Princely State of Samla

The Princely State of Samla was one of the princely states of India that was managed and supervised by a native prince under the indirect regulation of the British administration. The princely state was under the indirect control of the British Empire in India. The state was scattered over a total area of 13 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 1,112 in the year 1931. The taluka of Samla was situated in Bhoika Thana and the territory consisted of 2 villages, namely Jansali and Samla. The villages were located in distinct blocks of land that were separated by the total breadth of the princely state of Limbdi. The village of Samla was located in the western district and was situated almost 6 miles towards the northwest of the town of Limbdi and around 7 miles towards the south southeast of the town of Wadhwan.

Bhoika Thana was a corridor of minor estates which detached the princely state of Limbdi to the east from the princely states of Chuda and Wadhwan to the west. The area was bordered by the British district of Ahmedabad in the south. Almost all of the 18 estates in the region, excluding only one estate, were offshoots of Limbdi state. In 1935, the region was merged with the District Thana of Wadhwan in order to form the new territory of Wadhwan Bhoika Thana, for convenience purposes. The new territory included around 35 estates, which covered a total area of 347 sq miles and comprising a total population of 38,719 in the year 1931.

History of Princely State of Samla
The Princely State of Samla was claimed by many native rulers, who were officially addressed as shareholders. There were 4 such shareholders, including bhagdars and talukdars, in the state. The estateholders of the region were predominantly Jhala Rajputs, Bhayats of Limbdi. The estate holders of the Bhoika Thana were individuals of substance and educated, unlike to the shareholders in other Kathiawar Thanas. They were much aware of the political situation in the country. Almost all of the shareholders possessed substantial financial resources which enhanced their position amongst the native princes of other princely states.

Administration of Princely State of Samla
The Princely State of Samla was a significant part of the former Baroda Agency, which in turn was a under the administrative control of the Western India States Agency. Eventually the territory was incorporated as a part of the Indian state of Gujarat. Samla state was also a part of the Eastern Kathiawar Agency and the territory of Bhoika Thana. Samla state was a non- jurisdictionary state.

The state paid annual tribute to the princely state of Junagadh. In the year 1943, the princely state of Samla was attached to Limbdi state under the attachment scheme. It was amongst of the 29 units that were attached in the first stage of the scheme which followed the lead of Ghodasar and Bhadwa in declining to recognize the power and authority of the attaching of princely states.

Accession of Princely State of Samla
The princely state of Samla was acceded 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 were given the choice of acceding to either the Union of India or the Dominion of Pakistan. The shareholders of the state decided to merge with India and the state later became a part of Gujarat state.