Shahoji II
Encyclopedia
Shahaji II (4 April 1910-9 May 1983) was Maharaja
of Dewas
(senior) from 1937–1947 and Maharaja
of Kolhapur from 1947-1983. He was the first Maharaja of Kolhapur from the Puar dynasty.
(New Year's Day 1888-21 December 1937, ruled 4 April 1900-26 July 1934-21 December 1937) of Dewas (senior) and his first wife, Maharani Radhabai Maharaje Sahib Puar (10 March 1894-22 September 1973), the eldest child of Maharaja Sir Shahu IV of Kolhapur. On 26 July 1934, Sir Tukojirao fled to Pondicherry in French India
, leaving Vikramsinhrao to manage the affairs of the state. Three years later, Sir Tukojirao died in Pondicherry; Vikramsinhrao was now the Maharaja.
ed as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI). During the Second World War, Sir Vikramsinhrao was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the second battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry, and distinguished himself as a company commander during the African campaign in the Western Desert. Promoted to Major
by 1945, he returned to Dewas and to his throne after the end of the war.
, Sir Vikramsihnrao's uncle, in 1940, had left the throne there vacant. The reign of the child-king Shivaji V
during the war under a regency ended with Shivaji's death in 1946, so the regents of Kolhapur looked to Rajaram's nephew to be the next Maharaja. Thus called upon after a 10-year reign, Sir Vikramsinhrao abdicated the throne of Dewas on 23 March 1947 in favor of his eldest son, Krishnajirao III
and took the throne of Kolhapur on 31 March as His Highness Sir Shahaji II. In August 1947, he was promoted to the rank of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI). In the months before India became independent, Sir Shahaji II introduced an elected state legislature and an interim council of ministers. Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, however, the Indian government forced the resignation of the ministers and appointed an ICS
administration on 22 March 1948. On 1 March 1949, Kolhapur merged into the Bombay Presidency
.
Sir Shahaji became a Major-General in the Indian Army in 1962, but in 1971, he was stripped of his rank, titles and stipends as part of the mass removal of royal titles and prestige under the Indira Gandhi
regime.
, Sir Shahaji II (then Vikramsinhrao Puar) married Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Pramilabai Raje Sahib Bhonsle (4 August 1910-31 January 2008); the couple had one son and three daughters, including:
, as Maharaja of Kolhapur.
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Dewas
Dewas
Dewas is an ancient town situated on the Malwa plateau in the West-central part of Indian state called Madhya Pradesh, about 160 km south west from state capital, Bhopal. It is the administrative center of the Dewas District, and was formerly the seat of two princely states during the British...
(senior) from 1937–1947 and Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Kolhapur from 1947-1983. He was the first Maharaja of Kolhapur from the Puar dynasty.
Beginnings (1910-1937)
Shahaji II was born as Yuvaraja Vikramsinhrao Tukojirao on 4 April 1910 at Kolhapur, the only son and heir of Maharaja Sir Tukojirao IIITukojirao III
Tukojirao III was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Dewas from 1900 to 1937. He succeeded to the gadi of Dewas following the death of his uncle, Raja Krishnajirao II. The first Maharaja of Dewas, he was granted the title by the British Government on his thirtieth birthday in 1918...
(New Year's Day 1888-21 December 1937, ruled 4 April 1900-26 July 1934-21 December 1937) of Dewas (senior) and his first wife, Maharani Radhabai Maharaje Sahib Puar (10 March 1894-22 September 1973), the eldest child of Maharaja Sir Shahu IV of Kolhapur. On 26 July 1934, Sir Tukojirao fled to Pondicherry in French India
French India
French India is a general name for the former French possessions in India These included Pondichéry , Karikal and Yanaon on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar Coast, and Chandannagar in Bengal...
, leaving Vikramsinhrao to manage the affairs of the state. Three years later, Sir Tukojirao died in Pondicherry; Vikramsinhrao was now the Maharaja.
Maharaja of Dewas (senior)(1937-1947)
Vikramsinhrao ascended the throne on his father's death. In 1941, he was knightKnight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI). During the Second World War, Sir Vikramsinhrao was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the second battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry, and distinguished himself as a company commander during the African campaign in the Western Desert. Promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
by 1945, he returned to Dewas and to his throne after the end of the war.
Maharaja of Kolhapur (1947-1983)
In Kolhapur, the death of Rajaram IIRajaram II
Rajaram II was the Maharaja of Kolhapur from 1922–1940, succeeding his father Maharaja Shahu IV. A benevolent ruler, he was instrumental in the uplifting of the dalits and depressed castes in his state...
, Sir Vikramsihnrao's uncle, in 1940, had left the throne there vacant. The reign of the child-king Shivaji V
Shivaji V
Shivaji V was the last Maharaja of Kolhapur from the Bhonsle dynasty, reigning from 1941 to 1946. He was from the Satara branch of the Bhonsle dynasty, and had been appointed to the vacant Kolhapur throne from birth, as Rajaram II had only left a daughter...
during the war under a regency ended with Shivaji's death in 1946, so the regents of Kolhapur looked to Rajaram's nephew to be the next Maharaja. Thus called upon after a 10-year reign, Sir Vikramsinhrao abdicated the throne of Dewas on 23 March 1947 in favor of his eldest son, Krishnajirao III
Krishnajirao III
Krishnajirao III was the third and last reigning Maharaja of Dewas , reigning from 23 March 1947 to 27 June 1948. The only son of Sir Vikramsinhrao, Maharaja of Dewas, he was 15 years old when his father abdicated to become Shahoji II of Kolhapur...
and took the throne of Kolhapur on 31 March as His Highness Sir Shahaji II. In August 1947, he was promoted to the rank of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI). In the months before India became independent, Sir Shahaji II introduced an elected state legislature and an interim council of ministers. Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, however, the Indian government forced the resignation of the ministers and appointed an ICS
ICS
-Communications and technology:* Image Cytometry Standard, a digital multidimensional image file format used in life sciences microscopy* Industrial Control System* Information and Computer Science, the combined field of informatics and computing...
administration on 22 March 1948. On 1 March 1949, Kolhapur merged into the Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
.
