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Hill States of India

The Hill States of India were princely states lying in the northern border regions of the British Indian Empire.

History edit

During the colonial Raj period, two groups of princely states in direct relations with the Province of British Punjab became part of the British Indian Empire later than most of the former Mughal Empire, in the context of two wars and an uprising.

For its princely rulers the informal term Hill Rajas has been coined. It does not apply to other native hill country princes such as the Rawat of Rajgarh.

After the independence and split-up of British India, the Hill States acceded to the new Dominion of India and were later divided between India's constituent states of Punjab (proper), Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Simla Hills edit

 
Map of some Hill states, 1911

28 princely states (including feudatory princes and zaildars) in the promontories of the western Himalaya were named after Shimla as the Simla Hill States.[1] These states were ruled mainly by Hindu Rajputs.[2][3]

Three quarters of the about 4,800 square miles (12,000 km2), on both sides of the Sutlej river, was the territory of the Raja (earlier Rana) of Bashahr. The direct tributaries of Bashahr were :

  • the Thakur of Khaneti
  • the Thakur of Delath

Initially both Khaneti and Delath were feudatory of Kumharsain.

The other, all far smaller, princely states, including a few with some petty dependencies of their own, were further south, on the left bank of the Sutlej :

  • the Rana (also styled as Rana Saheb) of Kumharsain. Tributaries of Kumharsain until 1815 were:
    • the Rana of Balsan
    • the Thakur of Madhan
    • the Thakur of Bharauli
  • the Thakur of Beja State
  • the Rana of Bhaji /Bhajji
  • a prince of Bhagat
  • the Raja of Bilaspur (formerly Kahlur/Kehloor), entitled to an 11-guns salute
  • the Rana of Darkoti
  • the Rana (Shri) of Dhami
  • the Raja (formerly Rana) of Jubbal, which had two tributaries:
    • the Thakur (sahib) of Dhadi State, initially tributary to Tharoch, then to Bashahr and finally in 1896 to Jubbal.
    • (title?) Rawin = Rawingarh
  • the Raja (formerly Rana) of Keonthal, where the feudal pyramid included five zaildars (jagirdars collecting a special tax) :
    • a Jagirdar Gundh
    • a Jagirdar Madhan = Kiari
    • the Rana Sahib of Koti (since 1815)
    • the Thakur Saheb (also styled as Rana) of Ratesh (popularly known as Kot, 'fortress')
    • the Rana of Theog
  • the Thakur of Kunihar
  • the Rana of Kuthar
  • the Thakur of Mahlog
  • the Rana of Mangal
  • the Raja of Nalagarh
  • the Thakur (or Rai Mian) of Sangri State
  • the Thakur (originally titled Rana up to the occupation by the Gurkhas; Thakurs from 1815 to 1929) of Tharoch = Tiroch

NB - For various of the entities above, the authentic title of the chieftain is missing. While some of the lowest ranking may have had none, for the princes that can merely be due to insufficient sources available

The princely states of the Simla Hills all ultimately became part of the modern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Demographics edit

Religious groups in Simla Hill States (British Punjab province era)
Religious
group
1901[4] 1911[5][6] 1921[7] 1931[8] 1941[9]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Hinduism  [a] 373,886 96.03% 386,953 95.7% 292,768 95.45% 317,390 95.93% 345,716 96.16%
Islam   11,535 2.96% 11,374 2.81% 9,551 3.11% 10,017 3.03% 10,812 3.01%
Buddhism   2,223 0.57% 2,709 0.67% 2,052 0.67% 1,308 0.4% 10 0%
Sikhism   1,318 0.34% 2,911 0.72% 2,040 0.67% 1,817 0.55% 2,693 0.75%
Jainism   274 0.07% 172 0.04% 142 0.05% 141 0.04% 126 0.04%
Christianity   113 0.03% 224 0.06% 164 0.05% 176 0.05% 161 0.04%
Zoroastrianism   0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 0% 2 0%
Judaism   0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Others 0 0% 0 0% 1 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Total population 389,349 100% 404,343 100% 306,718 100% 330,850 100% 359,520 100%
Note1: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.

Note2: 1901-1911 census: Including Jubbal, Bashahr, Keonthal, Baghal, Bilaspur, Nalagarh, and other minor hill states.

