting system like “Jai Deva to Raja”, “Rana ko Ram – Ram “, and” Miyan Ko Jai – Jai “. King Deepchand was killed by King of Kangra in 1667 AD in” Nadaun “by giving poison in food.
Bhimchand (1667 AD to 1712 AD) –
Raja Bhimchand of Bilaspur (Kahlur) was engaged in a mutual war with Guru Gobind Singh for nearly 20 years. Guru Gobind Singh visited Kahlur in 1682. The King of Kahlur fought the battle of Bhagani Sahib in 1686 AD and defeated by Guru Gobind. They two fought in 1682 AD, 1685 AD, 1686 AD and 1700 AD in which Bhimchand was defeated every time. The two reached a peace in 1701 AD. Guru Gobind Singh and Bhimchand defeated the Mughal army at Nadaun in 1667. Bhimchand died in 1712 AD.
Ajmerchand (1712-1741 AD) –
Ajmer Chand built ‘Ajmergarh’ fort on the border of Hundur.
Devichand (1741-78 AD) –
After the death of Raja Manchand of the princely state of Hundur and his son, Gaje Singh Hunduria was made king by Devichand by not sitting on the throne himself. In 1751 AD Devichand helped Ghamand chand in the battle. Devichand was a contemporary of Nadirshah. Devichand gave Ramgarh fort to Raja Vijay Singh of Hondur. Devichand was taken captive by Nadirshah.
Mahan Chand (1778-1824 AD) –
Bilaspur was ruled by Mahan Chand for the longest period (46 years). At the time of King Mahan Chand of Bilaspur being a minor, Ramu Wazir took control of the administration. After Ramu Wazir’s death in 1783 AD, 12 Thakurais gained independence till 1790 AD. Sansar Chand in 1795 AD Invaded Bilaspur in which Dharma Prakash, the king of Sirmour died. Sansar Chand got the Chatipur Fort built at Bilaspur on Jhajiyar Dhar in Bilaspur. Raja Mahan Chand of Bilaspur in 1803 AD requested cooperation from the Gorkhas. After which in 1805 AD the Gorkhas defeated Sansar Chand. From 1803 AD to 1814 AD Bilaspur remained under the Gorkhas. Amar Singh Thapa (Gorkha Commander) was defeated by British General David Ochterlony at Ratanpur Fort in Bilaspur. Bilaspur on March 6, 1815 AD Came under the British Government. In 1819 AD Desa Singh Majithia invaded Bilaspur. In 1818 AD Sansaru Wazir was fired by king.
Kharak Chand (1824-1839 AD) –
The reign of Kharak Chand is known as Kala Yuga in the history of the princely state of Bilaspur. Khadak Chand died childless and after his death struggled for succession. After the death of Sansaru Wazir in 1832, his son Vishan Singh became Wazir. Russell Clarke was the political agent of Ambala at that time.
Raja Jagatchand (1839–1857) –
Miyan Jangi was given the task of administration after the death of Kharak chand. After the death of Khadak Chand, his uncle Jagat Chand was made king. After the death of King Jagat Chand’s only son ‘Narpat Chand’ in 1844, he handed over the throne to his grandson Hirachand of King Jagatchand and went to Vrindavan where he died in 1857 AD.
Hirachand (1857-1882 AD) –
Hirachand Assisted the British in the revolt of 1857 AD. The reign of Hirachand is known as Svarnakaal in the history of the princely state of Bilaspur. Miyan Bhangi Purangania was the wazir of the princely state of Bilaspur at the time of Hirachand. Hirachand in 1874 AD Built tanks at Jagatkhana and Swarghat. Hirachand first made land-revenue reforms in Bilaspur. Hirachand died at a place called Maholi in 1882 AD. At the time of Hirachand, some part of the land was taken in cash and some part in the form of produce. In the year 1863, part of the crop which was taken as land tax was the third part of the yield.
Amarchand (1883-1888)-
During Amarchand’s rule, a slum movement took place in Gehadvi, Bilaspur. Amarchand in 1885 AD, in order to keep the records of the princely state in Devanagari script and to do the work in Devanagari script passed. During the tenture of Amarchand Doom movement held in Bilaspur.
Vijay Chand (1888–1928 AD) –
Vijay Chand in 1900 AD in Bilaspur, built the Rang Mahal. Vijay Chand started water supply in Bilaspur city in addition to starting a court fee judicial stamp. He made Bahadurpur his summer capital. In his reign (1903) Amar Singh was the Wazir. In the First World War (1914–18), Vijay Chand supported the British. Vijay Chand tried to administer his princely state on the British model but did not get the support of his employees. Around the year 1903, Vijay Chand was ordered to be deported from the princely state of Bilaspur and stay in Banaras. To help the king in the First World War, the British K.C.I.E. And conferred honorary title of Major. In 1931 AD Vijay Chand died in Banaras. The years 1909 to 1918 AD Miyan Durga Singh was the wazir of the state. After that Indra Singh and Hardayal Singh became Wazir.
Anand Chand (1928–1948 AD) –
Anand Chand was a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Anand Chand was the last ruler of the princely state of Bilaspur. He was opposed to the merger of Bilaspur with India and was in favor of an independent existence. Bilaspur was made the ‘C’ category state on October 9, 1948 and Anand Chand became the first Chief Commissioner of Bilaspur on October 12. After him on 2 April 1949, Shreechand Chhabra became the second Chief Commissioner of Bilaspur. On July 1, 1954 AD Bilaspur was merged as the 5th district of Himachal Pradesh. Raja Anand Chand was elected unopposed in the Lok Sabha. In 1957 he was elected in Himachal Pradesh and in 1964 AD was elected to Rajya Sabha from Bihar.