Kohra (estate)

Taluqdari estate in Oudh (1636–1947)

Kohra was an estate (taluqdari) of Oudh, British India.[1][2][3] The taluqdari was controlled by the Bandhalgoti clan of Rajputs.[1] Now it is part of Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Kohra Estate

1636–1947

Flag

Status| Taluqdari estate
Capital| Kohra
Common languages| Awadhi, Hindi
Religion

| Hinduism
Government| Monarchy
Babu (Ruler or Chief)|

• 1636

| Babu Himmat Sah (first)

• 1947

| Babu Beni Bahadur Singh (last)
History|

• Established

| 1636

• Acceded to India

| 1947

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Amethi

|

| Dominion of India |

|

Today part of| Uttar Pradesh,
Republic of India
Kohra Palace

## History

[edit]

Narwargarh in present-day Madhya Pradesh was the native place of this taluqdari lineage. Rajkumar Sodh Dev of Narwargarh founded the Amethi State in 966 CE and became its first Raja.[4][5][6][7] His descendant, Rajkumar Himmat Sah, the younger son of Raja Bikram Sah of Amethi, established the Kohra estate on the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra in 1636 CE.[2][3][8][9][10] As part of the initial foundation, he established temple dedicated to Lord Chaturbhuj, marking this as the first religious and cultural establishment of the region.[10] Following this, he constructed the Kohra Fort, where he was formally crowned as first ruler of the estate.[11]

Under British rule, Kohra was scene of numerous battles. Babu Bhoop Singh, the then Taluqdar of Kohra was leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.[1][12][13] He actively participated in the Awadh War of 1857 and played a crucial role in the siege of Lucknow residency.[12] To counter Colonel Wroughton's advances, he fought battles at Chanda, Amhat and Kadunala in the Sultanpur district.[12][14][15][16][17] His property was taken under the management of Court of Wards.[18] The fort of Kohra was leveled in 1859 by order government; its ruins are still to be seen, covered with picturesque clumps of bamboos. On order of Calcutta High Court, by government removed Court of Wards from Kohra.[18] Later, the estate was ruled by Babu Shiv Dayal Singh, who was succeeded by his nephew, Babu Devi Dayal Singh.[11][19]

Babu Bhoop Singh, one of the most notable rulers of Kohra.

After India's independence on 15 August 1947, Kohra (Taluq) estate was merged in Dominion of India and later Republic of India.[17] Babu Beni Bahadur Singh (died 1968), the last ruler of Kohra, actively participated and donated land in Bhoodan movement.[17][11][19] Babu Beni Bahadur Singh had no male issue, after his death in 1968, his brother Babu Pratap Bahadur Singh proceeded as Titular ruler of Kohra, who was succeeded by his son, Babu Shiv Bahadur Singh.[11][19] Babu Shiv Bahadur Singh participated in the class boycott of Uday Pratap College, Varanasi in Quit India Movement of 1942.[14] After his death on 28 July 1993 his brother Babu Umanath Singh proceeded as Titular ruler of Kohra.[11][19]

## List of Rulers

[edit]

The rulers of Kohra bore the title of Babu.[11] The list of rulers is following as:[11][19]

* Babu Himmat Sah (around 1636)
* Babu Bhoop Singh (1840–1890)
* Babu Shiv Dayal Singh
* Babu Devi Dayal Singh
* Babu Mahaveer Singh
* Babu Beni Bahadur Singh
* Babu Pratap Bahadur Singh (1968–1969)
* Babu Shiv Bahadur Singh (1969–1993)
* Babu Umanath Singh (1993–2017)
* Babu Raghvendra Pratap Singh (2017–Present)

## Notable descendants

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* Babu Bhoop Singh (1820–1890), was prominent leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and led a rebellion against the British forces in 1857.
* Babu Umanath Singh (1936–2017), was a Professor of Avadh University. He was a founding member of Uttar Pradesh History Congress.[20]

