Punjab States Agency

The Punjab States Agency was an agency of the British Raj. The agency was created in 1921, on the model of the Central India Agency and Rajputana Agency, and dealt with forty princely states in northwest India formerly dealt with by the Province of Punjab.

After 1947, all of the states chose to accede to the Dominion of India, except Bahawalpur, which acceded to the Dominion of Pakistan.

History

The princely states had come under the suzerainty of the British crown after the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814–16 and went on to be known as the Punjab Native States and the Simla Hill States. They later came into direct diplomatic relations with the British province of Punjab, with the exception of Tehri Garhwal State, which had a connection instead with the United Provinces.

The Punjab States Agency was established in 1921 out of the previous Punjab Native States, which had received advice from the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Province, and the Simla Hill States, advised by the Deputy Commissioner of Simla district. The agency was created under the direct authority of the Governor General of India, with its headquarters in Shimla.

After Indian Independence in 1947, the states all acceded to the new Dominion of India, most of them later becoming part of the new state of Himachal Pradesh, with Tehri Garhwal State becoming part of Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, the northern portion of Uttar Pradesh, including the former state of Tehri-Garhwal, became the new state of Uttarakhand.

Princely states

Punjab States Agency

Salute states, by precedence :

• Patiala, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 17-guns (19-guns local)
• Bahawalpur (now in Pakistan), title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 17-guns (later promoted to 21 guns by the Pakistani president)
• Jind, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns personal and local)
• Kapurthala, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns personal and local)
• Nabha, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local)
• Kaithal, title Bhai ( Maharaja) Hereditary salute 13-guns (15-guns local)
• Bilaspur (Kahlur), title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
• Chamba, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
• Faridkot, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
• Maler Kotla (Malerkotla), title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
• Mandi, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
• Sirmur (Nahan), title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
• Suket (Sundarnagar), title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
• Loharu, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 9-guns

Non-salute states, alphabetically :

• Dujana State, title Nawab.
• Mamdot, title Nawab
• Pataudi, title Nawab

Annexed States:

• Bahadurgarh, title Nawab, annexed 1857
• Ballabgarh, title Raja, annexed 1857
• Farrukhnagar, title Nawab, annexed 1857
• Jhajjar, title Nawab, annexed 1857

Jagirs

• Kunjpura, title Nawab
• Arnauli, title Bhai
• Karnal, title Nawab
• Shantiabad, title Sardar
• Dhanaura, title Sardar
• Tangaur, title Sardar
• Jharauli, title Sardar
• Shamgarh, title Sardar
• Panipat, title Nawab
• Shahzadapur, title Sardar
• Mustafabad, title Sardar
• Gogripur, title Chaudhary

Historical princely states of the Punjab Hills

Simla Hill States Superintendency of the Punjab States Agency

Salute states:

• Sirmur , title Maharaja, 11 Gun salute
• Bashahr, title Raja, Personal 9 guns-salute

Non-salute states, alphabetically:

Dynasties by State

The following are the dynasties of respective states of the Punjab Agency:

Salute states, by precedence:

• Patiala - Sidhu Jat (Phulkian Dynasty)
• Bahawalpur - Daudpotra Abbasi
• Jind - Sidhu Jat (Phulkian Dynasty)
• Kapurthala - Kalal Jat
• Nabha - Sidhu Jat (Phulkian Dynasty)
• Bilaspur (Kahlur) - Agrok Rajput
• Chamba - Agrok Rajput
• Faridkot - Brar Jat (Phulkian Dynasty)
• Maler Kotla (Malerkotla) - Sherwani Pathan
• Mandi - Chandravansi Rajput (Lunar Race)
• Sirmur (Nahan) - Jadu Bhati Rajput
• Suket - Chandravansi Rajput (Lunar Race)
• Loharu - Pathan

Non-salute states, alphabetically :

• Dujana State - Yusufzai Pathan
• Mamdot - Hassanzai Pathan
• Pataudi - Barech Pathan

Annexed States:

• Bahadurgarh - Barech Pathan
• Ballabgarh - Tewatia Jat
• Farrukhnagar - Baluch
• Jhajjar - Barech Pathan

See also

• Political integration of India

References