The Princely State of Deodar I, formally known as Virampura from 1 January 1946, was one of the prominent princely states of India that was administered by a native prince under the guidance of the British authorities. The princely state was under the indirect control of the British Empire in India. The state comprised of a total population of 4,845 in the year 1931. The taluka of Deodar I was situated in the Banas Division, which was a part of the Sabar Kantha Agency. The territory consisted of 19 swang and 4 co-shared villages. The swang villages were further divided into 5 scattered areas. It was situated in a single condensed block of land. It was bounded by the territory of Deodar II, princely state of Palanpur, princely state of Tharad, princely state of Wao and the estates of Kankrej Thana.
History of Princely State of Deodar I
The Bhilria Waghela Rajputs was the ruling family of Deodar state. The family reigned over the territory before the culmination of the 13th century. In the year 1786, due to a severe famine, the greater part of the state suffered a lot and the native ruler was compelled to migrate to another region. Due to the absence of the ruler, the chiefs of the adjacent states segregated his region within themselves. The taluka was later recovered by Punjaji of the cadet branch, with the support of Punjaji of the cadet branch recovered the taluka with the help of the Nawab of the princely state Radhanpur. The British East India Company set aside the claims of the senior branch in the year 1828. After the death of Punjaji, the state was divided among his 2 sons, Chandaji and Akhesingh. The succession of the throne or gadi of Deodar I state 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.
Deodar I was less than half its original size, much of which was passed to the Bhabhar Kolis and Kankrej. The taluka of Deodar I was generally bordered by Tharad in the north; by Kankrej Thana in the east; by Terwada and Bhabhar in the south; and by Tharad and Suigam in the west. The previous princely state of Deodar I 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 native state was also a part of the Sabar Kantha Agency and the Banas Division as well. The native ruler of the princely state of Deodar I held the title of Thakor. He also held the title of talukdar. The ruler possessed the authority of a second class magistrate. The former state did not pay any annual tribute neither received any. The co-shared villages included the region of Deodar, which was under the jurisdiction of the supervisor or Thanadar of Deodar Thana. According to the Attachment Scheme of 1943, the princely state of Deodar I was attached to the princely state of Baroda.
After the independence of India in the year 1947, the state was acceded to the newly formed Union of India, also known as Dominion of India. The erstwhile princely state is currently a part of the state of Gujarat.
