RULERS OF KUTCH

In 1510 Rao Khengarji I descended from the old line of Odha assumed power with the full approval of the Ahmedabad Sultan and took on the title of "Rao". For the next 438 years Kutch was ruled by the Jadeja dynasty till its merger with the Indian Union in 1948.

Bharmalji – I (1586-1632)

In 1617 Jehangir, the Emperor of Delhi visited Ahmedabad. He held a Shahi darbar there. The rulers of Kutch participated and Rao Bharmalji also attended. Honours were exchanged. He was very impressed with the aged Rao Bharmalji and gifted him with an elephant, a she elephant, jewel studded sword and rings.

After that he asked his painter Govardhan to paint a picture of Rao Bharmalji. Now this picture is in the State library of Berlin. It is written below this picture that " this Ra Bara is the most powerful of the rulers of Gujrat and he is not presented before any ruler on this earth".

After Rao Bharmalji, Rao Bhojrajji, Rao Shri Khengarji II, Rao shri Tamachiji, Rao shri Raydhanji I, Rao shri Pragmalji I and Rao shri Godji I became the rulers of Kutch for a period of 100 years but without much happening. However in 1654 to 1662 in the rule of Rao Tamachiji, Jehangir died and his son Dara, the brother of Aurangzeb, took shelter in Kutch. Along with him a saint of Bukhara Shah Murad also set foot in Mundra. This saint is known as a Peer in Kutch and was respected by the rulers of Kutch for his all religion tolerance policy. At this time the British set foot as business men.

In the time of Rao Raydhanji I, the districts of Ahmedabad had sent Muazim Beg a sardar to Jehangir for reversal of tax collection. And after the mediation of Peer Shah Murad this became possible. This matter is significant in political circles. Muslim influence was at its peak in the time of Rao Raydhan II. But one must agree that in the ruling history of Kutch right from Mughal emperors to Muslim peers, sultans, Fakirs, Auliyas, and Senapatis have played an important role. Ignoring a few setbacks Kutch communal harmony and unity has prevailed.

As it is there is disintegration among the Sammas and the Lakhiar viaras have tried to set their foot. During the rule of Rao shri Pragmalji I i.e. 1667 to 1715 he gifted many parts of the land to his kith and kin and landlords and in this way a new part was played by them against the established landlords of the land. This problem had to be solved by the Britishers and then by the Kutch government and then by the Gujrat State government.

Pragmalji I defeated Morbi’s Kayaji and befriended Navanagar’s Jam and the Jadejas of Kutch and in return the fort of Badamba was given to him and thus he became a powerful ruler of Kutch and he became Maha Rao.

Rao shri Lakhpatji : During Godji state rule to amend his father’s mistakes and in the process he got back from Haloji the districts of Mundra, Anjar, Chovisi and Kanthi. In Kothara in Abdasa, Nagrecha and Kotdi villages he helped in agriculture there.

In this time the agricultural progress of the Kutchi people happened. Despite this the collection of the rulers was meager. This meager income was from the villages of Miyanipat, the growth of Tuna port and Rapar’s Ravri land. As stated earlier, the ruler of Kutch compared to his counterparts in our own land and abroad was even in the humble circumstances was ahead of his brethren. He never had an organized army. His only strength came from his close brethren, relatives and elders of the community. Nobody had the strength to replace the throne of Bhuj. The ruler was a big brother to the brethren of Kutch. Rao shri Deshalji and his dewan Devkaran with their mediocre power and the support of their brethren defeated Kesarkhan and Sher Bulandkhan the muslim extremists. Also they defeated the evil designs of Sindh’s Nagarparkar. Deshalji I preached ‘Deshra Parmeshwara’ and inspired his people by this love and religion. For example Rao Lakhpatji among the rulers of Kutch with his support of his brethren and landlords improved his status and moralized them. Lakhpatji further improved foreign trade, Industry and Ship movement. Art, literature and music and dance were the favourites of Lakhpatji and it is alleged that the vast fortune given to him by Deshalji was finished due to his lavish attitudes.

Despite his lavish attitudes he favored the setting up of industries in Kutch by Ramsinh Malam.

Kutchi People

Kutch has been a significant confluence point for different races and people. The nomadic pastoralists are certainly the most interesting and their links can be traced on one side to Marwar and Mewar (regions of Rajasthan), Saurashtra and, on the other side, Sindh and beyond to Afghanisthan, Iran and Central Asia.

The population consists of various groups and communities like Jadejas,Bhanushalis,Lohanas, Jains,Brahamans,Bhatias, Rajputs,Gurjar Kshatriyas,Khojas, Memans, Kharvas, Mali Samaj, Rabaris, Rajgor, Baluch,Kharva Meghvals,Leva Patel,Wankars,Vankaras, Ahirs,Shah, Dhanetah Jaths, Halepotra, Bhadalas, Raisipotra, Sammas, Node, Gosains, Gadhvis, Kapdis,and many more groups .

The great Rabari group is spread over the western plains of India from Kutch to Rajasthan. They are Hindu cattle-breeders and shepherds, falling into three endogamous groups – those of Kutch, Rajasthan and Central Gujarat.

There are further sub-divisions according to region like the Garasia, Kachela, Dhebaria and Wagadia of Kutch. Rabaries worship the mother goddess, Ramdev Pir, horsemen heroes and the sainted dead. In Kutch, after the monsoon rains and their year’s wanderings, they celebrate all marriages on one day only, that of Gokul Ashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna.

The other main group of pastoralists consists of two dozen nomadic and semi-nomadic Muslim groups who trace their roots from Sindh and beyond. The Jath are the largest such group. The others are smaller and live in Banni area, a low-lying, sixteen hundred square kilometers pastureland close to the salt marshes of the Great Rann of Kutch, and also in the surrounding areas.

The main clans are the Halipotra, Raisipotra, Mutwa, Node, Hingorjah, Bhambha, Cher, Junejah, Kaskalee, Korar, Ladai, Nunai, Pathan, Samejah, Sumra and Tabah.

The Dhanetah section of the Jath are also in the Banni. They keep mainly cattle, no goats, and are settled around nearly fifty water-holes on the Banni.

The Jaths are a nomadic community spread over Kutch. They appear to have started their migration to this area, from Sindh, some four hundred years ago. Their main groups are Dhanetah, Fakirani and Garasia. The Garasia Jaths live mainly in the Nakhatrana region of Kutch.

There is a sprinkling of Bharwads also in Kutch, and they have spilled over from their home region in Kathiawar. There is a great concentration of Ahirs in Kutch.

around Pacham are the Sammas. An interesting community is that of the Sodha Rajputs, some of whom have been settled in Kutch in the recent past only, after coming from Pakistan. In other castled villages tribals like the Koli mingle with the normal population.

Rayadhanji II S/o Gohodaji II (2nd time; 1801 - 1813) coinage issue:
Currency: Kori = 2 Adlinao = 4 Payalo = 8 Dhabu = 16 Dhinglo = 24 Dokda = 48 Trambiyo = 96 Babukiya.



Kori. Year: ND (1800-1814). Weight: 4.46g [4.50g]. Metal: 0.800 Silver. Diameter: 15.00 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Rotated. Mint: Bhuj.  Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One year type with (17)78 frozen date. Ruler: Rayadhanji II.
Note: 1778 is the year when Rayadhanji II became the ruler of Kutch.

Kutchi people

The Kutchi people traditionally hail from the Kutch region of the western Indian state of Gujarat. Their language and culture are similar to those of the inhabitants of the Pakistani province of Sindh.