Sir Shahaji became a Major-General in the Indian Army in 1962, but in 1971, he was stripped of his rank, titles and stipends as part of the mass removal of royal titles and prestige under the Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
regime.
Family
On 30 December 1926 at DewasDewas
Dewas is an ancient town situated on the Malwa plateau in the West-central part of Indian state called Madhya Pradesh, about 160 km south west from state capital, Bhopal. It is the administrative center of the Dewas District, and was formerly the seat of two princely states during the British...
, Sir Shahaji II (then Vikramsinhrao Puar) married Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Pramilabai Raje Sahib Bhonsle (4 August 1910-31 January 2008); the couple had one son and three daughters, including:
- 1. Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharajkumari Shaliniraje Sahib Maharaj Bhonsle (3 July 1929-), who had two sons including:
- Shahu IIShahu IIShahu II is the present and titular Maharaja of Kolhapur.-Family:Shahu II married Her Highness Maharani Yagyaseniraje on 9 March 1970, the couple have two sons:1...
, the present Maharaja of Kolhapur.
- Shahu II
- 2. Krishnajirao IIIKrishnajirao IIIKrishnajirao III was the third and last reigning Maharaja of Dewas , reigning from 23 March 1947 to 27 June 1948. The only son of Sir Vikramsinhrao, Maharaja of Dewas, he was 15 years old when his father abdicated to become Shahoji II of Kolhapur...
(1932–1999), who succeeded his father as Maharaja of Dewas - 3. Maharajkumari Vijayaraje Sahib Maharaj Shitole (1937-). Married in 1952 Shrimant Pratapsingh Shitole.
- 4.Maharajkumari Urmilaraje Sahib Maharaj Ghorpade (1943-). Married Rajkumar Shrimant Vijaysinhrao Yeshwantrao Raje Sahib Ghorpade (1937-), third son of the Raja of Sandur; had issue.
Death
Sir Shahaji II died on 9 May 1983 at the age of 73 following a reign of 36 years. He was succeeded by his grandson, Shahu IIShahu II
Shahu II is the present and titular Maharaja of Kolhapur.-Family:Shahu II married Her Highness Maharani Yagyaseniraje on 9 March 1970, the couple have two sons:1...
, as Maharaja of Kolhapur.
Titles
- 1910-1937: Srimant Yuvaraja Vikramsinhrao Tukojirao Maharaj Puar
- 1937-1941: His Highness KshatriyaKshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Srimant Vikramsinhrao Puar, MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of DewasDewasDewas is an ancient town situated on the Malwa plateau in the West-central part of Indian state called Madhya Pradesh, about 160 km south west from state capital, Bhopal. It is the administrative center of the Dewas District, and was formerly the seat of two princely states during the British...
(Senior) - 1941-1942: His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), KCSIOrder of the Star of IndiaThe Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion... - 1942-1944: LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant Sir Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), KCSI - 1944-1945: Captain His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant Sir Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), KCSI
- 1945-1947: MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant Sir Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), KCSI (abdicated on 23 March 1947 to succeed as MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Kolhapur) - 1947-1962: Major His Highness Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajashri Sir Shahaji II ChhatrapatiChhatrapatiChhatrapati is the Indian honorific title equivalent to the European Emperor. It is more formally written as Kshetrapati, from the Sanskrit kshetra- and -pati...
Maharaj SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
BahadurBaghaturBaghatur is a historical Turco-Mongol honorific title, in origin a term for "hero" or "valiant warrior".The term was first used by the steppe peoples to the north and west of China as early as the 7th century as evidenced in Sui dynasty records...
, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI - 1962-1983: Major-General His Highness Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajashri Sir Shahaji II ChhatrapatiChhatrapatiChhatrapati is the Indian honorific title equivalent to the European Emperor. It is more formally written as Kshetrapati, from the Sanskrit kshetra- and -pati...
Maharaj SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
BahadurBaghaturBaghatur is a historical Turco-Mongol honorific title, in origin a term for "hero" or "valiant warrior".The term was first used by the steppe peoples to the north and west of China as early as the 7th century as evidenced in Sui dynasty records...
, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI
Honours
- King George V Silver Jubilee MedalKing George V Silver Jubilee MedalThe King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
-1935 - King George VI Coronation MedalKing George VI Coronation MedalThe King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
-1937 - Star of the Order of Ahilya Holkar Sultanat-1943
- 1939-1945 Star-1945
- Africa StarAfrica StarThe Africa Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in the Second World War.The Star was awarded for a minimum of one day service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943...
-1945 - Italy StarItaly StarThe Italy Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for operational service in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Pantelleria, the Aegean area and Dodecanese Islands, and Elba at any time between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945...
-1945 - British War MedalBritish War MedalThe British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918...
-1945 - India Service Medal-1945
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI)-1947 (KCSI-1941)
- Indian Independence Medal-1947
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation MedalQueen Elizabeth II Coronation MedalThe Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
-1953