Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji

Maharaja of Porbandar
Personal information
Born (1901-06-30)30 June 1901
Porbandar, Gujarat, India
Died 4 October 1979(1979-10-04) (aged 78)
Porbandar, Gujarat, India
Batting style Right-handed batsman
Bowling style n/a
International information
National side
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 6
Runs scored 42
Batting average 6.00
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 22
Balls bowled 0
Wickets 0
Bowling average n/a
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling n/a
Catches/stumpings 6/0
Source: ,[1][2]

Lieutenant-Colonel Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, KCSI (30 June 1901 – 4 October 1979) was the last Maharaja of Porbandar belonging to Jethwa dynasty, who ascended the throne of princely state of Porbandar on 10 December 1908 and ruled until his state was merged into India on 15 February 1948.[3][4]

Biography

He was the only son of Maharaja Rana Shri Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, Rana Sahib of Porbandar, by his third wife, Maharani Bama Sahib Ramba Kunverba Sahiba of Bhavnagar State.[4]

He was educated at the Rajkumar College at Rajkot and stood first in the diploma examination for all the Princes' colleges in India. He succeeded his father on his death on 1908-12-10 and ascended the throne on 26 January 1920 after he came of age.[3][4]

He married twice, but had no children. He first married Rupaliba Sahiba (1898–1943) of Limbdi State in 1920 and, after her death, Anant Kunverba alias Annette da Silva (1911–1989) in 1954.[4]

The 1932 Indian Test Cricket team that toured England. Maharaja of Porbandar, Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji (Captain), seated 3rd from right with K. S. Limbdi (Vice-captain) sitting on his right and C. K. Nayudu sitting on his left.

He captained India in her first Test tour of England in 1932, but played in only four of the 26 first-class matches and stood down from the captaincy in favor of the more talented C.K. Nayudu for the Test against England. K. S. Ghanshyamsinhji, the elder brother of Rupaliba Sahiba, served as his vice captain.[1][2][4]

Natwarsinhji was an avid painter, author and musician; his literary works include "From the Flow of Life" (1967), "India's Problems: Reflections of an Ex-Ruler" (1970) and "International Solidarity" (1975). He was the joint composer with AW Hansen, of Great Britain of the "Oriental Moon Waltz" in 1930.[4][5]

He gave land to Nanji Kalidas Mehta, to start Maharana Mills manufacturing textiles.[6] After independence of India, he merged his state into the United State of Kathiawar on 15 February 1948.[4] He also took active interest along with Nanji Kalidas Mehta to see that Kirti Mandir is being built in Porbandar, as a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi[7]

Maharaja Sir Natwarsinhji Jethwa of Porbandar died in 1979 after a 71-year reign, aged 78. Although he had adopted a son, Rajkumar Udaibhansinhji Jethwa, in 1941, he died in 1977 with no issue; therefore, the headship of the dynasty is still uncertain after three decades.[4]

Titles[4]

Honours[4]

Political office

Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji
Born: 30 June 1901 Died: 4 October 1979
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji
(as Maharaja of Porbandar)
Maharaja of Probandar
1908-1948
Succeeded by
Monarchy abolished
(Merge within the Republic of India)
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
None
 TITULAR 
Maharaja of Porbandar
1948-71
Reason for succession failure:
Royal titles & privy purse abolished by Government of India
Succeeded by
None

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, February 27, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.