History of Kutch
The history of Kutch, (kachchh) a region in the extreme west of the western Indian state of Gujarat, can be traced back to prehistorical times.
Following conquest of Sindh by Muslim rulers, Rajput Samma started moving southwards to Kutch and ruled western regions initially.
After turbulent periods and battles with armies of Sindh, the state was stabilized in the middle of eighteenth century by council known as Bar Bhayat ni Jamat who placed Rao as a titular head and ruled independently.
Defeated by Gupta King Chandragupta II or Vikramaditya, about 56 BCE, they came back between twenty and thirty years later, and under Yeukaotschin founded a dynasty which in turn was, in the first century, overthrown by Indo-Parthians, mentioned as Parada in Sanskrit sources, whose power stretched from Sindh as far south as Bharuch.
The country along the coast of the gulf, which both he and Ptolemy call Surastrene (Saurashtra), was rich, yielding in abundance corn, rice, sesamum, butter, and cotton for ordinary manufacture, the people were tall and black, and they had many herds.
Soon after the time of the author of the Periplus, Kutch was conquered by the Sah (140–380 CE), kings of Saurashtra, possibly of Western Satraps whose kingdom stretched from Tapi river to Sindh.
Soon after this the Kathis (associated with Ahir) would seem to have passed into Kutch from Sindh, and with their headquarters at Pavargadh (now near Manjal) were probably the ruling tribe, especially in the centre and south of the province.
At this time Chavda dynasty ruled in the east, whose power by the help of the kings of Panchasar and Anhilwad Patan, probably increased in the eighth and ninth centuries.
Meanwhile, according to the Muslim historians of Sindh, the Soomras whose headquarters were at Muhammad Tur, after being defeated by Alauddin Khalji about the close of the thirteenth century, so oppressed the Sammas, the ancient landholders, that they retired to Kutch.
During Lakha's reign, according to the Hindu account from the fierce opposition of some of the Kathiawar tribes, but more probably driven back by Muhammad bin Tughluq, their territories were reduced to the peninsula of Kutch.
[14] Dadarji's chief town was Kanthkot in the east, Othaji's headquarters were Ajapur to the north-east of Bhuj not far from the Haba hills, and Gajanji lived at Bara near Tera in the west.
The two youngest sons, Sahebji and Rayabji, were secretly carried off to Rapar in Vagad region; and Khengarji I, returning from Parkar, took them with him to Ahmedabad, where they were joined by a number of their family and followers.
When their power ceased Bharmal seems to have attempted to make himself independent, but after two defeats, in 1590 and 1591 Battle of Bhuchar Mori, agreeing to admit the supremacy of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, he was confirmed in his former position, and was only occasionally called on to pay tribute.
Of the state of Kutch at the close of the sixteenth century, the author of the Ain-i-Akbari (1583–1590) has left the following details, The greater part was composed of woods and untilled lands.
Both the brothers had left sons who were entitled to succeed; but as they were young, Pragmalji, on his father Rayadhan II's death in 1697, found no difficulty in seizing the throne.
Of Godji's short reign of three years (1715–1718) the chief event was despoiling Haloji, the son of Pragmalji's eldest brother Noghanji, of his estate of Mundra.
[29] In 1762, Punja helped the Sindh ruler Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro to invade Cutch to fulfil his wish of marriage with sister of Rao.
[30] About 1775, Sarfaraz Khan entered Cutch, took the route of Khavda and Sumrasar, intending to march to Bhuj, but the accounts of its strength frightened him, and leading the army to Chobari and Kanthkot Fort, he married the daughter of the Thakor, and levying fines at Adhoi and other places returned to Sindh.
On Mir Bijr's elevation to power, two Beluchis, who had assassinated his father, sought refuge in Kutch, and, as the Rao refused to give them up, the province was again invaded but was defeated by Cutch army led by Mirza Kurpa Beg.
[34] Rayadhan III was deposed by the revolt of Jamadars, the local army chiefs, led by Meghji Sheth of Anjar as he turned religious fanatic and forced people to submit to Islam.
He with support of Jadeja chiefs and with his popularity in troops, Fateh Muhammad put an end to the supremacy of Dosal Ven of Jamat who retired to Mundra and restored Prithvirajji to his proper position as the head of the state.
[41][42] On 13 January 1814, Mansingji succeeded to the chiefship of Kutch with the title of Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Bharmalji II on consideration of Bar Bhayat ni Jamat.
The British Government agent Captain MacMurdo went from Morvi to Bhuj in 1814 for presenting its demands to Husain Miyan regarding end of piracy in Arabian sea and bandits in Vagad region.
[43] Rao Bharmal II took over the management of state and Chief Minister Hansraj was given in January 1815the feifdom of Anjar, Bha chau, Bhadargad and Kanthkot.
[44] On 25 December 1815, the British force under Colonel East, together with the troops of Gaekwad of Baroda State, attacked Anjar when Rana Hansraj refused to surrender.
[44] The Anjar District, however, remained under direct occupation of British forces for seven years till 25 December 1822, when it was territory reverted to Princely State of Cutch by way on agreement.
During his minority the affairs of the State were managed by Council of Regency, which was composed of Jadeja chiefs Diwan Rana Hansraj and headed by Captain MacMurdo.
The educational, judiciary and administrative reforms, which were started by Pragmulji II, were carried further by Khengarji III, who also laid foundation of Cutch State Railway, Kandla port and many schools.
During reign of Vijayaraji the Kutch High Court was instituted, village councils were elected and irrigation facilities were expanded greatly and agricultural development in the state during short span of six years of his rule.
[57] Later, Madansinhji acceded the throne, upon death of his father Vijayaraji on 26 January 1948 and became the last Maharao of Kutch, for a short period of time till 4 May 1948, when the administration of the princely state was completely merged in to the Union of India.
