Mahi Kantha Agency
The Mahi Kantha Agency ( Mahī Kāntha dt .: "Shore of the Mahi") was an administrative group of Indian princely states at the time of colonial rule that existed from 1820 to 1924 . It was the fourth agency in Gujarat alongside the Rewa Kantha , Palanpur and Kathiawar . It is named after the river Mahī , the Mophis of Ptolemy , who is called corn in the Periplus . Its geographical location extended approximately between 23 ° and 24 ° 28 'N, as well as 72 ° 40' and 74 ° 5 'E. It was 8062 km² in size. A large part of the population belonged to the so-called tribals , mostly members of the Bhil and Koli tribes . The agency was integrated into the Western India States Agency from 1924 to 1944 .
history
After the indigenous inhabitants, the Rajputs immigrated, probably from the 8th century . The further Muslim expansion in the 11th – 13th centuries The 19th century pushed even more Rajputs from their ancestral territories into the region. Since the 15th century, the area has been largely under the sultans of Ahmedabad . The last independent Rajput ruler, Jagganāth, prince of Idar, was driven out by the invaders in 1656. This was followed by the rule of the Mughals , who were replaced by the Mahrats. The latter sent an army every two to three years for the purpose of raising tributes ( mulk-giri ). This practice was taken over by Baroda in 1753. The fragmentation of the territory can be traced back to the division of inheritance practiced up to the 19th century.
In 1811 the British agreed to raise the tribute for the Gaekwar, the Maharaja of Baroda , who was no longer active in the region. Mahi Kantha came completely under colonial control in 1820 after local revolts were put down. 1833–1836 it was again uneasy and after the uprising in 1857 the population was disarmed. In 1878/9 a brandy monopoly was introduced .
The population censuses in 1872: 447,056, 1881: 517,485, 1891: 581,568 and 1901: 361,545 inhabitants. The 38% decrease in population is due to the famines of 1896-8 and 1899-1902. The total tax collected fell by only 4% between 1899 and 1903. About 43,000 people received assistance during the last great famine. Heavier physical labor was required to get the rations, which were less than half of what a convict was entitled to.
The Scott College in Sādra , financed jointly by all countries, served the education of those princely sons who could not be sent to the Rajkumār College of Kathiawar. At the beginning of the 20th century there were 117 additional schools, in addition to four, run by missionaries specifically for Bhil children.
organization
The Agency was under the government of the Bombay Presidency . Like most of the states of Kathiawar and the Rewa Kantha Agency , the rulers were liable to pay tribute to the Gaekwar, i.e. the Maharaja of Baroda (G) and in many cases also to the British (B) or Idar (I). In May 1877 the states were divided into seven classes according to their importance. The classes differed mainly in the powers of jurisdiction that the ruler was allowed to exercise. The rulers of grades 4-7 were no longer referred to as state ( state ), but tālukas .
The agent at the top maintained direct links with the states of the top three classes. His three assistants took care of the other lands. The Assistant Political Agent was also in charge of the police. The personal assistant controlled all tālukas who came under direct administration because of mismanagement or minority of the ruler. The native assistant supervised the 39 prisons, finances and the Sādra Bazar (1901: 1600 inhabitants, <2.5 km²). The property tax was not collected by tax tenants as part of permanent settlement , but was levied directly by the farmer.
- 1st Class
Only the Raja (from 1843 Maharaja) from Idar (= Nani Marwar; 1891: 6450, 1941: 4306 km²), with the capital Ahmadnagar , who was also entitled to 15 rounds of salute , fell into this class. He was automatically a member of the Chamber of Princes created in 1921 . One had the right of blood justice . The agent's approval was only required for proceedings in which a capital crime was to be tried against (white) British subjects.
- 2nd Class
The princes of the 2nd class were allowed to negotiate civil matters up to Rs. 20,000 (1901). Death sentences against natives had to be confirmed by the agent.
- The Raja of Pol ruled over 3900 people in 1901, who lived in 46 villages on 346 km². They paid Rs 17,000 in taxes, no tribute of which had to be paid to others.
