The Feudatory State of Nowanuggur

The Nowanuggur State (also spelled Nawanagar) was a princely state in Kathiawar, in present-day Gujarat, India. It was one of the prominent states in the Kathiawar region and played an important role in the history of western India.

Early History

Nowanuggur was founded in 1540 CE by Rawalji Lakhaji, a member of the Jadeja Rajput clan from Kutch. After falling out with his family, he forced himself to migrate in search of opportunities. He then founded Jamnagar as the capital of his new kingdom.

Over time, the rulers of Nowanuggur expanded their territory, making it the most powerful Jadeja state in Kathiawar. The kingdom remained at a constant state of war for a very long time, both with its neighbours and the Mughals. The state occasionally had to accept the suzerainty of the Mughals and later, the Marathas, but it maintained its independent streak through ups and downs.

The British Raj

Nowanuggur came under British protection in 1812 following the Walker Treaty of 1807, which finally brought peace to Kathiwar. The state became a part of the Kathiawar agency. Despite British supremacy, the rulers maintained some degree of autonomy in the internal affairs of the state and ruled efficiently. The state produced luminaries like Jamsaheb Ranjitsinhji, who was one of the most famous cricketers of his time and the chancellor of the Chamber of Princes between 1931 and 1933. 

Independent India

Nowanuggur was one of the first Indian states to sign the Instrument of Accession in 1948. After the independence of India, the state became a part of the Saurashtra state and later joined the newly formed state of Gujarat in 1960. 

Stamps of Nowanuggur

Nowanuggur issued its first stamp in 1877 during the reign of Jamsaheb Vibhaji II Ranmalji II. The design depicted a sword facing right with the point down. Nawanagar was written in Gujarati above the sword in the inner frame and the denomination below. Another outer frame had NOWANUGGUR and the denomination in English. The rest of the frame was floral patterns. 

The next design was an extremely plain text on various types of paper that reads SAMSTHAN NAWANAGAR POST STAMP in the first three lines and the denominator in the fourth. 

The third and final design depicted the coat of arms of the state in the British heater style. The coat of arms is enclosed in a circle, above which is inscribed SAMSTHAN NAWANAGAR in Devanagari and below is given HALAR POST STAMP, again in Devanagari. The denomination is given at the bottom in Devanagari. The rest of the stamp is geometric and floral patterns. 

Nowanuggur shut down the state postal system in 1895 and joined the Imperial Post of British India.