## See also

[edit]

* Kohra
* Amethi

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Mukherjee, Rudrangshu (2002). Awadh in revolt, 1857-1858: a study of popular resistance. Anthem. pp. 179, 195. ISBN 1-84331-075-9. OCLC 843003664.
2. ^ a b Nevill, H. R. (1903). Sultanpur: A Gazetteer, Being Volume Xlvi Of The District Gazetteers Of The United Provinces Of Agra And Oudh. Allahabad: Govt. Press United Provinces. pp. 101–102.
3. ^ a b Gazetteer of the Province of Oudh. Oudh Government Press. 1877. pp. 45–50.
4. ^ Lethbridge, Sir Roper (2005). 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. Aakar Books. p. 294\. ISBN 978-81-87879-54-1.
5. ^ Lorimer, John Gordon (1970). Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, ʻOmān, and Central Arabia: Historical. 4 v. Gregg. p. 26.
6. ^ Lethbridge, Sir Roper (1985). Prominent Indians of Victorian Age: A Biographical Dictionary. Archives Rare Prints. p. 294.
7. ^ "Amethi Ka Itihaas: खूंखार तुर्क-मुगल और अंग्रेज भी अमेठी को न झुका पाए, हजार साल पुरानी रियासत का अमर इतिहास". Zee News Hindi org (in Hindi). Retrieved 10 August 2025.
8. ^ Millett, A. F. (1873). Report on the settlement of the land revenue of the Sultánpur district. [With] Accompaniments. pp. 155–162.
9. ^ Manual of Titles for Oudh: Showing All Holders of Hereditary and Personal Titles in the Province. Printed at the Government Press, North-Western Provinces and Oudh. 1889. p. 77.
10. ^ a b "चतुर्भुज धाम एक ऐसा मंदिर जो बना आज़ादी की लड़ाई का साक्षी, यहां तय होती थी अंग्रेजों के दांत खट्टे करने की रणनीतियां". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). 8 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
11. ^ a b c d e f g Rathore, Abhinay. "Genealogy of Kohra". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
12. ^ a b c "अमेठी के भूप सिंह ने लिया था अंग्रेजों से लोहा:1857 के लखनऊ युद्ध में रहे शामिल, कर्नल को रोकने के लिए चांदा, अमहट और कादूनाला पर किया था संघर्ष". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 14 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
13. ^ "यूपी का वो गांव जहां आज भी धधक रही है आजादी की चिंगारी, हर घर से निकले थे सिपाही". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). 8 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
14. ^ a b "कोहरा तालुकेदार भूप सिंह ने लिया था फिरंगियों से लोहा". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). 14 August 2022. pp. 1(MyCity). Retrieved 7 October 2022.
15. ^ "अमेठी-कोहरा स्टेट के बाबू भूप सिंह ने कादूनाला युद्ध में लिया था हिस्सा". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 7 June 2024.
16. ^ "1857 की क्रांति में अमेठी का विशेष योगदान". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). 26 January 2010. p. 10.
17. ^ a b c "कोहरा की अमर क्रांति; जहां भूप सिंह ने फूंका था आजादी का बिगुल, हर घर से निकले थे क्रांतिकारी". Patrika News (in Hindi). Retrieved 10 August 2025.
18. ^ a b Srivastava, Santosh (1 February 2024). "लंबी कानूनी लड़ाई से दशकों बाद कोहरा तालुकदारी का बाबू भूप सिंह के वंशजो को मिला पुन अधिकार". Sahara Jeevan. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
19. ^ a b c d e "Kohra Taluk | Talukdari - The History Bro | Infolog.in". 11 July 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
20. ^ Uttar Pradesh History Congress: Proceedings of the I Session, T.N.P.G. College, Tanda, 1985. Uttar Pradesh History Congress. 1986.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kohra Estate.

* Kohra (Taluk) Homepage with Pictures and Map
* Kohra History & Genealogy