PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: Founded in 1817. The first ruling Chief of Kamadhia was Darbar Shri Mir Sarfaraz Ali. A warrior of the highest calibre. Mir Sarfaraz Ali fought the famous Malwa war as an ally of the British in the year 1818. The Gaekwad of Baroda, the British and Mir Sarfaraz Ali had allied against the forces of the Peshwa. Mir Sarfaraz Ali commanded a garrison of 600 and was instrumental in defeating the Peshwa. Due to his courage and valour shown at the Malwa battlefield Mir Sarfaraz Ali was recognised by the British as the first independent Ruling Prince and Darbar Shri of Kamadhia in the year 1818. Soon after being recognised as the first Chief of Kamadhia three more villages in Gujarat came to belong to Mir Sarfaraz Ali. They were Gothra (Gothda), Walen (Vullun) and Davdi (Dvaudee). All these villages and Kamadhia have been with the Mir dynasty for generations. His very strong relations with the British, in particular Sir John Malcolm, who was the Governor General of Bombay Presidency saw him get a waiver from the tribute that Kamadhia state paid to the British. Although a small state the rulers of Kamadhia maintained a fierce independence with revenue and criminal jurisdiction powers. The rulers of Kamadhia had political relations directly only with the British till Mir Gulam Moinuddin the then Ruling Prince and Darbar Shri of Kamadhia signed accession papers to the Indian Union in 1948. Darbar Shri Mir Gulam Moinuddin was one of the first Kathiawar princes to lower taxes and give away lands to the cultivators free of cost. This benevolent gesture is still remembered by the people of Kamadhia to date. The Kamadhia Ruling family are direct scions of Nawab Mir Jafur Ali of Surat. Darbar Shri Mir Jafur Ali was the son of Darbar Shri Mir Sarfaraz Ali of Kamadhia. Darbar Shri Mir Jafur Ali also went on to become the Chief of the Nawab family of Surat in the year 1857. The juridictionary powers of the Chiefs were a maximum of 3 months rigorous imprisonment and fines of up to 500Rs for criminal offences. The Ruling Chiefs of Kamadhia had their own Police force who maintained the State Jails. Revenue Patels were the revenue collectors and Vaivatdars and Mamlatdars noted all criminal cases which were then referred to the Kamadhia State Magistrate who in turn passed criminal sentences relating to the State's jurisdictional authority after consultation with the Ruling Chief. The Ruling Chief of Kamadhia had the last word on all sentences under his authorised powers. Darbar Shri Mir Ghulam Khwaja Moinuddin Khan was the most benevolent of Chiefs often forgiving petty criminals as compared to his predecessors Darbar Shri Mir Sarfaraz Ali I and Darbar Shri Mir Bakar Ali who ruled as regent between (1863-1880). When Darbar Shri Mir Ghulam Khwaja Moinudin Khan lowered taxes in 1939 the Times of India hailed this great act by reporting it in February 1939. "The Chief of Kamadhia State has issued orders lowering taxes and appointing a committee to bring to the notice of the Darbar any public grievances". Rulers were...

1. Darbar Shri MIR SARFARAZ ALI I 1817/1860, married and had issue. He died 1860.

   • Kumar Shri Mir Akbar Ali, married and had issue. He died vp before 1860.

     • Kumar Shri Mir Ibrahim Ali, ancestor of the Zamindars of Gothra.

   • Darbar Shri MIR JAFUR ALI (qv)

   • Darbar Shri MIR BAKAR ALI (qv)

2. Darbar Shri MIR JAFUR ALI 1860/1863, born 1817, also styled as Nawab of Surat, married 1stly, Musammatpanah Bakthiar-ul-nissa Begum Sahiba of Surat (daughter of Nawab MIR AFZALUDDIN KHAN, last ruler of Surat which was annexed in 1800), married 2ndly, Begum Basti Begum of Ahmedabad, married 3rdly, Fatima, and had issue, 2 son and 2 daughters. He died 1863.

