Baroda, Western India and Gujarat Agency - Indian Princely States

Dhragandhra

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

This medium-sized state was placed to the southeast of Kutch, bordering Kutch, Morvi and Wankaner and an unlabelled territory. The city of Surendranagar is found nearby.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

Ziggioto (1998) reports "Dhrangadhra is situated northeast from Morvi, just south of the Little Rann of Kutch. It was in the possession of a family of Rajput descent; the chief of the Jhala clan was the first prince. At first he controlled a vast area in Sind, but it was in time greatly reduced, now in Gujarat. (3.000 sq. km., 90.000 inhabitants).

The first recorded flag is of uncertain date, but attested in 1911; it stood model for the national flag, adopted 5 October 1946. That was the Sakti Dhwaj, which contained the symbol "gonkh"of Sakti Devi (the god-mother of the Jhala clan), which reminded of a banner carried in the battle of Kankavati in 1471. The flag had three horizontal stripes, two pink and one central blue, representing according to ancient tradition sundown during two consecutive days, when the goddess Sakti Devi founded the princedom with Harpad Dev. The blue stripe had in the center a "gonkh" (a canopy of stone) and a serrated yellow band, with 18 serrations, representing 1800 villages, which ultimately symbolized the "torana", the origin of the state, when 2300 villages were part of it. Pink flagpole with a golden "gonkh" as finial.
Jarig Bakker, 14 May 2002

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

The standard of the prince, of the "Jhala Raj", consisted of a red (pinkish) flag with three yellow "gonkh", placed 2 - 1. Pink flagpole with Hindu gold crown as finial."
Jarig Bakker, 14 May 2002

Dhragandhra coat of arms

image by Sanjay G.

The state of Gondal was divided between two portions. The smaller one was, nevertheless, larger than some states and hence the whole state was relatively large. Ed Haynes' 1931 data show a population of 205,000 in 1024 sq. miles. The smaller portion was placed between the state of Navanagar and two unlabeled territories, not far away from the state of Rajkot. The city of Gondal seems to have been in this territory. No info on flags.

Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

Junagadh

A relatively large state, in the south of the Kathiawar peninsula. Limited by the states of Porbandar, Navanagar, Gondal and Bhavnagar, 3 unlabeled territories, two barodian exclaves and the portuguese colony of Diu. I found three cities there: Junagadh, Veraval and Delvada. No info on flags, except the reference to the British ensign as in Bhavnagar.
Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

The Royal Ark website lists:
SALUTE: 13-guns (15-guns local).
ARMS: Vert three bezants in fesse between three hills proper. Crest: A Royal crown or with a cap vert and petals argent on the arches, overall a leopard's face or. Supporters: Lions argent. Motto: "Saurashtra" (Good government) or on a label of sky-blue. Lambrequins: Vert and or.
FLAG: A red frilled banner with the state arms in full colour.
Jarig Bakker, 31 May 2002

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

Red ensign flag based on image by Ziggioto (1998).
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 2 December 2002

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

Red ensign flag based on image by Ziggioto (1998).
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 2 December 2002

Another relatively large state of the Kathiawar peninsula, in the shores of the Gulf of Kutch. Ed Haynes' 1931 data show a population of 409,000 in 3791 sq. miles. It was placed between the states of Morvi, Rajkot, Gondal (both portions), Junagadh and Porbandar, two unlabeled territories and a Barodian exclave. The city of Jamnagar is found there. No info on flags, except the aforementioned reference to the British red ensign, as in Bhavnagar.
Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

Porbandar

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz

In the southwest of the Kathiawar Peninsula, between the states of Navanagar and Junagadh, Ed Haynes' 1931 data show 115,000 inhabitants in 642 sq. miles. The city of Porbandar was more than likely the capital.
Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

Flag based on image by Ziggioto (1998) - no information on the colour of the badge.  It might be black and white.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 25 April 2002

As far as I understand, this (and several others) were indeed used colourless. However, as there should not be white disk, we may only wander if the inner parts of white colour should be "transparent" (i.e. emblem is black and red only) or if the inner parts remain white.
Zeljko Heimer, 26 April 2002

See also: Red Ensigns of the Native States

To the south of Tharad, this state was surrounded by the states of Kutch and Tharad, an exclave of Baroda and an unlabeled territory. The city of Patan seems to be in it's territory. No info on flags.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

Located to the east of Kutch, this state was limited by the states of Kutch and Radhanpur, an exclave of Baroda, and the Rajputanian states of Jodhpur and Palanpur. The closest contemporary city is Patan, but I think it was in another state back then. No info on flags.
Jorge Candeias, 19 May 1998

PRINCIPALITY OF THARAD - MORWARA
Princely States of Bombay Presidency, Sabar Kantha Agency (ex-Palanpur), Present-day Gujarat
(no gun salute)
Area: 3, 263 sq. km
Acceded to the Union of India on June 10, 1948

Another very small state, slightly larger than Rajkot, between this state and the states of Morvi and Dhragandhra and and unlabelled territory. Ed Haynes' 1931 data show 44,000 people in only 417 sq. miles of area. No cities found in the area, and no info on flags.
Jorge Candeias, 29 May 1998

PRINCIPALITY OF WANKANER
Princely States of Bombay Presidency, States of Kathiawar-Jhalawar, Present-day Gujarat
11 Gun Salute
Area: 1,080 sq.km
Acceded to the Union of India on Feb. 15, 1948, Founded in 1605 by a grandson of Raj Chandrasinhji, the ruler of Dhrangadhra.

Flag:
"The flag of the Principality of Wankaner is composed of rectangular field in red color on which the Arms are placed, in the white color, in the center. The Arms - "Shakt Mata", bear the inscriptions: "In God is My Trust", and "Wankaner", underneath."
Chrystian Kretowicz, 20 January 2003