Tajpur State
extracts of references of tajpur state in books and district gazetteers

Note: The Reference of the Tajpur State and Taga Caste (Tyagi) to which they belong can be found in many Books, District Gazetteers and other documents pertaining to the History of Bijnor District. Here only very few refences are quoted for reference.

reference of taga’s of bijnor in the period of akbar

References of the taga Caste in the period of Akbar in Bijnor district which at that time was part of Sambhal Sarkar in the Province of Avadh. The ancestors of Tajpur State were Tagas by caste and moved from western borders to this region and consolidated their land holdings in Daranagar, Barhapura, Daranagar, Burahapur and Azampur. They provided revenue, Soldiers on horses and on foot. Taga caste are present day Tyagi.

book of india: page number 504

Shyam singh (of Tdjpur), JRdjd.

Born 1 8th June 1857. The title was conferred, as a personal distinction, on yth December 1888. The Raja belongs to a Taga Brahman family, descended from Balram Singh, who in the last century acquired the State of Azimpur, in Pargana Bashta, and settled upon it. His son, Ram Krishna, largely added to the State, acquiring by purchase, among other additions, the Tajpur land. His son, Kidha Singh, rendered good service to the British Government on the first occupation of the province, and received the valuable State of Gopalpur in recognition thereof. His son and successor, Jiraj Singh, died young ; and was succeeded by his son, Partab Singh. The latter was eminently loyal during the Mutiny of 1857. He defied the rebel Nawab of Najibabad ; and when the rebels dispossessed the Chaudhris of Sherkot, he obtained the aid of his principal Hindu neighbours and turned them out. He defended Bijnaur, and in many ways contributed to the restora- tion of order, and in reward received the title of Raja with extensive grants of lands. In 1873 he was succeeded by his eldest son, Raja Jagat Singh Bahadur, who received the title of Raja Bahadur as a personal distinction in the same year. He died nth June 1885, and was succeeded by his brother, Shyam Singh, who received the title of Raja as a personal distinction on 7th December 1888. He is an Honorary Magistrate, and has been most energetic in the promotion of agricultural improvements.

Residence. Tajpur, Bijnaur, North-Western Provinces.

raja francis xavier shiam rikh of tajpur

Born: June 18, 1887, Succeeded: June 11, 1885.

Heir: Son, Kunwar Bishnath Rikh, born August 26, 1874.

Residence: Tajpur, Tehsil Dhampur, Bijnor.

State: One third of Tajpur State which consists of one hundred and seventy-seven villages and 35 Pattis, assessed at Rs 1,11,036 in Bijnor.

Title: The title of Raja, bestowed as a personal honour on several successive heads of the family, was declared hereditary by notification No. 4-I. A of January 1, 1898.

The Raja belongs to Taga caste and is descended from Balram Singh, who acquired the State of Azampur in the Bashta pargana of Bijnor and took his abode there towards the beginning of the eighteenth century. His son, Ram Kishan, bought land in Tajpur and re moved the family residence to that Palace. He was succeeded by Kidha Singh, who held the property at the Cession of the District, and in return for services rendered during the invasion of Amir Khan Pindari in 1805 obtained a grant of the Gopalpur State. His successor, Jairaj Singh, died young, leaving the property to his son, Pratab Singh, who was styled Chaudhri of Tajpur.

Pratap Singh rendered signal services during Mutiny, paying in a large instalment of revenue at the beginning of the outbreak and supplying a force for the protection of Bijnor. After the departure of the British officers he refused to acknowledge the Nawab of Nazibabad, and when the rebels dispossessed the Chaudhri of Sherkot he led a force against that place and ejected them. He subsequently held Bijnor on behalf of Government and rendered further assistance by sending money to Nanital, where funds were urgently required.

As a reward he was invested with the title of Raja and the revenue of the Tajpur State was remitted for his lifetime. With a further assignment of 50 percent for the life of his successor. He also obtained a khilat of Rs 10,000/- and a grant of villages assessed at Rs 2,500/-.

