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Baroda, Western India and Gujarat Agency - Indian Princely States

Last modified: 2022-11-12 by ian macdonald
Keywords: baroda | gujarat | bhavnagar | dhragandhra | gondal | junagadh | morvi | navanagar | porbandar | radhanpur | rajkot | tharad | wankaner |
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See also:

Some facts

 This was an agency, generically placed between the provinces of Sind and Bombay and the agencies of Rajputana and Central India. It inluded a lot of enclaves in bordering territories and had also quite a few enclaves of other territorial divisions in it's territory, including the Portuguese colony of Diu. Bordered also the Portuguese colony of Daman. Today, most of this agency is part of the Indian state of Gujarat, but some territories are in the state of Maharashtra.

It was composed by the princely states of Balasinor, Bansda, Bariya, Baroda (with a number of exclaves), Bhavnagar, Cambay, Chota Udaipur, Dangs, Dharampur, Dhragandhra, Gondal, Idar, Jawhar, Junagadh, Kutch, Lunavada, Morvi, Nasik, Navanagar, Porbandar, Radhanpur, Rajkot, Rajpipla, Sachin, Sanjeda Mehvassi, Sant, Surgana, Tharad, Vijayanagar and Wankaner and the map I'm getting this information from shows quite a few unlabeled territories.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

Bhavnagar

[Bhavnagar] image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

This was a medium-sized state (2,961 sq. km; 500,000 inh. in 1931; Ed's data) in the Kathiawar Peninsula with shores in the Gulf of Khambhat. In the map I've been referring to it is surrounded by the state of Junagadh, 3 unnamed territories, an exclave of Baroda and two portions of territory belonging to Bombay. The city of Bhavnagar is in that area, but by it's position in my atlas, it seems that it was outside the princely state (in territory of Bombay). No info on flag, though you may find in Ed's site a black and white depiction of the arms, and also the information (with picture) that this state also used the British red ensign for merchant ships with the state badge added.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

The Royal Ark website lists:
SALUTE: 13-guns.
ARMS: Murrey, an eagle or displayed; in chief on a canton of the second, a lion statant of the first. Helmet: Argent. Crest: An Eastern gallion argent profile in full sail. Supporters: Two bisons argent rampant, service with bezanté. Motto: "Manushaya Yatna Ishwara Kripa" (man proposes, God disposes) or on a label azure bordered or. Lambrequins: Murrey and or.
FLAG: A rectangular horizontal bicolour of scarlet over white, with the arms in gold in the centre.

Ziggioto (1998) has the Red Ensign, and description of the state flag, as above.
Jarig Bakker, 31 May 2002

PRINCIPALITY OF BHAVNAGAR
Princely States of Bombay Presidency, States of Kathiawar-Gohilwar, Present-day Gujarat
13 Gun Salute
Area: 7, 669 sq.km
Acceded to the Union of India on Feb.15, 1948, Predecessor state of Sejakpur founded in 1194 (1240), then Ranipur 1254-1309, Umrala or Gogha 1309-1445, Umrala 1445-1570, Shihor 1570-1723, then finally Bhavnagar from 1723.

Flag:
The British granted the Principality of Bhavnagar in the 1930's a State flag: the "Red Ensign" with a badge on a disk (?) which consists of the Arms) with some modifications and in the canton the Union Jack.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 20 January 2003

[Bhavnagar] image from http://www.uq.net.au/%7Ezzhsoszy/ips/b/bhavnagar.html

The site at http://www.uq.net.au/%7Ezzhsoszy/ips/b/bhavnagar.html shows different flag for the state.
Valentin Poposki, 4 November 2006

Dhragandhra

[Dhragandhra] image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

This medium-sized state was placed to the southeast of Kutch, bordering Kutch, Morvi and Wankaner and an unlabelled territory. The city of Surendranagar is found nearby.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

Ziggioto (1998) reports "Dhrangadhra is situated northeast from Morvi, just south of the Little Rann of Kutch. It was in the possession of a family of Rajput descent; the chief of the Jhala clan was the first prince. At first he controlled a vast area in Sind, but it was in time greatly reduced, now in Gujarat. (3.000 sq. km., 90.000 inhabitants).