   • Musammatpanah Zia-ul-Nissa Ladli Begum Sahiba (by 1st wife), married Nawab MIR SAEED ALAM KHAN Bahadur of Belha.

   • Daughter (by 1st wife), married Mir Ghulam Baba Khan of Belha.

   • Darbar Shri MIR ZULFIKAR ALI (by the 2nd wife) (qv)

   • Kumar Shri Mir Asad Ali (by Fatima)

3. Darbar Shri Mir BAKAR ALI 1863/1890, born 1823, died 1890.

4. Darbar Shri MIR ZULFIKAR ALI 1890/1921, born 1859 ^(#1), educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot; married and had issue. He died 1921.

   • Darbar Shri MIR SARFARAZ ALI II (qv)

   • Kumar Shri Mir Jafur Ali, died sp.

   • Darbar Shri MIR GULAM KHWAJA MOINUDDIN (qv)

5. Darbar Shri MIR SARFARAZ ALI II 1921/1934, born 1880, died spm 1934.

6. Darbar Shri MIR GULAM KHWAJA MOINUDDIN 1934/1958, born 1887, married and had issue. He died 1958.

   • Darbar Shri MIR KUTBUDDIN (qv)

   • Kumar Shri Mir Zulfikar Ali II, married and has issue, one daughter.

   • Kumar Shri Ali Akbar Mir, married Rajkumari Sajida Begum of Amod. and has issue, one daughter.

7. Darbar Shri MIR KUTBUDDIN 1958/1998, born 1916, married Nawabzadi Ladli Begum of Belha and had issue. He died 1998.

   • Darbar Shri MIR JAFFAR IMAM II (qv)

   • Kumar Shri Ali Asgar Mir

8. Darbar Shri MIR JAFFAR IMAM II (see above)

ADITIONAL INFORMATION: The Kamadhia Royal family was greatly influenced with the English way of life. Darbar Shri Mir Jafur Ali spent four years in London (the first Indian Prince to visit England in 1844). His son Darbar Shri Mir Zulfikar Ali was a boy of four when his father died in 1863. The British Authorities in India were so close to the Mir Princes that they took the young Prince of Kamadhia under their wings. On the 12th of May 1873 Sir T.C. Hope the Guardian and Administrator of Darbar Shri Mir Zulfikar Ali sent him to England for his education. On June 9th, 1873 the boat (Indus) landed at South Hampton. From there the Prince was taken to London and resided at Bayswater. Darbar Shri Mir Zulfikar Ali lived with the Harker Hodges family and was under their guardianship. In December 1876 Darbar Shri Mir Zulfikar Ali returned to India. It was in this year that he was amongst the first batch of the Indian Princes to have joined the Rajkumar College, Rajkot on its opening. It is interesting to note that since his father was also known as the titular Nawab of Surat he was enrolled as the Prince of Surat in the college.

On his death in 1921 Darbar Shri Mir Zulfikar Ali was succeeded by his eldest son Darbar Shri Mir Sarfaraz Ali II. Since the latter had no male heir on his death in 1934 his younger brother Mir Gulam Moinuddin succeeded on the Gaddi of Kamadhia. Kamadhia was a VI class state and under his reign great prosperity was achieved. Schools were opened, taxes were lowered, Kamadhia State police was put into top gear and groundnut and watermelon income increased. Darbar Shri Mir Gulam Moinuddin was given a Jesuit education at the prestigious St. Mary's School in Mumbai. His ability to interact with the British Political agents at the highest levels because of his impeccable English and political acumen saw him become their close friend. In fact Mr. Eagerton the political agent for Western India State was so impressed with his administrative skills that he spent months together preparing Darbar Shri Mir Gulam Moinuddin for the political change which was to envelope India in 1947.

Courtesy of Kumar Shri Moin Mir © November 2002, February 2004.