Raja Pratap Singh died in 1873, and was succeeded by his elder Son Jagat Singh. The later obtained as a personal distinction the title of Raja Bahadur, conveyed by notification No. 2913- P of December 23, 1873. At his death in 1885 the property passed to his brother Kunwar Shiam Singh. The latter, a man of great public spirit, who had devoted his attention towards the improvement of agriculture in these provinces, was awarded the personal title of Raja on December 7, 1888, and honour was declared hereditary ten years later.

Raja Francis Xavier Shiam Rikh was for some time a member of the Statutory Civil Service and is now an honorary magistrate of the second class for the police circle of Chandpur, Nurpur, Sherkot, Dhampur and Seohara. In May, 1900 he obtained the Kaisar- I – Hind medal of the second class as an acknowledgement of his public services. The Raja has become a Christian. He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1910 to 1812.

Pedigree

Balram Singh

Ram Kishan

Kidha Singh

Jiaraj Singh

Raja Partab Singh (d. 1873)

Raja Jagat Singh Bahadur
(d.1885)

Raja Francis Xavier Shaim


  • Bishnath Rikh

  • Jaswant Singh

  • Madho Singh
bijnor a gazetteer volume xiv of the district gazetteers of the united provinces of agra and oudh by h r nevill, i.c.s, f.r.g.s, f.s.s, m.r.a.s - 1908
bijnor a gazetteer volume xiv of the district gazetteers of the united provinces of agra and oudh by h r nevill, i.c.s, f.r.g.s, f.s.s, m.r.a.s - 1908
page no 7

TAJPUR STATE – Raja Francis Xavier Rikh is leading a retired life at Bangalore and the State is being managed by Chaudhry Gopi Nath Singh, his sister’s son. It has been divided among his sons and considerable portions have been sold owing to debts.

Kunwar Vishwanath Rikh is the local head of the family. The property of his brother Kunwar Jaswant Rikh and of Kunwar Rani Kuntla Rikh is managed by Court of Wards.

The State of Raja Jagat Singh is in the possession of Rani M.L Hira Dei, the widow of Kunwar Randhir Singh, Kunwar Jasjit Singh, son of Kunwar Dig Bijai Singh, is still a minor under the Court of Wards.

PAGE NO 95

“Tagas, of whom 8,207 were enumerated, claim to be Brahmans, and to some extent are admitted as such, their position being analogue to that of Bhumihar Brahmans of the eastern districts. Half of them reside in the Dhampur Tehsil, and there they acquired the important Tajpur State, as well as several smaller properties, such as Nihtaur. They are capable cultivators and not ashamed to till the land. The great stronghold of this caste is in the Meerut district, but they are also very numerous in Moradabad. Like the Jats, they have many subdivisions, but the only two importance in Bijnor are the Bissas and Dassas, the latter being considered of impure decent.

imperial gazetteer united provinces, bareilly division
page – 41

“Tajpur – Town in the Dhampur Tehsil of Bijnor District, United Provinces, situated in 29 10’ N and 78 29’ E, 27 miles South – East of Bijnor town. Population (1901) 5,105. The town is chiefly noted as the residence of the leading Taga family in the District, some members of which have embraced Christianity. The Tajpur State was acquired in the Eighteenth century and further extended in the Nineteenth century, for the services extended to the newly established British administration. In 1857 the Zamidar or Chaudhri of Tajpur remained loyal and was rewarded the Title of Raja and by remission of revenue. The present Raja lives in a fine house built after the European fashion and is a member of the Provisional Legislative Council. Tajpur contains a dispensary maintained by the Raja, a primary school with 79 pupils, and an aided Girls school with 32 pupils.

report and minutes north india conference methodist episcopal church - 1903 [ 776344]
methodist publishing house, lucknow
Page no: 110

The only other titled family is that of Tagas of Tajpur. This is comparatively of recent origin. The first member to rise to prominence being Balram Singh, who about the beginning of the 18th century acquired large State in the Azampur portion of pargana Bashta. His son Ram Kishen purchased land in the neighbourhood of Tajpur and removed the family residence to that place. He was succeeded by Kidha Singh, who made further additions to the property and was in possession when the district was evolved in 1801. Five years he rendered good services to Government during the invasion of Amir Khan Pindari and in reward obtained the State of Gopalpur. He was followed by Jiaraj Singh, who died young and left the property to his son Jagat Singh, who was styled Chaudhri of Tajpur.

