House of Baghoch

The House of Baghoch, commonly known as Baghochia, was the ruling dynasty of Hathua Raj, Tamkuhi Raj, Bansgaon Estate (also known as Dileepnagar Estate) until 1947 when these states were abolished and merged into the newly formed Union of India.^[1] The House takes its name from Baghoch and Bharhichowra, the ancient seats of the rulers of Hathwa Raj.^[2] The name Baghauch also may have been associated with the clan from totemistic stage as the name makes reference to Bagh (Tiger) as the clans totem.^[3] Based on the totem, the name of the first capital was Baghauch. They are a sub-group of the Vats gotra of Bhumihar Brahmins.^[4] The founder of the dynasty was a Malla warrior Raja Bir Sen, who played an instrumental role in the invasion of the Sakyas by the Kosla Maharaj Virudhaka in 6th century BC, and it is in the aftermath that Raja Bir Sen got part of the newly invaded country as his land. This makes the Baghochia dynasty one of the oldest and the longest ruling dynasty in the world and also a clan with one of the deepest genealogy.^[5]

The cadet branches also held numerous Zamindaris, Ghatwali and Mulraiyatis in what is now Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Some of the notable Zamindari estates held by cadet branch of the House of Baghoch include Bansgaon Estate (Dileepnagar Estate), Kalyanpur Kuari pargana in the northwest, Madhopur Estate, Tamkuhi Estate,^[6] Sursand Estate,^[7] Kiajori (Chakai) Estate, and Mahal Ledo Estate. Kharna Estate was another notable Ghatwali Estate acquired by Babu Ananda Rai.^[8][9]