PLACES

JATH

Jath is the headquarters of the taluka of the same name. It was the capital of the ex-Jath State. Jath Road on the Kolhapur-Kurduvadi st'cticm of the South-Central Railway lying 16.09 km (10 miles) to the north-west is the nearest, railway station. The Ciplun-Gubagar-Bijapur road is the most important of the roads touching Jath. It has a post and telegraph office, a telephone exchange, a police station under a sub-inspector and a co-operative bank. Of the educational institutions, three high schools and two primary schools, one each for hoys and girls, may he mentioned. There is also a veterinary dispensary and a civil hospital known as Putala Raje hospital.

The chief occupation of the people is agriculture, sheep and cattle breeding. Besides the weekly market on Tuesdays, a cattle market is also held on Thursdays. Jath receives only 457 to 508 mm (18 To 20 inches) of rain annually and hence agriculture is very poor. The agriculturists mostly depend upon well irrigation. The chief kharif crops are groundnut and bajra while rabi crops arc cotton, jowar, gram and wheat. Among the industries may be mentioned manufacture of brass utensils, woollen rugs and handloom cloth.

Jath has the old palace of the State Chief, partially in a decayed condition, a Chatri to Ramrav, and temples dedicated to Rankesvar, Yallama, Ambabai, Maruti and Rama, near the last of which a bust of Lokamanya Bal Gangudhar Tilak is installed. Of the temples only that of BahkesVar and Yallama Devi claim importance, the former because it is considered to be the presiding village deity and the latter on account of the annual fair held on Margasirsa Vadya Ekadasi. It is attended by over 50,000 people. The Chatri) about 0.85 km (half a mile) to the south of the village, iaa monument to the memory of Ramrav Ahasaheb Dafale (1866-1928) of the Dafale family. It stands in the middle of a spaciouscourtyard and consists of an outer hall and an inner chamber the latter of which contains a marble statue of Ramrav in a sitting;posture. The statue as well as the chamber are of marble. Ranipur fort is yet another object of historical importance about 4.82 km (3 miles) east of Jath. Today it lies, amidst ruins, History of the Cauhan Dafale Family of Jath.

The Dafales of Jath, the rulers of the State of Jath in the Deccan-Maharastra, trace their origin to the famous Dudavathada-Cauhan Rajput family, of Rajasthan. The Hada-Cauhans highly distinguished themselves for their brilliance, and patriotism, especially fighting against the Moghal emperors. The Dudavat branch of the Hada-Cauhan family migrated to the Deccan as a result of family feuds and fighting the Moghals. While Duda, the son of the Rav Surjan, died with his elder son fighting his way to the Deccan, his youngest son Samalsing kept up the noble family tradition. Samalsing died leaving his son Sardulsing, who was equally brave. Sardulsing joined the Adil Sahi king of Bijapur through the good offices of the famous Bijapur general Rangti Bahalol Khan Miyan and was made Jamiadr of Athru and given a jagir. Sarduling married the granddaughter of Lakhuji Jadhavrav of Sindkhed, and the son from this union was named Edalaji or Eldoji.

The surname Dafale, Dafalckar was first associated with the family from Edalaji or Eldoji in the year 1665 A.D. Eldoji was associated with Abdul Karim Bahalol Khan IV, the famous general of the Bijapur Adil SahT kingdom. Eldoji was styled Hada-Cauhan of Atrmi as he was the Jamidar of that place under the Bijapur kings. Eldoji married the daughter of Lakhaji More, who was the palil of Dafalapur and his son inherited the patilki vatan of Dafalapur after the death of Lakhaji as Lakhaji had no male issue. The family thus gets the appellation of Dafalapure or Dafale. Eldoji had two sons, Lakhaji and Satvaji. Lakhaji died issueless and was succeeded by his younger brother Satvaji who was very famous both as a general and a politician. SatvajI acquired the jagir of Jath and also among other high honours the, Desmukhi vatan of the four parganas of Jath, Karajgi, Honvad and Bardol. He was also appointed to the mansab of six thousand cavalry and five thousand army, first in the year 1680 by the Sultan of Bijapur and this was again confirmed by the Emperor Auraiig-zeb in 1701 under a sanad, Satvajl was also honoured with the title of vazir by the king of Bijapur under a Sanad, dated 31st March 1681. Satvaji's only son Babaji (Bavaji) was a gallant warrior who fought bravely at the conquest of the fort of Satara, Babaji was, however, seriously wounded during the battle and died at Khanapur on way back to Dafalapur. Satvaji had a gallant career at the Bijapur and Moghal courts as well as an independent authority. After the fall of Raygad he assisted Rajaram Chatra-patil and the Maratha generals Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav. Satvaji died in the year 1707 at Islampur (Brahmapuri) while at the camp of Emperor Aurangzeb.

