Rajesh Ghosh: Updated article with clearer structure

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Updated article with clearer structure

->Vif12vf: Restored revision 1044052150 by 45.251.116.10 (talk)

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Restored revision 1044052150 by 45.251.116.10 (talk)

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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
|native_name =
|conventional_long_name =<small> Saurashtra<br>United State of Kathiawar</small>
|common_name =Saurashtra
|nation = [[India]]
|status_text = [[States and union territories of India|State of India]]
|era =
|year_start = 1948
|date_start = 15 February
|event_start= Abolition of the [[Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency]]
|year_end = 1956
|date_end = 1 November
|event_end= Merger into [[Bombay State]]
|event1 =
|date_event1 =
|p1 = Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency
|s1 =Bombay State
|flag_p1 = British Raj Red Ensign.svg
|flag_s1 = Emblem of Bombay State.png
|image_flag =
|image_coat =
|image_map = Saurashtra in India (1951).svg
|image_map_caption = Saurashtra State in India, 1951
|stat_area1 =
|stat_year1 =
|stat_pop1 =
|footnotes =
|capital =[[Rajkot]]
}}
'''Saurashtra,''' also known as '''United State of Kathiawar''', was a [[States and union territories of India|State]] of [[India]] from that existed between 1948 and 1956,<ref name=s>[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_states.html States of India since 1947]</ref> on [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra alias Kathiawar]] peninsula, with [[Rajkot]] as its capital,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=2EuKAAAAMAAJ&q=rajkot+capital+of+united+state+of+kathiawar&dq=rajkot+capital+of+united+state+of+kathiawar&hl=en&ei=qVdoTpG1BoLwrQfawfz_Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDIQ6AEwADgK For all practical purposes, the capital continues to be in Rajkot, whereas Rajpramukh continues to live in Jamnagar]</ref>

== History ==
[[File:SaurashtraKart.jpg|thumb|400px|right|United Saurashtra (Kathiawar) State, 1948-56]]

=== Formation as United State of Kathiawar ===
Saurashtra State was originally named the United State of Kathiawar. It was formed on 15 February 1948, from approximately 200 large and small [[Princely States]] of the colonial [[Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency]] of the [[British raj]] territory under direct colonial rule.

The name of State was given after the [[Kathiawar]] and [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra region]], both of which generally denote the same geographical region of lands on the main peninsula of Gujarat.
The statesmanship of [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]] and the influence of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] are credited for persuading most of the States of Kathiawar to join the [[Dominion of India|Union of India]] and sign the [[Instrument of Accession]]. Patel devoted extraordinary time and effort to meet and convince the local princes and petty subas, totaling 222 in [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra region]] alone.
Among these in Kathiawar Agency were 14 [[Salute state]]s, 17 minor and 191 petty Non-salute [[Princely State]]s and 46 Estates (Jagir-level). Most of the native rulers of the Kathiawar States entered into a Covenant for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar on 24 January 1948.<ref>[http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1311425/ The Rulers of the Kathiawar States, including [[Wadhwan State]], entered into a Covenant for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar on 24 January 1948.]</ref><ref>[https://openlibrary.org/books/OL5231307M/The_covenant_entered_into_by_the_rulers_of_Kathiawar_States_for_the_formation_of_the_United_States_of_Kathiawar. The covenant, entered into by the rulers of Kathiawar States for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar.]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Political and administrative integration of princely states By S. N. Sadasivan|pages=26, 27|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kWptYbzpXE8C&q=UNITED+STATE+OF+KATHIAWAR&pg=PA26|isbn=9788170999683|last1=Sadasivan|first1=S. N.|year=2005}}</ref><ref name=p>[http://www.oocities.org/indianphilately/chapter23a.htm Indian Philately]</ref>

