Saurashtra State, formally known as United State of Kathiawar and later United State of Saurashtra, was a

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

that existed between 1948 and 1956,States of India since 1947
/ref> on Saurashtra alias Kathiawar peninsula, with

Rajkot Rajkot () is the fourth-largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the ...

as its capital.

History

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 The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent, * * lasting from 1858 to 1947. * * It is also called Crown rule ...

territory under direct colonial rule. The name of State was given after the

Kathiawar Kathiawar (), also known as Saurashtra, is a peninsula in the south-western Gujarat state in India, bordering the Arabian Sea and covering about . It is bounded by the Kutch district in the north, the Gulf of Kutch in the northwest, and by the ...

and Saurashtra region, both of which generally denote the same geographical region of lands on the main peninsula of Gujarat. The persuasions of

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (; ''Vallabhbhāī Jhāverbhāī Paṭel''; 31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950), commonly known as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was an Indian independence activist and statesman who served as the first Deputy Prime ...

and the influence of

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...

are credited for persuading most of the States of Kathiawar to join the Union of India and sign the

Instrument of Accession The Instrument of Accession was a legal document first introduced by the Government of India Act 1935 and used in 1947 to enable each of the rulers of the princely states under British paramountcy to join one of the new dominions of Dominion ...

. Patel met and managed to convince the local princes and petty subas, totaling 222 in Saurashtra region alone. Among these in Kathiawar Agency were 14

Salute state A salute is usually a formal hand gesture or other action used to display respect in military situations. Salutes are primarily associated with the military and law enforcement, but many civilian organizations, such as Girl Guides, Scouting ...

s, 17 minor and 191 petty Non-salute Princely States and 46 Estates (Jagir-level). Most of the native rulers of the Kathiawar States entered into a Covenant for the formation of the United State of Kathiawar on 24 January 1948.Indian Philately
/ref> The large Kathiawar peninsula included some prominent princely states of India, notably

salute state A salute is usually a formal hand gesture or other action used to display respect in military situations. Salutes are primarily associated with the military and law enforcement, but many civilian organizations, such as Girl Guides, Scouting ...

: * the vast

Baroda State Baroda State was a kingdom within the Maratha Confederacy and later a princely state in present-day Gujarat. It was ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty from its formation in 1721 until its accession to the newly formed Dominion of India. With th ...

, title Maharaja Gaekwar, Hereditary salute of 21-guns (highest native rank in colonial India) * Idar, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 15-guns *

Bhavnagar State Bhavnagar State was a princely state with 13 Gun Salutes during the British Raj. It was part of Kathiawar Agency in Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra. The State of Bhavnagar covered an area of 2,961 sq. miles and had a population of 618,429 i ...

, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local) * Navanagar, title Maharaja Jam Sahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local) * Dhrangadhra(-Halvad), title Maharaja Raj Sahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns and (local 15 gun). *

Porbandar Porbandar is a city and the headquarters of Porbandar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama. It was the former capital of the Porbandar State, Porbandar princely state. Porbandar and Chhaya, ...

, title Maharaja Rana Sahib, Hereditary salute of 13-guns * Rajpipla State, title Rajpipla, Hereditary salute of 13-guns *

Cambay Khambhat state or Cambay state was a princely state in India during the British Raj. The city of Khambhat in present-day Gujarat was its capital. The state was bounded in the north by the Kaira district (Kheda district, Kheda) and in the sout ...

, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns * Gondal, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns * Morvi, title Maharan, Hereditary salute of 11-guns * Wankaner, title Maharana Raj Sahib, Hereditary salute of 11-guns * Baria, title Maharaol, Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11-guns personal) * Dharampur, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11-guns personal) * Dhrol, title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns * Limbdi, title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns *

Palitana Palitana is a city in the Bhavnagar district of the Indian state of Gujarat. It is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations for followers of Jainism, renowned for the Shatrunjaya hill temples, a sprawling complex of over 900 marble t ...

, title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns *

, title Thakore Sahib, Hereditary salute of 9-guns * Sachin, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 9-guns * 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,

-which was the third largest Princely state of India, having its territories scattered over

Dwarka Dwarka () is a town and municipality of Devbhumi Dwarka district in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Gujarat. It is located on the western shore of the Okhamandal Peninsula on the right bank of the Gomti river at ...

in West of Kathiawar to

Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...

in South- did not sign the covenant for the formation of the United State 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 Bombay State was a large Indian state created in 1950 from the erstwhile Bombay Province, with other regions being added to it in the succeeding years. Bombay Province (in British India roughly equating to the present-day Indian state of Mah ...

