Our official recorded history begins with the written records of battle fought by Alexander the Great and my ancestor Raja Porus almost 300 years before the birth of Christ. A detailed history book on my families history is available at the Maharaja Sansar Chandra Museum.
My family has been written about by many travelers who visited ancient India for example Hsuan-tsang [ c. 602–664 ]. Details of our wars with the Mughal Empire can be found in almost all Mughal scriptures.
(Picture: Ring of Raja Porus)
In the late 17th century Maharaja Sansar Chandra ruled over Kangra and its surrounding area. His reign was considered as the Golden age of Kangra. In the first war of Independence my ancestor Raja Pramod Chand fought against the British Empire, he was captured and then jailed in Almora where he died [ he has the status of an Indian Freedom Fighter ].
In this golden age of Kangra, Maharaja Sansar Chandra took the title of Chattrapati Naresh. He also constructed a temple within the fort of Tira Sujanpur – This temple contains the largest Ashath Dhatu Idols (Shiv, Parvati, Nandi) in India. His name spread far and wide and people from all walks of life (soldiers, artisans, artists, craftsmen, dancers, musicians, carpet makers, jewelers, sword makers, cannon makers etc.) started to flock into his court. He was so revered by his subjects that they used to call him the Pahari Badshah (the Emperor of the Mountains). He greatly beautified the city of Kangra and Sujanpur. He built his Zanana Mahal (palace for his queens) in the gardens of Alampur (these gardens are said to have rivaled the Shalimar garden of Lahore). He built the fortified town of Nadaun (Chaumukhi fort) and embellished it with great palaces and other official buildings.
My Great Great Grand Father Maharaja Jai Chandra is credited with the formation of the Dogra Regiment [ currently a part of the Indian Army ].
During the First World War Maharaja Sir Jai Chandra supplied 1000 recruits and contributed generously to the war loan and the Red Cross. He also organizes the "Lambagraon War League" & this league won 5th place among the 250 districts of the British Indian Empire. By October, A.D. 1916, he had supplied almost 21,000 men to the Dogra Regiment.
Maharaja Jai Chandra founded the Hindi Newspaper "Samrat Vijaya" explaining to his people the benefits of education.
In April of A.D. 1924, the Viceroy and Governor General of India, Lord Reading on his way to Mandi, stopped at Lambagraon to meet with Maharaja Sir Jai Chandra (where it is believed that Maharaja Jai Chandra was promised the return of Kangra) – a house presently called the Angrezi Kothi (house for English) was built for the one night stay of the Viceroy and his party & after this meeting Maharaja Jai Chandra started construction of a large palace in Lambagraon.
Two months later on June 23rd A.D. 1924, Lord Reading issued a Sanad which granted Maharaja Jai Chandra the hereditary distinction of Maharaja of Lambagraon – Kangra, along with this distinction he was returned the fort of Kangra (the fort once again came back to its founder family – but was now in ruins due to the A.D. 1905 Earthquake). Along with this title he was also given a personal honor of 11 gun salutes.
My Great Grand Father was the first Ruling Chief of Punjab to sign the instrument of acquisition, which lead to the Formation of current day India. Maharaja Dhruv Dev Chandra headed the council of Punjab hill rulers, which went to Jawahar Lal Nehru (first Prime Minister of India) to put forward their case.
Jawahar Lal Nehru officially recognized them as Allah-Maliks (superior Land Lords) an ancient system of Land holding – where the rulers owned every inch of the land and his subjects were his tenants (this is one of the reason why there are no Jagirdars in Kangra) only Zaildar was appointed (officials who were allowed to collect revenue (tax's) but could not keep an army).
Maharaja Dhruv Dev Chandra was married in Tehri Garhwal. He passed away in December A.D. 1988 and was succeeded by his eldest son the Erstwhile Maharaja Aditya Dev Chandra.
My Grand Father Maharaja Aditya Dev Chandra educated in Doon School – he is the present head of the Katoch clan and like some of the ex-rulers in India he too has now become a hotelier and businessman. In 1990 he contested for the Thural Legislative seat. He is also a patron member of the Akhil Bharatiya Shatriya Mahasabha.
He is married to the eldest Princess Chandresh Kumari of Jodhpur, Rajasthan (she is the elder sister of H.H. Maharaja Gaj Singh – II of Jodhpur). She joined politics (Congress Party) by contesting her first legislative assembly elections in A.D. 1972 from there she went on to become a Minister of State (Himachal Pradesh) for two terms. After spending almost 10 years in the State Assembly, she went on to become the youngest ever lady member to be elected into the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament). She had contested from Lok Sabha constituency seat of Kangra and in a matter of speaking Kangra was once again (for 5 years) looked after by a direct member of the Katoch Royal Family. In 2001, the honor of Himachal Ratan was conferred upon her. From 2003 to 2007, she was elected as a member of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (third term). In 2003-2004, elected as Cabinet Minister in Health Department in Government of Himachal Pradesh. She was an elected member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) and is also the President of – All India Mahila Congress (the women's wing of the Congress). In 2009, she won the Lok Sabha Member Parliament seat of Jodhpur and in 2012 she was appointed as a Cabinet Minister for Culture in Government of India.
My Father Mr. Aishwarya Chandra Katoch, educated in Mayo College in Ajmer, Rajasthan; he is actively involved in family businesses and is also keenly involved in local state politics. He is successfully involved in the running of following companies as:
He is very closely attached to my Grandmother's political career.
He has actively works towards the upliftment of Kangra and is associates to the following social causes:
My Mother eldest daughter of the House of Sailana – Tikarani Shailja Katoch (daughter of H.H. Maharaja Vikram Singh of Sailana, Madhya Pradesh).
She done her schooling from Sophia High School, Mount Abu, Rajasthan and B.A. Honors (Economics) from St. Xaviers College, Ahmedabad. She is Director of Kangra Group. [www.kangragroup.com / www.royalkangra.com] and also involved in social activities. She is Founder of Ambika Educational Society and runs Happy Hours Public School, both in Kangra.