The large Kathiawar peninsula included some prominent [[princely state]]s of India, notably [[salute state]] :
* the vast [[Baroda State]], title Maharaja Gaekwar, Hereditary salute of 21-guns (highest native rank in colonial India)
* [[Idar (princely state)|Idar]], title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 15-guns
* [[Bhavnagar State]], title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local)
* [[Nawanagar State|Navanagar]], title Maharaja Jam Sahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local)
* [[Dhrangadhra State|Dhrangadhra(-Halvad)]], title Maharaja Raj Sahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
* [[Porbandar State|Porbandar]], title Maharaja Rana Sahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
* [[Rajpipla State]], title Rajpipla, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
* [[Cambay State|Cambay]], title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
* [[Gondal (state)|Gondal]], title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
* [[Morvi State|Morvi]], title Maharan, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
* [[Wankaner State|Wankaner]], title Maharana Raj Sahib, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
* [[Baria State|Baria]], title Maharaol, Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11-guns personal)
* [[Dharampur State|Dharampur]], title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11-guns personal)
* [[Dhrol State|Dhrol]], title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
* [[Limbdi State|Limbdi]], title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
* [[Palitana State|Palitana]], title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
* [[Rajkot State|Rajkot]], title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
* [[Sachin State|Sachin]], title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
* [[Wadhwan State|Wadhwan]], title Maharana, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

and many smaller non-salute-states, including petty (e)states, often not more than one or two villages, making the peninsula the most fragmented of feudal age India.

Among the States of Kathiawar, [[Baroda State]] -which was the third largest Princely state of India, having its territories scattered over [[Dwarka]] in West of Kathiawar to [[Bombay]] in South- did not sign the covenant for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar. Instead the erstwhile [[Gaekwar]] Maharaja of Baroda, [[Pratap Singh Gaekwad]] declared a full responsible Government on 4 September 1948, under [[Jivraj Narayan Mehta]], as Prime Minister of the State, as per scheme envisioned by Sardar Patel. The Baroda State later merged itself into [[Bombay State]] on 1 May 1949.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xdI-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=k0wMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3890,6471046&dq=baroda-state&hl=en Baroda State - responsible government]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=KcO1AAAAIAAJ&q=MERGER+OF+BARODA+STATE&dq=MERGER+OF+BARODA+STATE&hl=en&ei=cWxoTuPaGoOurAfrrZDSCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA [ Baroda' s merger into Bombay on 1-5-1949 was an event which Sardar built brick by brick...]Sardar Patel, in tune with the millions, Volume 2</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5Hw-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=4UsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5018,2762425&dq=baroda-state&hl=en Baroda State]</ref>

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel inaugurated the United State of Kathiawar on 15 February 1948. On this occasion he paid tribute to Jam Sahib and the other rulers of erstwhile Princely States of Kathiawar, saying :-
{{cquote|But for vision, wisdom and patriotism, the happy result you are seeing today would not have fructified. It was Mahatma Gandhi's dream that Kathiawar should be united and it gladdens my heart that dream of such unification has come true.<ref name=v>{{cite book|title=India's bismarck, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel By B.Krishna|pages=112, 113|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sLr7z6gNcV0C&q=UNITED+STATE+OF+KATHIAWAR&pg=PA112|isbn=9788188569144|last1=Krishna|first1=B.|year=2007}}</ref>}}

The [[Jam Sahib]] [[K. S. Digvijaysinhji]] of [[Nawanagar State]] one of the chief negotiator from the side of rulers of Kathiawar in his reply observed and said :-
{{cquote|It is not as if we were tired monarchs who were fanned to rest. It is not as we have been bullied into submission. We have by our own free volition pooled our sovereignties and covenanted to create this new State so that the United State of Kathiawar and unity of India may more fully be achieved<ref name=v/>}}

[[Jawaharlal Nehru]] described the event as a great step forward and one of the most notable in contemporary Indian history.<ref name=v/> He further commended the statesmanship of Sardar Patel and further wrote in his letter to provincial chief ministers on 20 February 1948 :-
{{cquote|Six months ago it would have been considered an idle dream to think of an administrative merger of hundreds of Kathiawar states, let alone such a merger accompanied by a full responsible government. The peninsula was ridden by factions and jealousies and it was crazy patchwork of States of varying degree of sovereignty, with only one thing in common, namely, autocratic rule. On February 15 the whole of peninsula became one unit under one responsible Government. For which, Sardar Patel has deservedly won high tribute.<ref name=v/>}}

Upon formation of United State of Kathiawar, [[Lord Mountbatten]] also congratulated Sardar Patel, saying :-
{{cquote|It appears that you have again scored a brilliant success in your handling of Kathiawar States problem.<ref name=v/>}}

However, it was sad that Mahatma Gandhi was not alive by that time to see his dream of whole of Kathiawar getting united under one umbrella.

