Bilbari State (or Dhude The Imperial gazetteer of India, 1885-1887, p. 116,https://archive.org/details/imperialgazettee04huntuoft/page/116/mode/2up or Dudhe BK 353 -Gazetteer Of Bombay Presidency Vol 12 Khandesh, p. 605 https://archive.org/details/1880GazetteerOfBombayPresidencyVol12Khandesh353D/page/624/mode/2up) was a minor princely state during the British Raj in what is today Gujarat State India. It was initially administered by the Surat Agency"Memoranda On The Indian States 1930", p. 290 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.275346/page/n311/mode/2up and then by the Western India States Agency, and with a population of 27 and an area of 1.65 sq miles"Memoranda On The Indian States 1935", p. 98, https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.275347/page/n107/mode/2up?q=Bilbari it was potentially the smallest Princely State in India."Encyclopaedia of Indian events and dates", P. 169-170 https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofi0000bhat/page/170/mode/2up?q=Bilbari possibly only beaten by Vijanones. It was more specifically classified as one of the 14 minor princely states of the Dangs, in the Dang district, India."The golden book of India; a genealogical and biographical dictionary of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire, with an appendix for Ceylon", P. 41 https://archive.org/details/goldenbookofindi00lethrich/page/40/mode/2up
Whenever Bilbari was referenced in print, it was almost always to mention its small area and minuscule population. So for example did the Marion Star (1948-02-09) lament its passing on the abolition of the Indian Princely States in 1948:
History
The area of Khandesh became a British possession in 1818 following the defeat of Peshwa Baji Rao II during the Third Anglo-Maratha War. The neieghbouring Dang principalities were seen as separate states and conducted routine raids into the Khandesh territories. In 1825 the Gaekwar of Baroda sent a force of 10 000 men to subdue the Dangs but were defeated, the Dang states only subjugated in 1839. In 1842 parts of the Dang teak forests, surrounding 446 villages, were leased by the Government in Bombay, the lease extended in perpetuity and to the whole territory in 1862. Some time after 1842 the tribute demanded of the Dang states by the Desmukh of Mulher lead to heavy disturbances, which resulted in the British Government deducting the Desmukh's tribute from the sum paid to the Dang chiefs for leasing their forests. Reorganization scheme for the establishment of direct political relations between the govt. and India and states in the Bombay presidency, 1931, p. 25-26 https://www.abhilekh-patal.in/Category/ItemDetails/ItemDetails?itemId=e9609138-b62c-4dea-a28d-ffabfa4480ee
In 1880 the state had a yearly revenue of ca. 9 £ (90 Rupees). BK 353 -Gazetteer Of Bombay Presidency Vol 12 Khandesh, p. 605 https://archive.org/details/1880GazetteerOfBombayPresidencyVol12Khandesh353D/page/624/mode/2up
Rulers
The Rulers of Bilbari held the title of Powar, and their caste was registered as Animist. "Memoranda On The Indian States 1930" , P. 290, https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.275346/page/n311/mode/2up The Dang Chiefs held the power to settle criminal and civil disputes, including being able to issue fines, have witches sentenced to be burnt alive and other capital offenders being killed by being shot by arrows. BK 353 -Gazetteer Of Bombay Presidency Vol 12 Khandesh, p. 603, https://archive.org/details/1880GazetteerOfBombayPresidencyVol12Khandesh353D/page/622/mode/2up Mhosha walad Vaghu (b. ca. 1860) fl. 1893"The golden book of India; a genealogical and biographical dictionary of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire, with an appendix for Ceylon", P. 41 https://archive.org/details/goldenbookofindi00lethrich/page/40/mode/2up Bhavji walad Mahasia Konkna (b. 1891) 1903-at least January 1934 "Memoranda On The Indian States 1934", P. 98, https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.284346/page/n117/mode/2up Maharu Bhavjia Konkna (b. 1924) 12th October 1934-fl. 1940 "Memoranda On The Indian States 1940", P. 20 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35376/page/n29/mode/2up
References