Banka Pahari

Origin and Foundation

The state of Banka Pahari traces its origins to the prestigious Bundela dynasty of Orchha. Diwan Rai Singh of Baragaon (near Jhansi), a descendant of the illustrious Maharaja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha, divided his estate among his eight sons, establishing the famous "Hasht-Bhaiya" (Eight Brothers) jagirs. This partition gave rise to several sister estates, including Tori Fatehpur, Bijna, and Dhurwai. Umed Singh, the eighth and youngest son of Diwan Rai Singh, was granted the jagir of Banka Pahari, thereby founding this distinct branch of the Bundela clan.

Maratha Invasions and Territorial Decline

Originally, the jagir of Banka Pahari was a larger estate comprising five prosperous villages. However, during the turbulent period of Maratha expansion in Central India during the 18^th century, the state suffered heavy territorial losses. Intense Maratha incursions stripped the state of four of its villages, leaving the ruling family with only a single village of five square miles, which served as the capital and namesake of the state. Despite this drastic reduction in size, the Bundela rulers of Banka Pahari maintained their sovereignty and dynastic prestige.

British Suzerainty

With the decline of the Maratha Empire and the rise of British hegemony in Bundelkhand, Banka Pahari entered into treaty relations with the British East India Company. It became a princely state under the Bundelkhand Agency of the Central India Agency. In 1823, the British colonial administration formally recognized the ruling Diwan, Durjan Singh, by granting him a sanad (charter), confirming his proprietary rights over the territory. The state was classified as a non-salute state and paid no tribute to the British Crown, operating under British political supervision.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

Following India's independence in 1947, the last ruling Diwan of Banka Pahari signed the Instrument of Accession, merging the state into the Dominion of India in 1948. Initially, the territory was integrated into the newly formed state of Vindhya Pradesh. Due to its geographical location as an enclave surrounded by the Jhansi district, the territory of Banka Pahari was later transferred to the state of Uttar Pradesh under the Provinces and States (Absorption of Enclaves) Order of 1950. Today, the historical region of Banka Pahari forms a part of the Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh.

References and External Links

• Learn more about the history of Bundelkhand's partition and the Hasht-Bhaiya states on Wikipedia's Banka-Pahari Page.
• For administrative records of the Bundelkhand Agency during the colonial era, refer to the Digital South Asia Library - Imperial Gazetteer of India.