Draft:Mahson Estate

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  Look at another dynasty / house article before doing any more work on this, and carefully reflect on Wikipedia's definition of notability. ChrysGalley (talk) 09:46, 31 December 2025 (UTC)

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History of the Mahson Estate

Ancestors and Historical Background

Mahson is a historic village situated on the banks of the Kuwano River in the Basti district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Administratively, this village falls under Tappa Kapri, Mahson Development Block and Tehsil Basti. Mahson has also been referred to in ancient times as Mahāśram and Mahātīrth.

According to ancient traditions, from the wife of a Brahmin named Kapil, a son named Pippali was born, who is believed to be the son of Mahākāśyapa (Buddhacharya, page 38). In the Sundarika Bharadvaja Sutta, it is mentioned that Lord Buddha held a religious debate on matters of Dharma with the Brahmin Sundarika Bharadvaja on the banks of the Sundarika River. The hermitage of this Brahmin was originally known as Mahāśram, which over time became corrupted into the name Mahson.

This location is also identified as the Sundarika Bharadvaja Ashram, and archaeological remains of a stupa have been discovered here (Puratatva 21, p. 45; Pragdhara 8, p. 113). Later, this village came under the control of Suryavanshi Rajputs. Just as the precise origins of the Sarnat Rajputs are unknown, similarly the exact historical origins of this lineage are not clearly documented.

According to oral traditions, the Katyur Empire of present-day Kumaon region in Uttarakhand was ruled by King Brahmadev. His grandson Abhaypal Dev established his capital at Askot in present-day Pithoragarh. After his reign, during the rule of Abhaypal Dev’s son, the empire fragmented.

Abhaypal Dev had two younger sons, Alakhdev and Tilakdev. In 1305 CE, Maharaja Alakhdev and Tilakdev left Askot with a large army and entered the Terai region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, reaching Gorakhpur and Gonda. At that time, this region was covered with dense forests and marshlands and was dominated by Rajbhar tribal chieftains.

The region was naturally protected by the Ghaghara River in the south and the Rapti River in the east. The two brothers established Mahuli as their capital and initiated a new administrative system of the Pal dynasty. They also settled in Pura Bazaar in present-day Faizabad district. It is also said that they were connected to King Harsh of Barabanki.

The founding ancestor of the Pura Bazaar branch was Lalji Shah, whereas the founding ancestors of the Mahuli (Basti) branch were the descendants of the two brothers Alakhdev and Tilakdev. It is possible that these two branches remained connected for some time.

According to oral tradition, both brothers acquired the Mahuli estate from Kaulvil, the chief of the Rajbhar tribe. Over time, they expanded their territory and divided into several family branches. The heads of these branches adopted Pal as their surname. It is said that this division was formally recognised by the Emperor of Delhi, although no concrete historical evidence survives to confirm this.

Rulers of Mahson Estate

Maharaja Alakhdev (1305–1342)

Maharaja Alakhdev, born in 1281 CE, was the first ruler of Mahson. He was the great-grandson of Emperor Brahmadev. Leading a Suryavanshi Rajput army, he engaged in a fierce war against the local Rajbhar tribal king. In this conflict, Alakhdev, his brother Tilakdev, and their army emerged victorious.

In 1305 CE, Maharaja Alakhdev established his capital at Mahuli, located approximately 32 kilometres from present-day Basti (about 100 km from Gorakhpur). The Mahson–Mahuli feudal state extended over 14 kos (approximately 47 kilometres) and encompassed several hundred villages. Maharaja Alakhdev passed away in 1342 CE.

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Raja Taptejpal (1342–1359)

Raja Taptejpal, the second ruler of Mahson, was born in 1308 CE. During his reign, in 1353 CE, Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq, the ruler of Delhi, marched with a massive army to punish the Nawab of Bengal, who had declared independence.

In November of the same year, Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq decided to halt and establish camps in north-eastern Uttar Pradesh. During this halt, he received tributes from feudal lords and ensured their loyalty to the Delhi Sultanate.

Raja Taptejpal provided men, weapons, and supplies for the Sultan’s Bengal campaign. In return, the Sultan conferred upon him the title of Raja and granted him associated privileges. He was also authorised to use Pal as a title before his name. This surname was taken from the senior Askot family into which Alakhdev had married. Raja Taptejpal died in 1359 CE.

