Darbhanga Raj
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Insignia of Darbhanga Raj |
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Main Gate of Darbhanga Fort |
Darbhanga Raj also known as Raj Darbhanga and the Royal Family of Darbhanga trace their origin to Mahesh Thakur in beginning of sixteenth century. their seat was at Darbhanga in State of Bihar, India. Estate of Darbhanga Raj was estimated to cover an area of 2,410 sq. miles, covering 4,495 villages under 18 circles in Bihar and Bengal and employed over 7,500 officers to manage the estate. It was the largest zamindari in India and was the best managed estate at the time of abolition of Zamindari.
History of Royal Family of Darbhanga
The northern Bihar was under state of lawlessness after end of empire of Tughlaq Dynasty. Tughlaq had attacked and taken control over entire Bihar and after end of Tughlaq Empire and till establishment of Mughal empire, there was anarchy and chaos in Bihar. Emperor Akbar realizing that taxes from Mithila can only be collected if there is a Brahmin King who can ensure peace in Mithila region. One of the main reasons for deciding upon Brahmin as a King was dominance of Brahmin in Mithila region and secondly that even earlier Mithila had Brahmin Kings.
Maharajah Sir Lakhmishwar Singh, G.C.I.E., of Darbhanga, who was only in his forty-third year at the time of his death in 1898, was in every sense the best type of the Indian nobleman and landlord. He was the leading zemindar in Bihar, where he owned no less than 2,152 square miles with a net yearly rental of 30 lakhs, and was the recognized head of the orthodox Hindu community. His philanthropy and his munificent contributions to all public movement won him the esteem of all classes and creeds. He took an active part in public life and enjoyed a high reputation as a progressive and liberal minded statesman. With but slight interruptions he was a member of the Supreme Legislative Council from the year 1883 until his death, and latterly he sat in that body as the elected representative of the non-official members of the Bengal Council. Few Asiatics have combined more successfully in themselves the apparently incompatible characteristics of East and West.
Cotton, H.E.A. |
Emperor Akbar called upon Rajpandit (Royal Priest) Chandrapati Thakur to Delhi from Garh Mangala (now in Madhya Pradesh) and asked him to name one of his sons who could be made Caretaker of his taxes and lands in Mithila. Chandrapati Thakur named his middle son Pt. Mahesh Thakur as fit for caretaker in Mithila. Emperor Akbar declared Pt. Mahesh Thakur as the caretaker of Mithila on the day of Ram Navami in 1499 San i.e. in 1577 AD. Some poet has written in Garh Mangala about this event-
“ Ati pavitra mangal karan, ramjanm ke din. Akbar Tushit Maheshko Tirhut Raja kaun?”
“Navgrah Ved Vasundhara, Shakme Akbar Shah, Pandit subudh Maheshko, kinho Mithila Raj.”
(A very good omen has happened on the day of Ram Navami, Akbar Asked Mahesh - Who is King of Tirhut? Nine Planet, Vedas and the Mother Nature. Hearing this, Akbar made wise Pandit Mahesh King of Mithila.
The family / descendants of Mahesh Thakur gradually consolidated the power of family in social, agrarian and political matters and came to be regarded as King of Madhubani(Headquarter in Darbhanga, though they bought a land from local people). Their Family is known as Khandavala Family (Richest Landlord). This family was not regarded as kings by British Government but at the same they were allowed to prefix Maharaja and later Maharajadhiraj by the British Government (no any documentation only verbal commitment). The British Government never granted them formal status of a ruling princely estate. They had all the trappings of a princely state.
For a long period of twenty years (1860 - 1880), Darbhanga Raj was also placed under Court of Ward by British Government. During this period, Darbhanga Raj (Raj is a huge campus, built by them. They sold most of there Raj campus property in financial crisi
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