Princely State of Bhojavadar

The Princely State of Bhojavadar, also known as Bhogawadar, was amongst the former native states 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 3 sq km and is a part of the Indian state of Gujarat. The region comprised of a total population of 701 in the year 1931. The erstwhile princely state of Bhojavadar was under the administrative control of the Baroda Agency, which was incorporated as a part of the Western India States Agency. Later the territory was merged with the state of Gujarat. The state was also a part of the Eastern Kathiawar Agency and Songadh Thana as well.

The taluka of Bhojavadar was located in the Songadh Thana region. It included only a single village, which was around 14 miles towards the northwest of Songadh. The territory was bordered by Samdhiala Chhabadhia in the west and north; by Vangadhra in the east; by the region of Vavdi Dharvala in the south; and by the princely state of Limbda in the southwest. Songadh Thana, which covered a total area of 57 sq miles and had a population of 19,144 in the year 1931, comprised of 22 states with around 355 recognized estateholders. Most of these estateholders, excluding the Charans of Samadhiala, were Gohel Rajputs. Almost 13 talukas were branches of the state of Bhavnagar, while 8 talukas were branches of Lathi.

There were around a thousand estateholders, of which only 355 were recognized. The talukas were not located in a single condensed block of territory, but were scattered over a rather extensive area within the borders of the princely state of Bhavnagar.

The princely state of Bhojavadar was claimed by more than one native prince, who were formally addressed as shareholders. There are 13 such estateholders, including bhagdars and talukdars, in the state of Bhojavadar. The Gohel Rajputs, bhayats of Lathi, were the shareholders the territory. The estateholders of Bhojavadar were mainly illiterate, ignorant and rather impoverished. The native state paid annual tribute to the princely state of Junagadh and Baroda. According to the Attachment Scheme of 1943, the princely state of Bhojavadar was attached to the princely state of Bhavnagar.

In the year 1947, the former native state of Bhavnagar was acceded to the newly formed Union of India, also known as Dominion of India, after the nation gained independence from the British administration and the partition of India. The erstwhile princely state is presently a part of the state of Gujarat.