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{{Short description|Princely state}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
|native_name =
|conventional_long_name =Bilbari State
|common_name =Bilbari
|nation = [[British India]]
|subdivision = [[Princely State]]
|era =
|year_start =
|date_start =
|event_start=
|year_end = 1948
|date_end =
|event_end= [[Independence of India|Accession to the Union of India]]
|event1 =
|date_event1 =
|p1 =
|s1 = India
|flag_p1 =
|flag_s1 = Flag of India.svg
|image_flag =
|image_coat =
|image_map = Surat Agency with all princely states with labels British India 1880-1933.svg
|image_map_caption = Location of Bilbari in the Dang region
|stat_area1 =4.27
|stat_year1 =1931
|stat_pop1 =27
|footnotes =
}}
'''Bilbari State''' (or '''Dhude'''<ref> The Imperial gazetteer of India, 1885-1887, p. 116,https://archive.org/details/imperialgazettee04huntuoft/page/116/mode/2up</ref> or '''Dudhe''' <ref> BK 353 -Gazetteer Of Bombay Presidency Vol 12 Khandesh, p. 605 https://archive.org/details/1880GazetteerOfBombayPresidencyVol12Khandesh353D/page/624/mode/2up</ref>) was a minor [[princely state]] during the [[British Raj]] in what is today [[Gujarat State]] India. It was initially administered by the [[Surat Agency]]<ref>"Memoranda On The Indian States 1930", p. 290 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.275346/page/n311/mode/2up</ref> and then by the [[Western India States Agency]], and with a population of 27 and an area of 1.65 sq miles<ref>"Memoranda On The Indian States 1935", p. 98, https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.275347/page/n107/mode/2up?q=Bilbari </ref> it was potentially the smallest Princely State in India.<ref>"Encyclopaedia of Indian events and dates", P. 169-170 https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofi0000bhat/page/170/mode/2up?q=Bilbari</ref> possibly only beaten by [[Vijanones]]. It was more specifically classified as one of the 14 minor princely states of the Dangs, in the [[Dang district, India]].<ref>"The golden book of India; a genealogical and biographical dictionary of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire, with an appendix for Ceylon", P. 41 https://archive.org/details/goldenbookofindi00lethrich/page/40/mode/2up </ref>

Whenever Bilbari was referenced in print, it was almost always to mention its small area and minuscule population. So for example did the ''Marion Star'' (1948-02-09) lament its passing on the abolition of the Indian Princely States in 1948:

{{blockquote|The world never heard of Bilbari and there were few to mark its passing. Its government must have operated on the Jeffersonian precept that the government is best which governs least.<ref>"Farewell Bilbari. Taxpayers of the world salute you." ''Marion Star'' (1948-02-09), P. 5 https://archive.org/details/marion-star-1948-02-09/page/n5/mode/2up </ref>}}

== History ==

The area of Khandesh became a British possession in 1818 following the defeat of [[Peshwa]] [[Baji Rao II]] during the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]]. The neieghbouring Dang principalities were seen as separate states and conducted routine raids into the Khandesh territories. In 1825 the [[Gaekwar]] of [[Baroda]] sent a force of 10 000 men to subdue the Dangs but were defeated, the Dang states only subjugated in 1839. In 1842 parts of the Dang teak forests, surrounding 446 villages, were leased by the Government in Bombay, the lease extended in perpetuity and to the whole territory in 1862. Some time after 1842 the tribute demanded of the Dang states by the Desmukh of Mulher lead to heavy disturbances, which resulted in the British Government deducting the Desmukh's tribute from the sum paid to the Dang chiefs for leasing their forests.<ref> Reorganization scheme for the establishment of direct political relations between the govt. and India and states in the Bombay presidency, 1931, p. 25-26 https://www.abhilekh-patal.in/Category/ItemDetails/ItemDetails?itemId=e9609138-b62c-4dea-a28d-ffabfa4480ee</ref>

In 1880 the state had a yearly revenue of ca. 9 £ (90 Rupees).<ref> BK 353 -Gazetteer Of Bombay Presidency Vol 12 Khandesh, p. 605 https://archive.org/details/1880GazetteerOfBombayPresidencyVol12Khandesh353D/page/624/mode/2up</ref>

==Rulers==

The Rulers of Bilbari held the title of Powar, and their caste was registered as Animist.<ref> "Memoranda On The Indian States 1930" , P. 290, https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.275346/page/n311/mode/2up</ref> The Dang Chiefs held the power to settle criminal and civil disputes, including being able to issue fines, have witches sentenced to be burnt alive and other capital offenders being killed by being shot by arrows.<ref> BK 353 -Gazetteer Of Bombay Presidency Vol 12 Khandesh, p. 603, https://archive.org/details/1880GazetteerOfBombayPresidencyVol12Khandesh353D/page/622/mode/2up </ref>
* Mhosha walad Vaghu (b. ca. 1860) fl. 1893<ref>"The golden book of India; a genealogical and biographical dictionary of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire, with an appendix for Ceylon", P. 41 https://archive.org/details/goldenbookofindi00lethrich/page/40/mode/2up </ref>
* Bhavji walad Mahasia Konkna (b. 1891) 1903-at least January 1934<ref> "Memoranda On The Indian States 1934", P. 98, https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.284346/page/n117/mode/2up </ref>
* Maharu Bhavjia Konkna (b. 1924) 12th October 1934-fl. 1940<ref> "Memoranda On The Indian States 1940", P. 20 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35376/page/n29/mode/2up</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Gujarat}}

[[Category:Princely states of Gujarat]]
[[Category:1948 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1948]]

Bilbari State - Revision history

PQRS1: started a entry