Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency

The Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency was an agency of the Indian Empire, managing the relations of the Provincial Government of the Bombay Presidency with a collection of princely states.[1][2]

Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency
Agency of India
1944–1947

Map of the area of the Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency
Area 
• 1931
58,825 km2 (22,712 sq mi)
Population 
• 1931
8,980,811
History 
1944
1947
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Baroda and Gujarat States Agency
Western India States Agency
Bombay State
Saurashtra State
Kutch State
"A collection of treaties, engagements, and sunnuds relating to India and neighbouring countries"

The political agent in charge of the agency resided at Baroda (Vadodara).

History

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In 1937 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.[3] On 5 November 1944 the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency was merged with the Western India States Agency (WISA) to form the larger Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency.[citation needed]

After the Independence of India in 1947, as India and Pakistan, the rulers of the princely states of the agency signed the Instrument of Accession and joined India. Only a few princely states such as Junagadh and (Bantva) Manavadar lingering over joining Pakistan.[4] Finally following the accession to India the territories managed by the agency were integrated into the following newly created states:

On 1 November 1956, Bombay State was re-organized under the States Reorganisation Act, absorbing various territories including the Saurashtra and Kutch States, which ceased to exist. Bombay State was split along linguistic lines in 1960, and some princely states which had formerly belonged to this agency became part of Gujarat and others of Maharashtra.[citation needed]

Residents at Baroda for Western India and Gujarat States Agency

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  • 5 Nov 1944 - 6 May 1947 Sir Cyril Percy Hancock (**.) (acting to 5 Nov 1944)
  • 7 May 1947 – 14 Aug 1947 Leonard George Coke-Wallis (b. 1900 - d. 1974)[7]

Princely states

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The number of separate princely states was above 250, but most were minor or petty states, some not even included here. Some of them had been integrated after 1940 during the 'attachment scheme' right before the creation of the agency; the largest one was Baroda State, which merged with Bombay State in 1949.[8]

Former Baroda and Gujarat States Agency

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Salute state :

  • Baroda State, title Maharaja Gaekwar, Hereditary salute of 21-guns

Non-salute states :

Salute states :

  • First Class : Rajpipla (Nandod), title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
  • Second Class :

Non-salute states :

Major Mehwas
minor Mehwas (petty (e)states), in two geographical divisions

Sankheda :

Pandu (incl. Dorka estates) :

Smaller former Gujarati agencies

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Former Kaira Agency : Salute state :

  • Cambay, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns

Former Nasik Agency :

Former Surat Agency :

Salute states :

  • Dharampur, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11 personal)
  • Sachin, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

Non-salute state :

Former Thana Agency : Salute state :

  • Jawhar, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

Former Western States Agency

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Former Eastern Kathiawar Agency

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Salute states :

  • Bhavnagar, title maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local)
  • Dhrangadhra, title Maharaja Raj Sahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
  • Limbdi, title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
  • Palitana, title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
  • Wadhwan, title Maharana, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

Former Western Kathiawar Agency

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Salute states :

  • Junagadh, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15 local and personal)
  • Nawanagar, title Maharaja Jam Rahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15 local)
  • Porbandar, title Maharaja Rana Rahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
  • Gondal, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Morvi, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Wankaner, title Maharaja Raj Rahib, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Dhrol, title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
  • Rajkot, title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

former Banas Kantha Agency

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Former Palanpur Agency
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Salute states :

  • Cutch, title Maharao, Hereditary salute of 17-guns (19-guns local)
  • Palanpur, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (1933 transferred to Rajputana)
  • Radhanpur, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Former Mahi Kantha Agency
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Salute states
  • First Class state : Idar, title (Maha)Raja, 15-guns, covering over half of the territory of the agency.
  • Second Class state : Danta, title Maharana, 9-guns
Non-Salute states
  • Third Class states
  • Fourth Class states
  • Fifth Class states
  • Sixth Class states
  • Seventh Class states
Lesser Estates

The agency included as well a large number of estates belonging to Kolis and/or Rajput, formerly feudatories of the Gaekwar Baroda; several of the states paid tribute to Baroda, and some, being classed as non-jurisdictional thalukdars, were under British administration.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "List of Princely States of India". Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency"
  3. ^ "History of the State of Gujarat". Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  4. ^ Sadasivan, S. N. (2005). Political and administrative integration of princely states By S. N. Sadasivan. pp. 26, 27. ISBN 9788170999683. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  5. ^ The covenant, entered into by the rulers of Kathiawar States for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar. OL 5231307M. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  6. ^ "International Law Reports vol. 50, 1950". Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Provinces of British India". Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  8. ^ "Princely States within the Rewa Kantha Agency (1901)". Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2014.

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