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Raja Khan Pal alias Gyan Pal (1359–1372)

Raja Khan Pal, also known as Gyan Pal, the third ruler of Mahson, was born in 1329 CE and died in 1372 CE.

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Raja Kunwar Pal (1372–1404)

Raja Kunwar Pal, the fourth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1358 CE and died in 1404 CE.

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Raja Tejpal (1404–1421)

Raja Tejpal, the fifth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1378 CE and died in 1421 CE.

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Raja Satatpal (1421–1441)

Raja Satatpal, the sixth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1398 CE and died in 1441 CE.

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Raja Manpal (1441–1480)

Raja Manpal, the seventh ruler of Mahson, was born in 1440 CE and died in 1480 CE. He had three sons:

Parashurampal, who inherited Mahson

Jagatbali Pal, who inherited Jaswal

Sansarpal, who inherited Siktar

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Raja Parashuram Pal (1480–1535)

Raja Parashuram Pal, the eighth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1470 CE and died in 1535 CE.

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Raja Deep Pal (1535–1585)

Raja Deep Pal, the ninth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1515 CE and died in 1585 CE. His second son Karanpal, originally residing in Hariharpur, acquired 40 villages in 1907.

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Raja Mardan Pal (1585–1620)

Raja Mardan Pal, the tenth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1545 CE. During his reign, under Emperor Akbar, the Mughal Empire reached its zenith. The Mughals either allied with Rajput states or crushed rebellious rulers, ensuring tribute payments and tax collection on behalf of Delhi.

Raja Mardan Pal paid an annual tribute of 618,256 copper dams (15,456 silver rupees) to the Delhi treasury. In addition, he provided a standing force of 2,000 infantry, along with several hundred cavalry, camels, and elephants to the Mughal Empire. He died in 1620 CE.

His younger brother Karanpal acquired a large estate of 40 bighas in Hariharpur with an annual land revenue of ₹11,573.

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Raja Prithvipal (1620–1631)

Raja Prithvipal, the eleventh ruler of Mahson, was born in 1570 CE and died in 1631 CE. His younger son Lal Durjan Pal acquired the Silhara estate.

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Raja Yudhishthir Pal (1631–1674)

Raja Yudhishthir Pal, the twelfth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1620 CE and died in 1674 CE.

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Raja Manpal (1674–1710)

Raja Manpal, the thirteenth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1641 CE and died in 1710 CE. His second son Lal Jorawar Pal acquired a 70-village estate in Banpur, west of Mahuli, with an annual revenue of ₹8,827.

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Raja Dwip Pal (1710–1730)

Raja Dwip Pal, the fourteenth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1680 CE. During this period, the Mughal Empire weakened, and the Governor of Awadh established a hereditary state over central and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Tribute payments were now made to Awadh. Raja Dwip Pal died in 1730 CE.

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Raja Bakhtawar Pal (1730–1774)

Raja Bakhtawar Pal, the fifteenth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1728 CE and died in 1774 CE.

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Raja Sarfaraz Pal (1774–1833)

Raja Sarfaraz Pal, the sixteenth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1765 CE. During his reign, in 1780, he faced a fierce attack by neighbouring feudal chiefs. At the battlefield of Murkapattti (“the place where heads fall”), he emerged victorious, though with heavy losses and significant weakening of his forces.

As a result, the decision was taken to shift the capital to a safer location. Mahson village, situated 22 kilometres from Mahuli, was chosen as the new capital. Raja Sarfaraz Pal died in 1833 CE.

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Raja Shamsher Bahadur Pal (1833–1834)

Raja Shamsher Bahadur Pal, the seventeenth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1784 CE.

In 1801, the Nawab of Awadh, Saadat Ali Khan, ceded half of the Awadh kingdom to the British East India Company. This included the entire eastern region of Awadh, comprising Gorakhpur and surrounding districts. As the Awadh state weakened, the feudal lords of this region stopped paying tribute to Awadh. When the East India Company attempted to enforce its authority, these feudal chiefs rebelled.

