Princely State of Agar

The Princely State of Agar was an Indian native state during the rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect rule of the British administration. The region was scattered over a total area of 17 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 3,984 in the year 1941. The territory of Agar was one of the 27 states which formed up the Sankheda Mehvassi, located on the banks of the Narbada (Narmada) River, in eastern Gujarat. The region included several villages and was incorporated as a part of the former Rewa Kantha Agency. Most of the villages incorporated in the territory of the state of Agar were in a compact area, bounded by the princely state of Vajiria in the west; by Jiral Kamsoli and Vasan Virpur in the south; and by the region of Vanmala in the west and the north. The village of Shahpura was surrounded by Vanmala and Vora in the south and by the princely state of Baroda on the other three sides.

The Princely State of Agar was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency. Later the region became a part of the Indian state of Gujarat.

History of Princely State of Agar
The Chauhan Rajputs were the original rulers of the state of Agar. The native rulers of the erstwhile princely state originally belonged to the Chouhan class of Rajputs. Later embraced the Islamic religion, but still they retained several Hindu customs. They were bhayats of Agar and the succession of the throne was governed by the rule of male primogeniture. Although the princely state of Agar was amongst the largest of the Sankheda states, the region was reduced to a great extent by the allotment to Sindhiapura and Vanmala. Further more, a number of villages were mortgaged to the chief of Virpur.

The Princely State of Agar was jurisdictionary native state of the sixth class, before the abolition of the class system in the year 1928. The courts of the state exercised very limited criminal and civil jurisdictional authority. The native ruler of Agar, who held the title of Thakor, was granted jurisdictional authority in the year 1931. The Thakor supervised the administration of the territory and the decisions of the native prince were final and non-appealable. Agar state paid annual tribute to Baroda. According to the Attachment Scheme of 1943, the princely state of Agar was attached to Baroda. The native chiefs who exercised jurisdictional powers were formally addressed as Meherban.

After the withdrawal of the British and the independence of India on 15th August 1947, the last native ruler of Agar, acceded his state to the newly formed Union of India, also known as the Dominion of India.