- Danta : the Maharana of the 895 km² country, which in 1901 had 18,000 surviving inhabitants, was entitled to 9 gun salutes. From the taxes tribute had to be paid to the Gaekwar, Idar and Palanpur .
- 3rd grade
The third class rulers were allowed to decide in civil matters up to Rs. 5000 (1901; 1930: 10,000) and in criminal cases up to two years imprisonment or fines of up to Rs 1,000 (1930: 5000), but not against the British.
- Mālpur, 250 km²: the Rāwāl had over 13,000 subjects in 1882, in 1901 only 8665 subjects, the number of which rose again to 13,522 by 1931 (then taxes: ø 106,000). They lived in 59 villages. Tributes went to Idar, the British and Baroda. The founder of the state was Virajmal, a younger son of the eighth Rao of Idar.
- Mānsa: the Rāwāl had over 14,000 subjects in 1882, in 1901: 15,639. About 1/6 of their almost Rs 67,000. Taxes went to Baroda in 1903.
- Mohanpur, 230 km²: the almost 16,000 subjects (1901) of the Thākur paid 22,700 Rs in taxes in 1903, of which Baroda received 4,750 and Idar received 245.
- 4th grade
In this and the lower classes were the rights of the Chief as a magistrate always lower. Although the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Criminal Code were usually applied after their enactment, local customary law, preferably collective fines for villages and flogging, has been applied since 1838, particularly with regard to the “backward savages”.
| country | Population (thousand) | Area (km²) | Tax revenue 1903/04 ( Rs. ) (Tribute) |
Ruler titles, notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amlīyārā (= Ambliara) | 7.27 | 155 | 7672 (317 G) 1941: <120,000 |
Thakur, gain of territory in the 20th century (+ approx. 50 km²), in 1930 due to capable administration of the ruler in 3rd class |
| Ghorasār (= Ghodasar) | 1891: 8.4; 1901: 6.2; 1941: 6.7 | 16 | 13415 (3501 G, 488 Kaira) 1941: 51000 |
|
| Ilol | 1891: 5.7; 1901: 3.8; 1941: 4.7 | approx. 50 | 21,000 (1863 G, 17 Ahmadnagar) 1941: ø 55,000 |
Thakur. From 1933 jurisdiction corresponds to 3rd class |
| Katosan | 1891: 1.7; 1901: 5.5 | 41 | 26617 (4893 G, 469 I) | Thakur. Inheritance distribution prohibited in 1884. |
| Khadāl | 1901: 2.2 | 21st | 16440 (1751 G, 250 Atarsumbar) | |
| Pethapur | 1891: 7.01; 1901: 5.7; 1941: 5.44 | 28 | 18470 (8632 G, 750 I) | The state was founded in 1445 by a younger son of Anhilwara Patan from the Waghela- Rajput clan. The relocation of trade routes (railways) led to economic decline in the first half of the 20th century. High proportion of Jain . The Thakur Fatehsinhji Gambhir Sinhji (born October 2, 1895) came into office on November 1, 1918. His son Yuvaraj Bhupendrasinshji, born on Oct. 7, 1921, was still involved in state affairs in the early 1940s. |
| Punādra | 1891: 3.7; 1901: 3.7; 1941: 2.8 | 28 | 1903: 15598 (375 G) 1941: 30000 (269/3/8 G) |
Miān. The ruler Harisinghji, a Koli chief, converted to Islam in 1463. The last three lords were: 1) Abhbsinghji Amarsinghji, * Aug. 6, 1863, r. under guardianship since March 12, 1865; 2) Shivsinghji, † February 14, 1939; 3) Abhbsinghji Shivsinghji, born June 22, 1903, reg. from October 26, 1939, eldest son * 1936, daughter * 1942. State received subsidies in 1941 from Baroda 1560/12/0 Rs ( giras ) and from the British 905 / - ( kothali santh ). |
