Former princely states and zamindars of Maharashtra
Akkalkot State
Akkalkot State during the British Raj, was a Maratha princely state ruled by the Bhonsle dynasty. The non-salute state came under the Deccan States Agency and was bordered by Hyderabad State and the Bombay Presidency.
The area of the state was 1,290 square kilometres (500 sq mi); its population in 1901 was 82,047, while the population of Akkalkot town itself was 8,348 in that year. In 1911, the state enjoyed a revenue estimated at Rs.26,586/- and paid a tribute to the British Raj of Rs.1,000/.
The ruling dynasty were descendents of Ranoji Lokhande, who was adopted by Chhattrapati Shahu, grandson of Shivaji, around the year 1708. Upon his adoption, Ranoji assumed the name ‘Fatehsinh Bhonsle’ and received in appenage the town of Akkalkot and surrounding areas. These estates remained a fief within the state of Satara until 1848, when the rulers of Satara (Chhatrapati Shahu’s designated successors) were deposed by the British. Akkalkot then became one of several vassals of Satara to be recognised as separate princely states by the British Raj. The political history of the state is remarkable in having been altogether free of major incident. However, given their stability and association (by adoption) with the dynasty of Shivaji, the family came to be linked by marriage to nearly every major Maratha ruling family in India.
Upon the termination of British rule in India in 1947, Akkalkot state acceded unto the Dominion of India, and was later merged with Bombay Presidency. Nirmalaraje Bhosale, wife of Vijayasinhrao Bhosale and a princess of Baroda by birth, served as Minister for States in the government of Bombay.
Jath State
Jath State, was one of the non-salute Maratha princely states of British India, one of the former Southern Maratha Jagirs. Jath State and Daphlapur State were the only two states belonging to the Bijapur Agency under the Bombay Presidency, which later became part of the Deccan States Agency. The state was founded in 1686 by the hereditary Patil (chief) of Daphlapur. Jath state (including Daphlapur) covered an area of 980 square miles (2,500 km2), and had a population of 68,665 in 1901, while the population of Jath town itself was 5,414 in that year.
The Hindu ruling family of Jath State were Dafles of the Maratha Chavan clan, descendants of Lakhmajirao Yeldojirao Chavan, the Patil of Daphlapur. The Chavans traced their origin to Hindu Kshatriya Chauhan Rajput dynasty, Rajasthan. Lakhmajirao Yeldojirao Chavan entered the service of King Ali Adil Shah of Bijapur, and received a Desmukhi Watan of four Mahals in 1672. The Jagirs of Jath and Karajagi were conferred on his son in 1680. Emperor Aurangzeb confirmed these estates to the family in 1704. The male line failed four times during the state’s history. Consequently, the state was either vested in widowed Ranis or ruled for them by regents for a total of seven decades.
Jawhar State
Jawhar State was a Maratha (Mahadev Koli) princely state in India. As a princely state, it became a part of Bombay Presidency during the British Raj.It was the only state belonging to the Thana Agency. The last Princely Ruler of Jawhar at Indian independence was Raja Patang Shah V (Yeswant Rao) Mukne a Mahadev Koli. The coat of arms consisted of a shield in three parts; dexter, tenne a dexter fist holding two crossed arrows and a bow, all argent; sinister, argent a round shield sable bordured or, in the chief argent, a sword or pointed sinister. The flag was a rectangular saffron swallow-tail with a star of eleven rays, yellow in the canton.
Daphlapur State
Daphlapur State, also spelled Daflepur, was a Hindu petty princely state of British India. It was a former Maratha territory, one of the former Southern Maratha Jagirs.
Daphlapur State and neighbouring Jath State were the only two states belonging to the Bijapur Agency under the Bombay Presidency,which later would become part of the colonial Deccan States Agency. The state had six villages with an area of only 249 square kilometres (96 sq mi) and a population of 6,006 inhabitants in 1881.
Sangli State
Sangli State was one of the 11-gun salute Maratha princely states of British India. It was under the Kolhapur-Dekkan Residency in the Bombay Presidency, and later the Deccan States Agency. The Principality of Sangli covered an area of 2,880 square kilometers and had a population of 226,128 in 1901, while the population of the town itself was 16,829 in that year.
Sangli was part of Maratha Empire, for it had been one of the Southern Maratha Jagirs. However, there are no direct references mentioning Sangli before 1801. During the time of Shivaji, Sangli, Miraj and surrounding areas were captured from the Mughal Empire. Until 1801, Sangli was included in the Miraj Jagir. The First Chintamanrao Appasaheb Patwardhan established a different principality with Sangli as the capital city.
Surgana State
Surgana State was a princely state of the Bombay Presidency during the era of the British Raj. It was the only state belonging to the Nasik Agency. Its capital was Surgana in Nashik District of present-day Maharashtra. Surgana State’s last ruler signed the accession to join the Indian Union in March 1948.
Surgana State was founded towards the end of the 18th century. The territory of the state is mountainous and used to be inhabited mostly by Koli kshatriya. The chiefs of Surgana were Maratha Koli Kshatriya’s from Malwa and the ancestors trace their genealogy to Parmar from Mount Abu and Rajasthan. They prevented the Bhils and Kol of the Dangs from raiding Hatgadh Fort and the ghats. They also provided military services to neighbouring 14 chiefs. They were titled as Deshmukh “Desh” means “country” and “Mukh” means “mouth” Spoke person of his country, of the Hatgadh division of Nasik which included the town of Surgana and other villages. They refused to pay tribute to the Marathas and Mughals so they were marked as rebel land (Bandi Mulk). Due to their strategic position between Surat and Deccan, Marathas made peace with them. In 1818, they attacked a British police party passing through their state. The British retaliated and captured the chief Malhar Rao and hanged him in 1819. So Surgana State became a British protectorate in 1818.The British made Bhikaji Rao as the new chief as he helped them against the Marathas. Bhikaji Rao was murdered in the riot caused by the mother of Malharrao and her brother-in-law, Pilaji. Pilaji was captured and executed by the British. The descendants of Malharrao were allowed the share in revenues of the state in 1846 and were granted an allowance grant in 1877. The chief of the state had powers to elect a Representative Member of the Chambers of Princes from 1921 to 1947. In March 1948, the last chief Dhairyashil Rao signed the Gujarat States Merger Agreement and ceded the state to Union of India.
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