After Satvajl, his widowed daughter-in-law Yesubai (commonly known as Aisaheb) administered the Jagir and the vatan. She was a very able, most respected and popular lady and ruled for 54 years. On Chatrapati Sahu's return from the Moghal captivity there were family feuds at the Satara Court. Yesubai always sided with the Chatrapati House, that is, Sahu and Tarabai, and thus incurred bitterness on the part of the Pesva Yesubai adopted Yasvantrav, the son of her step-brother-in-law Khanaji. The adoption took place with the approval of Chatrapati Sahu. Yesubai died in the year 1754 and was succeeded by her son Yasvantrav as ruler in the same year.

Yasvantrav had also a distinguished career. He was granted mansab of 3,000 horse with a monthly emolument of 13,40,000 dams (equivalent to Rs. 33,500) and was required to serve with 1,000 horse and also the Faujdari of Jath. With the advent of the Nizam's rule at Hyderabad there was some trouble, but the Faujdari was again restored to Yasvantrav. Yasvantrav died in 1759 and was succeeded by his son Amrtrav. Amrtrav I ruled the State till 1799 in which year he died, and was succeeded by his son Khanajirav. Amrtrav fought in all battles with the Maratha army.

Khanajirav ruled till 1816. During bis reign, the advent of the British was taking place in the Deccan. Khanajirav fought under the Maratha banner with his army at the famous battle of Kharda in 1795. After the death of Khanajirav his senior widow Renukabai rules the State. Renukabai was. a very capable Rani who signed the treaty with the British in 1820. Renukabai died in the year 1822 and was succeeded by her co-widow Salubai. Before her death in 1823, Salubai adopted Ramrav I, a son of the Cauhan Dafale family collateral.

Ramrav I ruled till 1835 in a good family tradition manner. On his death in 1835, his widow Bhagirathibai succeeded him. Bhagirathibai ruled the State with ability till 1845, but before her death in that year, she adopted Amrtrav II from the Dafale collateral family in the year 1841.

Amrtrav II was a minor when he was adopted. Amrtrav II was a spirited and patriotic-minded person, and, after he was invested with full ruling powers in 1855, he began to display his spirited and nationalistic-minded character. The then Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Lord Canning, granted an adoption sanad (dated 11th March 1862) to Amrtrav II in recognition to perpetuate the high status and honour of his family. The 1857 Independence Revolution was already on its way and the British suspected Amrtrav's hand in the National Movement.

After a good deal of harassment and troubles to Amrtrav, the British attached the State and took away powers from Amrtrav in 1874 on the pretext of maladministration. Hundreds were arrested in the State and arras and guns were confiscated. The attachment of the State continued till 1885 while the British administered the State by appointing a Karbhari. The attachment was removed and powers were restored to Amrtrav in 1885. But things did not appear to improve with Amrtrav so far as the British were concerned and the State was again attached in the year 1889 and powers taken away from Amrtrav. The second attached still continued while Amrtrav died at Poena in 1892. The severity of the attachment could well be judged from the fact that even Amrtrav's private property and vatan were also attached, and it was only the high ability and character of Raja Amrtrav which enabled him to regain his private property and vatan with the final approval of the then Secretary of State, just before his death.

