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."Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency"

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

History

In 1933, the great Gaekwar Baroda State and other 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.History of the State of Gujarat

On 5 November 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. At Indian Independence, this would merge into Bombay State, ending up at its split in present Gujarat.

The Attachment Scheme The process of the 'attachment 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 Waowhich had been fourth class states in the Mahi Kantha Agency. 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.McLeod, John; Sovereignty, power, control: politics in the States of Western India, 1916-1947; Leiden u.a. 1999; ; p. 160

Princely states

The number of separate states was above 80, but most were minor or petty states. Many of them were under British protectorate or at least influence. By far the largest one was Baroda State, which received tribute from many small states. In Kathiawar, only ten more ranked as Salute states. 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 . In 1931, their combined population was 3,760,800. Many of the inhabitants were."The Rewakantha directory"

Former Baroda Agency Salute state : Baroda State, title Maharaja Gaekwar, Hereditary salute of 21-guns

Non-salute states :

Ilol Nahara Sihora (Gujarat) Jambughoda Palaj Derdi Noghavandar Vajiria Palasni Agar Mandwa Derol Vithalgadh Bhadli Gadhula Hapa Gad Boriad Veja Rupal Chotila Bhilodia Dadhalia Charkha Gabat

Former Rewa Kantha Agency Salute states : First Class : Rajpipla (Nandod), title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns Second Class : Bari(y)a (Devgadh), title Maharaol, Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11 personal) Balasinor, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 9-guns Chhota Udaipur, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns Lunavada (Lunawada), title Maharana, Hereditary salute of 9-guns Sant (Sunth), title Maharana, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

Non-salute states : Major Mehwas Chhota Udehpur (Mohan), Second Class Kadana, Third Class Sanjeli, Third Class, title Thakur Jambughoda (Narukot), Third Class Bhadarva (Bhadarwa), Third Class Gad Boriad, Third Class (personal) / Fourth Class Mandwa, Third Class (personal) / Fourth Class Umet(h)a, Third (personal) / Fourth Class Shanor State, Fourth Class Vajiria, Fourth Class Vanmala, Fourth Class (personal) / Fifth Class Nangam, Fifth Class Sihora State (Gujarat), Fourth Class Pandu, Fifth Class

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

Agar Alwa Bhilodia : Motisinghji, Chhatarsinghji Bihora State Chorangla Dudhpur Chudesar Jiral Kamsoli Nalia Nasvadi Palasni Pantalavdi : Akbar Khan, Kesar Khan Rampura Rengan Sindhiapura Uchad State Vadia (Virampura) Vasan Sewada State Vasan Virpur State Vo(h)ra

Pandu (incl. three Dorka estates) :

Amrapur Angadh Chhaliar State Dhari Dodka State Gotardi State Itwad State Jesar Jumkha State Kasla Paginu Muvadu Kanoda State Litter Gothda Mevli Moka Paginu Muvadu Moti Varnol Nani Varnol Poicha State Rayka (Raika) Rajpur, Vakhtapur Varnolmal

Minor former Agencies

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 : Bansda

Other

The Dangs:

Amala Avchar Bilbari Chinchli Gaded Derbhavti Gadvi Jhari Gharkhadi Kirli Palasvihir Pimpladevi Pimpri Shivbara Vadhyawan Vasurna

Former Kaira Agency Salute state : Cambay, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns

Former Nasik Agency Non-salute state : Surgana

Former Thana Agency Salute state : Jawhar, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns (13 personal and local) in first and second world war

See also Bombay Presidency

References