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

History

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

Residents at Baroda for Western India and Gujarat States Agency

Princely states

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.

Former Baroda and Gujarat States Agency

Former [Baroda Agency]

Salute state :
Non-salute states :

Former [Rewa Kantha Agency]

Salute states :
Non-salute states :
; Major Mehwas
  • Chhota Udehpur, Second Class
  • Kadana, Third Class
  • Sanjeli, Third Class
  • Jambughoda, Third Class
  • Bhadarva (Bhadarwa), Third Class
  • Gad Boriad, Third Class / Fourth Class
  • Mandwa, Third Class / Fourth Class
  • Umet(h)a, Third / Fourth Class
  • Shanor, Fourth Class
  • Vajiria, Fourth Class
  • Vanmala, Fourth Class / Fifth Class
  • Nangam, Fifth Class
  • Sihora, Fourth Class
  • Pandu, Fifth Class
; minor Mehwas, in two geographical divisions
Sankheda :
  • Agar
  • Alwa
  • Bhilodia :
  • * Motisinghji,
  • * Chhatarsinghji
  • Bihora
  • Chorangla
  • Dudhpur
  • Chudesar
  • Jiral Kamsoli
  • Nalia
  • Naswadi
  • Palasni
  • Pantalavdi :
  • * Akbar Khan,
  • * Kesar Khan
  • Rampura
  • Regan
  • Sindhiapura
  • Uchad
  • Vadia
  • Vasan Sewada
  • Vasan Virpur
  • Vo(h)ra
Pandu :

Smaller former Gujarati agencies

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
  • 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

Former Eastern Kathiawar Agency

Salute states :
  • Bhavnagar, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
  • 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
Non-salute states :

Former Western Kathiawar Agency

Salute states :
  • Junagadh, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
  • Nawanagar, title Maharaja Jam Rahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
  • 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
Non-salute states :

former Banas Kantha Agency

Former Palanpur Agency
Salute states :
  • Cutch, title Maharao, Hereditary salute of 17-guns
  • Palanpur, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
  • Radhanpur, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Non-salute states :
; Salute states
  • First Class state : Idar, title Raja, 15-guns, covering over half of the territory of the agency.
  • Second Class state : Danta, title Maharana, 9-guns
; Non-Salute 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.