Rewa Kantha Agency

2021-05-09T06:43:48Z

103.136.72.123: /* Rewa Kantha division */

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
|native_name =
|conventional_long_name =Rewa Kantha Agency
|common_name = Rewa Kantha Agency
|nation = [[British India]]
|status_text = [[Agencies of British India|Agency of British India]]
|era =
|year_start = 1811
|date_start =
|event_start =
|year_end = 1937
|date_end =
|event_end = Formation of the [[Baroda and Gujarat States Agency]]
|event1 =
|date_event1 =
|p1 =
|s1 = Baroda and Gujarat States Agency
|flag_p1 =
|flag_s1 = British Raj Red Ensign.svg
|image_flag =
|image_coat =
|image_map = Rewa Kantha Agency in Gujarat during British India 1811-1937.svg
|image_map_caption = Rewa Kantha Agency within Gujarat
|stat_area1 = 12877
|stat_year1 = 1901
|stat_pop1 = 479065
|footnotes =
}}
[[File:Rewa Kantha Agency with all Princely States Gujarat during British India 1811-1937 with labels.svg|thumb|Map of Rewa Kantha Agency with all Princely States|400px]]
[[File:Rewa Kantha.jpg|thumb|Agency Map (1878)]]
{{princely states topics}}
'''Rewa Kantha''' was a [[Agencies of British India|political agency]] of [[British India]], managing the relations ([[indirect rule]]) of the British government's [[Bombay Presidency]] with a collection of [[princely states]]. It stretched for about 150 miles between the plain of [[Gujarat]] and the hills of [[Malwa]], from the [[Tapti River]] to the [[Mahi River]] crossing the [[Narmada River|Rewa (or Narmada) River]], from which it takes its name.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/cu31924070623545/cu31924070623545_djvu.txt "Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency"]</ref><ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Rewa Kantha |volume=23 |page=225}}</ref>

The political agent, who was also [[District collector]] of the ''[[prant]]'' (British District) of the [[Panchmahal district|Panchmahal]], resided at [[Godhra]].

== History ==
The native states came under British [[subsidiary alliance]]s after the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]] of the early 19th century.<ref>''Historical Sketch of the Native States of India.'' 1875</ref>

The total surface was 4,971.75 square miles, comprising 3,412 villages, with a population of 479,055, yielding 2,072,026 Rupeese state revenue and paying 147,826 Rupees tribute (mostly to the Gaikwar [[Baroda State]]).

In 1937 the princely states of the Rewa Kantha Agency were merged with [[Baroda State]] in order to form the [[Baroda and Gujarat States Agency]],<ref>[http://www.hubert-herald.nl/BhaGujarat1.htm History of the State of Gujarat]</ref> which in turn merged in 1944 with the [[Western India States Agency]] as [[Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency]].

After the Independence of British India in 1947, split into India and Pakistan, the rulers of the states all agreed to [[Instrument of accession|accede]] to the [[Government of India]] and were integrated into [[Bombay State]]. Bombay state was split along linguistic lines in 1960, and Rewa Kantha became part of [[Gujarat]], like [[Saurashtra State]].

== Princely States ==
The number of separate states was 61,<ref name=EB1911/> mostly minor or petty states except for five. Many of them were under British influence; the largest one was [[Rajpipla State|Rajpipla]].<ref name=EB1911/><ref>[http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/misc/agency_rewakantha.html Princely States within the Rewa Kantha Agency (1901)]</ref>

The Agency also dealt with five first-class states named [[Chhota Udaipur State]], [[Baria State|Devgadh Bariya State]], [[Santrampur State|Santrampur]], [[Lunawada State]] and [[Balasinor State]]. The total area of the states the agency related to was {{convert|12877|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. In 1901 their population was 479,065. Many of the inhabitants were [[Bhil]]s and [[Koli people|Kolis]].<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/apz5770.0001.001.umich.edu/apz5770.0001.001.umich.edu_djvu.txt "The Rewakantha directory"]</ref>

=== Rewa Kantha division ===
''(includes all the main states; in direct relations with the Political Agent at Godhra)''

