Baroda and Gujarat States Agency

Baroda and Gujarat States Agency
Agency of British India
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1937–1944 →
Map of the area of the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency. The territories of Baroda State are in violet and those of other states in green.
History
 • Merger of Baroda, Rewa Kantha, Surat and other minor agencies 1937
 • Formation of the Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency 1944
Area
 • 1931 42,267 km2 (16,319 sq mi)
Population
 • 1931 3,760,800 
Density 89 /km2  (230.4 /sq mi)
"A collection of treaties, engagements, and sunnuds relating to India and neighbouring countries"

Baroda and Gujarat States Agency was a political agency of British India, managing the relations of the British government of the Bombay Presidency with a collection of princely states.[1]

The political agent, who was also collector of the British District of the Panchmahal, resided at Baroda (Vadodara).

History

In 1937, Baroda State, the princely states of the Baroda Agency were merged with those of the agencies adjacent to the northern part of the Bombay Presidency, Rewa Kantha Agency, Surat Agency, Nasik Agency, Kaira Agency and Thana Agency, in order to form the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency.[2]

On November 5, 1944 the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency was merged with the Western India States Agency (WISA) to form a larger Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency.

The Attachment Scheme

The process of the 'attachement scheme' began from 1940 onwards in order to integrate the smallest princely states, estates and thanas. Baroda State was one of the main beneficiaries of this measure by being able to add about 15,000 km² and half a million inhabitants to the state. The merged states were Pethapur on 1 February 1940, the Katosan Thana, with Deloli, Kalsapura, Maguna, Memadpura, Rampura, Ranipura, Tejpura, Varsora, the Palaj Taluka and both Ijpura States between June and July 1940. These were followed on 10 July 1943 by the states of Ambliara, Ghorasar, Ilol, Katosan, Khadal, Patdi, Punadra, Ranasan, Wasoda and Wao[3] Also many small Talukas of the region were merged. On 24 July 1943 Sachodar State and a few small places that had no own jurisdiction were annexed. Finally, by December the small states of Bajana, Bhilka, Malpur, Mansa and Vadia followed suit.[4]

States

The number of separate states was above 80, but most were minor states. Many of them were under British influence; the largest one was Baroda State.[5] Jafrabad State had formerly been part of the Baroda Agency and was transferred later to the Kathiawar Agency.

The total area of the states the agency dealt with was 42,267 km2 (16,319 sq mi). In 1931 their combined population was 3,760,800. Many of the inhabitants were Bhils and Kolis.[6]

Main states

Former Baroda Agency

Former Rewa Kantha Agency

Former Surat Agency

Former Nasik Agency

Former Kaira Agency

Former Thana Agency

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency"
  2. ↑ History of the State of Gujarat
  3. ↑ which had been fourth class states in the Mahi Kantha Agency.
  4. ↑ McLeod, John; Sovereignty, power, control: politics in the States of Western India, 1916-1947; Leiden u.a. 1999; ISBN 90-04-11343-6; p. 160
  5. ↑ Princely States within the Rewa Kantha Agency (1901)
  6. ↑ "The Rewakantha directory"

Coordinates: 22°11′N 73°07′E / 22.18°N 73.12°E / 22.18; 73.12

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