Retro...

Lets all step into a time machine and get transported back in time...say about a 100 years... 200 years and re-live the years of yore, the years of by-gone stately grandeur....

Remnants of a Bygone Era


If only these minakari walls could talk and share with us precious historical moments rendering them immortal for all times to come.

However, in Remembrance; now a distant memory for the Families closests Kith n Kin; I compile this blog (Courtesy: Internet & New-age Era), reminiscing our glorious forefathers and ancestors.

Source:

Excerpt from “Chief and Families of Note in Punjab” by Lepel Henry Griffin
Originally scripted in Urdu and later translated & compiled in English sometime during 1940's.

You are welcome to be a part of the Jamdan Family.

Happy Reading!

Blog Admn @ Radhika Sood

PS:
The titles of Raja and Diwan, were sparingly bestowed & were essentially for distinguished service on the civil side.
While for the military officers, the title of Sardar or Sardar Bahadur was considered one of considerable distinction.

Fore Fathers...

Our Forefathers Sham Das came from Gondal Village in Rajasthan.

His son Amir Chand (1780) was a Gondal Sood Khatri Sikh, & worked as a writs petition writer, in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Court, Lahore

Kumedan Jai Singh

Founder Recipient of Jamdan Estate (1806 – 1867)

Come to think of it.....
My Grandparents lived in this house till early 1970's.

Sardar Jai Singh was born in the year 1806. His father, Amir Chand, (1780) a Gondal Sood Khatri Sikh, from Rajasthan, worked as a writs petition writer, in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court, Lahore.

When of age, Sardar Jai Singh commenced soldiering as a Jamadar in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s French Regiment. For a conspicuous act of courage at Peshawar in 1848, when Lawrence was attacked by the mutinous Sikh troops, Jai Singh was appointed Risaldar in the 1st Punjab Irregular Cavalry, raised and commanded by Sir Henry Daly, who mentioned in the highest terms the brave behaviour of this fine old Sikh in more than one frontier expedition. He records of him: “There is not in the army a more gallant soldier, and I know no abler or more experienced officer”

General John Watson wrote further: “He is the one of the most able and excellent officers and the most honest and upright I have ever met. He has been my right hand during the whole mutiny campaign from the siege of Delhi to the fall of Lucknow.”

These commendations were warmly endorsed by Sir James Hope Grant, who commanded the cavalry division at Lucknow, as well as by Sir Colin Campbell, Commander-in-chief. At the close of the campaign Sardar Jai Singh’s services were transferred as Commandant (Kumedan) of the 4th Regiment of Oudh Mounted Police.

As a “Kumedan”, he received a Jagir /grant of twenty-six villages in Jamdan ilaqa of the Bahraich district, in addition to the Orders of Merit and of British India, and the usual military pension. He died in 1867, as a consequence of a fatal accident, after falling off his horse.

Jamdan Estate






Entrance ( from inside)

Its a mini jungle as of now

Endless corridor... has 14 rooms in a row

Yester Yrs Court (Kachari)

Raja Karam Singh's Samadhi








Out House / Teacher's Kothi








Order of Merit: Medallion conferred by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Front/Rear View)

Raja Hira Singh

Founder, Hirapur Estate, Hirapur

Year 1839: Marks the birth of Kumedan Jai Singh’s son, Hira Singh.

Hira Singh, following in his fathers footsteps, commenced service in 1855 as a Dafadar in his fathers Regiment and was appointed Jamadar on the outbreak of the Mutiny, being promoted to Risaldarship at its close. He took part in the most important actions, and was present at the capture of Delhi and Lucknow, receiving the Order of Merit. He then volunteered for service in China and was attached as Risaladar to Fane’s Horse, doing excellent service.

Googled...Fane’s Horse: on an expedition to China, 1860

Later renamed: 19th Bengal Cavalry Lancers

He resigned his commission on the death of his father, Kumedan Jai Singh, and set himself to improve his Taaluqdari Property in Oudh, adding to the estates by the purchase of eighty thousand bighas in the Barthapur ilaqa, Tahsil Nanpara, Bahraich; and he had the name of being a model landlord, punctual in his revenue payments, and kind and considerate to his tenants.

He also acquired by purchase the Estate of Hirapur in the Tarn Taran Tahsil, Amritsar; and both in the Punjab and in Oudh his name stood high as a generous friend of the poor, and a liberal contributor to all different charities. He set apart a considerable sum, the interest of which is devoted to the purchase of quinine for the fever stricken on his estates.

Hirapur Estate


He presented the people of Chubbal, his native village, with a handsome water tank “Sarovar” built at the cost of 20,000, and provided for its perpetual repair by investing Rs. 10,000 in Government Funds for this special purpose.

Shiv Mandir & Sarovar


Meena Sood & Brig. R.K.Sood, SM
with the Temple Purohit & Sarpanch

Wall Plaque dating back to 1880's











Separate Enclosure for ladies


Kids having a Dip in the Water Tank......

Opps...Field Day playing CRICKET.

He also built a large Sarai (Dharamshala / Lodge) at Amritsar and set apart the sum of Rs. 50, 000 in land and securities for its maintenance. His works of public utility in Bahraich (India) and at Nepalgunj (Nepal) have been numerous, and they are thoroughly appreciated by the people, who looked on him as less of a foreigner than the other Punjab land owners who are not always in sympathy with the local population.

