Surgana State

Surgana State
सुरगाणा
Princely State of British India
Late 18th century–1948 →
Flag Coat of arms
Surgana State in Nasik Agency during British India
History
 • Established Late 18th century
 • Independence of India 1948
Area
 • 1901 932.4 km2 (360 sq mi)
Population
 • 1901 11,532 
Density 12.4 /km2  (32 /sq mi)
 • 1921 14,912 
Today part of Maharashtra, India

Surgana State was a princely state of the Bombay Presidency during the era of the British Raj.[1] It was the only state belonging to the Nasik Agency. Its capital was Surgana in Nashik District of present-day Maharashtra.

Surgana State's last ruler signed the accession to join the Indian Union in March 1948.

History

Surgana State was founded towards the end of the 18th century. The territory of the state is mountainous and used to be inhabited mostly by Koli kshatriya. The chiefs of Surgana were Maratha Koli Kshatriya's from Malwa and the ancestors trace their genealogy to Parmar from Mount Abu and Rajasthan. They prevented the Bhils and Kol of the Dangs from raiding Hatgadh Fort and the ghats. They also provided military services to neighbouring 14 chiefs. They were titled as Deshmukh "Desh" means "country" and "Mukh" means "mouth" Spoke person of his country, of the Hatgadh division of Nasik which included the town of Surgana and other villages. They refused to pay tribute to the Marathas and Mughals so they were marked as rebel land (Bandi Mulk). Due to their strategic position between Surat and Deccan, Marathas made peace with them. In 1818, they attacked a British police party passing through their state. The British retaliated and captured the chief Malhar Rao and hanged him in 1819. So Surgana State became a British protectorate in 1818.[2] The British made Bhikaji Rao as the new chief as he helped them against the Marathas. Bhikaji Rao was murdered in the riot caused by the mother of Malharrao and her brother-in-law, Pilaji. Pilaji was captured and executed by the British. The descendants of Malharrao were allowed the share in revenues of the state in 1846 and were granted an allowance grant in 1877. The chief of the state had powers to elect a Representative Member of the Chambers of Princes from 1921 to 1947. In March 1948, the last chief Dhairyashil Rao signed the Gujarat States Merger Agreement and ceded the state to Union of India.

Later Dhairyashil Rao also served as the Member of the Rajya Sabha in 1952–1968 and 1972–1978.

The Princely State was bordered on the south by Peinth in Nasik, and in the west by the Bansda and Dharampur States.

Rulers

The rulers of the state bore the title 'Deshmukh'. Surgana State's rulers belonged to the Hindu Pawar dynasty of Mahadev Kolis.[3]

Deshmukhs

  • bf.1800 – 1818 .....
  • 1818 – 1819 Malhar Rao (d. 1819)
  • 1819 – 1820 Bhikaji Rao
  • 1820 – 1854 Jashwant Rao I Bhikaji Rao
  • 1854 – 1867 Muvar Rao
  • 1867 – 2 Jun 1898 Shankar Rao Ravi Rao (b. 1849 – d. ....)
  • 1898 – 22 Jun 1930 Pratap Rao Shankar Rao (b. 18 Aug 1880 – d. 1930)
  • 1930 – 1936 Jashwant Rao II Pratap Rao (b. 1902 – d. ....)
  • Apr 1936 – 15 Aug 1947 (1948 – 2003 titular) Dhairyashil Rao Jashwant Rao (b. 22 Nov 1922 – d. 23 Nov 2003)
  • 2003 – present (titular) Nitranjan Dhairyashil Rao

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wikisource Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bombay Presidency". Encyclopædia Britannica. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 186.
  2. ↑ Princely States of India
  3. ↑ Koli Provinces of India Surgana (Princely State)

Coordinates: 20°34′N 73°37′E / 20.57°N 73.62°E / 20.57; 73.62

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