Even after creation of United States of Kathiawar, there were some patches of lands in Kathiawar belonging to princely states of [[Junagadh State|Junagadh]], [[Mangrol State|Mangrol]], [[Bantva Manavadar|Manavadar]] and others, which did not join the convention and were lingering over joining [[Pakistan]]. It was later after [[Indian integration of Junagadh|integration of Junagadh]] into Union of India that a referendum was held and Junagadh, Mangrol, Manavadar, [[Babariawad]] and others became a legal part of India. However, due to some technicalities, these territories even after referendum remained under an Executive Council of popular representatives of Junagadh led by [[Samaldas Gandhi]], for some time, who assisted the administrator appointed by Government of India in managing affairs of these states.<ref name=p/>

=== Renamed Saurashtra ===
In November 1948, the United State of Kathiawar was renamed the United State of Saurashtra or Saurashtra State, when a supplementary covenant was negotiated and executed by the native rulers of the princely states merged into United State of Kathiawar.<ref name=p/>

Once the Saurashtra Union came into existence, a second supplementary covenant was executed in January 1949, providing the integration of Junagadh with Saurashtra. A few days later on 20 February 1949, the administration of [[Junagadh State]] (another major salute state) and also that of [[Mangrol State|Mangrol]], [[Bantva Manavadar|Manavadar]], [[Babariawad State|Babariawad]], [[Bantva]] and [[Sardargarh Bantva|Sardargarh]] were officially handed over to Saurashtra Government.<ref name=p/>

=== Dissolution ===
On 1 November 1956<ref name=s/> Saurashtra State ceased to exist as a State and became a part of Bombay State, the territory of which was enlarged on that day to include [[Kutch State]], Saurashtra State, [[Marathwada]] & [[Vidarbha]], while a southern portion was excluded, which went to [[Karnataka]].

Following [[Mahagujarat Movement]], the [[Bombay State]] was again dissolved to be carved into two separate states of [[Maharashtra]] and [[Gujarat]] created on linguistic basis on 1 May 1960<ref name=s/> With this, the area of Saurashtra State again became a geographically defined region, [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], within the State of Gujarat.

== Chief officers ==

=== Rajpramukhs ===
The following princes of salute states served as [[Rajpramukh]] (premier Prince), i.e. Head of the State :
* [[Krishna Kumarasingh Bhavasingh|Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji]] (b. 1912 - d. 1965), the last ruler of [[Bhavnagar State]], was acting Rajpramukh.
* [[Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji]], last ruler of [[Nawanagar State|Nawanagar]], was Rajpramukh from 1948 until 31 October 1956<ref name=s/>
** [[Meghrajji III|Mayurdwajsinhji Meghrajji III]], the last ruler of [[Dhrangadhra|Dhrangadhra State]], was appointed as Upa-Rajpramukh alias Deputy Rajapramukh, to serve as acting Rajpramukh during the absence of Rajpramukh. He worked as Uprajpramukh from 1948 till 1956.

=== Chief Ministers ===

* [[U. N. Dhebar|Uchharangray Navalshankar Dhebar]] acted as Chief Minister of State from 1948 till December 1954 (b. 1905 - d. 1977) INC .<ref name=s/>
* [[Rasiklal Umedchand Parikh]] was second and last Chief Minister of State from 19 December 1954 till 1956 (b. 1910 - d. 1982) INC .<ref name=s/>

== See also ==
* [[1952 Saurashtra Legislative Assembly election]]
* [[Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency]]
* [[Political integration of India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources and external links ==
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_states.html WorldStatesmen - India - States post 1947]

{{Coord|21.5|N|70.13|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}

{{States of India on 26 January 1950}}
{{Princely states of the Western India States Agency}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Saurashtra (state)| ]]
[[Category:Former states and territories of India]]
[[Category:History of Gujarat (1947–present)]]
[[Category:Political integration of India]]
[[Category:Vallabhbhai Patel]]
[[Category:1956 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1948]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in India]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1956]]

Saurashtra (state) - Revision history

Rajesh Ghosh: Updated article with clearer structure

->Vif12vf: Restored revision 1044052150 by 45.251.116.10 (talk)