The Feudatory State of Nandgaon

Nandgaon was a relatively small but significant entity in central India, part of the Chhattisgarh region during the British Raj. Situated in the present-day Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Nandgaon was one of the princely states that played a modest but notable role in the region’s history.

Early History

The princely state of Nandgaon originated as the political fragmentation of the region following the decline of larger powers like the Marathas, leading to the emergence of smaller states under local rulers.

Nandgaon covered an area of approximately 1,050 sq km and was predominantly rural, with agriculture serving as the backbone of its economy. The state included several villages and towns, with Nandgaon town serving as its administrative headquarters. The rulers bore the title of Raja, reflecting their status as local sovereigns under British paramountcy.

British Era

In 1865, Nandgaon became a princely state under British suzerainty and part of the Chhattisgarh Feudatory States under the Central Provinces. The rulers pledged allegiance to the British Crown in exchange for internal autonomy.

Unlike the other princely states of India, the state of Nandgaon was established in 1765 by a religious sect. Prahlad Das, a member of the Bairagi sect, travelled to Ratanpur, then ruled by the Bhosles of Marathas and established a wealthy estate. The estate passed on to the disciple after the Mahant’s death. The practice of disciples inheriting the estate from their predecessors continued till Mahant Ghasi Das decided to get married and make the succession hereditary.

Mahant Raja Ghasi Das, one of the prominent rulers of the state, is remembered for his administrative skills and efforts to modernise the state within the constraints of its resources.

Integration into India

In 1948, Nandgaon became part of the newly formed Madhya Pradesh State, which included the Chhattisgarh region. In 2000, when Chhattisgarh was carved out as a separate state, the territories of Nandgaon became part of the new state.

Stamps of Nandgaon

Mahant Raja Balram Das issued the first postal stamps of Nandgaon in 1891. Nandgaon issued a total of six different designs. The first issue had two stamps of half, and two annas, which were ungummed and printed on white paper using the typography technique. The stamps had a white oval in the centre with the text FEUDATORY STATE RAJNANDGAON O R. The denomination was mentioned at the top and the bottom and the sides contained the name of the state in Devanagari and English.

The second design had a half-anna stamp in green, a one-anna rose, and a two-anna red. The stamps had two different ovals, the inner one mentioning the denomination in Devanagari while the space between the two ovals had the text SAMSTHAN RAJNANDGAON and RADSI DAK TICKET in Devanagari. The corners had floral designs.

The official stamps of Nandgaon came hand-stamped M.B.D., the initials of Mahand Balram Das. This was done to prevent forgery.