Nawanagar was an Indian princely state in the historical Halar region, located on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch. It was ruled by the Jadeja Rajput dynasty from its formation in 1540 until 1948 when it became part of the new state of Saurashtra. It had an area of 3,791 square miles (9,820 square km) and a population around 3,36,779 in 1901.
Navanagar, part of Bombay Presidency, 1909
Nawanagar was founded by Jam Sri Rawalji, a descendant of the Jadeja ruler of Kutch, and was thereafter in an almost constant state of war with its neighbours and with the Mughal Empire. Two such major battles were the Battle of Mithoi and the Battle of Bhuchar Mori fought in 1591.
Flag
Coat of Arms
Its rulers, who used the title of ''Jam Saheb'' were of the same clan as the Rao of Kutch. They were entitled to a 13-gun salute. During the British Raj, the state, was part of the Kathiawar Agency, within the Gujarat Division of Bombay Presidency
Nawanagar came under the British protection in 1812. Colonel KS Ranjitsinhji ( 1872-1933), was one of the world's greatest Test cricketer who played for the English cricket team. He was also a first -class cricket player for Cambridge University and played for Sussex. He later, became Jam Saheb in 1907 until 1933. After his death, Ranji Trophy, a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India started in 1934 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Ranjitsinhji, a celebrated cricketer and Maharaja of Nawanagar
He was succeeded by his nephew Jam Saheb Shri Sir Digvijatsinhji. In 1942 the Maharaja set up a refugee camp for Polish children in Balachadi.
The incredible story. During World War II, Stalin's attack on Poland orphaned thousands of children, who were then relocated to the Soviet Union in camps and temporary orphanages. Suffering from illness and hunger, hundreds of Polish children escaped the dire circumstances. At a time when no country was ready to help them, and even the British governor refused them entry at the Mumbai port, Maharaja Digvijaysinghji Ranjitsinghji Jadeja ordered the ship to dock at Rosi port in his state. He not only ensured that these children and women had access to basic necessities but went beyond to ensure they had a home away from home. The Maharaja claimed that they were part of his family, even going so far as to provide the government with adoption certificates for them.
He made efforts to ensure that these children received proper education and encouraged them to keep their Polish culture and traditions alive. He even bought seven cooks from Goa. They spent four years under his care.
After Poland became independent in 1989, a square in Warsaw as well as a school was named after him. The Maharaja was honoured by the Polish parliament in a special resolution in 2016, 50 years after his death and was awarded the Commander's Cross of Order of Merit by the President of Poland.
An illustrative documentary about these 1000 children, titled ''Fajna Ferajna w Indiach'' (Brave bunch in India) and based on the true story, received its world premiere in June 2021 at the Krakow Film Festival. It took four years to make this film. The film is to be screened at international film festivals to bring the story to a wider audience.
In 1959, the boundaries of the district were enlarged by the inclusion of the adjoining Okhamandal, and the district was renamed Jamnagar. The district became part of the new state of Gujarat on the division of the State of Bombay in 1960.
Coins of Navanagar
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