Jayajirao Scindia

Jayajirao Scindia
Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior

"The Maharajah Scindia of Gwalior" as seen in the Illustrated London News, 1875
Reign 1843 to 1886
Predecessor Jankojirao II Sindhia
Successor Madho Rao Scindia
Born 19 January 1835
Gwalior
Died 20 June 1886 (aged 51)
Jai Vilas Palace, Lashkar
Spouse Chimnaraje (in 1843)
Laxmibairaje (in 1852)
Babuibai raje (in 1873)
Sakhyaraje (in ?)
Issue five sons and four daughters
House Scindia family
Father Jankoji Rao Scindia II
Mother a sister of Shrimant Sardar Devrao Jadhav

Jayajirao Scindia (19 January 1835 – 20 June 1886) of the Scindia dynasty of the Marathas was the ruling Maharajah of Gwalior from 1843 to 1886 under the British rule.[1]

Early life

Portrait of Jayaji Rao Sindhia

Jayajirao was born as Bhagirath Shinde, son of Hanwant Rao on 19 January 1835. The erstwhile Maharaja of Gwalior, Jankojirao II, died in 1843 without leaving an heir leading his widow Tara Bai to adopt Bhagirath Rao. Bhagirath Shinde succeeded the Gwalior gaddi under the name of Jayajirao Sindhia on 22 February 1843. Mama Sahib, the maternal uncle of Jankojirao II, was chosen as regent. originally shinde family shrigonda (ahmednagar maharashtra).

Early reign and campaigns against the British

Dada Khasgiwale, the comptroller of the Shinde household overthrew Mama Sahib as the regent nearly leading to a civil war. The British East India Company decided to interfere by withdrawing their Resident Colonel Alexander Speirs and demanding the surrender of Dada Khasgiwale was demanded. A British force under Sir Hugh Gough moved on Gwalior, and crossed the Chambal in December 1843. On December 29 followed the simultaneous battles of Panniar and Maharajpur, in which the Gwalior army was annihilated. Khasgiwale was arrested by the British and was sent to Benares Jail where he died in 1845.

A treaty was then made, under which certain lands to the value of 18 lakhs, including Chanderi District, were ceded for the upkeep of a contingent force, besides other lands for the liquidation of the expenses incurred in the war, the State army was reduced, and a Council of Regency was appointed during the minority, to act under the resident's advice.

When in 1857, the Indian rebellion against the British began, Jayajirao, whose ancestors had fought and been defeated by them, was known as a good friend of the British. However, his minister, Dinkar Rao, along with Major Chartres Macpherson, the British representative to Gwalior, convinced him to initially stay neutral and later to side with the British, despite unrest amongst his troops and his people who wanted to join the rebels.

On June 1, 1858 Jayajirao led his forces to Morar to fight a rebel army led by Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmibai and Rao Sahib. This army had 7,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry and 12 guns while he had only 1,500 cavalry, his bodyguard of 600 men and 8 guns. He waited for their attack which came at 7 o'clock in the morning; in this attack the rebel cavalry took the guns and most of the Gwalior forces except the bodyguard went over to the rebels. The Maharaja and the reminder fled without stopping until they reached Agra.[2]

Development work

His Highness Sayaji Rao Sindia
The Maharaja Scindhia of Gwalior with state officials

In 1872, Jayajirao lent Rs. 75 lakhs for the construction of the Agra-Gwalior portion of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, and a similar amount in 1873 for the Indore-Neemuch section of the Rajputana-Malwa railway. In 1882 land was ceded by the state for the Midland section of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway.

Jivajirao constructed many new buildings like Moti Mahal, Jai Vilas Palace, Kampoo Kothi, Victoriya Building, Gorkhi Dwar Gate and Daffrine Sarai. He reconstructed the Koteshwar Mandir and constructed about 69 Shiva temples across his state. He gave Rs. 15 lakhs for the reconstruction of Gwalior fort’s boundary wall and the broken parts of Man Mandir, Gujri Mahal and Johar Kund. In 1886 Gwalior fort and Morar cantonment, with some other villages, which had been held by British troops since 1858, were exchanged for Jhansi city.

Honours

In 1861, Jayajirao was created a Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India. His photos appeared in the London press and was regarded as the friend of the British Empire. In 1877, he became a Counsellor of the Empress and later on a GCB and CIE.

a photo by Talboys Wheeler from The Imperial Assemblage, 1877

Family

Jayajirao married Chimnabai Kadam in 1843 and Laxmibai Gujar in 1852. Balwantrao Shinde was the his eldest son from Laxmibai. Jayajirao married his third wife Babuibai Sawant in 1873 and fourth wife Sakhyabai. Jayajirao and Sakhyabai had a son, his fourth but only surviving son, named Madho Rao (b. 1876) who succeeded him as ruler of Gwalior.

Death

Jayajirao died in 1886 at Gwalior and was conferred a personal salute of 21 guns.

Full name and titles

His official full name was also General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior', GCB, GCSI, CIE

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jayajirao Scindia.
  1. ↑ Royal Ark
  2. ↑ Edwardes, Michael (1975) Red Year. London: Sphere Books; p. 124
Jayajirao Scindia
Born: 19 January 1835 Died: 20 June 1886
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Jankoji Rao Scindia II		 Maharaja of Gwalior
1843–1886 		Succeeded by
Madhavrao II
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