Chota Nagpur States
Encyclopedia
The Chota Nagpur States were a group of princely state
s at the time of British India, located on the Chhota Nagpur Plateau
in the present-day India
n states of Chhattisgarh
, Jharkhand
, and Orissa
. In the 18th century, the states came within the sphere of influence
of the Maratha Empire
, but they became tributary states of British India as a result of the Anglo-Maratha Wars
in the early 19th century. British suzerainty
over the states was exercised by the government of the Bengal Presidency
, and they were nine in number:-
These above named princely state were collectively called the Chhota Nagpur States.
In October 1905, the exercise of British influence over the predominantly Hindi
-speaking states of Chang Bhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surguja, and Udaipur was transferred from the Bengal government to that of the Central Provinces
, while the two Oriya
-speaking states of Gangpur and Bonai were attached to the Orissa Tributary States
, leaving only Kharsawan and Saraikela answerable to the Bengal governor.
In 1936, all nine states were transferred to the Eastern States Agency
, the officials of which came under the direct authority of the Governor-General of India, rather than under that of any Provinces.
After Indian independence in 1947, the rulers of the states all chose to accede to the Dominion of India
. Chang Bhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surguja, and Udaipur later became part of Madhya Pradesh
state, Gangpur and Bonai part of Orissa
state, and Kharsawan and Saraikela part of Bihar
state.
In November 2000, the new states of Chhattisgarh
and Jharkhand
were separated from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, respectively.
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
s at the time of British India, located on the Chhota Nagpur Plateau
Chota Nagpur Plateau
The Chota Nagpur Plateau is a plateau in eastern India, which covers much of Jharkhand state as well as adjacent parts of Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. The Indo-Gangetic plain lies to the north and east of the plateau, and the basin of the Mahanadi River lies to the south...
in the present-day India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n states of Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000....
, Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
, and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. In the 18th century, the states came within the sphere of influence
Sphere of influence
In the field of international relations, a sphere of influence is a spatial region or conceptual division over which a state or organization has significant cultural, economic, military or political influence....
of the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
, but they became tributary states of British India as a result of the Anglo-Maratha Wars
Anglo-Maratha Wars
The Anglo-Maratha Wars were three wars fought in India between the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company:* First Anglo-Maratha War * Second Anglo-Maratha War...
in the early 19th century. British suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
over the states was exercised by the government of the Bengal Presidency
Bengal Presidency
The Bengal Presidency originally comprising east and west Bengal, was a colonial region of the British Empire in South-Asia and beyond it. It comprised areas which are now within Bangladesh, and the present day Indian States of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Orissa and Tripura.Penang and...
, and they were nine in number:-
- Bonai
- Chang Bhakar
- GangpurGangpurGangpur is also a village in India of Burdwan District in West Bengal, in the state of Gujarat, between Surat and Bardoli....
- Jashpur
- KharsawanKharsawanKharsawan is a city and a notified area in Seraikela Kharsawan district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.-History:Kharsawan or Kharsuan was one of the Oriya speaking Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj, and was acceded to India after India gained independence. Earlier...
- KoriyaKoriyaKoriya, also spelled as Korea, was a princely state of British Empire in India. After Indian Independence in 1947, the ruler of Koriya acceded to the Union of India on 1 January 1948 and was made part of Surguja District of Central Provinces and Berar province. On January 1950, “Central Provinces...
(Korea) - SaraikelaSaraikelaSaraikela, also spelled Seraikella, is the administrative headquarters of Saraikela Kharsawan District of Jharkhand. Earlier it was a municipality in Pashchimi Singhbhum districtin the Indian state of Jharkhand....
- Surguja (Sirguja)
- Udaipur.
These above named princely state were collectively called the Chhota Nagpur States.
In October 1905, the exercise of British influence over the predominantly Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
-speaking states of Chang Bhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surguja, and Udaipur was transferred from the Bengal government to that of the Central Provinces
Central Provinces
The Central Provinces was a province of British India. It comprised British conquests from the Mughals and Marathas in central India, and covered parts of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra states. Its capital was Nagpur....
, while the two Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
-speaking states of Gangpur and Bonai were attached to the Orissa Tributary States
Orissa Tributary States
The Orissa Tributary States are a group of former princely states of British India, now part of the present-day Indian state of Orissa.The Orissa Tributary States were located in the hilly region of eastern Orissa, on the border with Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand states...
, leaving only Kharsawan and Saraikela answerable to the Bengal governor.
In 1936, all nine states were transferred to the Eastern States Agency
Eastern States Agency
The Eastern States Agency was a political office of the British Indian Empire, created on 1 April 1933. This agency dealt with forty-two princely states in eastern India, located in the present-day Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, and Tripura...
, the officials of which came under the direct authority of the Governor-General of India, rather than under that of any Provinces.
After Indian independence in 1947, the rulers of the states all chose to accede to the Dominion of India
Dominion of India
The Dominion of India, also known as the Union of India or the Indian Union , was a predecessor to modern-day India and an independent state that existed between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950...
. Chang Bhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surguja, and Udaipur later became part of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
state, Gangpur and Bonai part of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
state, and Kharsawan and Saraikela part of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
state.
In November 2000, the new states of Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000....
and Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
were separated from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, respectively.