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Baoni-Bundelkhand (British India)

by Jorge Candeias

Baoni-Bundelkand, a former Indian state, could not be found on a map, and was possibly renamed. It was part of Central Province, 127 square miles.
Jarig Bakker, 10 November 1998 According to the 1946 National Geographic Map of India and Burma, and to A. Flicher's "Drapeaux et Armoiries des Etats Princiers de l'Empire des Indes" Baoni was a small enclave, attached to the Bundelkand Agency, but located in the United Provinces, about approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of the city of Cawnpore (now Kanpur). It shared a short border with a neighboring state, Chatkhari. Otherwise the two were completely surrounded by territory under direct British rule.

In addition to the green-yellow-green triband, the state flag shown above, the Flicher book also describes a banner for the ruler, the Nabab of Baoni. His banner was rectangular (proportions not given), with 5 equal horizontal stripes; green-yellow-purple-black-white (top to bottom).

The neighboring state of Chatkhari's flag was also described. The flag was 2 by 2.5, the field red, with a yellow border. The border was equal to 1 tenth of the length of the flag. An elaborate coat of arms was placed in the middle of the flag. Neither my minimal ability to translate French words, nor the quality of the drawing in the book, is adequate for a good description of the arms. My weak attempt to describe them is- a field of murrey (a rare heraldric color, dark red, supposed to be the color of mulberries); a pale or, seme with drops of blood; in a chief azure a child's head bearing a laurel(?) crown or; supporters are a black bear and a speckled stag. Above the shield is a helmet surmounted by some sort of animal and another device. A scroll appears below. If my understanding is correct, this scroll bears the motto "Il Accorde La Grace A Notre Trone Victorieux". The entire achievement of arms reaches almost to the border both top and bottom.
Ned Smith, 12 November 1998

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