Sardar Hira Singh was honoured, with the title of Raja, bestowed upon him at the recommendation of Sir, Auckland Colvin by His Excellency, the Marquess of Dufferin in December, 1888.

General Walter Fane, who perhaps knew him more intimately than any other British Officer, wrote of him as follows: “I know no native whom I can more honestly praise than Hira Singh, and he has left my regiment to the regret of every officer and man. He served with great gallantry and distinction before Delhi and throughout the subsequent campaign of 1858. He was the first volunteer for foreign services in China, and was of the greatest assistance to me in raising fane’s Horse. There is not an officer or man in my regiment I would not sooner spare than Hira Singh. I believe him to be one of the most truthful and straightforward officers I ever knew.”

Golden Book of India pg 176

He died in 1893 and was succeeded by his sister’s grandson, Karam Singh, whom he had adopted as his son, as he had no direct issue of his own.

Raja Karam Singh

Raja Karam Singh (1886 – 1972) was an Oudh Taaluqdar and lived chiefly on his estates in the Bahraich district. He was the head of the family, after Raja Hira Singh’s death, carrying forth the Jamdan Legacy.

He was also the Provincial Darbari in the United Province and Oudh. Sardar Karam Singh had added considerably to his landed estates by purchasing large acreage of land in Oudh at the same time further strengthening on the philanthropic achievements of his father. He possessed several sanads in appreciation of his services.

Marriage Festivities of Sardar Karam Singh in Hirapur... 1900

From the Archives

This Photograph dates back to 1905..........

Dwelling into the past.....Did we have camera’s back then or is it a painting... photographed much later?......

Can’t decipher and my GK isn’t good either.

Graham Bells... Radio or Telephone ; ??...TV; ?? ... Camera;

Anyways, seen in the photograph are:-

1 Edward A. Mumford, Former DSP, Lko
2 Mary Ann Mumford, Wife
3 Son
4 Daughter
5 Daughter
6 Daughter-in-law
7 Leonie, Grand Daughter

Occasion:

Golden Wedding Anniversary of Edward and Mary Ann, probably celebrated right here, where we live a century later.

Rare and definitely worth pulling out from the Archives.... Isn’t it?

Can’t help marvel at the ladies elaborate chignon and the lacy gowns.......while the men look aristocratic.......what stature and regal pride..........and the cute marsh mallow... ie three yr old in the centre........

Rewind: Early 1900’s

Mr Mumford, then DSP, lived in the very same house; we live in today, along with his family.

Move to 1920’s:

Raja Karam Singh, bought the house from them, before Mumford Family left India.

Forward to mid 1990’s:

Mr Mumford’s Grandson visited India, all the way from England, trying to trace/rediscover his family’s roots here in India, and gather as much information about his grandfather during his stay with the British Raj, before independence.

This rare photograph was sent back to us, from England, after Teddy (grandson) met Dad and exchanged notes with him, about the house, his family, our family, the Nawabi city et al dating back to a bygone era....Nostalgic Memories, for him as well as for us...


Leap into 2K7:

Thought I should add this so very special photograph, here to my blog-roll and preserve it, thereby, giving it a BRAND NEW DIMENSION here on the INTERNET.

Who would have thought of Computers and Net working back in the early 1900’s?

Forward to the new millennium, and I can share this rare photograph with friends all over the world, at a CLICK of a Key........ Thx to the giant strides we are taking......in this Techno World.....AMAZING!!

Raja Pratap Singh

(1904 - 1966)

Of the daughter and five young sons,of Raja Karam Singh, who have been educated on modern lines, two are graduates of the Lucknow University. The eldest Sardar Pratap Singh, is particularly known in the United Provinces for Managing his father’s extensive farms on scientific principles.

Sardar Chain Singh

Sardar Chain Singh, a son of Raja Hira Singh’s sister, resides in Amritsar district.

He is a Divisional Darbari in Oudh but resides in Hirapur. He has been given a grant of ten squares of land in the Chenab colony. In 1913 he was appointed as Honorary Magistrate and a Civil Judge and he had these posts until 1933 when he resigned. For his services during the Great War, 1919, the title of Sardar Bhadur was conferred upon him and he was granted a recruiting badge, a robe of honour and a gun.

The commander-in-chief was pleased to grant him a sanad and a gun with an engraving on it. The Sardar Bhadur helped combating the Akali Movement also. His only son died in 1912, and he adopted a great grandson, Harbans Singh.

First Cousin's

Sardar Labh Singh, the eldest son of Sardar Hira’s Singh sister, left three sons; the eldest Karam Singh, was adopted by Raja Hira Singh; the second, Dharam Singh is a special Magistrate with 1st Class powers and an Assistant Collector in the Bahraich District; and the youngest Dhayan Singh, is an executive Officer of the Bahraich Municipal Board.

The Raja’s second cousin, Sardar Ganda Singh, was for many years Risaldar in the 19th Bengal Lancers. Ganda Singh eldest son, Amin Chand, was a district officer in the Jammu State; and two others of his children are employed in Kapurthala.

Rai Bahadur Shiv Ram Kyshap, the great grandson of Jamiat Rai, received his higher education in England in Botany and was admitted into the Indian Educational Service. He was for many years the Professor of Botany at the Government College, Lahore. He died in 1934 of heart failure while yet in service.