Princely State of Derdi

The Princely State of Derdi, also known as Derdi Janbai and Janbai ni-Derdi, was one of the renowned native states of India that was managed and supervised 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 was scattered over a total area of 2 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 689 in the year 1931. The taluka of Derdi Janbai was situated in the Babra Thana. The territory consisted of a single village that was located in south central Kathiawar. The state of Derdi Janbai was bounded by the 2 blocks of Pipalda mahal of the princely state of Vithalgadh in the south and the northeast; and by the enclaves that belonged to Barodan district of Amreli state in the west, east and north. The Princely State of Derdi Janbai was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of the Western India States Agency. Later the territory was merged with the state of Gujarat. The state was also a part of the Western Kathiawar Agency and the Babra Thana as well.

The Babra Thana, which was scattered over a total area of 298 sq miles and comprised of a population of 21,406, was bordered by the princely state of Jasdan in the north; by the princely state of Bhavnagar in the east; by the estates of the princely state of Jetpur in the south; and by the princely state of Gondal in the west. The territory incorporated around 13 states and almost all of them were held by Vala and Khachar Kathi shareholders, including bhagdars and talukdars. It also included the villages of Vavdi, located 6 miles southwest of Babra, and Kotda Pitha, which belonged to Kotda Pitha and 3 talukas of Bhoka Jaitani respectively.

History of Princely State of Derdi
The Princely State of Derdi Janbai was granted as a reward by the Rao of Bhadli to a Charan of the Gadhvi family. His descendants reigned over the territory from that period. The ruling family was primarily a Hindu backward caste and claimed Rajput origin. The princely state of Derdi Janbai was claimed by more than one native prince, who were formally addressed as shareholders. There are 10 such estateholders, including bhagdars and talukdars, in the state. The Derdi State was a non- jurisdictionary native state. The estateholders of the region were primarily well learned and educated and were aware of political conditions in the nations. Most of the shareholders also had substantial financial resources and possessed high status in the society. According to the Attachment Scheme of 1943, the princely state of Derdi Janbai was attached to the princely state of Baroda.

On 15th August 1947 the nation attained freedom from the dominion of the British Government in India and it resulted in the partition of India. The former native states of India were given the option of merging with the newly formed Union of India or the Dominion of Pakistan. The last native ruler of the princely state of Derdi Janbai acceded his state to the Republic of India.