Baoni
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.
Baoni
(or Kadaura). — A petty sanad State in Central India, under the Bundelkhand Agency, lying between 25 54' and 26 io' N. and 79 45' and 8o° 2' E., with an area of about 122 square miles. It is bounded north by Cawnpore District, west by Jalaun, and on all other sides by the Hamirpur District of the United Provinces. It takes its name from bawan, ' fifty-two,' the number of villages granted by the original sanad. The climate is hot but healthy, and the annual rainfall averages 32 inches.
Baoni is the only Muhammadan State in Bundelkhand. Its chiefs are descendants of the brilliant but unscrupulous Imad-ul-mulk Ghazi- ud-din, the grandson of Asaf Jah, Nizam of Hyderabad, and Wazlr of the empire for a time. Ghazl-ud-dln made terms with the Peshwa, and obtained ajagir of 52 villages near Kalpi about 1784. When the British supremacy was established, Nawab Nasir-ud-daula was found in possession of 49 villages, 3 having been sequestrated by Maratha officials. The Nawab in 1806 petitioned for their restoration; and after some discussion the validity of the Peshwa's grant was recognized, and the original holding of 52 villages restored. He was succeeded in 18 1 5 by Amir-ul-mulk, who was followed by his son Nawab Muham- mad Husain Khan. During the Mutiny of 1857, Nawab Muhammad Husain Khan and his son Mahdi Hasan Khan, who was actually carrying on the administration, were instrumental in saving the lives of several Europeans at great risk to themselves. In 1862 a sanad was granted to the chief guaranteeing the succession, in case of failure of issue, to his heirs as recognized by Muhammadan law ; and in 1863, as a reward for various liberal measures adopted, the chief's titles were increased. In 1874, at the special request of the Nawab, who was in bad health, the management of the State was taken over by the Govern- ment until 1883, when he abdicated in favour of his son, Muhammad Hasan Khan. Land was ceded for the Betwa. Canal in 1884. Muham- mad Hasan Khan died of cholera in 1893, while on a pilgrimage to Mecca, and was succeeded by the present chief, Muhammad Riaz-ul- Hasan Khan, his nephew, the State remaining under superintendence until 1902. The chief bears the titles of His Highness and Azam-ul- umara, Sahib Jah, Mihln Sardar Nawab, and receives a salute of 1 1 guns.
The population at the last three enumerations was: (1881) 17,055, (1891) 18,441, and (1901) 19,780, giving a density of 162 persons per square mile. There has been an increase of 7 per cent, during the last decade. The State contains 52 villages. Hindus number 17,341, or 87 per cent., and Musulmans 2,415, or 12 per cent. The Banapharl dialect of Bundelkhandl is the prevailing form of speech. The principal castes are Bundela Thakurs, 1,900; Ahirs, 1,500; Kachhls, 1,560; Brahmans, 1,200; Dhlmars and Kolis, 1,100 each. Among Musalmans, Shaikhs number 1,400. Agriculture supports 40 per cent, and general labour 32 per cent, of the population.
Of the total area, 66 square miles, or 54 per cent., are cultivated, of which 854 acres are irrigable; 21 square miles are cultivable; 15 square miles are under scrub jungle ; and the rest waste. The State lies in a fairly fertile region, growing good crops of all the ordinary grains.
A metalled road is under construction from the chief town of Kadaura to Kalpi on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, a distance of 15 miles. A British combined post and telegraph office is situated at Kadaura.
The chief personally directs the administration, and in criminal matters exercises the powers of a District Magistrate, all cases beyond these powers being dwelt with by the Political Agent. The total revenue of the State is one lakh, of which Rs. 95,000 is derived from land. The cost of administration is Rs. 75,000. The police force consists of 14 men, with 46 chauklddrs. A jail, three vernacular schools, and a hospital are maintained, and the State has lately been surveyed and settled on the same lines as adjoining British territory.