Amrtrav II had two wives, Laksmibai and Anandibai. He had no male issue but a daughter named Yasodabai from Anandibai-aaheb. Rajkumari Yasodabai was married to Chatrapati Pratap-sinh alias Bhausaheb Maharaj of Satara on the 28th May 1800 at Satara with all pomp and pageantry.

In the year 1893, while the State was still under British administration, Rani Laksmibai with the approval of the government adopted Ramrav II, son of Dafale family collateral from Uma-rani, as heir and successor to Amrtrav II. Ramrav II was 8 years old (born 11th January 1886) at the time of his adoption. Rant Laksmibaisaheb died on March 28 in the year 1897. -Raja Ramrav II during his minority received very good education. He was first educated at Kolhapur in the Princes School under Mr. Candy. After that he was sent to the Rajkumar College at Rajkot where be distinguished himself both as a scholar and a sportsman. Ramrav was a superb horseman befitting the traditions of his family. While studying at Rajkot, Ramrav was invited to meet H.R.H. the Prince of Wales at Bombay during his visit to India in 1905. Ramrav on attaining his majority was invested with full ruling powers on 11th January 1907. He was a spirited person with a high sense of duty, character and culture and was always keen to uphold the rights and status of his State and his people. He introduced free primary and secondary education in the State, free medical aid, banking arrangements for the agriculturists, nala-bunding and small tank schemes and many good laws for the welfare of his people. He ruled with benevolence and justice and worked towards the removal of untouchability and social injustice. He brought the Barsi light railway into the State and' constructed many buildings for the benefit of his subjects. He introduced local self-government in the State and thus associated the people with the administration of the State. He ably assisted the government during the World War I and maintained a company known as the Jath Company at the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Training Centre at Belganv as a mark of his active assistance to the Territorial Army Scheme introduced in India.

Dafalapur was carved out as a separate estate under a family arrangement for the purposes of maintenance of the descendants of Dhondoji. the younger brother of Satvaji. During the reign of Ramrav II, in the year 1917, the Dafalapur Estate reverted back to the Jath State. [ Under Bombay Government G. R, No. 1091 of 1861, dated 18th March 1861, confirmed bv the Secretary of State India Office, London. Despatch No. 34 of 1361, dated'30th August 1861.]

Raja Ramrav II was married to Princess Putla Raje, the second daughter of Raja Sahaji Raje Bhosle of Akkalkot State, on 18th May 1902 at Akkalkot. Both the Rdjasaheb and Ranisahb were actively connected with several social institutions, among them the famous Seva Sadan Society of the late Prof. G. K. Deodhar of Poona. Ramrav assisted many educational institutions in the Deccan including the Deccan Education Society's Willingdon College at Sangli. He was also the President of the All India Maratha Educational Conference at its session at Nagpur. Raja Ramrav had four sons and three daughters. The sons Pratapsmh, Vijayasinh, Ajitsinh and Udayasinh,. and daughters Pramilaraje, Sakuntalaraje and Kamlaraje.

Raja Ramrav II died on the 14th August 1928 at Jath, and Yuvaraj Vijayasinh succeeded to the Gudi as Ruler of Jath State the same year.

Raja Vijayasinh I was bom on 21st July 1909 at Jath. He was educated at the Deccan College at Poona. He attended the Third. Round Table Conference in London at the invitation of the British Government, He served the Indian Navy during World War II. He became a member -of the Chamber of Princes in his own right. He introduced full responsible Government in the State in 1946 entrusting administration to popularly elected ministers. He also assisted many educational institutions in the Deccan and was the President of the All India Maratha Educational Conference at its session at Mahad. His younger brother Rajkumar Ajitsinh, educated in England, served the State and later appointed as the guardian to the minor Sivaji Maharaj of Kolhapur by the Government of India in their service. Rajkurmr Udayasihh, the youngest brother, was educated at Poona. He served the Indian Navy during World War II.

Jath was a full-power State and the Raja was a Member of the Chamber of Princes in his own right. The State was merged with the Indian Union on 8th March 1948 by a Treaty-Agreement between the Governor-General of India and the Raja of Jath.

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