Princely State of Santhal

The Princely State of Santhal was one of the former princely states of India that were administered by native rulers or Indian princes under the indirect control of the British Government of India. The territory covered a total area of 3 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 5,858 according to the census of 1921. The erstwhile princely state of Santhal included only a single village. After the independence of India in the year 1947, the native state was acceded to the newly formed Union of India, also known as the Dominion of India. The princely state of Santhal was located in the Katosan Thana region.

The Katosan Thana was next to the taluka of Viragam in the British district of Ahmedabad in north Gujarat. The territory consisted of the jurisdictional taluka of Palaj and 9 other non-jurisdictional estates. These estates were further segregated into several complicated shares. Numerous villages were co-shared by many estates, including the territory of Katosan itself. The estates were intertwined with the jurisdictional talukas of Palaj and Katosan, but were generally surrounded by British India in the south and by the princely state of Baroda in the other 3 sides. Katosan Thana was scattered over a total area of 35 sq miles and had a total population of 13,325 in the year 1931.

History of Princely State of Santhal
The princely state of Santhal was claimed by several native princes, who were also known as estate holders. The territory was co-shared by the native ruler or Thakor of Katosan and the Bhadar Thakors of Deloli state and the princely state of Kassalpura. The succession of the throne or gadi of the princely state of Deloli was not governed by the rule of male primogeniture, through which the eldest child inherited the entire estate of one or both parents, to the exclusion of all others. Most of the shareholders were under Agency management due to their lack of capability to supervise the affairs and indebtedness.

Administration of Princely State of Santhal
The Princely State of Santhal was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was under the administrative control of the Western India States Agency. Later the territory was merged with the state of Gujarat. The region was also a part of the Sabar Kantha Agency and the Sadra Division as well. Santhal state was included as a part of the Katosan Thana. The Princely State of Santhal paid annual tribute to the princely state of Baroda. Along with the other petty states of Katosan Thana, such as Deloli state and Kasalpura state, the territory of Santhal was attached to Baroda state in June 1940, under the Attachment Scheme of 1943.

Accession of Princely State of Santhal
After the withdrawal of the British and the independence of India on 15th August 1947, the princely state of Santhal was acceded to the newly formed Union of India, also known as the Dominion of India.