Chota Nagpur Tributary States Explained

Conventional Long Name:Chota Nagpur Tributary States
Common Name:Chota Nagpur States
Nation:British India
Subdivision:Group of princely states
Year Start:1821
Event Start:Sanads issued to Chota Nagpur rulers
Year End:1947
Event End:Accession to the Indian Union
P1:Agencies of British India
S1:India
Flag P1:Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg
Flag S1:Flag of India.svg
Stat Area1:41580
Stat Year1:1881
Stat Pop1:678,002
Today:Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha

The Chota Nagpur Tributary States[1] or Chota Nagpur States were a group of small, non-salute states (minor princely states) during the British Raj in India, located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau. British suzerainty over the states was exercised through the government of the Bengal Presidency.

These states were nine in number and became part of the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha following Indian Independence.[2]

History

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.

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 state Gangpur and Bonai were attached to the Orissa Tributary States, leaving only Kharsawan and Saraikela answerable to the Bengal governor.[3]

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 these minor princely states all chose to accede to the Dominion of India. Changbhakar, 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.[4]

In November 2000, the new states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were separated from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, respectively.

Princely States

The following princely states were collectively called 'Chhota Nagpur Tributary States' :

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.southasiaarchive.com/Content/sarf.100009/231191 Chota Nagpur Tributary States Gazetteer. Statistics, 1901-02
  2. A. K. Lal (ed.), Social Exclusion: Essays in Honour of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Volume 1; p. 330
  3. Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al. (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 12. 1908-1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford
  4. Eastern States Agency. List of ruling chiefs & leading personages Delhi: Agent to Governor-General, Eastern States, 1936