Vala State

Vala State Vallabhipura
Princely State
1740–1948
Flag
Area
• 1921	492 km2 (190 sq mi)
Population
• 1921	11,386
History
History
• Established	1740
• Indian independence	1948
Succeeded by India

Vala State or Vallabhipura was a non-salute princely state in India during the British Raj until 1948. The centre was the city of Vallabhi. The last ruler of the state signed the state's accession to the Indian Union on 15 February 1948.

History

For the region's early history, see Vallabhi.

Vala (Vallabhipura) princely state was founded in 1740 by Thakore Sahib Akherajji of nearby Bhavnagar (also in Gohelwar prant; later a salute state under a Maharaja), a Gohil Rajput of the Suryavanshi clan, for his twin brother Visaji, who became the first Thakore. It was one of the many states in Saurashtra, mostly petty states. It comprised 40 villages, covering 492 Square Kilometers km². In 1921 it had a population of 11,386 (13.285 in 1903–4). Its state revenue was 225,000 Rupees (in 1903–4, mainly from land; later 341,773 Rupees), and it paid 9,202 Rupees tribute to the Gaekwar Baroda State and to Junagadh State.

It was a native state of British India in charge of the colonial (originally Eastern -) Kathiawar Agency of the Bombay Presidency., later merged into the Western India States Agency.

It ceased to exist by accession to freshly independent India's then state Saurashtra (now part of Gujarat) on 15 February 1948. The privy purse was fixed at 520,000 Rupees.

Ruling Thakurs

The rulers bore title of Thakore Sahib.

• 1740 – 1774 Visaji (d. 1774)
• 1774 – 1798 Nathubhai Visaji, succeeded his above father (d. 1798)
• 1798 – 1814 Meghabhai Nathubhai (d. 1814)
• 1814 – 1838 Harbhamji Megabhai, succeeded his above father (d. 1838)
• 1838 – 1840 D(a)ulatsimhji Harbhamji, succeeded his above father (d. 1840), childless
• 1840 – 1853 Patabhai Megabhai, son of above Meghabai (d. 1853)
• 1853 – 1860 Prithirajji Patabhai (d. 1860)
• 1860 – 20 August 1875 Meghrajji Prithirajji (d. 1875)
• 20 August 1875 – 1943 Vakhatsimhji Meghrajji, succeeded his above father (b. 1864 – d. 1943)
• 1943 – 15 August 1947 Gambhirsimhji Vakhatsimhji, succeeded his above father, signed the accession to India (b. 1889 – d. 19..) which ended the polity.

The line was nominally continued.

Sources and external links

• Imperial Gazetteer on DSAL.UChicago.edu – Kathiawar