->Billjones94 at 04:46, 24 September 2021

2021-09-24T04:46:05Z

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{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
|native_name =
|conventional_long_name =Kathiawar Agency
|common_name =Kathiawar Agency
|nation = [[British India]]
|status_text = [[Agencies of British India|Agency of British India]]
|era =
|year_start = 1819
|date_start =
|event_start=
|year_end = 1924
|date_end =
|event_end= Formation of the [[Western India States Agency]]
|event1 =
|date_event1 =
|p1 =
|s1 = Western India States Agency
|flag_p1 =
|flag_s1 = British Raj Red Ensign.svg
|image_flag =
|image_coat =
|image_map = Baroda state 1909.jpg
|image_map_caption = Map of the Kathiawar Agency area
|stat_area1 = 54084
|stat_year1 = 1901
|stat_pop1 = 2329196
|footnotes =
}}
The '''Kathiawar Agency''', on the [[Kathiawar]] peninsula in the western part of the Indian subcontinent, was a political unit of some 200 small [[princely state]]s under the [[suzerainty]] of the [[Bombay Presidency]] of [[British Raj|British India]].<ref>{{cite book|author=W.W. Hunter|title=The Imperial Gazetteer Of India: Vol. XV: Karachi To Kottayam|date=1908}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The agency's headquarters were at [[Rajkot]],<ref name=i/> the town where the [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Agent]] used to reside. He reported to the Political Department office at [[Bombay]], [[Bombay Presidency]].<ref>Sessional Papers – Volume 31, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons published by H.M. Stationery Office, 1900 – Page 464</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Kathiawar_map.jpg|thumb|left|Kathiawar region in 1878]]
The agency was formed in 1822, after the princely states in the area became [[British protectorate]]s.

The region was severely affected by the famine of 1899–1900. Between 1891 and 1901, the population of the states covered by the Agency decreased by 15 per cent, largely due to the results of the famine.<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Kathiawar |volume=15 |page=695}}</ref><ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_170.gif Kathiawar] at ''[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]], v. 15, p. 164.''</ref>

On 10 October 1924, the agency was abolished and merged into the [[Western India States Agency]], which had three subdivisions:<ref name=i>The Indian Year Book, Volume 11 by Bennett, Coleman & Company, 1924,pp:151–152</ref><ref>The India Office and Burma Office List by Harrison and sons, Limited, 1922– Page 393</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Indian and Pakistan Year Book , Volume 23|year=1936|page=172|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pg8IAQAAIAAJ&q=cutch+agency+formed+year&dq=cutch+agency+formed+year&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yYacUeDUBoe6iQfVjIHgCQ&ved=0CF8Q6AEwCQ}}</ref><ref>[http://cbkwgl.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/list-of-princely-states-of-india/ List of Princely States of India]</ref>
* [[Eastern Kathiawar Agency]] (from 1926 onwards)
* [[Western Kathiawar Agency]] (from 1926 onwards)
* [[Sabar Kantha Agency]] (merged with Eastern Kathiawar Agency on 1 September 1943) including [[Banas Kantha Agency]] (former Palanpur Agency)

== Princely states ==
{{princely states topics}}
There were altogether 193 states of varying size and importance, of which fourteen exercised independent jurisdiction, while the rest were to varying degrees under British administration. The eight states of the first class were [[Bhavnagar State]], [[Dhrangadhra State]], [[Gondal State]], [[Jafarabad State]], [[Junagadh State]], [[Morvi State]], [[Nawanagar State]], and [[Porbandar State]]. The agency covered an area of {{convert|20882|sqmi|km2}}, and in 1901 the population was 2,329,196. The headquarters of the political agent (who oversaw the affairs of the princely states on behalf of the [[Governor-General of India|Governor-General]]) was at [[Rajkot]], in the centre of the peninsula; this was also the site of the [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot]], where many of the sons of the rulers were educated. There was a similar school for ''girasias'', or chiefs of lower rank, at [[Gondal, India|Gondal]].

The estimated gross revenue of the several states was 1,278,000 [[Indian rupee|rupees]] in 1911; total tribute (payable to the British, the [[Gaekwar]] of [[Baroda]] and the [[nawab of Junagadh]]), was 70,000 rupees. An excellent system of [[metre-gauge railway]]s was built at the cost of the leading states. Maritime trade was also very active, the chief ports being Porbandar, Mangrol and [[Veraval]]. In 1903–1904 the total seaborne exports were valued at 1,300,000 rupees, and the imports at 1,120,000.

== See also ==
* [[Western India States Agency]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links and Sources ==
* [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_170.gif Imperial Gazetteer - Kathiawar]

{{Princely states of the Western India States Agency}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|22|18|N|70|48|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Kathiawar Agency| ]]
[[Category:1924 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:History of Gujarat]]

Kathiawar Agency - Revision history

->Billjones94 at 04:46, 24 September 2021