Mahi Kantha
Encyclopedia
Mahi Kantha was a political agency or collection of princely states in British India, within the Gujarat Division of Bombay Presidency
. Over half of its territory was covered by the princely state of Idar
. There were eleven other states (notably Pol, Danta, Malpur and Mohanpur, AMBLIARA STATE (ALSO SPELLED AMLIYARA OR AMLIARA), and a large number of estates belonging to Rajput
or Thakurs
, formerly feudatories of Baroda
; several of the states paid tribute to Baroda, and some, being classed as non-jurisdictional thalukdars, were under British administration. The total area of the agency was 8094 km² (3,125.1 sq mi); the population in 1901 was 361,545. The famine of 1899–1900 was severely felt in Mahi Kantha, and the population of the agency decreased by 38% in the decade 1891–1901 due to famine. Many of the inhabitants were Bhil
s and Kolis. In 1897 a metre-gauge railway was opened from Ahmedabad
through Parantij Near AMLIYARA STATE to Ahmednagar. At Sadra
was the Scott College for the education of the sons of rulers on the lines of a British public school
. There were also English language
schools at Sadra, Idar and Mansa
.
The states came within the British sphere of influence after the Second Anglo-Maratha War
of 1803–1805. In 1811, when the Maratha power was declining, the British Government stipulated to collect and pay over to the ruler of Baroda the yearly tribute of the Mahi Kantha states. In 1820 they finally took over the management of the whole territory, agreeing to collect and pay over the tribute free of expense to Baroda, while Baroda was pledged not to send troops into the country, or in any way to interfere with the administration. After a few disturbances in the 1830s, in 1857-8 and 1867, peace remained unbroken in the region until 1881, when the Bhils of Pol rose against their chief and extorted from him a settlement of their claims. After India's Independence in 1947, the rulers of the Mahi Kantha states acceded to the Government of India
, and the area was reorganized into districts of Bombay State
. In 1960, Bombay State was split along linguistic lines, and the area of Mahi Kantha became part of the new state of Gujarat.
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
. Over half of its territory was covered by the princely state of Idar
Idar
Idar is a city and a municipality in Sabarkantha district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located about 30 km north of Himatnagar and 25 km from Gujarat's border with Rajasthan...
. There were eleven other states (notably Pol, Danta, Malpur and Mohanpur, AMBLIARA STATE (ALSO SPELLED AMLIYARA OR AMLIARA), and a large number of estates belonging to Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
or Thakurs
Thakur (Indian title)
Thakur is an Indian feudal title in several Indian languages, literally meaning "lord". A Thikana is the state or estate of a Thakur. A Thakurani is the wife of a Thakur...
, formerly feudatories of Baroda
Vadodara
Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
; several of the states paid tribute to Baroda, and some, being classed as non-jurisdictional thalukdars, were under British administration. The total area of the agency was 8094 km² (3,125.1 sq mi); the population in 1901 was 361,545. The famine of 1899–1900 was severely felt in Mahi Kantha, and the population of the agency decreased by 38% in the decade 1891–1901 due to famine. Many of the inhabitants were Bhil
Bhil
Bhils are primarily an Adivasi people of Central India. Bhils are also settled in the Tharparkar District of Sindh, Pakistan. They speak the Bhil languages, a subgroup of the Western Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages....
s and Kolis. In 1897 a metre-gauge railway was opened from Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
through Parantij Near AMLIYARA STATE to Ahmednagar. At Sadra
SADRA
SADRA also known as "Iran Marine Industrial Company" was founded in 1968 as a small ship repair yard in Bushehr. Since then, SADRA has established itself as the leading shipbuilding and shiprepairing company in Iran. SADRA is also active in offshore oil & gas development. SADRA specializes in...
was the Scott College for the education of the sons of rulers on the lines of a British public school
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
. There were also English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
schools at Sadra, Idar and Mansa
Mansa
Mansa is a Mandinka word meaning "king of kings". It is particularly associated with the Keita Dynasty of the Mali Empire, which dominated West Africa from the thirteenth to the fifthteenth century...
.
The states came within the British sphere of influence after the Second Anglo-Maratha War
Second Anglo-Maratha War
The Second Anglo-Maratha War was the second conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India.-Background:...
of 1803–1805. In 1811, when the Maratha power was declining, the British Government stipulated to collect and pay over to the ruler of Baroda the yearly tribute of the Mahi Kantha states. In 1820 they finally took over the management of the whole territory, agreeing to collect and pay over the tribute free of expense to Baroda, while Baroda was pledged not to send troops into the country, or in any way to interfere with the administration. After a few disturbances in the 1830s, in 1857-8 and 1867, peace remained unbroken in the region until 1881, when the Bhils of Pol rose against their chief and extorted from him a settlement of their claims. After India's Independence in 1947, the rulers of the Mahi Kantha states acceded to the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, and the area was reorganized into districts of Bombay State
Bombay State
The Bombay State was a state of India, dissolved with the formation of Maharashtra and Gujarat states on May 1, 1960.-History:During British rule, portions of the western coast of India under direct British rule were part of the Bombay Presidency...
. In 1960, Bombay State was split along linguistic lines, and the area of Mahi Kantha became part of the new state of Gujarat.