Thana Devli

Introduction and Origin of Thana Devli (Amarnagar)

Thana Devli, historically also referred to as Amarnagar, was a prominent princely state situated in the heart of the Kathiawar peninsula of present-day Gujarat, India. The state was ruled by the noble Wala/Vala clan of the Kathi community. The Kathis, who migrated to the Saurashtra region from Sindh through Kutch, gave the region its historic name, "Kathiawar". The rulers of Thana Devli belonged to the Jetani branch of the Vala Kathis, establishing a dynasty marked by local autonomy, defensive fortifications, and patronization of regional art and literature.

The Ruling Dynasty and Key Reformers

The state's secondary name, Amarnagar, is closely linked to its prominent rulers, particularly Darbar Shri Amra Vala, under whose reign major administrative and agricultural reforms were introduced. The Vala rulers of Amarnagar maintained strong diplomatic and family ties with neighboring Kathi estates such as Jetpur, Vadia, and Bilakha. They focused extensively on infrastructure development, constructing security garrisons, and establishing robust local judicial systems to resolve disputes within their agrarian-heavy economy.

The British Raj and Third Class Jurisdictional Status

During the colonial era, Thana Devli fell under the political supervision of the Kathiawar Agency of the Bombay Presidency. In the hierarchical administrative classification devised by the British authorities, Thana Devli was categorized as a Third Class State. Despite this classification, the state exercised substantial autonomous judicial powers over its citizens:

• Criminal Jurisdiction: The state courts were authorized to award up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and impose fines to the extent of 10,000 Rupees.
• Civil Jurisdiction: The civil courts had the power to adjudicate suits and disputes up to the value of 20,000 Rupees.

The Era of Mergers and Territorial Consolidation

In the early 20^th century, under the Western India States Agency, a policy of territorial consolidation was implemented to streamline the administration of fragmented land holdings in Kathiawar. Thana Devli expanded its administrative boundaries through two major phases of mergers:

• 1922 Mergers: The state successfully integrated the smaller estates of Luni, Dangavadar, Shedhubhar, Mendarda, and Chital.
• 1928 Mergers: The territories of Mota Katda, Shobhavadla, and Meghapipalia were officially merged into the state, further solidifying its economic stability and administrative reach.

Post-Independence Integration and Modern Era

Following India's independence in August 1947, the last ruler of Thana Devli signed the Instrument of Accession, merging the territory into the Dominion of India. On February 15, 1948, the state officially joined the newly formed Saurashtra State. Subsequently, Saurashtra was merged into the bilingual Bombay State in 1956, and following the linguistic reorganization of states in 1960, the territory became an integral part of the modern state of Gujarat. Today, the historical legacy of the Amarnagar and Thana Devli rulers survives through historic monuments, local legends, and the preserved cultural heritage of the Vala Kathis in the region.

References and Historical Sources

• To explore historical archives and administrative records of the Western India States, visit the Imperial Gazetteer of India.
• For details on the settlement and history of Kathiawar clans, see the Kathiawar Agency Archives on Wikipedia.