[[Salute state]]s :
* [[Rajpipla State|Rajpipla]] (Nandod), First Class, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
* [[Bariya State|Bari(y)a]] (Devgadh), Second Class, title Maharaol, Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11-guns personal)
* [[Lunavada State|Lunavada]], Second Class, title Maharana, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
* [[Balasinor State|Balasinor]], Second Class, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
* [[Sant State|Sant (Sunth)]] (Rampur), Second Class, title Maharana, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

* Chhota Udepur, First Class, title Maharaja Maharawal, Hereditary Salute of 11 - guns

Non-salute states :
* [[Kadana State|Kadana]], Third Class
* [[Sanjeli State|Sanjeli]], Third Class
* [[Jambughoda State|Jambughoda]] (Narukot), Third Class

=== Mehwas ===
''Only non-salute states: two geographical groups of minor or petty rural (e)states''

==== Sankheda ====
''(near [[Narmada River]])''

* [[Mandva|Mandwa]], Third Class (personal) / Fourth Class
*[[Gad Boriad State|Gad Boriad]], Third Class (personal) / Fourth Class
* [[Shanor]], Fourth Class
*[[Vajiria State|Vajiria]], Fourth Class
*[[Vanala State|Vanmala]], Fourth Class (personal) / Fifth Class
* [[Nangam]], Fifth Class
* [[Naswadi]],
* [[Uchad]],
* [[Agar, Gujarat|Agar]],
*[[Palasni State|Palasni]],
* [[Bhilodia]] :
**[[Bhilodia|Motisinghji]],
**[[Bhilodia|Chhatarsinghji]],
* [[Vasan Virpur]],
* [[Vora Mehwa|Vo(h)ra]],
* [[Vasan Sewada]],
* [[Alwa Mehwa|Alwa]],
* [[Chorangla]],
* [[Sindiapura]],
* [[Bihora]],
* [[Vadia (Narmada)|Vadia]] (Virampura),
* [[Dudhpur]],
* [[Rampura, Neemuch|Rampura]],
* [[Jiral Kamsoli]],
* [[Chudesar]],
* [[Pantalavdi]] :
** [[Akbar Khan Mehwa|Akbar Khan]],
** [[Kesar Khan]],
* [[Regan Mehwa|Regan]],
* [[Nalia]],

==== Pandu ====
''(near [[Mahi River]]; all paying tribute to the Gaekwar [[Baroda State]])'':

* [[Bhadarwa]], Third Class
* [[Umetha]], Third (personal) / Fourth Class
* [[Sihora]], Fourth Class
* [[Pandu State|Pandu]], Fifth Class
* [[Chhaliar]],
* [[Mevli]],
* [[Kanoda]] ,
* [[Poicha]],
* [[Dhari, Gujarat|Dhari]],
* [[Itwad]],
* [[Gotardi]],
* [[Litter Gothda]],
* [[Amrapur Mehwa|Amrapur]],
* [[Vakhtapur (Rewa Kantha)|Vakhtapur]],
* [[Jesar]],
* [[Moka Pagi nu Muvadu]],
* [[Kalsa Pagi nu Muvadu]],
* [[Rajpur State (Rewa Kantha)|Rajpur]],
* [[Moti Varnol]],
* [[Jumkha]],
* [[Nani Varnol]],
* [[Varnolmal]],
* [[Angadh]],

; the Dorka (e)states
* [[Dorka]],
* [[Angadh]],
* [[Rayka Mehwa|Rayka (Raika)]],

== Postal Stamps ==
In addition to those of Rewa Kantha Agency itself, revenue and/or court fee stamps were issued for the following native states :
; in the Rewa Kantha Division (all) :
# Rajpipla
# Balasinor
# Baria
# Lunavada
# Sant
# Chhota Udaipur
# Jambughoda
# Kadana
# Sanjeli

; in the Sankheda Mehwas (only these) :
# Gad Boriad
# Naswadi
# Shanor
# Vajiria

; in the Pandu Mehwas (only these) :
# Bhadarva
# Pandu Mewas
# Umeta
# Bakrol (Boru)

== See also ==
* [[Bombay Presidency]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources and external links ==
* [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V21_296.gif Imperial Gazetteer, on DSAL - Rewa Kantha Agency]

{{Princely states of the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency}}

{{coord missing|Gujarat}}

[[Category:History of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Bombay Presidency]]
[[Category:Agencies of British India]]
[[Category:Panchmahal district]]

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Rewa Kantha Agency