The Princely State of Shivbara, also known as Sivbara, was amongst the major native states during the rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect rule of the British administration. The territory covered a total area of 4.99 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 388 in the year 1941. In the year 1888, after the final settlement of the final status of the Dangs, the native state of Shivbara included around 3 villages. The princely state of Shivbara was one of the most significant regions amongst the Dangs states. It comprised of 2 separate blocks of territory to the eastern region of the Dangs. The former state was bordered by the princely state of Derbhavati in the north and by the princely state of Kiril in the south.
The Princely State of Shivbara was under the administrative control of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency. Later the state became a part of the modern state of Gujarat, India.
History of Princely State of Shivbara
The native ruler of the princely state of Shivbara held the title of Naik. The native ruler of the former native state was a Bhil. The Bhil tribe was aborigines who settled in the northern Ghats and eastern branches of the range, on the region that detached Malwa from Gujarat, and also in the east of Gujarat. The ruling family was badly treated by the Maratha Empire and was also defeated by the Mughal forces. The Bhils were the politically prevailing tribe in the Dangs region during rule of the British Empire in India. They were formally classified as a Hindu primitive caste. The Naik of Sibvara or Shivbara state leased the forest in his territory to a Gaekwadi timber merchant. The British officials had to secure separate agreement from the ruler to set the lease aside. The chief of the territory was treated as an independent chief, rather than a feudatory of the rulers of Dherbavati (Deher).
The succession of the royal throne of the princely state of Shivbara was goverened by 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. The ruling chiefs of the state did not take the charge of administration of the territory due their incapacity to manage and rule.
Administration of Princely State of Shivbara
The rulers were mainly indigenous natives and due to their backwardness in education, jurisdictional powers were exercised by the Resident of British India, also known as Political Agent, on their behalf. The Naiks of Shivbara state retained specific revenue rights over their own regions and certain customary rights of settling disputes. The native rulers and the headmen of the villages, who held the title of Patels, were around 300 and 400. They met the British resident 3 or 4 times annually; but in his absence, the ruling chiefs met with the Civil Administrator in Darbar. The claims of Baroda to economic rights in the Dangs were transformed into a fixed annual payment. All the rulers received a pension from the British Government of India as well.
Accession of Princely State of Shivbara
After the departure of the British Government and the independence of India in the year 1947, the state was acceded to the newly formed Union of India, also known as Dominion of India. The erstwhile princely state is currently a part of the state of Gujarat.
