GWALIOR STATE

Since the precolonial days, Gwalior was a significant place because of its location and is a commanding fort. Gwalior state was named after the old town of Gwalior and was ruled by the Sindhia dynasty. Ranoji Sindhia, a part of the Maratha Confederacy, laid the foundation of this Indian kingdom in the early 18th century. During the reign of Mahadji Sindhia (1761-1794) the state became a powerful kingdom in North India.
It was the successive Anglo-Maratha wars that brought Gwalior state under the British administration. In the colonial period it became a princely state and was the largest princely state in the central India Agency. The Central India Agency was under the political control of the Gwalior residency.

It was in the year 1936 that Gwalior Residency was detached from the Central India Agency and was made accountable to the Governor General of India. After India’s Independence in 1947, the Gwalior state was included in the new Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The British districts of Jalaun and Jhansi of the united provinces and the Saugor district of the Central provinces in the east, the states of Bhopal, Khilchipur and Rajgarh in the south and the states of Jhalawar, Tonk and Kotah of the Rajputana Agency in the West surrounded the state of Gwalior. Occupying an area of 64,856 Sq. Km. (25,041 Sq. Miles.) the state was divided into two parts, the Gwalior or the Northern section and the Malwa section. The Northern section spanned over an area of 44,082 Sq. km. and was surrounded on the North, Northeast and Northwest by the Chambal River. This section comprised of seven Zillas or Districts, which were Gwalior Gird, Bhind, Sheopur, Tonwarghar, Isagarh, Bhilsa and Narwar. The second part of the Malwa section was spread over an area of 20,774 Sq. Km. the city of Ujjain came under the Malwa section. This section consisted of four Zillas Ujjain, Mandsaur, Shajapur and Amjhera. The Zillas were under the control of the subhas or District Magistrates which were further divided into parganas. Less than one pargana there were several villages, which were again grouped under a Patwari.
Ranoji Sindhia, the founder of the Sindhia kingdom was an ordinary attendant of Balaji Baji Rao. With his courage and determination, he became a trusted member of the Marathas and was given the responsibility to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi in the Malwa districts. Gradually the Sindhia Empire developed with the headquarters in the ancient city of Ujjain. Sindhia died in 1745 and was succeeded by his son Jayapa. His son Jankoji who was put to death after he became prisoner of war in the third battle of Panipat. Mahadji Sindhia who ruled from 1761 to 1794 succeeded him. Mahadji left no successors and after him Daulat Rao, grandson of Mahadji’s brother Tukaji became the ruler of the kingdom. When Daulat Rao died in 1827 Jankoji Rao II Sindhia who was not his own son succeeded him but legitimate and distant member of the family. Jankoji Rao died in 1843 and was succeeded by Jayaji Rao Sindhia. Jayaji Rao died in 1886 and was succeeded by his son Madhav rao Sindhia. George Jivajirao Sindhia ruled the state as for as a short time after which India attained her Independence.
The Maharaja who received controlled the total administration of the state that received the assistance of the Board. This Board comprised of seven members with the Maharaja being the president and the others were given the charge of various departments. The numerous local estates were kept outside the administration of the Zillas and pranths. Presently Gwalior is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh and an important commercial hub of the Madhya Pradesh state.