Bihat

Origin and Ancestral Lineage

The history of the Bihat State is deeply intertwined with the illustrious Bundela clan of Rajputs, who held sway over the Bundelkhand region for centuries. The ruling house of Bihat traces its ancestry back to the royal house of Orchha State. Specifically, the lineage descends from Kunwar Indrajit, a younger son of Raja Sohan Pal of Orchha (who ruled circa 1251–1259 CE). Sohan Pal was a pivotal figure in Bundela history, famous for establishing Bundela hegemony in the region by capturing the historic fort of Garh Kundar from the Khangars.

Over generations, the descendants of Kunwar Indrajit established various jagirs and estates throughout the rugged terrains of Bundelkhand. By the late 18^th century, Kunwar Khuman Singh held a prominent position in this lineage. His son, Kunwar Aparbal Singh, would eventually go on to secure an independent political identity for his branch of the family during the chaotic transition of power in Central India.

Foundation of Bihat State (1807)

At the turn of the 19^th century, the political landscape of Bundelkhand was highly volatile. The decline of the Maratha Empire and the subsequent British expansion led to widespread territorial reorganizations. Following the Treaty of Bassein (1802) and the British campaigns against local Maratha chiefs and Bundela bandits, the British East India Company sought to pacify the region by recognizing the rights of local chieftains who agreed to maintain peace.

In 1807, Kunwar Aparbal Singh was formally recognized as the ruler of Bihat. The British administration granted him a Sanad (charter of rights and land holding), which confirmed him in the possession of the Bihat estate. This act formally detached Bihat from larger neighboring states and established it as an independent "Sanad State" under British suzerainty. The capital of this small principality was established at Bihat, surrounded primarily by the Hamirpur District of the United Provinces and the princely state of Charkhari.

The British Era and Military Standing

As a Sanad state, Bihat fell under the administrative oversight of the Bundelkhand Agency, which was a sub-agency of the larger Central India Agency. The rulers of Bihat, styled as "Rao", maintained a loyal relationship with the British Crown. Like many smaller states in the Bundelkhand Agency, the Rao of Bihat exercised civil and judicial powers within his territory, though major criminal cases were referred to the British Political Agent stationed at Nowgong.

According to historical records from the late 19^th century, specifically the administrative reports of 1893, the state of Bihat was permitted to maintain a modest military force to ensure local security, collect revenue, and participate in ceremonial duties. The military establishment of the Rao of Bihat consisted of:

• 5 Cavalry personnel
• 75 Infantry soldiers
• 1 Artillery Gun

The state, though small (covering approximately 16 square miles with a handful of villages), was rich in Bundeli culture. The state's economy was primarily agrarian, relying on the fertile but dry soil of Bundelkhand, which required extensive well-irrigation.

Administrative Reformers and Late Rulers

The state saw several successions during the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Following the death of Kunwar Aparbal Singh, the estate was ruled by his successors who maintained the administrative framework established by the British treaties. Notable among the later rulers was Rao Bir Singh Ju Deo, who ruled during the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Under his reign, efforts were made to improve local infrastructure, including primary education and basic healthcare, in cooperation with the British political agents.

In the administrative compendiums of British India, such as C.U. Aitchison's "A Collection of Treaties, Engagements, and Sanads", the state's status as an undivided, non-salute state with hereditary succession guaranteed by the British adoption sanads of 1862 was repeatedly affirmed. This protected Bihat from being annexed under the controversial Doctrine of Lapse.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

Following India's independence from British rule in August 1947, the last ruling Rao of Bihat signed the Instrument of Accession, merging the state into the Dominion of India. In 1948, Bihat was integrated into the newly formed Union of Vindhya Pradesh, which consolidated numerous Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand princely states.

In 1956, following the States Reorganisation Act, Vindhya Pradesh was merged into the state of Madhya Pradesh. Today, the historical territory of Bihat lies on the borderlands of southern Uttar Pradesh (Mahoba and Hamirpur districts) and northern Madhya Pradesh (Chhatarpur district). The descendants of the royal house of Bihat continue to reside in the region, preserving their ancestral Bundela traditions, architectural remnants, and historical legacy.

References and Bibliography

• The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume VIII, Oxford Clarendon Press.
• Aitchison, C. U. (1909). A Collection of Treaties, Engagements, and Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries, Vol. V, Calcutta.
• Bundelkhand Gazetteer, Government Press, United Provinces.