Chorangala

Origin and Foundation of Chorangla

Chorangla (also spelled as Chorangla or Chorangla State) was a princely state located in the Rewa Kantha Agency of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj. The state was ruled by Chauhan Rajputs, who traced their ancestry back to the historic rulers of Champaner. Following the fall of Champaner to Sultan Mahmud Begada of Gujarat in 1484, several branches of the Chauhan clan retreated into the rugged terrain along the Narmada and Heran rivers. Over time, these nobles carved out small, fortified estates (mehwas) in the region known as Sankheda Mehwas, of which Chorangla was a prominent constituent.

The Maratha Period and Tributary Status

During the 18^th century, with the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Marathas established their dominance over Gujarat under the Gaekwads of Baroda. The small Rajput chieftains of the Sankheda Mehwas, including the Thakors of Chorangla, frequently clashed with the Gaekwad's forces, who sought to collect tribute (ghasdana) through annual military campaigns (mulkgiri). Due to the strategic, forested terrain, Chorangla managed to maintain a high degree of autonomy, though it eventually agreed to pay a fixed tribute to the Baroda State under a system mediated by the British East India Company.

British Era and Administrative Status

In 1820, the British Government entered into formal settlements with the Mehwas chiefs of Rewa Kantha. Under this settlement, the British guaranteed the possessions of the Thakor of Chorangla in exchange for regular tribute payments to the Gaekwad of Baroda, which were collected through the British Political Agent. Chorangla was classified as a non-salute, Class VI state under the Sankheda Mehwas division of the Rewa Kantha Agency.

The rulers, styled as Thakor Sahebs, exercised limited civil and criminal jurisdiction within their territory. Serious judicial matters were referred to the Court of the Political Agent at Rewa Kantha. The state maintained its own local administration, police force, and revenue collection system, deeply rooted in feudal Rajput traditions.

Lineage, Succession, and the Jagirs

The genealogy of Chorangla is marked by various branches of the ruling family managing secondary estates or jagirs. The succession laws and the doctrine of lapse under local customs influenced the territorial integrity of Chorangla:

• Ghelpur: This jagir was successfully retained and went under the direct administration of Thakor Saheb Gambhirsinhji Prithvirajsinhji.
• Aamroli: Following disputes and the non-recognition of a direct successor to Thakor Saheb Harisinhji Pruthvirajisinhji, the British authorities placed Aamroli under the direct administrative jurisdiction of Chorangla.
• Chachadra and Savjipur: These jagirs suffered from a lack of direct heirs. Under the prevailing rules of lapse and the tributary framework, both Chachadra and Savjipur reverted to the sovereign Baroda State (ruled by the Gaekwads) through the mediation of the larger neighboring state of Chhota-Udaipur.

The Attachment Scheme and Post-Independence Era

In June 1943, during the twilight years of British rule, the "Attachment Scheme" was implemented. Designed to merge smaller, economically unviable states with larger ones for better administration, Chorangla, along with other petty estates of the Sankheda Mehwas, was attached to the state of Baroda. This administrative arrangement lasted until India's independence.

Following the departure of the British in 1947, the ruler of Baroda signed the Instrument of Accession, merging the entire territory, including Chorangla, into the Indian Union on May 1, 1948. Initially integrated into the Bombay State, Chorangla became a part of the newly formed state of Gujarat on May 1, 1960, and is today situated within the Vadodara and Chhota Udepur districts. The descendants of the royal house continue to reside in the region, preserving their ancestral heritage and cultural traditions.

Historical References

• The history of the region and its administrative settlements are documented in the Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Rewa Kantha, Narukot, Cambay, and Surat States (Volume VI, 1880).
• Details regarding the princely states of Western India can be explored through archival documents preserved on the Indian Culture Portal, managed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.