The Princely State of Bilbari was one of the erstwhile princely states of India that was under the indirect rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India that was administered by native shareholders. The region covered a total area of 1.65 sq miles and was a part of the Indian state of Gujarat. The region comprised of a total population of 82 in the year 1941. The region was one of the least populated native states in the country. The former princely state 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 Princely State of Bilbari comprised of only a single block of land, which was located in the eastern region of the Dangs. The territory was generally bordered by the princely state of Dherbavati in the south and the north; by the princely state of Pimpladevi in the east; and by the region of Kirli in the west.
History of Princely State of Bilbari
The native rulers of the princely state of Bilbari were Koknis, who were the single largest group in the Dangs. It was a part of the central regions where the ruling family settled, which also consisted of the British districts of West Khandesh and Nasik. It also included the princely states of Bansda and Dharampur. After a severe famine in the 14th century, the family moved towards the north from the Konkan. The region stretched along the coastal plain of Gujarat, between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, from Goa to Damao. The ruling family kept migrating through the 19th century and early 20th century.
The native ruler of the princely state of Bilbari held the title of Powar. The rulers were rather illiterate and were unable to rule the state properly, thus the Powars of Bilbari did not take charge of the administration of the territory. Moreover, the jurisdictional powers of the native rulers were exercised by the Resident of British India, also known as Political Agent, on the behalf of the rulers. The rulers retained some revenue rights over their own regions. They also held certain customary rights for the settlement of disputes. The Powars of the princely state of Bilbari, along with the headmen of the villages titled as Patels, met with Residents of British India or with the Civil Administrator, in his absence, in the Darbar for 3 or 4 times annually. There were around 300 to 400 village headmen. The claims of the princely state of Baroda to economic rights in the Dangs were transformed into a fixed annual payment. Almost all of the rulers received a pension from the British Government of India as well.
In the year 1947, the nation attained independence from the rule of the British Government in India and it resulted in the Partition of India. The erstwhile princely states of India were given the option of acceding to either the newly formed Union of India or the Dominion of Pakistan. The last native ruler of the princely state of Bilbari decided to accede to the Republic of India.
