Chota Nagpur Tributary States

The Chota Nagpur Tributary States^[1] or Chota Nagpur States were a group of non-salute states (minor princely states) at the time of British Raj, located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau. British suzerainty over the states was exercised through the government of the Bengal Presidency.

Chota Nagpur Tributary States
Group of princely states of British India
1821–1947
Area
• 1881	41,580 km^2 (16,050 sq mi)
Population
• 1881	678,002
History
• Sanads issued to Chota Nagpur rulers	1821
• Accession to the Indian Union	1947
Preceded by Succeeded by Agencies of British India India
Today part of	Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha

Chota Nagpur States; group under the Chhattisgarh States Agency

Chota Nagpur States; group under the Orissa States Agency

These states were nine in number and they became part of the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha following Indian Independence.^[2]

History

In the 18th century, the states came within the sphere of influence of the Maratha Empire, but they became tributary states of British India as a result of the Anglo-Maratha Wars in the early 19th century.

In October 1905, the exercise of British influence over the predominantly Hindi-speaking states of Chang Bhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surguja, and Udaipur was transferred from the Bengal government to that of the Central Provinces, while the two Oriya-speaking state Gangpur and Bonai were attached to the Orissa Tributary States, leaving only Kharsawan and Saraikela answerable to the Bengal governor.^[3]

In 1936, all nine states were transferred to the Eastern States Agency, the officials of which came under the direct authority of the Governor-General of India, rather than under that of any Provinces.

After Indian independence in 1947, the rulers of the states all chose to accede to the Dominion of India. Changbhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surguja and Udaipur later became part of Madhya Pradesh state, but Gangpur and Bonai part of Orissa state, and Kharsawan and Saraikela part of Bihar state.^[4]

In November 2000, the new states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were separated from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, respectively.

Princely States

The following princely states were collectively called 'Chhota Nagpur Tributary States' :

• Orissa States Agency (together with the Orissa Tributary States) :
  • Bonai
  • Gangpur
  • Kharsawan
  • Saraikela
• Chhattisgarh States Agency :
  • Changbhakar
  • Jashpur
  • Koriya (Korea)
  • Surguja (Sarguja)
  • Udaipur (Dharamjaigarh) (not to be confused with the Mewar state Udaipur, in Rajasthan)

See also

• Chota Nagpur Division
• Eastern States Union
• Orissa Tributary States

References

1. Chota Nagpur Tributary States Gazetteer. Statistics, 1901-02
2. A. K. Lal (ed.), Social Exclusion: Essays in Honour of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Volume 1; p. 330
3. Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al. (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 12. 1908-1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford
4. Eastern States Agency. List of ruling chiefs & leading personages Delhi: Agent to Governor-General, Eastern States, 1936