Note3: 1921-1931 census: Including Bashahr, Nalagarh, Keonthal, Baghal, Jubbal, and other minor hill states.

Note3: 1941 census: Including Bashahr, Nalagarh, Keonthal, Baghal, Jubbal, Baghat, Kumarsain, Bhajji, Mahlog, Balsan, Dhami, Kuthar, Kunihar, Mangal, Bija, Darkoti, Tharoch, and Sangri states.

States of the Punjab Hills edit

Some nearby Hindu and Sikh states include :

  • the Maharaja of Kangra,
  • the Raja (Saheb) of Chamba, entitled to an 11 gun salute
  • the Raja of Mandi,
  • the Raja of Suket,
  • the Raja of Siba, no salute, as Siba was not fully part of the British Indian Empire, only Siba Jagir (Jagir of Mian Devi Singh) up to Kotla.
  • etc.

Notes edit

  1. ^ 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis

References edit

  1. ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 8, p. 233.
  2. ^ "Part I: Kangra (1883-1884)", Gazetteer of the Kangra District, 1883-84; reprinted Indus Publ. Co., New Delhi, 1994, p. 33. ISBN 8173870241
  3. ^ Crill, Rosemary; Jariwala, Kapil (2010). The Indian Portrait, 1560-1860. Mapin Publishing Pvt. ISBN 9788189995379.
  4. ^ "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. p. 34. JSTOR saoa.crl.25363739. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. p. 27. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393788. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. ^ Kaul, Harikishan (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II". p. 27. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. p. 29. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430165. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1931. p. 277. JSTOR saoa.crl.25793242. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab". 1941. p. 42. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215541. Retrieved 30 March 2024.

Sources and external links edit

  • Indian Princely States website
  • Punjab State Gazetteer [then Punjab was much larger], vol. VIII, Gazetteer of the Simla Hill States 1910
  • and various links therefrom (click on map or names) to official sites of the state's districts

