Central India Agency

The Central India Agency was created in 1854, by amalgamating the Western Malwa Agency with other smaller political offices which formerly reported to the Governor-General of India. The agency was overseen by a political agent who maintained British relations with the princely states and influence over them on behalf of the Governor-General. The headquarters of the agent were at Indore.

Central India Agency
Agency of British India
1854–1947
Flag
Coat of arms

Central India Agency in 1909
Area 
• 1881
194,000 km2 (75,000 sq mi)
Population 
• 1881
9261907
History 
• Merger of previous political offices
1854
1947
Preceded by		Succeeded by
Malwa
Gwalior Residency
Madhya Bharat
Bhopal State (1949–56)
Vindhya Pradesh
 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Central India". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
View of the Agency House in Dhar State, one of the former centres southwest. Lalitpur District, part of the United Provinces, split the Central India Agency into eastern and western portions.

List of Divisions and Princely States/districts of Agency

Bundelkhand Agency
Main article: Bundelkhand Agency

Bundelkhand Agency was bounded by Bagelkhand to the east, the United Provinces to the north, Lalitpur District to the west, and the Central Provinces to the south. Bagelkhand Agency was separated from Bundelkhand in 1871. In 1900 it included 9 states, the most important of which were Orchha, Panna, Samthar, Charkhari, Chhatarpur, Datia, Bijawar and Ajaigarh. The agency also included 13 estates and the pargana of Alampur, the latter belonging to Indore State.[1]

In 1931, all of the states under the Baghelkhand Agency apart from Rewa were transferred back to Bundelkhand.

Salute states, by precedence:

  • Datia, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 15-guns
  • Orchha,[2] title Maharaja or Raja (from 1882, Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja), Hereditary salute of 15-guns
  • Ajaigarh, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Baoni, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Bijawar, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Charkhari, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Panna, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Samthar, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns

Non-salute states, alphabetically:

Jagirs :

Former princely States that were annexed or seized by the British :

Bagelkhand Agency
Main article: Bagelkhand Agency

Bagelkhand Agency, the easternmost charge, was established in March 1871, when it was separated from Bundelkhand agency. In 1900, it covered the area of twelve states, including :

Salute states, by precedence :

  • Rewa, the largest state in Bagelkhand, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 17-guns
  • Baraundha, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
  • Maihar, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

Non-salute states (alphabetically) :

In 1931, all of the states but Rewa were transferred back to Bundelkhand, and in 1933 Rewa was transferred to the Indore Residency.

Gwalior Residency

Gwalior Residency was placed under the Central India Agency in 1854, and separated from Central India Agency in 1921. It included the following, among other smaller states, plus Chhabra pargana (district) of Tonk State : Include Jagirs Chhadawad, Bagli, Dattigaon, Balipur/chikli, Nimkheda, Pathari, Tonk Khurd Etc.

Salute states :

  • Gwalior, title Maharaja Scindia; Hereditary salute of 21-guns.
  • Rampur, title Nawab; Hereditary salute of 15-guns
  • Benares (Ramnagar), title Maharaja; Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local)

Non-salute states :

Furthermore, lesser estates (under Thakurs or diwans)

  • Agra Barkhera
  • Kathaun
  • Khiaoda
  • Sangul Wardha
  • Sirsi

Bhopal Agency

Bhopal Agency, 11,653 sq mi (30,180 km2), which included the following :

Salute states, by precedence :

  • Bhopal, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 19-guns (21-guns local)
  • Dewas Junior and Dewas Senior, both title Mharaja, Hereditary salutes of 15-guns (transferred to Malwa Agency in 1907, and to Bhopal Agency in 1933)
  • Narsinghgarh, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Rajgarh, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Khilchipur, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

Non-salute states, alphabetically :

Indore Residency

Indore Residency included most of Indore (Holkar) and after 1933 also Rewa State.

Malwa Agency

Malwa Agency, 8,919 sq mi (23,100 km2), which included parts of Gwalior, Indore and Tonk states and the states of:

Salute states, by precedence :

  • Ratlam State, title Maharaja Bahadur, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local)
  • Jaora State, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
  • Sailana State, title Raja Bahadur, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Jhabua State, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Sitamau State, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns

Non-salute states :

Estates :

In 1925, the Malwa Agency was amalgamated with Bhopawar Agency.

Bhopawar Agency

Bhopawar Agency included the princely states of: It also included territories of Gwalior and Indore States. In 1927 the agency was renamed the Southern States Agency, later the Southern States and Malwa Agency, and after 1934 Malwa Agency.

Salute states, by precedence :

  • Dhar, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 15-guns

The following were the jagirs (estates), ruled by the Bhilala tribes, that were under the Suzerainty of Dhar State.:[3]

  1. Jamnia
  2. Kali-Baori
  3. Nimkhera (alias Tirla)
  4. Rajgadh

There were several British guaranteed Fiefdoms (Jagirs) which were under the suzerainty of Dhar Durbar, also known as Feudatory Estates. They were ruled by Rajputs.

  1. Multhan, title Thakur
  2. Kachhi-Baroda, title Thakur
  3. Bakhatgarh, title Rao Saheb
  4. Dhotria, alias Baisola, title Thakur.
  • Alirajpur, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns, including the extinct State of Phulmaal which was incorporated into it earlier as well as Fiefs (Jagirs) of .
  • Barwani, title Maharana, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
  • Jhabua, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns

Estates :

Discontinued :

  • Amjhera, title Rao
  • Chhadawad, title Rao

Jagirs (incomplete) :

Post-independence

Upon the British withdrawal from India in 1947, the rulers of the princely states in this area all chose to accede to the new Union of India. The eastern portion of Central India Agency, including Bagelkhand and Bundelkhand agencies, became the new state Vindhya Pradesh. The western portion, including Bhopal, Malwa, and Bhopawar agencies and the Gwalior and Indore residencies, became the new state of Madhya Bharat. Bhopal became a separate state. Makrai was transferred to Madhya Pradesh, which had been created from the former Central Provinces and Berar in 1950. In 1956, the states of Vindhya Pradesh, Madhya Bharat, and Bhopal were merged into Madhya Pradesh. Later another state, Chhattisgarh, was formed from the area that was formerly Madhya Pradesh.

See also

References
  1. Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 9, p. 74.
  2. Orchha state The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 19, p. 241.
  3. Imperial Gazetteer of India pg.51
  • Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al. (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 12. 1908–1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.

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