on 1 May 1949.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 :- The Jam Sahib K. S. Digvijaysinhji of

Nawanagar State Nawanagar was an Indian state and then a princely state in the historical Halar region, located on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch. It was ruled by the Jadeja Rajput dynasty and became a part of newly formed India. Its capital cit ...

one of the chief negotiator from the side of rulers of Kathiawar in his reply observed and said :-

Jawaharlal Nehru Jawaharlal Nehru (14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat, and statesman who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20th century. Nehru was a pr ...

described the event as a great step forward and one of the most notable in contemporary Indian history. He further commended the statesmanship of Sardar Patel and further wrote in his letter to provincial chief ministers on 20 February 1948 :- Upon formation of United State of Kathiawar,

Lord Mountbatten Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy), Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (born Prince Louis of Battenberg; 25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979), commonly known as Lord Mountbatten, was ...

also congratulated Sardar Patel, saying :- 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 State of Kathiawar, there were some patches of lands in Kathiawar belonging to princely states of

Junagadh Junagadh () is the city and headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (the state capital), it is the seventh largest city in the state. It i ...

, Mangrol, Manavadar and others, which did not join the convention and were wishing to join

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. It was later after

violent Violence is characterized as the use of physical force by humans to cause harm to other living beings, or property, such as pain, injury, disablement, death, damage and destruction. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines violence a ...

integration of Junagadh into Union of India that a referendum was held and Junagadh, Mangrol, Manavadar,

Babariawad Babariawad was a small principality under suzerainty of the Princely State of Junagadh. During British India, was the easternmost district of Princely State of Junagadh, in south central Kathiawar. It consisted then of some 51 villages and city o ...

( Rajula) and others became ''a legal part of India''. However, due to some technicalities, these territories even after the 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.

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. 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 The State of Junagadh or Junagarh was a princely state located in Gujarat, It was ruled by the Muslim Babi dynasty since 1654 by first Nawab of Junagarh, Nawab of Junagadh even within the Maratha Confederacy and later British India. which, aft ...

(another major salute state) and also that of Mangrol, Manavadar,

(rajula), Bantva and Sardargarh were officially handed over to Saurashtra Government.

Dissolution

On 1 November 1956 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 Kutch State was a state within India from 1947 to 1956. Its capital was Bhuj. The state's territory now forms a Kachchh district within the Indian state of Gujarat. History Kutch State was formed out of the territory of the former princel ...

, Saurashtra State,

Marathwada Marathwada () is a geographical region of the States and territories of India, Indian state of Maharashtra. It was formed during the Nizam of Hyderabad, Nizam's rule and was part of the then Hyderabad State. The region coincides with the Aurang ...

Vidarbha Vidarbha (Pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, �id̪əɾbʱə is a geographical region in the west Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Forming the eastern part of the state, it comprises Amravati Division, Amrav ...

, while a southern portion was excluded, which went to

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

. Following Mahagujarat Movement, the

was again dissolved to be carved into two separate states of

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

and

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

created on linguistic basis on 1 May 1960 With this, the area of Saurashtra State again became a geographically defined region, Saurashtra, within the State of Gujarat.

Chief officers

Rajpramukhs

The following princes of salute states served as

Rajpramukh Rajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Rajpramukhs were the appointed governors of certain Indian provinces and states. Background The British Indian Empire, which incl ...

(premier Prince), i.e. Head of the State : * Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji (b. 1912 - d. 1965), the last ruler of

, was acting Rajpramukh. * Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, last ruler of Nawanagar, was Rajpramukh from 1948 until 31 October 1956 ** Mayurdwajsinhji Meghrajji III, the last ruler of

Dhrangadhra State Kingdom of Jhalavad was a Monarchy, kingdom present in the Kathiawar region of Gujarat. The kingdom came to be known as the Dhrangadhra State after it became a princely state in the nineteenth century. The town of Dhrangadhra served as its capi ...

, 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.

Prime Ministers

* Uchharangray Navalshankar Dhebar acted as Prime Minister of State from 15 February 1948 till 26 January 1950 (b. 1905 - d. 1977) INC.

Chief Ministers

* Uchharangray Navalshankar Dhebar acted as Chief Minister of State from 26 January 1950 till 19 December 1954 (b. 1905 - d. 1977) INC. * Rasiklal Umedchand Parikh was second and last Chief Minister of State from 19 December 1954 till 31 October 1956 (b. 1910 - d. 1982) INC .

References

External links

WorldStatesmen - India - States post 1947
{{Authority control Former states and territories of India History of Gujarat (1947–present) Political integration of India Vallabhbhai Patel 1956 disestablishments in India States and territories established in 1948 1948 establishments in India States and territories disestablished in 1956