Under British Collector Rutledge, it took the East India Company four years to suppress the rebellion in the Gorakhpur region. To set an example, the British demolished the fortifications of several rulers. Raja Sarfaraz Pal and Raja Shamsher Bahadur Pal eventually made peace with the British. Under this settlement, Company rule was established while allowing the Mahson–Mahuli family to retain their feudal privileges, including the hereditary royal title.

Raja Shamsher Bahadur Pal married the daughter of the King of Balrampur. He died in 1834 CE.

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Raja Mardan Pal (1834–1850)

Raja Mardan Pal, the eighteenth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1805 CE. His two younger brothers, including the Thakur of Behil, actively participated in the Revolt of 1857.

After the British victory, the East India Company initiated a campaign of reprisals. All properties of the younger brothers were confiscated and granted to feudal lords who had actively supported the British (the Thakur of Marwatiya was a major beneficiary).

The brothers narrowly escaped execution due to the intervention of their maternal family — the royal family of Balrampur, who had played a significant role in supporting the British during the rebellion. Both brothers withdrew into lives of hardship and penance and were later rehabilitated with pensions and property by the Balrampur state and the Mahson family.

Raja Mardan Pal died in 1850 CE.

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Raja Bhavani Ghulam Pal (1850–1892)

Raja Bhavani Ghulam Pal, the nineteenth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1845 CE. He favored his junior wife and granted succession rights to his youngest son from that wife. He also bestowed large estates upon two other sons from the junior wife.

This decision was legally challenged in British courts by his eldest son Narendra Bahadur Pal. During the prolonged dispute, multiple attempts were made on Narendra Bahadur Pal’s life. He chose to fight the case while living in exile, supported by his wife’s family and his mother’s family.

The case eventually reached the Privy Council of the House of Lords in Britain, which ruled in favor of Narendra Bahadur Pal, recognizing him as the rightful heir to the feudal estate.

Raja Bhavani Ghulam Pal lost the case and subsequently decided to provide allowances to his three younger sons — Ahara, Budwal, and Biththa — thereby reducing Mahson’s revenue by nearly half. He later married Rani Sartaj Kunwari, with whom he had four sons. Raja Bhavani Ghulam Pal died in 1892 CE.

Narendra Bahadur Pal (from the first wife) and Thakur Raghurendra Bahadur Pal (also from the first wife) remained childless.

From the second wife:

Thakur Mangal Prasad Pal received the Budwal estate in 1907 (20 villages; revenue ₹8,276).

Thakur Rajendra Bahadur Pal, born in Mahson, successfully claimed the Ahara estate in 1892.

Satjeet Bahadur Pal also received a share of Ahara.

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Raja Narendra Bahadur Pal (1892–1924)

Raja Narendra Bahadur Pal, the twentieth ruler of Mahson, was born in 1867 CE. He married the daughter of the King of Gangwal, who herself was the daughter of the King of Majhgawan. He later married a second time as well.

Raja Narendra Bahadur Pal died in 1924 CE. His heirs included:

Raja Vijay Pratap Narayan Bahadur Pal

Lal Uday Narayan Bahadur Pal

Lal Bhanu Pratap Narayan Bahadur Pal

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Branch of Lal Digvijay Bahadur Pal

Lal Digvijay Bahadur Pal

(Lal Sahib of Mahason, 1928–1994)

Lal Digvijay Bahadur Pal, popularly known as Lal Sahib of Mahason, represented a distinguished cadet branch of the Mahason royal family. Though not part of the ruling succession, his branch played a significant role in public service, education, administration, and professional life.

Children of Lal Digvijay Bahadur Pal

2. Lal Raghvendra Bahadur Pal - Married to Dr. Shailja Pal (Majhauli State)

a. Dr. Lalmani Pal, a surgeon, married Sonika Pal and had issue

1. Parthavi Pal
2. Gaurangi Pal

b. Krishnamani Pal, B.Com, serving as entrepreneur and businessman

3. Kumari Prathibha Pal (currently Rani Prathibha Singh Chauhan) - Married to Thakor Saheb Kamal Raj Singh Chauhan of the Ambaliyara State, Gujarat, Head of that state.

4. Lal Vishwanath Bahadur Pal, Regional Manager (PB) - married Archana Pal, the daughter of an advocate Mahesh Pratap Singh

a. Abhijit Pal (IIT-D & IIM-B), and

b. Vishwajit Pal (NIT Allahabad) - Qualcomm.

