Uniara Jagir

Uniara was a jagir under princely state of Jaipur.

The area of Uniara was approximately 375 square miles (971.246 km²).^[1] It comprised 177 villages.^[1] It was originally a small estate, but over the years, it was enlarged through subsequent grants.^[2]

It was located approximately 70 miles south of Jaipur, between latitudes 25°40′ and 26°30′, and longitudes 75°30′ and 76°10′.^[1][2] It was bounded to the north and north-west by Tonk, to the south by Bundi, to the east by Tonk, and to the west by Jaipur and Bundi.^[1]

The estate was divided into four tehsils, seven talukas, five police stations, and seven outposts for administrative purposes.^[1] It maintained its own contingent of 327 personnel and a police force of 192.^[1] The seat of administration was at Uniara.^[1]

Bar Singh, the eldest son of Udaikaran and heir to the throne of Amber, took offense when his father became interested in a woman Bar Singh was meant to marry.^[3] He asked his father to marry her instead and relinquished his claim to the throne in favor of any offspring from that union.^[3] Narsingh, the son born from that marriage, succeeded to the throne of Amber after Udaikaran's death, while Bar Singh received an estate of 84 villages as his patrimony.^[3] Bar Singh’s son, Mairaj, was once in possession of Amber.^[3] However, his son, Naru, did not retain it.^[3] When Naru was supplanted by Chandra Sen in 1527, he returned to Mozabad.^[3] He had five sons: Dasa, Lala, Tejsi, Jeta, and Chitar.^[3] His descendants became known as the Naruka.^[3] Dasa was the eldest son of Naru.^[4] The descendants of Dasa are called the Dasawat and the Rao Raja of Uniara claims descent from him.^[3]

In the 14th or 15th century, the Uniara was under the control of the Sisodias, from whom the ancestor of the family took it through war.^[4] In 1638, Shah Jahan confirmed Chandrabhan's possession of Uniara.^[5][6] Uniara's ongoing disputes with the neighboring state of Tonk necessitated the maintenance of a strong military force.^[7] Uniara maintained fifteen forts, which were equipped with up to six large guns, seventeen small guns, and a garrison of 995 soldiers.^[7] Of all the feudatories of Jaipur, it had the largest army, consisting of 3,183 men.^[7]

The annual revenue of the estate was about Rs. 300,000 in 1935, out of which Rs. 38,440 was paid annually as tribute to Jaipur.^[1]

Rao Raja of Uniara belongs to the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs and is the head of the Naruka branch of the family settled in Jaipur.^[8] Like the Maharaja of Alwar and the Thakur of Lawa, the Rao Raja claims descent from Naru, a great-grandson of Udaikaran, the ruler of Amber.^[9] Jai Singh II conferred the title of Rao and Madho Singh I that of Raja on the rulers of Uniara.^[7]

Succession was governed by the rule of lineal primogeniture.^[2] Upon the ruler's death, the eldest son would inherit the estate, and suitable provisions would be made for the younger sons.^[2] If the ruler left no heirs, the nearest relative in the line of succession would take his place.^[2]

Rulers were:^[5]

• Rao Raja Bishan Singh of Uniara listening to musicians.
• Rao Raja Sardar Singh of Uniara worshiping Lord Krishna.
• Rao Raja Rajendra Singh of Uniara with his son and successor Dalpat Singh.
• Rao Raja Bishan Singh of Uniara.