The Princely State of Warahi I was one of the former princely states of India which existed 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 region was scattered over a total area of 120 sq miles and is a part of the Indian state of Gujarat. The region comprised of a total population of 3,009 in the year 1931. The state of Warahi I of Husseinyawarkhanji was located in the Banas Division, which was a part of the erstwhile Sabar Kantha Agency. It consisted of 15 swang villages and 4 co-shared villages. These were usually situated between the princely state of Limbdi in the north and the state of Chuda in the west. The village of Bhoika state, which lied in the largest and central district, was located around 15 miles towards east of the region of Chuda town. The swang villages were segregated into 9 distinctive blocks of land. Chariana, one of the blocks, was an enclave in the princely state of Radhanpur, where as the other blocks were intertwined with the villages of Warahi II state and the estates of Warahi and Deodar Thanas.
The former princely state of Warahi I 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. The state was also a part of the Sabar Kantha Agency. The territory was generally bounded by Santalpur in the west and the north; by the princely state of Radhanpur in the east; and by the Rann of Kutch in the south. Warahi state was known as Moti Jatwad (Senior Jatwad).
History of Princely State of Warahi I
The Jats from Sind were the ruling family of the native state. The family established itself in the region after the dissolution of the initial Jat state during the 15th century. As a result of this the states of Warahi, Vanod and Bajana were founded. The native rulers of the princely state held the title of Malek. The founder of the Warahi ruling family, Malek Isaji, was initially granted the region of Valivada after the disintegration of the original Jat state. He was requested to arbitrate a dispute between the holders of Warahi. Eventually Malek Isaji took advantage and gained from their disagreements. He assumed the chiefdom of the state of Warahi. The succession of the throne or gadi of Warahi I state was governed 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.
For purposes of improving revenue, the Malek of Warahi I divided the princely state into 3 mahals, namely Warahi, Dhenkuali and Amrapur. The native ruler of the princely state of Warahi I exercised very restricted civil and criminal jurisdiction. The thanadar of Warahi Thana exercised jurisdiction over 3 of the coshared villages in the territory, where as only one village was under the jurisdiction of the thanadar of Santalpur Thana. The erstwhile native state did not pay or receive any annual tribute. According to the Attachment Scheme of 1943, the princely state of Warahi I was attached to the princely state of Radhanpur.
In the year 1947, the last Malek of the princely state of Warahi I, who was the 13th of his line, acceded his state to the newly formed Union of India, also known as Dominion of India after the Indian independence. Later the territory was merged with the modern state of Gujarat, India.
