Mahi Kantha Agency

The Mahi Kantha Agency ( Mahi Kantha German: " the banks of the Mahi ") was a 1820 to 1924 existing administrative grouping of Indian princely states at the time of colonial rule. She was beside the Rewa Kantha, Palanpur and Kathiawar the fourth Agency in Gujarat. It is named after the river Mahi, the Mophis of Ptolemy, who is mentioned in the Periplus corn. Its geographic location ranged between about 23 ° and 24 ° 28 ' N and 72 ° 40' and 74 ° 5 'E. She was 8062 km ². A large part of the population belonged to the so-called tribals, mostly members of the tribes of the Bhil and Koli. The Agency has been incorporated into the 1924-1944 Western India States Agency.

History

After the indigenous inhabitants emigrated, probably from the 8th century, the Rajputs to. The further Muslim expansion in the 11th - 13th Century displaced more Rajputs from their ancestral lands in the region. Since the 15th century, the area was largely under the sultans of Ahmedabad. The last independent Rajput rulers, Jagganath, Prince of Idar, was driven by the invaders 1656. It was followed by the rule of the Mughals, who were replaced by the Mahraten. The latter sent in 2 - to 3 - an annual basis an army for the purpose of toll collection ( mulk -giri ). This practice was taken over in 1753 by Baroda. The fragmentation of the territory can be traced back to the practice until the 19th century inheritance.

The British declared themselves ready, the 1811 Tribute to the Gaekwar, ie, the Maharaja of Baroda to raise that for the region no longer be operated. Fully under colonial control came Mahi Kantha then in 1820, had been deposited as local uprisings. 1833-1836 it was again restless, and after the uprising in 1857, the population was disarmed. 1878/9 it came to the introduction of an alcohol monopoly.

The census showed 1872 447 056, 1881 517 485, 1891 581 568 and 1901 361 545 inhabitants. The population decline of 38% is due to the famine 1896-8 and 1899-1902. The totality of the collected taxes decreased 1899-1903 but only by 4%. During the last great famine approximately 43,000 people received assistance. To get the rations less than half of what constituted a convict state, we had to do heavy physical labor.

The jointly funded by all countries Scott College, Sadra was the training of those sons of princes, who could not be sent to the Rajkumar College of Kathiawar. Beginning of the 20th century there were 117 more schools, in addition to fours, which were run by missionaries specifically for Bhil children.

Organization

The Agency was under the Government of the Bombay Presidency. Like most states of Kathiawar and Rewa Kantha Agency were the rulers of the Gaekwar, ie, the Maharaja of Baroda (G ) and in many cases at the same time the British ( B) or Idar (I) tribute. In May 1877, the States were distinguished according to their importance in seven classes. The classes differed mainly in the powers of jurisdiction, which was allowed to exercise the ruler. The reigns of the classes 4-7 were no longer referred to as a state (state), but talukas.

The agent at the top, used direct connections to the States the top three classes. To the other little country looked after his three assistants. The Assistant Political Agent was also responsible for the police. The Personal Assistant controlled all talukas came under direct management because of mismanagement or minority of the ruler. The Native Assistant oversaw the 39 prisons, finance and the Sadra Bazaar (1901: 1600 inhabitants, <2.5 km ²). The land tax was not a permanent settlement driven under by tax farmers, but collected directly from the cultivators.

Only the Raja ( 1843 Maharaja) of Idar ( = Nani Marwar in 1891: 6450 1941: 4306 km ²), with its capital at Ahmadnagar, who was also entitled to 15 -gun salute, fell into this category. He was thus automatically at the Chamber of Princes in 1921 created. They had the right of jurisdiction blood. Only in proceedings in which British subjects should be negotiated because of a felony against (white ), requiring the approval of the agent.

The princes of the second class were allowed to negotiate civil matters to Rs 20,000 (1901 ). Death sentences against natives had to be confirmed by the Agent.

• The Raja of Pol reigned 1901 3900 who lived to 346 km ² in 46 villages. They paid 17,000 Rs taxes, none of which tribute was to be paid to others.
• Danta: the Maharana of 895 km ² of land that had 1901 18000 surviving inhabitants, stood to 9 -gun salute. Of the taxes had to Tribute to the Gaekwar, Idar and Palanpur be paid.

The rulers of third-class were allowed in civil matters up to 5000 Rs (1901, 1930: 10000) decide and up to two years in prison or fines of up to Rs 1000 (1930: 5000) in criminal matters express, but not against the British.

• Malpur 250 km ²: the Rawal in 1882 had over 13,000 in 1901, only 8665 subjects whose number rose to 1931 again 13522 ( then taxes: ø 106000 ). They lived in 59 villages. Tribute went to Idar, the British and Baroda. Founder of the state was Virajmal a younger son of the eighth Rao of Idar.
• MANSA: The Rawal in 1882 had more than 14,000 subjects, 1901: 15639th Approximately 1/6 of its nearly 67,000 Rs taxes went to Baroda in 1903.
• Mohanpur, 230 sq km: the nearly 16,000 subjects (1901 ) of the Thakur paid 1903 Rs 22700 taxes, of which 4750 Baroda and Idar received 245.

In this and the lower classes, the rights of the Chief as the court of the Lord were always lower. Although usually came after their adoption of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code to the application, but since 1838 has been, particularly in relation to the "backward savages" local customary law, preferably collective fines for villages and lashings applied.

1819, initially this Agency assigned Sunth States and Lunawara came 1819 Rewa Kantha. Jher (<30 km ²) and Nirmali (25 km ²) belonged to the Maharaja of Baroda and the Mian from Mandwa together. They were managed by the Agent on their behalf.