The first recorded flag is of uncertain date, but attested in 1911; it stood model for the national flag, adopted 5 October 1946. That was the Sakti Dhwaj, which contained the symbol "gonkh"of Sakti Devi (the god-mother of the Jhala clan), which reminded of a banner carried in the battle of Kankavati in 1471. The flag had three horizontal stripes, two pink and one central blue, representing according to ancient tradition sundown during two consecutive days, when the goddess Sakti Devi founded the princedom with Harpad Dev. The blue stripe had in the center a "gonkh" (a canopy of stone) and a serrated yellow band, with 18 serrations, representing 1800 villages, which ultimately symbolized the "torana", the origin of the state, when 2300 villages were part of it. Pink flagpole with a golden "gonkh" as finial.
Jarig Bakker, 14 May 2002

[Dhragandhra] image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

The standard of the prince, of the "Jhala Raj", consisted of a red (pinkish) flag with three yellow "gonkh", placed 2 - 1. Pink flagpole with Hindu gold crown as finial."
Jarig Bakker, 14 May 2002

Dhragandhra coat of arms

[Baria] image by Sanjay G.

Gondal

The state of Gondal was divided between two portions. The smaller one was, nevertheless, larger than some states and hence the whole state was relatively large. Ed Haynes' 1931 data show a population of 205,000 in 1024 sq. miles. The smaller portion was placed between the state of Navanagar and two unlabeled territories, not far away from the state of Rajkot. The city of Gondal seems to have been in this territory. No info on flags.

Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

Junagadh

[Marvi] image by Martin Grieve, 5 December 2009

A relatively large state, in the south of the Kathiawar peninsula. Limited by the states of Porbandar, Navanagar, Gondal and Bhavnagar, 3 unlabeled territories, two Barodian exclaves and the Portuguese colony of Diu. I found three cities there: Junagadh, Veraval and Delvada. No info on flags, except the reference to the British ensign as in Bhavnagar.
Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

The Royal Ark website lists:
SALUTE: 13-guns (15-guns local).
ARMS: Vert three bezants in fesse between three hills proper. Crest: A Royal crown or with a cap vert and petals argent on the arches, overall a leopard's face or. Supporters: Lions argent. Motto: "Saurashtra" (Good government) or on a label of sky-blue. Lambrequins: Vert and or.
FLAG: A red frilled banner with the state arms in full colour.
Jarig Bakker, 31 May 2002

Detail of seal

[Marvi] image by Martin Grieve, 5 December 2009

The green objects are described in the warrant as 'bezants' and 'mountains'.
 David Prothero, 5 December 2009

[Marvi] image by Rob Raeside, 28 August 2014

Form www.junagadhstate.com:

A rectangular tricolour of green over white over red, on the upper band near the staff, a white 5-pointed star and crescent. In the centre of the white band is the Coat of Arms (a round disc of red over medium-blue showing a golden lion couchant, guardant, above golden objects in the base. A white gold edged riband, with a gold Arabic inscription above & below the gold legend "H.H. THE NAWAB OF JUNAGADH". Above is an Arabic inscription, the disc has a gold wreath of leaves on both sides.
John McMeekin, 28 August 2014

Morvi

[Marvi] image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

Red ensign flag based on image by Ziggioto (1998).
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 2 December 2002

Description on warrant:
"... a shield in gold bearing an oval badge charged with the sun, crescent moon and stars and the words
MORVI STATE, with sword and lance on either side above supported by tigers and surmounted by a crown,
below the motto, [translates as], 'Valour With Forgiveness' "
David Prothero, 20 January 2003

This state was located to the south of Kutch, and bordering it plus Dhragandhra, Navanagar, Wankaner and Rajkot. A city named Morvi can be found in Morvi. Unfortunately, I have no info on flags.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

The Royal Ark website lists:
SALUTE: 11-Guns
ARMS: Wavy stripes of azure and argent, with an eastern galleon under sail and flying a pendant proper. In the centre a trident or, between a sun in splendour of fourteen rays (dexter) and a crescent argent (sinister). Above the shield crossed swords (points downward) proper crowned by a crown or. Crest: A horse rampant argent. Supporters: Antelope and tiger proper.
FLAG: A rectangular flag of seven equal stripes, violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, saffron and red (top to bottom) with crossed swords (points upwards) "MS" between the hilts and the crest, a white horse with a wreath over the top.
Jarig Bakker, 31 May 2002

