Chota Nagpur States

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The Chota Nagpur States were princely states of British India, located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the present-day Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa. In the 18th century, the states came within the sphere of influence of the Maratha Empire, but became tributary states of British India a result of the Anglo-Maratha wars in the early 19th century. The states were first under the authority of Bengal Presidency, and were nine in number: Bonai, Chang Bhakar, Gangpur, Jashpur, Kharsawan, Koriya (Korea), Saraikela, Surguja (Sirguja), and Udaipur.

In October 1905, the predominantly Hindi-speaking states of Chang Bhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surguja, and Udaipur were transferred from Bengal to the Central Provinces, and the two Oriya-speaking states of Gangpur and Bonai were attached to the Orissa Tributary States, leaving Kharsawan and Saraikela under the authority of the Bengal governor. In 1936, all nine states were transferred to the Eastern States Agency, which was under the direct authority of the Governor-General of India, rather than that of the provinces. After Indian independence in 1947, the rulers of the states acceded to the Government of India, and Chang Bhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surguja, and Udaipur became part of Madhya Pradesh state, Gangpur and Bonai part of Orissa state, and Kharsawan and Saraikela part of Bihar state. In 2001, the new states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were separated from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, respectively.

[edit] References

• Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 12. 1908-1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.