Native States

British  

plural noun

1. Also called: Indian States and Agencies.  the former 562 semi-independent states of India, ruled by Indians but subject to varying degrees of British authority: merged with provinces by 1948; largest states were Hyderabad, Gwalior, Baroda, Mysore, Cochin, Jammu and Kashmir, Travancore, Sikkim, and Indore

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Example Sentences

There was, of course, no voting in the Native States ruled by India's bejeweled potentates.

From Time Magazine Archive

Broadly speaking, the only conditions imposed were very similar to those now forming the basis of the relations between the British Government and the Native States of India.

From Political and Literary essays, 1908-1913 by Baring, Evelyn

Native States, 185-197; total population of, 185; proposal to establish an Imperial Advisory Council, 185; no voice in questions of tariff, &c.,

From Indian Unrest by Chirol, Valentine, Sir

The conception is in itself by no means novel and appeals to many upon whom the picturesqueness and conservative stability of the Native States exercise a strong attraction.

From India, Old and New by Chirol, Valentine, Sir

The Native States of Southern India, and above all Mysore, which was for many years under direct British administration, will equally bear favourable comparison with any of the Native States of Central or Northern India.

From Indian Unrest by Chirol, Valentine, Sir