Mahi Kantha Agency

Mahi Kantha was a political agency or collection of princely states in British India, within the Gujarat Division of Bombay Presidency. In 1933, the states of the Mahi Kantha Agency, except for Danta, were included in the Western India States Agency.[1] The total area of the agency was 8,094 km2 (3,125 sq mi); the population in 1901 was 361,545.

Mahi Kantha Agency
Agency of British India
1820–1933

Mahi Kantha Agency in Gujarat
CapitalSadra
Area 
• 1901
8,094 km2 (3,125 sq mi)
Population 
• 1901
361545
History 
• Established
1820
• Formation of the Western India States Agency
1933
Succeeded by
Western India States Agency

History

The states came within the British sphere of influence after the Second Anglo-Maratha War of 1803–1805. In 1811, when the Maratha power was declining, the British Government stipulated to collect and pay over to the ruler of Baroda the yearly tribute of the Mahi Kantha states. In 1820 they finally took over the management of the whole territory, agreeing to collect and pay over the tribute free of expense to Baroda, while Baroda was pledged not to send troops into the country, or in any way to interfere with the administration. After a few disturbances in the 1830s, in 1857-58 and 1867, peace remained unbroken in the region until 1881, when the Bhils of Pol rose against their chief and extorted from him a settlement of their claims.[2]

The famine of 1899–1900 was severely felt in Mahi Kantha, and the population of the agency decreased by 38% in the decade 1891–1901 due to famine. Many of the inhabitants were Bhils and Kolis. In 1897 a metre-gauge railway was opened from Ahmedabad through Parantij near Ambliara State to Ahmednagar. At Sadra was the Scott College for the education of the sons of rulers on the lines of a British public school. There were also English language schools at Sadra, Idar and Mansa.

Successor jurisdictions

In 1933 the agencies of Mahi Kantha and Banas Kantha, known as Palanpur Agency until 1925, were merged. However Palanpur State was transferred to the Rajputana Agency and was thus not part of the newly created agency.

After the independence of India in 1947, the rulers of the Mahi Kantha states acceded to the Government of India, and the area was reorganized into districts of Bombay State. In 1960, Bombay State was split along linguistic lines, and the area of Mahi Kantha became part of the new state of Gujarat.

List of Princely States
States and Thanas in Mahi Kantha Agency
Princely state
Individual residencies
Agencies
Lists

The states were classified in the following manner:

First Class state
  • Idar (styled (Maha)Raja), a 15-guns salute state, covering over half of the territory of the agency.

Second Class state

Third Class states

Fourth Class states

Fifth Class states

Sixth Class states
Mahi Kantha Agency, 1878

Seventh Class states

Estates

The agency included as well a large number of estates belonging to Rajput or Kolis formerly feudatories of Baroda; several of the states paid tribute to Baroda, and some, being classed as non-jurisdictional thalukdars, were under British administration.[3]

See also
  • jher states

References
  1. Arnold Wright ed. Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. 1922.
  2. William Lee-Warner, The Native States Of India (1910)
  3. ADMINISTRATION (1884). b omby n presidency.

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