The Princely State of Hapa was one of the Indian princely states that were 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 region was extended over a total area of 5 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 991 in the year 1931. Hapa state incorporated 2 villages that were located around 5 miles from the region of Himatnagar, which was the capital of the princely state of Idar at the time. The Princely State of Hapa was surrounded by the state of Palajpur (Bawishi Thana) in the north; by the territories of British India in the east; and by Tajpuri in the west and south. The native 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 state was also a part of the Sabar Kantha Agency and Sadra Division.
History of Princely State of Hapa
The native rulers of the princely state of Hapa were Makwana Kolis who claimed to be Parmar Rajputs. The ruling family of the state was settled in the territory of Hapa from the late 15th century. 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, was followed in the succession of the throne or gadi of the princely state of Hapa.
The rulers of Hapa state held the title of Thakor and were ranked in the 6th Class of Mahi Kantha rulers, before the abolition of class system in the year 1928. The Thakor of Hapa exercised very limited civil and criminal jurisdiction. He supervised the administration and the internal affairs of the state. The princely state of Hapa paid an annual tribute to the princely state of Baroda and the princely state of Idar. The princely state of Hapa was attached to the princely state of Baroda, under to the Attachment Scheme of 1943.
The last native ruler of the princely state of Hapa acceded the territory to the newly independent Union of India after the political withdrawal of the British Government of India from the country on 15th August 1947. After the country was divided between India and Pakistan, the native rulers of the states were given the choice of acceding to either the Dominion of India or the Dominion of Pakistan. The sovereign of the state decided to merge with the Republic of India.
