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Saurashtra, also known as United State of Kathiawar, was a separate State within the Union of India from 1948 until 1956〔 with Rajkot as its capital.〔(For all practical purposes, the capital continues to be in Rajkot, whereas Rajpramukh continues to live in Jamnagar )〕 ==History== The Saurashtra State was earlier named the United State of Kathiawar. It was formed on 15 February 1948, out of approximately 200 large and small Princely States of the Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency of the British era. The name of State was given after the Kathiawar and Saurahstra region both of which generally denote to same geographical region of lands of peninsula of Gujarat. It was largely due to efforts and statesmanship of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the influence of Mahatma Gandhi that most of the States of Kathiawar had agreed to join Union of India and sign the Instrument of Accession. This required a lot of Patel's time, to meet and convince the local princes and petty subas, totaling 222 in Saurashtra region alone. Among these in Kathiawar Agency were 14 Salute Princely States, 17 Non-Salute Princely States, 191 petty Principalities and 46 Estates. Most of the Rulers of the Kathiawar States entered into a Covenant for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar on 24 January 1948.〔(The Rulers of the Kathiawar States, including Wadhwan State, entered into a Covenant for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar on 24 January 1948. )〕〔(The covenant, entered into by the rulers of Kathiawar States for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar. )〕〔(Indian Philately )〕 The large Kathiawar peninsula included some prominent princely states of India such as the Baroda State, Nawanagar State, Bhavnagar State, Wadhwan, Porbandar, Idar, Dhrangadhra State, Rajpipla, Cambay, Gondal, Morvi, Wankaner, Baria, Dharampur, Dhrol, Limbdi, Rajkot, Palitana and Sachin, among others. Among the States of Kathiawar, Baroda State, which was third largest Princely State of India having its territories scattered over Dwarka in West of Kathiawar to Bombay in South; did not sign the covenant for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar. But instead the erstwhile Maharaja of Baroda, Pratap Singh Gaekwad declared a full responsible Government on 4 September 1948, under Jivraj Narayan Mehta, as Prime Minister of the State, as per scheme envisioned by Sardar Patel. The Baroda State later merged itself into Bombay State on 1 May 1949.〔(Baroda State - responsible government )〕 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel inaugurated the United State of Kathiawar on 15 February 1948. On this occasion he paid tribute to Jam Sahib and the other rulers of erstwhile Princely States of Kathiawar, saying:- The Jam Sahib K. S. Digvijaysinhji of Nawanagar State one of the chief negotiator from the side of rulers of Kathiawar in his reply observed and said:- Jawaharlal Nehru described the event as a great step forward and one of the most notable in contemporary Indian history.〔 He further commended the statesmanship of Sardar Patel and further wrote in his letter to provincial chief ministers on 20 February 1948:- Upon formation of United State of Kathiawar, Lord Mountbatten also congratulated Sardar Patel, saying :- However, it was sad that Mahatma Gandhi was not alive by that time to see his dream of whole of Kathiawar getting united under one umbrella. Even after creation of United States of Kathiawar, there were some patches of lands in Kathiawar belonging to princely states of Junagadh, Mangrol, Manavadar and others, which did not join the convention and were lingering over joining Pakistan. It was later after integration of Junagadh into Union of India that a referendum was held and Junagadh, Mangrol, Manavadar, Babariawad and others became a legal part of India. However, due to some technicalities, these territories even after referendum remained under an Executive Council of popular representatives of Junagadh led by Samaldas Gandhi, for some time, who assisted the administrator appointed by Government of India in managing affairs of these states.〔 In November 1948, the United State of Kathiawar was renamed the United State of Saurashtra or Saurashtra State, when a supplementary covenant was negotiated and executed by the Rulers of States merged into United State of Kathiawar.〔 Once the Saurashtra Union came into existence, a second supplementary covenant was executed in January 1949, providing the integration of Junagadh with Saurashtra. A few days later on 20 February 1949, the administration of Junagadh State and also that of Mangrol, Manavadar, Babariawad, Bantva and Sardargarh were officially handed over to Saurashtra Government.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Saurashtra (state)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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