Princely State of Shanor

The Princely State of Shanor, also known as Sanor, was amongst the princely states of India during the rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states under the indirect rule of the British administration. The region was extended over a total area of 11.25 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 2,245 in the year 1941. The territory of Shanor was one of the 27 states which formed up the Sankheda Mehvassi, located on the banks of the Narbada (Narmada) River, in eastern Gujarat. It was incorporated as a part of the erstwhile Rewa Kantha Agency. The region was probably the most significant unit in the Sankheda Mehvassi. The princely state of Shanor or Sanor consisted of only a single block of land located towards the western portion of the Sankheda Mehvassi, divided into approximately equivalent eastern and western part by the Orsang River.

Shanor state was bounded by the princely state of Mandwa in the south and was bordered by the princely state of Baroda on all other sides. 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.

History of Princely State of Shanor
The native rulers of the princely state of Shanor or Sanor held the title of Thakor and were styled as Rana. The Khichi Chauhan Rajputs, a cadet branch of the ruling family of Mandwa state, were the ruling family of the state. Shanor state came under the protection of the British East India Company in the year 1825 after the treaty arrangements between the Gaekwad and the British administration. The succession of the throne or gadi of the state was governed by the rule of male primogeniture, by which the first born or eldest child of the same parents inherited the entire estate of one or both parents, to the exclusion of all others. The Thakor of Shanor supervised the administration of the state, exercised limited civil and criminal jurisdiction and powers of law enforcement. Until the abolition of classes in the year 1928, the Princely State of Shanor was a jurisdictionary state of the sixth class. The native state paid an annual tribute to the princely state of Baroda.

According to the Attachment Scheme of 1943, the princely state of Shanor or Sanor was attached to Baroda state. The native rulers, who exercised jurisdictional powers, were formally addressed as Meherban.

The last native ruler of the princely state of Shanor, Thakor Shri Prabhatsinghji Narsinhji, acceded the princely state to the Dominion of India, also known as Union of India, after the country gained independence from the British Supremacy in the year 1947. Later the region was incorporated as a part of the Indian state of Gujarat.