5. Lal Bharat Kumar Pal, Indian Police Services (IPS) - married Dr. Neelam Pal, the daughter of Shri Raghav Singh and had issue as -

a. Shubha Pal (B.Arch)

b. Shreya Pal (Btech -CS)

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Raja Vijay Pratap Narayan Bahadur Pal (1924–1930)

Raja Vijay Pratap Narayan Bahadur Pal, the twenty-first ruler of Mahson, was born on 11 October 1901. He married Rani Pratap Kunwar, born in 1900, daughter of Thakur Chandra Bhushan Singh of Asothar.

Rani Pratap Kunwar passed away in 1948. Raja Vijay Pratap Narayan Bahadur Pal died in 1930. They had:

One son: Kashinath Narayan Bahadur Pal

Two daughters: Rani Ram Kanta Devi (born 1920; married the King of Bijaipur–Kantit, Shri Niwas Prasad Singh)

Rani Uma Kanta Devi (born 1924; married Rao Keshav Sen of Kharwa)

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Raja Kashinath Narayan Bahadur Pal (1930–1988)

Raja Kashinath Narayan Bahadur Pal, the twenty-second ruler of Mahson, was born in 1918. He was a member of the Swatantra Party and served as a Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (1962–1967).

He married Rani Shaileshwari Kumari, daughter of Raja Raghuraj Singh of Mankapur, born in 1915. Rani Shaileshwari Kumari passed away in 2007.

Raja Kashinath Narayan Bahadur Pal died in December 1988. He had three children:

Raja Kailash Nath Pal

Thakur Avinash Nath Pal (born 23 March 1942)

Thakur Avinash Nath Pal had a daughter:

Kumari Anupama Pal (born 9 January 1968), married Tarun Sondhi in 1993

Their daughter: Kumari Devyani Sondhi (born 1998)

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Raja Kailash Nath Pal (1988–2014)

Raja Kailash Nath Pal, the twenty-third ruler of Mahson, was born on 19 March 1938. He was educated at:

Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun

National Defence Academy

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (B.Tech)

He married Rani Durga Kumari Pal, daughter of Raja Himanshudhar Singh of Tekari, born in 1945. The marriage took place in July 1963 in Lucknow.

Raja Kailash Nath Pal was widely known as the “Malviya (Madan Mohan Malaviya) of Mahson” due to his extraordinary contributions to education. After completing his engineering degree, he pursued higher studies in the United States and later worked as a civil engineer in Germany and Italy.

In 1982, on his father’s instruction, he returned to Mahson to manage the estate. Observing the region’s educational backwardness, he dedicated his life to promoting:

Girls’ education

Primary education

Technical education

Institutions founded by him include:

Vijay Pratap Girls’ School

Vijay Pratap Sanskrit School

Raja Kashinath Shishu School

Mahson Modern School

Due to fragmentation of ancestral properties, by his time only 65 villages remained under Mahson, with a total revenue of ₹20,135. His estate was smaller than those of junior branches, and relations among branches were often strained.

Raja Kailash Nath Pal died on 24 September 2014 at the age of 76.

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Raja Amitabh Pal (2014–Present)

Raja Amitabh Pal, the present ruler of Mahson, was born in 1969. He was educated at Mayo College, Ajmer. He married Kunwarani Deepa Pal, daughter of Maharaja Chandrasen Sisodia of Bathra, born in 1973.

He currently serves as Communications Director at FFRF. Prior to February 2016, he was Managing Editor of Progressive Magazine and editor of the Progressive Media Project.

He frequently appears on C-SPAN, BBC Television, Tejivision, and radio stations in the USA and abroad. His writings have been included in school and college textbooks in the USA and Australia.

He teaches a course at Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin. He holds:

A Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina

A Postgraduate degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University

In 2011, he authored the book:

“Islam Means Peace: Understanding Muslim Principles of Non-Violence Today.”

His children:

Kumari Sagarika Pal (born 2002)

Kumari Devika Pal (born 2005)

His brother:

Rajkumar Ashutosh Pal (born 1974), educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and the University of Chicago

Married Kunwarani Gauri Pal, daughter of IAS officer T. P. Nagarajan

Their son: Kunwar Kanishk Pal (born 2006)