Charkhari.
CfiARKHARl is a sanad State in Central India under the Bundelkhand Political Agency. Its formation dates from 1765 A.D., when Raja Khuman Singh, grandson of Jagat Raj, secured the territory from Pahar Singh and made Charkhari his capital. Charkhari was then estimated to produce nine lacs of revenue to Khuman Singh, who died in 1782A.D., and was succeeded by Bijai Bikramajit Bahadur Singh. He was continually at feud with his relatives and was ultimately driven out of his State.
In 1789 A. D. Bijai Bahadur Singh,' in hopes of regaining his possessions, joined
Ali Bahadur and Himmat Bahadur, in their invasion of Bundekhand; and entering into
engagements of fidelity and allegiance, received from Ali Bahadur in 1 798 A.D. a sanad
for Charkhari fort and a territory yielding about four lacs of rupees a year.
In 1803 A. D., when the English entered Bundelkhand, Bijai Bahadur Singh was the first Bundela chief to make terms with them; and a sanad confirming him in the possession of his* land was granted in 1804 A.D. Bijai Bahadur Singh died in 1 829 A.D. and was succeeded by his grandson, Ratan Singh, who was confirmed in power, and was admitted to all the rights granted by the old sanads. Ratan Singh was the ruler of Charkhari during the Mutiny of 1857 A.D., when he loyally supported the British Government by giving asylum to Mr. Carne, Assistant Collector of Mahoba, and helping him in the management of the neighbouring districts. He was rewarded with a jahagir in perpetuity of the value of Rs. 20,000 a year, a khilat and hereditary salute of eleven guns, and the privilege of adoption which was subsequently confirmed by a sanad in 1862 A.D. He died in 1860 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Jai Singh Deo.
In 1874 A.D. Jai Singh Deo, obtained administrative powers, but mismanagement necessitated the appointment of a British Officer as Superintendent in 1879 A.D., and the withdrawal of the Chief's powers in 1880 A.D. Jai Singh died soon after, and his widow adopted Malkhan Singh, a boy of nine years who was recognised by the British Government as the ruler of Charkhari. Malkhan Singh received full powers in 1894 A.D. and took the management of 'the State into his hands, which he ably conducted with the assistance of his natural father, Diwan Jujhar Singh CLE., as minister.
Mahraja Malkhan Singh died in 1908 A.D. leaving no heir, and the choice of succession fell upon his father, Jujhar Singh C.I.E., who came to the gadi on the 16th June 1908 A.D. The Present Chief is an experienced ruler.
The area of the Charkhari State is 745 square miles; and the population is 1,23,254; the total annual revenue of the State amounts to six lacs of rupees.
The Chief of Charkhari, His Highness Maharajadhiraj Jujhar Singh Bahadur C.I.E., is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.
