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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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
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
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
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
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
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
image by Martin Grieve, 5 December 2009
The green objects are described in the warrant as 'bezants' and 'mountains'.
image by Rob Raeside, 28 August 2014
Form www.junagadhstate.com: Red ensign flag based on image by Ziggioto
(1998). Description on warrant:
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
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 2 December 2002
"... 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' "
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
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
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
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
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)
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