Shahmau

Shahmau was historically the seat of a taluqdari estate held by a branch of the Kanhpuria Rajputs.[4] It was formed by a partition of the Tiloi estate between the sons of Kandhe Rai.[4] The older son, Udebhan (who died sometime between 1670 and 1680), received Tiloi, while the younger son, Gulab Sah, received Shahmau.[4] The reason for the establishment of the Shahmau branch had something to do with Udebhan's weak leadership.[4] For four generations, though, the Shahmau branch remained relatively weak and essentially existed in subjection to the rajas of Tiloi.[4]

However, when the renowned Tiloi raja Balbhaddar Singh died in battle, his widow named the fifth-generation descendant of Gulab Sah, Chhatardhari Singh, as heir to the Tiloi throne.[4] Most of the Kanhpurias did not accept Chhatardhari Singh's claim, instead nominating Shankar Singh of Asni, and a 15-year-long war of succession followed.[4] The eventual outcome was the consolidation of the Shahmau estate and the creation of a second title of Raja for its holder.[4] Chhatardhari Singh's second son later went on to establish the separate Tikari estate.[4]

At the turn of the 20th century, Shahmau was described as a small village (its population in 1901 was 671) that was dominated by the raja's house and its grounds.[4] It had an aided school and a bazar, known as Sukhmangalganj.[4] The village lands were divided between the Raja of Shahmau and the other Kanhpuria taluqdars of Tikari and Guriabad.[4]

The 1961 census recorded Shahmau as comprising 10 hamlets, with a total population of 564 people (284 male and 280 female), in 127 households and 126 physical houses.[5] The area of the village was given as 364 acres and it had a post office at the time.[5] Average attendance of the annual Ramlila festival was then about 25,000.[5]

The 1981 census recorded Shahmau as having a population of 757 people, in 160 households, and having an area of 146.50 hectares.[3]