Shimla Hill States

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Some Hill States of Punjab (1911)

The Shimla Hill States (from 1901 Punjab Hill States ), named after the capital Shimla , which was also the summer capital of British India , were an administrative group at the time of colonial rule. They originally comprised 19 or 28 princely states if you count the vassals. Together they had a size of 16,400 km².

history

The states, whose ruling houses are all of Rajput origin, came under British "protection" as a result of the war to expel the Gurkhas , which in 1815 was under the command of General David Ochterlony . The state of Tehri-Garhwal , which was originally also included in the region, was added to the Central India Agency .

From the states of this agency , the Punjab Hills States Agency was created in 1901 with other states , which was merged into the Punjab States Agency in 1936 . The total tax revenue in 1911 was about £ 660000 out of a population of 410,000 souls.

organization

The British Deputy Commissioner of Shimla District, which was divided into nine areas by the princely states, was the responsible colonial officer as superintendent . He was subordinate to the governor of the Punjab in Lahore .

Only the more important states were granted the right to their own higher jurisdiction. The Rajas of Sirmur and Bilaspur were entitled to salute and were thus entitled to a seat in the Chamber of Princes created in 1921 .

Shimla Hill States

country Population (thousand) Area (km²) Tax revenue ( Rs. ) Ruler title
Baghal 1891: 20.6 319 Raja (from 1875)
Baghat 1891: 8.3, 1941: 9.7 155 1941: 150000 Rana
Balsan 1891: 5.2 131 Rana
Bhajji 1891: 12 242 Rana
Bija 1891: 1.1 10.3 Thākur
Kahlur (= Bilaspur) 1891: 86, 1941: 101 1155 1911: 190000, 1941: approx. 300000 Raja
Bashahr 1891: 64, 1911: 93 10,000 1911: 95000 Raja
Darkuti 1891: 0.59 10 Rana
Dhami 1891: 3.3, 1941: 5.2 75 1941: 50000 Rana
Hindur (= Nalagarh) 1941: 50 660 1941: 216000 Raja
Jubbal 1891: 19, 1941: 27 825 1941: 850000 Rana
Keonthal 289 (with vassals 926)
Kumharsain 1891: 9.5 242 Rana
Kunhiar 1891: 1.9 23 Thākur
Kuthar 1891: 3.6, 1941: 3.7 49 1941: 42000 Rana
Mahlog 1891: 9.1 137 Thākur
Mangal 1891: 1 33.5 1911: 0.9 Rana
Sāngri 1891: 2.6 41 1901: 2400 Mian (Protectorate 1846)
Sirmur (= Sirmaur, Sirmour) 1891: 112, 1901: 135, 1941: 148 2700 1901: 600000, 1935–40: ø 867000 Raja (Maharaja 1918)
Taroch 1891: 3.2 193 Thākur

Vassals

  • from Bashhar: Khaneti and Delath.
  • from Jubbal: Rawin (Rawingarh) and Dhadi (originally Tharoch was tributary, then Bashahr, from 1896 Jubbal).
  • from Keonthal: Thiog (= Theog), Koti, Ghund, Kheri, Madhan (= Kiari) and Ratesh (= Kot); the first four of these zaildars had to pay tribute.

Punjab Hill States

Districts of Punjab (1911)

During the administrative reorganization, the following additional, comparatively important states became part of this new administrative unit:

Except for Siba, all these princes were entitled to salute.

literature

  • Thomas H. Holland (Ed.): Provincial Geographies of India. 4 volumes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1913-1923.
  • Lethbridge, Sir Roper; The Golden Book of India; London 1893
  • Imperial Gazetteer of India; Vol. XXVII Samadhiala to Singhana; Oxford 1908
Individual evidence
  1. ↑ 1891 census, or 1901. additionally different years of the Imperial Gazetteer
  2. ↑ Conversion factor 2.58 per mile². According to Golden Book, 1893, not always reliable due to a lack of sufficient cadastral data
  3. ↑ according to the Golden Book of India; 1893

See also