Princely State of Palash Vihir

The Princely State of Palash Vihir, also known as Palasvihir, was one of the renowned princely 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 2.02 sq miles and comprised a total population of 294 in the year 1941. The territory of Palash Vihir included only a single village, after the final settlement of the status of the Dangs in the year in the year 1888. The princely state of Palash Vihir was the 2nd smallest state amongst the Dangi states, but was than the state of Bilbari. It comprised of only a single block of land that was located towards the eastern region of the Dangs.

The Princely State of Palash Vihir or Palasvihir 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.

History of Princely State of Palash Vihir
The native ruler of the princely state of Palash Vihir, who held the title of Naik, was a Bhil. Palash Vihir or Palasvihir was initially part of Dherbhavata but consequently became recognized as a distinctive Dang State. The native rulers did not take charge of the administration of the state as they were less educated and rather incapable to rule properly. The Naiks of Palash Vihir were all aboriginals, which included a Kokani and 13 Bhils. Due to their backwardness and lack of proper education, civil and criminal jurisdictional powers were exercised by the resident of British India, also known as Political Agent, on behalf of the native rulers. But the Naiks of Palash Vihir state held some revenue rights over their own regions.

They also possessed certain customary rights of settling disputes. The Naiks and the Patels, headmen of the villages who were around 300 to 400 in number, met with the British resident or the Civil Administrator, in the absence of the Political Agent, in Darbar for 3 to 4 times annually. The claims of the state of Baroda to economic rights in the Dangs were renewed into a fixed annual payment. All the native rulers also received a pension from the British Government of India.

After the withdrawal of the British and the Partition of India on 15th August 1947, the state was acceded to the newly independent Union of India, also known as the Dominion of India. This erstwhile princely state is currently a part of the Indian state of Gujarat.