The Princely State of Avchar was amongst the major princely states of India 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 territory covered a total area of 7.88 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 865 in the year 1941. In the year 1888, after the final settlement of the final status of the Dangs, the native state of Avchar included around 11 villages. But these villages frequently changed their location with the shifting population. These itinerant villages frequently remained abandoned for around 10 years. The princely state of Avchar was one of the most significant regions amongst the Dangs states.
The Dangs were bounded by the southern district of Navsari in the north and northwest; by the British district of Khandesh in the east; by the British district of Nasik in the southeast; by the princely state of Surgana in the southwest; and by the territories of Nasik, Baroda and Bansda in the west. The Princely State of Avchar consisted of 2 distinct blocks of territory that were situated in the eastern region of the Dangs. The former native state was bordered by the princely state of Gadvi in the north and by the territory of Chinchli Gaded in the south.
History of Princely State of Avchar
The native ruler of the princely state of Avchar held the title of Naik and was also addressed as Raja as well. The native ruler of the former native state was a Bhil. The Bhil tribe was aborigines who settled in the northern Ghats and eastern branches of the range, on the region that detached Malwa from Gujarat, and also in the east of Gujarat. The ruling family was badly treated by the Maratha Empire and was also defeated by the Mughal forces. The Bhils were the politically prevailing tribe in the Dangs region during rule of the British Empire in India. They were formally classified as a Hindu primitive caste. The succession of the royal throne of the princely state of Shivbara was goverened by the rule of male primogeniture by which the first born or eldest child of the same parents the first born or eldest child of the same parents, to the exclusion of all others.
Administration of Princely State of Avchar
The Princely State of Avchar was under the administrative control of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency. Later the state became a part of the modern state of Gujarat, India. The native ruler of the state, who held the title of Naik (Raja), did not hold any sanad of adoption. The ruling chiefs did not take the charge of administration of the territory due their incapacity to manage and rule. The rulers were mainly indigenous natives and due to their backwardness in education, jurisdictional powers were exercised by the Resident of British India, also known as Political Agent, on their behalf. The Naiks of Avchar state retained specific revenue rights over their own regions and certain customary rights of settling disputes. The native rulers and the headmen of the villages, who held the title of Patels, were around 300 and 400. They met the British resident 3 or 4 times annually; but in his absence, the ruling chiefs met with the Civil Administrator in Darbar. The claims of Baroda to economic rights in the Dangs were transformed into a fixed annual payment. All the rulers received a pension from the British Government of India as well.
Accession of Princely State of Avchar
After the departure of the British Government and the independence of India in the year 1947, the erstwhile princely state was acceded to the newly formed Union of India, also known as Dominion of India.
