2022-01-19 Wed

Raghuraj Singh has issued copper Paisa at Rewa mint in 1906. The obverse of the coin depicts a lion with tail raised upright and Vikram Samwat date. And the reverse side of the coin has Agent Bushby Saheb in English legend.

The Rewa state traced its origin from Vyaghra Dev, a descendant of the Vaghelas of Gujarat. In order to expand, he moved to northern India and captured the Marpha fort which was located 18 miles northeast of Kalinjar. He married the daughter of Pirhawan’s ruler and captured the territory between Kalpi and Chandalgarh. His son, Karan Dev married the daughter of the Raja of Ratanpur and got Bandhavgarh territory as dowry. He conquered the Rewa region and formed Bandhavgarh as his capital until it was destructed by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar in 1597. Till the 15th century, they were busy extending their territories and tried to escape from the attention of Delhi Sultanates. But in 1498-9, Sikander Lodi attacked but ultimately failed in capturing the Bandhavgarh fort.

Rewa or Rewah princely state was the largest state of Bagelkhand Agency and the second largest in Central India Agency. It lies between the United Provinces to the north, Bengal to the east, Central Provinces to the south, and the west side by Maihar, Nagod, Sohawal, Kothi Baghelan, and Panna. The Bagelkhand Agency was dissolved in 1933 and so Rewa was placed into Indore Residency. It was the first princely state to declare Hindi as a state language during the reign of Maharaja Gulab Singh. It was also popular for its white tigers.

Image Courtesy: Mintage World