| Ranāsan | 1891: 4.8; 1901: 3.2; 1941: 5.9 | 77.4 | 9018 (373G, 3B); 1941: approx. 40,000 | Thakur. Dynasty comes from Pramara Rajputs (founded by Chandravati). Ancestor is Jaipāl, who moved from Chandravati to Harol. His 13th descendant Prithvi Rāj established himself in 1227 in Ghorwara, the then capital of the state. The last ruler Jashwant Singh (born Feb. 3, 1916; ruled from Dec. 2, 1938) had three wives. His son Jagdevinjsinhji (born April 1, 1940) did not take office. |
| Varsora | 1901: 3.6 | 28 | 10817 (1383 G) |
- 5th with 7th grade
| Country (class) | Population 1901 (th.) | Area (km²) | Tax revenue 1903/04 ( Rs. ) (Tribute) |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavisi- Thāna | 28.5 | 247 (93 villages) | 16733 (1 round head tax assessed separately G) | Chief is the head of 24 self-governing villages, the most important of which is Barmuada. |
| Bhālusna (6.) | 2.2 | 24 | 1277 (1163 I) | Thakur. |
| Bolundra | 0.74 | <14 | ? (134 I) | |
| Chandap (7.) | 0.588 | <10 | 546 (71 G, 217 I) | Mātadāri village with no actual head |
| Dabhā (5.) | 1.3 | ? 25th | 4379 (150 G, 53 Amlīyārā) | |
| Dadhāha (5.) | 3630 (? G,? I) | |||
| Dedhrota (6.) | 1901: 0.72; 1941: 1.2 | 29⅔ | 2203 (699 G, 74 I) 1941: 13000 (678 G) |
Jurisdiction 1941: sentence up to 3 months and 200 Rs. Fine. Civil matters up to Rs 500. School attendance and medical care free of charge. |
| Deloli (7.) | 0.8 | <3 | 3695 (256 G) | |
| Derol (6.) | 1891: 1.22; 1901: 0.84 | 5 | 1823 (512 G, 17 I) | Thakur. |
| Gabāt (7.) | ||||
| Gokalpura | 0.182 | <2.5 | (42 G) | without their own boss |
| Hadol (= Harol; 6.) | 1891: approx. 3; 1901: 2.6 | <70 | 3900 (113 G,? I) | without jurisdiction |
| Hapa (6.) | 1891: 1.5; 1901: 0.883; 1941: 0.983 | 23 | 1903: 3074 (1025 G, 219 I) 1941: ø 14000 (994/1/8 G, 218/13 I) |
Thakur. |
| Ijpura (7.) | 0.342 | 3051 (239 G) | ||
| Kadoli (6.) | 1901: 0.93; 1931: 1.4 | 20.6 | 3782 (513 G, 93 I) | The last three Thakurs of this house from the Makwana Rajput clan: Bhawansinji, Kubersinhji Bhawansinji (* 1888, ruled 1914, resigned due to old age), Sursinhji (* 1901) |
| Kherāvāda (= Khedawada) (6.) | 1891: 1.3; 1901: 0.804; 1941: 1.7 | 69⅔ | 3758 (303 G, 93 I); 1941: 17000 (293/7/3 G) |
Thakur. 4 villages. In 1941 school attendance and medical care were free. There was no hospital. Jurisdiction in criminal matters 6 months, fines up to Rs 250 .; Civil matters up to Rs 1000. |
| Likhi (7.) | 1891: 1.3; 1901: 0.59; 1941: 1.2 | 23 | 1901: approx. 2500 1941: approx. 9000 (no tribute) |
The last Thakur was Kesarsinghji (ruled May 22, 1939). No jurisdiction before 1930, then civil proceedings up to Rs. 500, penalties up to 3 months and a fine of Rs 200. |
| Magori (5.) | 1891: 3.1; 1901: 1.7 | <60 | > 5000 (93 I) | Thakur. 27 villages. The ruling Magori dynasty, founded by Ratansinghji a later son of Rawal of Mālpur, traced its origin via the Raos of Idar to the oldest Rajput origins. |