See also: Red Ensigns of the Native States

PRINCIPALITY OF MORVI
Princely States of Bombay Presidency, States of Kathiawar, Saurashtra, Present-day Gujarat
Area: 2, 129 sq.km
Acceded to the Union of India on Feb. 15, 1948, Founded in 1697  Source: Filcher (1984)
Chrystian Kretowicz, 19 January 2003

The British assigned badge for the red ensign differs indeed from the coat of arms of the Maharaja Saheb (Armoiries de Son Altesse le Maharaja Saheb). Besides that, there are still other coat of arms for Morvi. As the image of the British badge in Flicher's book is terrible, I took the liberty to substitute it with one from Royal Ark site, which is, again, slightly different from the CoA Flicher shows alongside the British badge. I guess I should mention it. Didn't anticipate it will create such a storm of indignations. Anyway the image by Blas is still the best (and most accurate).
Chrystian Kretowicz, 19 January 2003

Nawanagar

[Nawanagar] image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

Red ensign flag based on image by Ziggioto (1998).
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 2 December 2002

Another relatively large state of the Kathiawar peninsula, in the shores of the Gulf of Kutch. Ed Haynes' 1931 data show a population of 409,000 in 3791 sq. miles. It was placed between the states of Morvi, Rajkot, Gondal (both portions), Junagadh and Porbandar, two unlabeled territories and a Barodian exclave. The city of Jamnagar is found there. No info on flags, except the aforementioned reference to the British red ensign, as in Bhavnagar.
Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

Porbandar

[Porbandar] image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

In the southwest of the Kathiawar Peninsula, between the states of Navanagar and Junagadh, Ed Haynes' 1931 data show 115,000 inhabitants in 642 sq. miles. The city of Porbandar was more than likely the capital.
Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

Flag based on image by Ziggioto (1998) - no information on the colour of the badge.  It might be black and white.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 25 April 2002

As far as I understand, this (and several others) were indeed used colourless. However, as there should not be white disk, we may only wander if the inner parts of white colour should be "transparent" (i.e. emblem is black and red only) or if the inner parts remain white.
Željko Heimer, 26 April 2002

See also: Red Ensigns of the Native States

Radhanpur

To the south of Tharad, this state was surrounded by the states of Kutch and Tharad, an exclave of Baroda and an unlabeled territory. The city of Patan seems to be in it's territory. No info on flags.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

Tharad (Tharad-Morwara)

[Tharad-Morwara] image by Chrystian Kretowicz

Located to the east of Kutch, this state was limited by the states of Kutch and Radhanpur, an exclave of Baroda, and the Rajputanian states of Jodhpur and Palanpur. The closest contemporary city is Patan, but I think it was in another state back then. No info on flags.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

PRINCIPALITY OF THARAD - MORWARA
Princely States of Bombay Presidency, Sabar Kantha Agency (ex-Palanpur), Present-day Gujarat
(no gun salute)
Area: 3, 263 sq. km
Acceded to the Union of India on June 10, 1948

Flag:
The flag of the Principality of Tharad is rectangular, green in color with the Arms of the Nawab placed in the canton. Underneath the Arms there is a ribbon with the inscription in Gujarati script.  Source: Filcher (1984)
Chrystian Kretowicz, 18 January 2003

Wankaner

[Wankaner] image by Chrystian Kretowicz, based on Filcher (1984)

[Wankaner] image by Jarig Bakker based on Ziggioto (1998)

Another very small state, slightly larger than Rajkot, between this state and the states of Morvi and Dhragandhra and and unlabelled territory. Ed Haynes' 1931 data show 44,000 people in only 417 sq. miles of area. No cities found in the area, and no info on flags.
Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

PRINCIPALITY OF WANKANER
Princely States of Bombay Presidency, States of Kathiawar-Jhalawar, Present-day Gujarat
11 Gun Salute
Area: 1,080 sq.km
Acceded to the Union of India on Feb. 15, 1948, Founded in 1605 by a grandson of Raj Chandrasinhji, the ruler of Dhrangadhra.

Flag:
"The flag of the Principality of Wankaner is composed of rectangular field in red color on which the Arms are placed, in the white color, in the center. The Arms - "Shakt Mata", bear the inscriptions: "In God is My Trust", and "Wankaner", underneath."
Chrystian Kretowicz, 20 January 2003