Surgana State was a princely state of the Bombay Presidency during the era of the British Raj.[4] It was the only state belonging to the Nasik Agency. Its capital was Surgana in Nashik District of present-day Maharashtra. It was ruled by Pawar dynasty of Marathas.[1][2][3]

Surgana State
Princely State of British India
Late 18th century–1948
Flag of Surgana
Flag
Coat of arms of Surgana
Coat of arms

Surgana State in Nasik Agency during British India
CapitalSurgana
DemonymMaratha[1][2][3]
Area 
• 1901
932.4 km2 (360.0 sq mi)
Population 
• 1901
11,532
• 1921
14,912
Legislature 
• Upper house
Pawar
History 
• Established
Late 18th century
1948
Succeeded by
India
Today part ofMaharashtra, India

Surgana State's last ruler signed the instrument of accession to join India in March 1948.

History

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Surgana State was founded before the 1800s by the Maratha Pawar family.[1][2] Surgana State was converted into a British protectorate in 1818 after they attacked a British police party passing through Surgana and were defeated.[5] The British made the cousin of the Deshmukh, Bhikaji Rao as the new chief as he helped them against the Peshwa. 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 India.

Later Dhairyashil Rao also served as the Member of the Rajya Sabha in 1952–1968 and 1972–1978.

The Princely State was bordered on the south by Peinth in Nasik, and in the west by the Bansda and Dharampur States.

Rulers

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The rulers of the state bore the title deshmukh.[6][7]

Deshmukhs

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  • bf.1800 – 1818 .....
  • 1818 – 1819 Malhar Rao (d. 1819)
  • 1819 – 1820 Bhikaji Rao
  • 1820 – 1854 Jashwant Rao I Bhikaji Rao
  • 1854 – 1867 Muvar Rao
  • 1867 – 2 June 1898 Shankar Rao Ravi Rao (b. 1849 – d. ....)
  • 1898 – 22 June 1930 Pratap Rao Shankar Rao (b. 18 August 1880 – d. 1930)
  • 1930 – 1936 Jashwant Rao II Pratap Rao (b. 1902 – d. ....)
  • April 1936 – 15 August 1947 Dhairyashil Rao Jashwant Rao (b. 1922 – 2003)[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c State), Bombay (India (2 December 1930). "Annual Report of the Administration". Government Central Press – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c Reed, Sir Stanley (2 December 1930). "Indian and Pakistan Year Book and Who's who". Bennett, Coleman. – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Indian Parliament (1952-57): "Personalities"-Series 2 Authentic, Comprehensive and Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of Members of the Two Houses of Parliament p.220 [1]
  4. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bombay Presidency" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 186.
  5. ^ a b "Indian Princely States K-Z". www.worldstatesmen.org.
  6. ^ Lethbridge, Sir Roper (2005). The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire. Aakar Books. ISBN 978-81-87879-54-1.
  7. ^ Pillai, S. Devadas (1976). Rajahs and Prajas: An Indian Princely State, Then and Now. New Delhi, India: Popular Prakashan. p. 4. ISBN 978-81-7154-057-0.

20°34′N 73°37′E / 20.57°N 73.62°E / 20.57; 73.62