Loharu State, 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Loharu State
Native State in the Punjab, under the political control of the Commissioner of the Delhi Division, lying between 28° 21' and 28° 45' N. and 75° 40' and 75° 57' E., with an area of 222 square miles. Population (1901), 15,229. The State contains the town of Loharu (population, 2,175), '^^ capital ; and 56 villages. It consists of a sandy plain, interspersed with sandhills. The founder was Ahmad Bakhsh Khan, a Mughal, who was employed by the Raja of Alwar in negotiations with Lord Lake in 1803. In recognition of his services, he received Loharu in perpetuity from the Raja, and the pargana of Flroz- pur, now in Gurgaon District, from Lord Lake on condition of fidelity and military service. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Shams-ud- din Khan, who was executed at Delhi for compassing the murder of Mr. Eraser, the Resident, in 1835. The Firozpur pnrgana was then confiscated, but the Loharu estate was made over to Amin-ud-din Khan and Zia-ud-din Khan, the two brothers of Shams-ud-dTn.
The two chiefs remained in Delhi during the siege in 1857, and after its fall were placed under surveillance, but were eventually released and restored to their position. Ala-ud-din, who succeeded his father Amln-ud-dln in 1869, received the title of Nawab, together with a sanad of adoption. The present Nawab, Sir Amir-ud-din Ahmad Khan, K.C.I.E., had for some years managed the State on behalf of his father, Ala-ud-dln, and suc- ceeded on the death of the latter, in 1884. From 1893 to 1903 its management was in the hands of his younger brother, as the Nawab had been appointed Superintendent of the Maler Kotla State. Nawab Sir Amlr-ud-din Ahmad Khan enjoys a salute of 9 guns, granted as a personal distinction on January i, 1903. The revenue of the State from all sources amounts to Rs. 66,000, but the finances were adversely affected by the famines of 1889 and 1901. The State receives an allot- ment of one chest of 1-25 cwt. of Mahva opium annually, for which it pays duty at the reduced rate of Rs. 280. This is refunded, with a view to securing the co-operation of the State officials in the suppression of smuggling. The import of opium from Loharu into British territory is prohibited.
