Cutch Agency

The Cutch Agency was one of the agencies of British India. The appointed Political Agent looked after only one territory, that of the princely state of Cutch, which had a surface of 19,725 square kilometres (7,616 sq mi), not including the Rann of Kutch.

Cutch Agency
Agency of British India
1819–1924

Map of the Cutch Agency area
Area 
• 1901
19,725 km2 (7,616 sq mi)
Population 
• 1901
488,022
History 
• Established
1819
• Formation of the Western India States Agency
1924
Succeeded by
Western India States Agency

The agency's headquarters were at Bhuj,[1] where the Political Agent used to reside. He reported to the Political Department office at Bombay, Bombay Presidency.[2]

History

The agency was formed in 1819 when Cutch State became a British protectorate.[3]

Captain James MacMurdo was first appointed Political Agent, as Collector and Resident of Cutch. He worked from his office at Anjar[4] while the capital of Cutch State was located away at Bhuj.

The progressive prosperity of Cutch was devastated by the famine of 1899-1900,[3] which was felt everywhere with extreme severity; between 1891 and 1901 the population of the state of Cutch decreased from 558,415 inhabitants in 1891 to 488,022 in 1901, owing to the famine.[5]

On 10 October 1924 the Cutch Agency was abolished and merged into the Western India States Agency.[6][1] [7]

See also

References
  1. The Indian Year Book, Volume 11 by Bennett, Coleman & Company, 1924,pp:151-152
  2. Sessional Papers - Volume 31, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons published by H.M. Stationery Office, 1900 - Page 464
  3. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cutch" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 669–670.
  4. Gazetteer, Volume 5 By Bombay (India : State). 1880. p. 268. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. The Imperial Gazetteer of India, British India Office.
  6. The India Office and Burma Office List by Harrison and sons, Limited, 1922- Page 393
  7. The Indian and Pakistan Year Book , Volume 23. 1936. p. 172.

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