Bismillah Khan (ruler)
| Bismillah Khan | |
|---|---|
 Bismillah Khan | |
| Nawab of Radhanpur | |
| Reign | 9 October 1874 – 19 December 1895 |
| Predecessor | Jorawar Khan |
| Successor | Sher Khan II |
| Born | 26 April 1843 |
| Died | 20 December 1895 (aged 52) |
| Issue | |
| Dynasty | Babi |
| Father | Jorawar Khan |
Bismillah Khan (26 April 1843 – 20 December 1895) was Nawab of Radhanpur from 9 October 1874 until his death in 1895.
Early life and family
Khan was born to Jorawar Khan, the Nawab of Radhanpur, on 26 April 1843.[1][2] He married and had issue: two sons, Sher Khan II and Muhammad Jalaluddin Khan.[3]
Reign
Upon the death of his father on 9 October 1874, he succeeded to his title, rank and dignity.[4] In 1879, he entered into an agreement with the British government, and by it agreed to stop smuggling, not sell opium below the British price, clear old stock, and submit half-yearly sales reports.[5] However, he only accepted these terms on the condition that if any other state in Gujarat later got permission to grow opium, he would get the same right automatically.[5] To mark the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, he built a library called the Victoria Jubilee Institute.[1][6] Khan also abolished all transit taxes in his state.[1][6] These taxes had been bringing in about Rs. 100,000 each year.[1][6] Khan had made major improvements in sanitation throughout his state.[4] Khan also improved the morale of the public service by hiring educated people.[6] He built new roads, established courts, municipalities, schools, post offices, and a dispensary in honour of his father.[4][6] At this dispensary, people from all backgrounds received free medicine, and poor patients were also given food during their illness.[4] Besides this one, he also opened several dispensaries across the state and established a hospital in Radhanpur.[6] He also built Scott Canal, Bismillah Government Printing Press, a clock tower in Radhanpur, and a central jail.[1][6] When Edward VII, as the Prince of Wales, visited India in 1875, Khan established, in the Prince's honour, an English school with a library attached to it in Radhanpur.[4] Khan also paid him a visit in Mumbai and there received from him several presents: a Silver Chand (moon) with the motto honi soit qui mal y pense, which means "shame on the one who sees something bad in it", one English sword, a "choora" (knife), a solid gold ring, and portraits of the Prince and his consort.[4][6] Khan attended the Delhi Durbar of 1877 and was given a flag there.[6]
Death
He died on 19 December 1895 and was succeeded by his son Sher Khan II.[1][5]
Titles and styles
| Styles of Bismillah Khan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Highness |
Khan held numerous titles starting from his birth, as the son of a Nawab of Radhanpur, and following his accession to his father's throne.[7] Each is listed below; where two dates are shown, the first indicates the date of receiving the title, and the second indicates the date of its loss or renunciation:
- 26 April 1843 – 9 October 1874: Nawabzada Bismillah Khan Sahib of Radhanpur
- 19 December 1895 – 9 October 1874: His Highness Nawab Bismillah Khan Sahib Bahadur, Nawab of Radhanpur
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Solomon, R. V.; Bond, J. W. (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. Asian Educational Services. p. 619. ISBN 978-81-206-1965-4.
- ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Roper (1893). The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. Macmillan. p. 428.
- ↑ Soszynski, Henry. "RADHANPUR". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ghosha, Lokanātha (1879). The Modern History of the Indian Chiefs, Rajas, Zamindars, & C: The native states. J.N. Ghose. p. 168.
- 1 2 3 Department, India Foreign and Political (1909). Bombay presidency. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India. pp. 237, 249–250.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Vadivelu, A. (1915). The Ruling Chiefs, Nobles and Zamindars of India. G.C. Loganadham. p. 274.
- ↑ Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely States in colonial India. Anmol Publications. 1996. p. 163. ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.