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Fig 1 Map showing the small strip-like state Kishangarh to the east of the British Territory of
Ajmer (straw color), between Jodhpur and Jeypur (Popel, 1880).

Background Information

The Rajahs of Kishangarh are descended from the Rathur clan of Jodhpur. They are descended directly from
Maharajah Udai Singh of Jodhpur, whose second son Kishan Singh (1575 – 1615) left for Ajmer in 1596. Later
he assisted the Mughal Emperor Akbar and was granted the district of Sethaloa. In 1611 he founded the town of
Kishangarh, which became the capital of the eponymous state. He was designated a Rajah by Akbar, but raised
to a Maharajah by Akbar’s successor, his son Jahangir. In 1649 Maharaja Roop Singh erected the forts of
Kishangarh and Roopangarh (24.3 kms to the north). Both were massive constructions.The first treaty with the
British Government was made in 1818 by Raja Kalyan Singh under which it became a Protectorate paying no
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tribute to the Imperial Government .
Kishangarh state had an area of 2210 km² (858 miles²) and a population in 1901 of 90,970, a decrease of 27%
over the census figure of 1891, generally attributed to the famine of 1899-1900 4-6 and the cholera epidemic which
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followed . The state enjoyed an estimated revenue of Rs.34, 000/- and did not pay any of it to the British Raj. It
was generally an impoverished state with few resources, but with heavy taxation by the ruler, who owned all the
land, collecting rents etc (i.e. a Feudal system). In 1840, Prithvi Singh, who was adopted from the Fategarh Singhs
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(a small town in the south of Kishangarh state) became the 15th Maharaja of Kishangarh , and reigned till his
early death in 1879 at age 43, after which he was succeeded by his eldest son, Sardul Singh. They were responsible
for the early revenue issues of the state. This exhibit stops in 1889 and does not deal with the next stamp issue,
although it does cover the revenue papers until the first Mandan Singh Issue in 1905.

3. W.W.Hunter, “The Imperial Gazetteer of India”, Trubner & Co., London, 1886

4. K.D.Erskine, “The Imperial Gazetteer of India: Provincial Series, Rajputana, Superintendant
of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1908

5. General reports on the Census of India, 1891 & 1901
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_in_India_by_past_population
7. Kishangarh Royalty.html
8. http://www.royalfamilyofindia.com/kishangarh/
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