hill, states, india, this, article, about, princely, states, india, during, british, hills, northeast, india, khasi, jaintia, hills, were, princely, states, lying, northern, border, regions, british, indian, empire, contents, history, simla, hills, demographic. This article is about the princely states in NW India during the British Raj For the hills in Northeast India see Khasi and Jaintia Hills The Hill States of India were princely states lying in the northern border regions of the British Indian Empire Contents 1 History 1 1 Simla Hills 1 1 1 Demographics 1 2 States of the Punjab Hills 2 Notes 3 References 4 Sources and external linksHistory editDuring the colonial Raj period two groups of princely states in direct relations with the Province of British Punjab became part of the British Indian Empire later than most of the former Mughal Empire in the context of two wars and an uprising For its princely rulers the informal term Hill Rajas has been coined It does not apply to other native hill country princes such as the Rawat of Rajgarh After the independence and split up of British India the Hill States acceded to the new Dominion of India and were later divided between India s constituent states of Punjab proper Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Simla Hills edit nbsp Map of some Hill states 1911 28 princely states including feudatory princes and zaildars in the promontories of the western Himalaya were named after Shimla as the Simla Hill States 1 These states were ruled mainly by Hindu Rajputs 2 3 Three quarters of the about 4 800 square miles 12 000 km2 on both sides of the Sutlej river was the territory of the Raja earlier Rana of Bashahr The direct tributaries of Bashahr were the Thakur of Khaneti the Thakur of Delath Initially both Khaneti and Delath were feudatory of Kumharsain The other all far smaller princely states including a few with some petty dependencies of their own were further south on the left bank of the Sutlej the Rana also styled as Rana Saheb of Kumharsain Tributaries of Kumharsain until 1815 were the Rana of Balsan the Thakur of Madhan the Thakur of Bharauli the Thakur of Beja State the Rana of Bhaji Bhajji a prince of Bhagat the Raja of Bilaspur formerly Kahlur Kehloor entitled to an 11 guns salute the Rana of Darkoti the Rana Shri of Dhami the Raja formerly Rana of Jubbal which had two tributaries the Thakur sahib of Dhadi State initially tributary to Tharoch then to Bashahr and finally in 1896 to Jubbal title Rawin Rawingarh the Raja formerly Rana of Keonthal where the feudal pyramid included five zaildars jagirdars collecting a special tax a Jagirdar Gundh a Jagirdar Madhan Kiari the Rana Sahib of Koti since 1815 the Thakur Saheb also styled as Rana of Ratesh popularly known as Kot fortress the Rana of Theog the Thakur of Kunihar the Rana of Kuthar the Thakur of Mahlog the Rana of Mangal the Raja of Nalagarh the Thakur or Rai Mian of Sangri State the Thakur originally titled Rana up to the occupation by the Gurkhas Thakurs from 1815 to 1929 of Tharoch Tiroch NB For various of the entities above the authentic title of the chieftain is missing While some of the lowest ranking may have had none for the princes that can merely be due to insufficient sources availableThe princely states of the Simla Hills all ultimately became part of the modern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Demographics edit Religious groups in Simla Hill States British Punjab province era Religiousgroup 1901 4 1911 5 6 1921 7 1931 8 1941 9 Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Hinduism nbsp a 373 886 96 03 386 953 95 7 292 768 95 45 317 390 95 93 345 716 96 16 Islam nbsp 11 535 2 96 11 374 2 81 9 551 3 11 10 017 3 03 10 812 3 01 Buddhism nbsp 2 223 0 57 2 709 0 67 2 052 0 67 1 308 0 4 10 0 Sikhism nbsp 1 318 0 34 2 911 0 72 2 040 0 67 1 817 0 55 2 693 0 75 Jainism nbsp 274 0 07 172 0 04 142 0 05 141 0 04 126 0 04 Christianity nbsp 113 0 03 224 0 06 164 0 05 176 0 05 161 0 04 Zoroastrianism nbsp 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Judaism nbsp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Others 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Total population 389 349 100 404 343 100 306 718 100 330 850 100 359 520 100 Note1 British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present day due to various bifurcations to district borders which since created new districts throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post independence era that have taken into account population increases Note2 1901 1911 census Including Jubbal Bashahr Keonthal Baghal Bilaspur Nalagarh and other minor hill states Note3 1921 1931 census Including Bashahr Nalagarh Keonthal Baghal Jubbal and other minor hill states Note3 1941 census Including Bashahr Nalagarh Keonthal Baghal Jubbal Baghat Kumarsain Bhajji Mahlog Balsan Dhami Kuthar Kunihar Mangal Bija Darkoti Tharoch and Sangri states States of the Punjab Hills edit Some nearby Hindu and Sikh states include the Maharaja of Kangra the Raja Saheb of Chamba entitled to an 11 gun salute the Raja of Mandi the Raja of Suket the Raja of Siba no salute as Siba was not fully part of the British Indian Empire only Siba Jagir Jagir of Mian Devi Singh up to Kotla etc Notes edit 1931 1941 Including Ad DharmisReferences edit Imperial Gazetteer of India v 8 p 233 Part I Kangra 1883 1884 Gazetteer of the Kangra District 1883 84 reprinted Indus Publ Co New Delhi 1994 p 33 ISBN 8173870241 Crill Rosemary Jariwala Kapil 2010 The Indian Portrait 1560 1860 Mapin Publishing Pvt ISBN 9788189995379 Census of India 1901 Vol 17A Imperial tables I VIII X XV XVII and XVIII for the Punjab with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government and for the North west Frontier Province 1901 p 34 JSTOR saoa crl 25363739 Retrieved 30 March 2024 Census of India 1911 Vol 14 Punjab Pt 2 Tables 1911 p 27 JSTOR saoa crl 25393788 Retrieved 30 March 2024 Kaul Harikishan 1911 Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II p 27 Retrieved 30 March 2024 Census of India 1921 Vol 15 Punjab and Delhi Pt 2 Tables 1921 p 29 JSTOR saoa crl 25430165 Retrieved 30 March 2024 Census of India 1931 Vol 17 Punjab Pt 2 Tables 1931 p 277 JSTOR saoa crl 25793242 Retrieved 30 March 2024 Census of India 1941 Vol 6 Punjab 1941 p 42 JSTOR saoa crl 28215541 Retrieved 30 March 2024 Sources and external links editIndian Princely States website Punjab State Gazetteer then Punjab was much larger vol VIII Gazetteer of the Simla Hill States 1910 Himachal Pradesh State s official website and various links therefrom click on map or names to official sites of the state s districts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hill States of India amp oldid 1219268942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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