Coorg Province

Coorg Province (ಕೊಡಗು)
Kodagu
Province of British India
←
1834–1950 →
Map of Coorg Province in 1876
Capital Mercara
History
 - Coorg War 10 April 1834
 - Independence of India 15 August 1947
 - Reorganized as a state under the Constitution of India 26 January 1950
Area 1,582 km2 (611 sq mi)

Coorg Province was a province of British India from 1834 to 1947 and the Dominion of India from 1947 to 1950. Mercara was the capital of the province. It was administered by a Chief Commissioner appointed by the Government of India. The Chief Commissioner was usually based in Bangalore. From 1869 to 1947, the Chief Commissioner was usually the British Resident to the neighbouring princely state of Mysore.

The province of Coorg was established in May 1834 when the Kingdom of Coorg was abolished for misgovernance and its territories annexed to British India. Coorg Province was largely inhabited by the Kodava people who spoke the Kodava language. During the 19th century, a number of coffee plantations were established in Coorg with the result that Coorg became one of the largest producers of coffee in the British Empire. The Kodava people of Coorg were renowned for their bravery and supplied a vast proportion of recruits to the British Indian army.

A Legislative council was established in 1923 comprising 15 elected and five nominated members. Coorg Province became a Part-C state of the Indian Union when the Republic of India was inaugurated on 26 January 1950. In 1956, the state was merged with the neighbouring Mysore State was per the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

Administrative divisions

The province of Coorg was divided into six taluks - Kiggatnad, Mercara, Nanjarajapatna, Padinalkad, Yedenalkad and Yelusaviraseeme. The taluks were further sub-divided into nads or hoblis. In 1878, Coorg had a total of 508 villages and six towns - Mercara, Virajpet, Fraserpet, Somwarpet, Kodlipet and Ponnapet.

Taluk Taluk Headquarters Area (in square miles) Num,ber of villages
Kiggatnad Hudikere 400 63
Mercara Mercara 209 57
Nanjarajapatna Fraserpet 262 114
Padinalknad Napoklu 413 57
Yedenalknad Virajenderpet 210 49
Yelusaviraseeme Shanivarsante 91 168

Demographics

Chief Commissioners


References