During the mutiny Raja Pratap Singh rendered signal services to Government incurring there by great danger and loss as will be narrated in the history of the district. As a reward he received the title of Raja Bahadhur and a grant of villages assessed at Rs 2500/-, while the Tajpur State comprising six villages was freed from revenue for his life time, with the remission of half the demand during the life of his successor. Raja Pratap Singh died in 1873 and was succeeded by his elder son Jagat Singh, on whom the title was again conferred as a personal distinction.

As his death in 1885, the property passed the property passed to his brother, Sham Singh who was educated in England and he embraced Christian religion. He was awarded the title of Raja in December 1888 and the honour was declared hereditary six years later. For a time, the Raja was a member of the Provincial Civil Services and is now an Honorary Magistrate of the Second Class for the police circle of Chandpur, Bashta, Nagina, Sherkot, Dhampur and Seohara. His property is widely distributed

Page no: 111

And comprises 25 villages and share in five others in Pargana Barapur, ten villages and one share in Nihtaur, Eight villages and one share in Dhampur, Seven villages in Bashta, five villages in Chandpur and one village and two shares in Daranagar. The total comprises 56 villages and nine shares, with a present revenue demand of Rs 15,917/-.

His younger brother Kunwar Sheonath Singh is also a Christian and for years resided in England, where he qualified in self as a Barrister at Law. He resides in a house which has builtin the English Style and owns a large property comprising 30 villages and shares in 33 others in four parganas od Dhampur tehsil and in Daranagar, Chandpur, Bashta and Afzalgarh. The total assessment being Rs 20,674/-.

Raja Jagat Singh left two sons, of whom the elder Kunwar Randhier Singh, after twelve years residence in England settled in the Ram Bagh Kothi at Tajpur. His share of the State consists of 14 villages and four parts in Dhampur and four parts in Dhampur and 15 villages and eight shares in Afzalgarh with a revenue demand of Rs 19,115/-. Kunwar Digbijai Singh his younger brother, who lives at Roshanpur near Nagina owns 19 villages in Nagina and seven villages and one share in Nihtaur paying revenue of Rs 13,257/.

the imperial gazetteer of india vol xxiii
singhbhum to trashi – chod – zong
page – 206

“Tajpur – Town in the Dhampur Tehsil of Bijnor District, United Provinces, situated in 29 10’ N and 78 29’ E, 27 miles South – East of Bijnor town. Population (1901) 5,105. The town is chiefly noted as the residence of the leading Taga family in the District, some members of which have embraced Christianity. The Tajpur State was acquired in the Eighteenth century and further extended in the Nineteenth century, for the services extended to the newly established British administration. In 1857 the Zamidar or Chaudhry of Tajpur remained loyal and was rewarded the Title of Raja and by remission of revenue. The present Raja lives in a fine house built after the European fashion and is a member of the Provisional Legislative Council. Tajpur contains a dispensary maintained by the Raja, a primary school with 79 pupils, and an aided Girls school with 32 pupils.”

imperial gazetteer of india provincial series united province of agra and oudh
vol – 1 the provinces; rivers, mountains, lakes, canals, and historic areas; the meerut, agra and bareilly divisions
imperial gazetteer of india provincial series united province of agra and oudh
vol – 1 the provinces; rivers, mountains, lakes, canals, and historic areas; the meerut, agra and bareilly divisions
PAGE – 518

“Tajpur – Town in the Dhampur Tehsil of Bijnor District, United Provinces, situated in 29 10’ N and 78 29’ E, 27 miles South – East of Bijnor town. Population (1901) 5,105. The town is chiefly noted as the residence of the leading Taga family in the District, some members of which have embraced Christianity. The Tajpur State was acquired in the Eighteenth century and further extended in the Nineteenth century, for the services extended to the newly established British administration. In 1857 the Zamidar or Chaudhry of Tajpur remained loyal and was rewarded the Title of Raja and by remission of revenue. The present Raja lives in a fine house built after the European fashion and is a member of the Provisional Legislative Council. Tajpur contains a dispensary maintained by the Raja, a primary school with 79 pupils, and an aided Girls school with 32 pupils”