Bariya State (Deogarh Bariya)
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Bariya State (Deogarh Bdriya)
Tributary State in Rewa Kantha, Bombay, lying between 22° 21’ and 22° 58' N. and 73° 41'and 74° 18' E., with an estimated area of 813 square miles. It is bounded on the east and west by the British District of the Panch Mahals ; on the north by the State of Sanjeli ; and on the south by the State of Chota Udaipur. The extreme length, from north to south, is 39 miles. The country is hilly in the south and east, but flat in the west, and is divided into seven subdivisions — Randhikpur, Dudhia, Umaria, Haveli, Kakadkhila, Sagtala, and Rajgarh. Much of it is covered with forest. The climate is damp and unhealthy, fever being the prevailing disease.
The chiefs of Bariya are Chauhan Rajputs, who are said to have been driven south by the advance of the Musalmans about the year 1244, and to have taken possession of the city and fort of Champaner. Here they ruled till defeated by Mahmud Begara in 1484, and forced to retire to the wilder parts of their dominions. Of two branches of the family, one founded the house of Chota Udaipur and the other the house of Bariya. The connexion of this State with the British dates from 1803, when, in consequence of the help given by the chief to the British army in their operations against Sindhia, the Government subsidized a detachment of Bariya Bhils at a monthly cost of Rs. 1,800. The State formed part of the Central India Agency up to 1825, when it was transferred to Bombay. The title of the chief is Maharawal of Deogarh Bariya, and he is entitled to a salute of 9 guns. He holds a sanad authorizing adoption. Suc- cession follows the rule of primogeniture.
The Census of 1901 showed a population of 81,579, or 100 persons per square mile, living in 483 villages. Hindus numbered 79,149, and Mu.salmans 2,301. The chief castes are Bhils, Kolis, and Naikdas Of the total area, only 20 per cent, is cultivated. The principal products are timber, maize, pulse, gram, and wheat. The State contains no mines and no manufactures. The chief has power to try his own subjects for capital offences.
The revenue in 1903-4 was 2 lakhs, of which Rs. 56,000 was derived from land and Rs. 18,000 from forests. The State maintains a quasi- military police force of 180 men. Of the public works constructed before 1876 under British management, the chief are the portion (21 miles in length) of the high road between Malwa and Gujarat lying within the limits of the State, and a branch 7 miles long connecting the village of Bariya with the main road. Since 1892 the Anand-Godhra Railway has been extended to Ratlam, passing through Bariya territory. The State supports a dispensary, which treated 4,331 patients in 1903-4, and 12 schools for boys, with an average attendance of 427 pupils. There is also one girls' school, with an average attendance of 48.
