HISTORY

To trace the family history of Raja Bahadur Saurabh Narain Singh of Ramgarh we have to go back to 1368 A.D. Two of his ancestors, Baghdeo Singh and Singhdeo Singh, who were brothers, had come to this part of the country from Khairagarh Kantit in BundeLkhand, Central India, with a view to conquer and settle in it. Without any difficulty, they were able to invade the Parganas of Karanpuar and Babhunbai, and built a large fort at Urda in Karanpura, traces which are still to be seen. Their succesors, not content with the small area of which they were masters, enlarged it by attacking and conquering the neighbouring Rajas. The tracts thus comprised an area of about five thousand square miles. From 1368 to 1402, Raja Baghdeo Singh ruled at Urda, which was his chief residence. He was succeeded by Raja Keerat Singh who reigned upto 1459. Next came Raja Ram Singh, who after a long reign of seventy-eight years, died in 1537. After him, Raja Madho Singh ruled over the country from 1537 to 1554. Raja Jagut Singh was the last Chief at Urda, who exercised sway until 1604, two hundred and thirty-six years after the foundation of the principality.

The seat of the Raj was removed from Urda to Badam in the Pargan of Karanpur by Raja Hemat Singh (1604-1661). He was followed by Raja Ram Singh II, who sat on the gadi up to 1677. The capital remained at Badam for seventy-three years. Some portions of the fort there are still preserved. After Ram Singh II, Dalail Singh became Raja in 1677. He removed his headquarters to Ramgarh in the Pargan of Changadda, where he built a large fort on the southern bank of the Damodar. He died in 1724, leaving Raja Bishun Singh as his successor. On the death of the latter in 1763, Raja Mukund Singh became Chief, and was the last ruler that remained at Ramgarh, which had been the residence of the successive rulers for a period of 105 years, from 1667 to 1772.

Thakur Tej Singh, a descendant of Singhdeo Singh, was the Commander(Fouzdar) of his army. About 1772 a dispute arose between the Raja and Thakur Tej Singh. The latter fled from Ramgarh to Patna, and sought assistance from the officers of the East India Company, who were stationed there. They sent an expedition against Raja Mukund Singh, who was defeated in 1772; and Ramgarh Raj, which had so long been ruled by independent Rajas, now fell into the hands of Tej Singh, who agreed to pay to the Company Rs.28,024 annually. Thakur Tej Singh made Ichak his residence, and died shortly afterwards. Raja Tej Singh was succeeded by Raja Parasnath Singh in 1774, and after him came Raja Mainnath Singh in 1784. He died in 1811 leaving Raja Sidhanth Singh as his successor. On his death in 1835, Raja Lakshminath Singh became the ruler, and reigned till 1841, when Raja Shambunath Singh succeeded to the gadi. The last Raja of Ichak was Raja Ramnath Singh in 1866. A posthumous child, Triloknath Singh, was born to him, but it did not live for more than two months. The ruins of the fort at Ichak may still be seen.

After Triloknath Singh, Babu Bramh Narain Singh of Padma, became the rightful owner of the estate, but the Rani, the widow of Raja Ramnath Singh, and another asserted their claims for the Raj. Babu Bramh Narain Singh instituted a suit against them, which went up to the Privy Council. While it was pending disposal, the plantiff died. His son, Babu Nam Narain Singh, continued the litigation and came out successful.

Raja Nam Narain Singh took charge of the estate from the Court of Wards on the 23rd November 1873 and made Padma is headquarters. According to the family custom, he granted a maintainence allowance (khorposh) to his three younger brothers. His Rani, Ram Kauri, for her private expenses, and they lapsed to the Raj when she died on the 30th November 1910. Raja Nam Narain Singh left two sons, of which the eldest, Raja Ram Narain Singh, succeeded his father on the 6th February 1899. The personal distinction of Raja was conferred on him in 1905. Raja Ram Narain Singh, was followed by Raja Lakshmi Narain Singh, Raja Bahadur Kamakshya Narain Singh, Raja Bahadur Indra Jitendra Narain Singh and at present there is the Raja Bahadur Saurabh Narain Singh

According to the family custom the eldest son succeeds to the gadi and the younger sons receive maintenance allowances. Females are excluded from the succession. The Khorposhdars being dependant on the Raj, they have to remain faithful and loyal to it and have no right to transfer or alienate the properties given to them. The Raja has the power to resume Khorposh grants on the extinction of the male line of the original grantee, or if he proves disloyal or becomes in any way unfaithful to the Raj.