Chamba

Important dates in the history of Chamba.

c.550 AD.                                            Chamba state founded.

1846 AD.                                             British protectorate.

List of Rulers.

Rajas

1690 – 1720                                                      Udai Singh

1720 – 1735                                                      Ugar Singh  Regent

1735 – 1748                                                      Dalel Singh

1748 – 1764                                                      Umed Singh

1764 – 1794                                                      Raj Singh

1794 – 1808                                                      Jit Singh

1808 – 1844                                                      Charhat Singh

1844 – 1870                                                      Sri Singh

1870 - Apr 1873                                                 Gopal Singh

17 Apr 1873 - 22 Jan 1904                                  Sham Singh

22 Jan 1904 - 6 Oct 1919                                    Bhuri Singh

6 Oct 1919 - 7 Dec 1935                                     Ram Singh

7 Dec 1935 - 15 Aug 1947                                  Lakshman Singh

 

History

Chamba was a State in the Punjab, lying between 32° 10’ and 33° 13’ N. and 75° 45’ and 77° 3’ E.  between Kashmir on the north and west, Kangra to the east and Gurdaspur to the south.  The area is mountainous, Kashmir, of course, being entirely within the lofty Himalayas.

The history of Chamba is known with some certainty, because of the existence of numerous copperplate records found there.  It was founded in the mid-sixth century by a Surajbansi Rajput by the name of Marut, who built the town of Brahmapura (Brahmaur).  The state was extended by Meru Varma in 680 AD, and the town of Chamba itself was built about 920 AD by Sahil Varma.  For a long time the state was able to maintain its independence, although it was tributary to Kashmir from time to time.

It was conquered by the Mughals, and was tributary to the Mughal Empire.  However, its remoteness and paucity in terms of resources meant that it was never worth the invaders’ while to interfere minutely with the internal administration of the state, which continued to be left very much to its own self-regulation.  It also escaped being greatly affected by the Sikh Empire.  The British first became involved in 1846 AD, and it was declared independent of Kashmir, under British protection and control.  A sanad to this effect was given to the ruler in 1848 AD.

There was a short-lived rebellion in 1844 AD when Lakar Shah of Basoli tried to take over the state, but with British support it was put down and the rightful heir, Sri Singh was established on the throne.

 

COINAGE.

Copper paisas were the only coins struck in the state, which never had a Mughal mint.  The first series were minted under Charhat Singh and they bore his regnal years 15, 16 and 17 (1822 to 1824 AD.) and a trident flanked by two “C”s facing inwards, but no date.  Another, scarcer type, exists which has two “C”s, but both facing forwards, and no trident.  It is described in the Krause catalogues as a half paisa, but it is equal in weight to the other paisas of this reign (about 5.7 to 5.8g.) and therefore it is a paisa, all of which normally weigh between about.4.2 and 6.5g.

The rebel, Lakar Shah also struck paisas, which differed from those of Charhat Singh by the omission of the trident symbol.

Sri Singh, on his restoration to authority, caused the coinage of Lakar Shah to be overstruck with a trident.  This type, with or without the overstrike, is not frequently met with..

Sri Singh also had a series of his own coinage, which appears as a cruder copy of Charhat Singh’s coinage, but without the regnal year.  This is the type most frequently encountered, but no Chamba coins are common.