PRESENT RULER: Maharao Raja Shrimant MAHENDRA PRATAP SINGH Bahadur, present Maharao of Kasauta and Raja Saheb of Bara (The Palace, Shankergarh, Allahabad Distt., U.P., India)

PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: Founded of dynasty was Maharaja Vyaghradev Solanki, a scion of Anhilwara Patan in Gujrat, fl. 1234 A.D. (631 H.E.), he laid foundation of Baghelkhand (House of Baghels). He had five sons, namely, Karan Dev, Kirti Dev, Surya Dev, Shyam Dev and Kandhar Dev, through his wife Singhumati, daughter of Makund Dev Chandravat, of whom Karan Dev succeeded to Rewah, while Kandhar Dev became the ancestor of the Bara Rajas or the Raos of Kasauta. Rulers were...^(#1)

• Rao Kandhar Dev, son of Maharaja Vyaghradev of Rewah, born 663 Samvat, in 683 Samvat his elder brother conferred on him the title of Rao with Illaka Pardhwan, which yielded an income of Rs. 12 Lac per annum, from that time the family is known as the Kasauta Rao family. He married and had issue.

• 25 generations...

• Raja Bahadur Rao Vikramjit Singh, Rao of Kasauta, 27th in descent from Vyghra Dev, in 1185 H.E. the Emperor of Delhi conferred on him the title of 'Raja Bahadur' and a command of 2000 cavalry and 2500 infantry and at that time the British Power was established in the country.

  • 28th Rao of Kasauta (qv)

  • Rao Karan Singh, ancestor of Rao Sahibs of Churhat (Chorhat), yielding annual revenue of 35,000 Rs (15% of Kasauta revenue).^(#2)

• Maharao Raja Banaspati Singh, the 31st in descent from Kandhar Dev, rendered loyal services to the Brotish Government during the mutiny of 1857 in recognition of which they continued the title of 'Raja' granted by the Mughal Emperors and the then Maharaja of Rewa conferred on him the title of 'Maharao'. Two years after the British Government made the title of 'Raja' hereditary in the family. He had four sons.

  • Kunwar Ram Singh (qv)

  • Kunwar Bharat Singh

  • Kunwar Lakshman Singh

  • Kunwar Shatruhan Singh

• Maharao Raja Ram Singh Bahadur, being the elder son, he succeeded his father in 1910, he was educated at the Queen's College, Benares, and was highly spoken of by the British Government for his valuable services in famine times, during census operations and in connection with the octroi and court of wards work. He held several responsibile posts in Rewa State and retired as the President of the Regency Council in that State. In recognition of his meritorious services at Rewa he was created "Rao Bahadur" in 1912 and was awarded a medal and a badge in 1914. He was an M.L.C., Chairman of the Allahabad District Board, a special magistrate and was also conferred with the title of "Raja Bahadur". He died in 1935 at the age of 87 leaving two sons.

  • Princess Ranchod Kanwar (Yuvarani Sahiba of Nagod), married Rajkumar Lal Saheb Bhargavendra Singh Judeo, Yuvraj of Nagod State, and had issue, one daughter and four sons.

    • Princess Ambika Prasad, married into Jiliya Royal Family.

    • Lal Saheb Surendra Singh, DIG Police

    • Lal Saheb Mahavir Singh

    • Lal Saheb Upendra Singh

    • Lal Saheb Gajendra Singh, Advocate

  • Kunwar Rudra Pratap Singh (qv)

  • Kunwar Rameshwar Pratap Singh, B.A., M.L.C.

• Maharao Raja Rudra Pratap Singh Bahadur, the elder son, succeeded his father. He was installed on gaddi with great rejoicings by HH the Maharajadhiraj of Rewa on 5th July 1935 who conferred on him the title of "Shri Gulab Shubh Chintak." He was educated at the Colvin Taluqdars' School, Lucknow and was well up in Urdu, Hindi and Persian, His valuable services in conncetion with the Aman Sabha and the U.P. Flood Relief Work were much appreciated by the Government and he was awarded several certificates and medals for his loyal services. He was ever sincere and faithful supporter of the Government and was always ready to do what he could for the good of his tenantry. He died in 1938 leaving two sons.

  • Kunwar Kamlakar Singh (qv)

  • Mr. Yagyakar Singh

• Mararao Raja Kamlakar Singh Bahadur, the elder son, succeeded his father and was installed on the Kasauta gaddi by the HH of Rewa in 1938, who conferred on him the title of "Shri Pushpraj Kripa Patra." He received his education at the Boys' High School, Allahabad and is well up in both the forms of Vernacular and English. He has brought about innumerable reforms in his Raj, built several fine buildings, tanks, wells, roads and embankments, opened charitable dispensaries and institutions for imparting English and Sanskrit education to his tenantry and started a Harijan Ashram at Shankargarh for uplift of the depressed classes of his Raj. He has thoroughly overhauled the administrative machinery and is very much loved by his tenantry, servants and all concerned simply, on account of the sterling qualities of his head and heart. He is a prominent member of the State Council, the Service Selection Board and of the Judicial Committee at Rewa, is a member of the court of wards advisory committee, of the District Board at Allahabad and is also the Vice Chairman of the U.P. Zamindaris' Association, He is an excellent sportsman, a fine rider and a good shot. He had ever been loyal to the Government like his predecessors and during the present war also his loyal devotion to the Crown has been much appreciated by grant of Sanads Medals and assignment of Government Revenue of one of his villages. For uprightness, straightforward dealings, sincere discharge of duties and ablve all for his firm loyalty to benevolent Government one can hardly trace an example of Shri Pushpraj Kripa Patra, Maharao Raja Kamlakar Singh Bahadur. He married firstly at Agori-Barhar Raj, Dist. Mirzapur, but on the sad demise of his first wife, married secondly, in 1945, Rani Saheb Shrimati Princess Rajendra Kumari Ba Saheba, daughter of HH the Thakur Saheb of Vala State in Kathiawar, highly educated in English, Sanskrit and Gujrati, a good musician, being endowed with exceptionally good qualities of both head and heart, and is known as the priceless jewel of Vala State and the pride of Bara Raj, and had issue, two sons.

  • Rajkumar Shri Mahendra Pratab Singhji (qv)

  • Rajkumar Gyanendra Pratap Singh, born December 1947

• Maharao Raja MAHENDRA PRATAP SINGH Bahadur, (see above)

OTHER MEMBERS:

• The Maharao Raja Saheb was married at Agori-Barhar Raj, Dist. Mirzapur.