| Maguna (7.) | 3.23 | 11959 (892 G) | 5 villages | |
| Memadpura (7.) | 0.45 | 1800 (175 G) | ||
| Motā Kotana (7.) | 0.82 | 570 (? I) | 3 villages | |
| Muljī-na-pāna (7.) | 0.22 | (25 G) | no boss of their own | |
| Pālej (7.) | 1.9 | 4906 (399 G) | 3 villages | |
| Prempur (6.) | 1.6 | 3991 (187 G, 47 I) | 5 villages | |
| Ramās (6.) | 1891: 1.74; 1901: 0.8 | 15.5 | Family is said to come from the Rajput clan of Jhala . The last ruler was Man Sinhji, * Aug. 14, 1912. | |
| Rupāl (5.) | 1891: 3.5 | 41 | 7045 (1165 G, 365 I) | Thakur, 13 villages |
| Satlāsna (6.) | 1891: 7.9; 1901: 4.9 | (2794 G) | Thakur | |
| Santhād (7.) | 3.35 | (1774 G) | ||
| Tejpura (7.) | 1.0 | 3500 (308 G) | 3 villages | |
| Timba (7.) | 1.68 | 935 (50 I) | 5 villages | |
| Umari (7.) | 1.026 | 565 (? I) | ||
| Vadia (5.) | 1941: <15 | 232 | 1941: approx. 250,000 | |
| Valāsna (= Valasnia; 5th) | 1941: 3.9 | 54.1 | 1941: approx. 26,000 | |
| Varāgām (= Vadagam; 5th) | 1891: 3.4; 1901: 2.1; 1941: 4.6 | 72¼ | 5841 (no tribute) 1941: ø 35,000 |
Thakur. The family are Rehwār Rajputs. Vakhatsinhji (born Nov. 17, 1918) came into office on Aug. 29, 1939 as the last ruler. |
The states Sunth and Lunawara , initially assigned to this agency in 1819, came to Rewa Kantha in 1819. Jher (<30 km²) and Nirmali (25 km²) belonged to the Maharaja of Baroda and the Mian of Mandwa together. They were managed by the agent on their behalf.
literature
- Imperial Gazetteer Of India; Oxford 1908 ( full text of the index ; tabular overview in Vol.XVII, p. 12ff)
- Sir William Lee Warner; Historical Sketch of the Native States of India; 1875 ( full text )
- Jagdish Chander Dua; Illustrated Encyclopædia & Who's Who of Princely States in Indian Sub-Continent; New Delhi 2000; ISBN 81-7479-036-5 (obviously reprint, without reference to the source, of a work published around 1943)
- Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Improved methodology from 1901. Tribals were not counted everywhere before. see. FC Danvers; A Review of Indian Statistics; Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Vol. 64, No. 1 (Mar., 1901), pp. 31-72
- ↑ cf. Hardy, GF; Memorandum on the age tables and rates of mortality of the Indian census of 1901; Calcutta 1905
- ↑ cf. Davis, Mike; Late Victorian holocausts: El Niño famines and the making of the third world; 2001, ISBN 1859847390
- ↑ a b c d acc. corresponding position in the Imperial Gazetteer ...; Oxford 1908
- ↑ a b 1901 census. various volumes of the Imperial Gazetteer; otherwise with the year
- ↑ a b conversion factor 2.58 per mile²; rounded. Land surveys in the region for the first time around 1900
- ↑ a b B = to the British, G = to the Maharaja of Baroda, I = to Idar
- ^ The Native States of India; 1910 (full text)
See also
States entitled to salute (list) | Baroda | Bundelkhand | Bagelkhand | Central India | Central Provinces | Dangs | Hyderabad | Kathiawar | Mahi Kantha | Mewas | Mysore | NEFT | Orissa | Palanpur | PEPSU | Persian Gulf | Rajputana | Rewa Kantha | Shan States | Shimla Hill States | United Deccan States | Western India | category