Shahaji II

For the 17th-century ruler, see Chattrapati Shahu.
Chhatrapati Maharaja of Kolhapur

Portrait of the Chhatrapati, Maharaja of Kolhapur (1912)
Born (1874-06-26)June 26, 1874
Died May 6, 1922(1922-05-06) (aged 47)
House Bhonsle
Father Appasaheb Ghatge..
Mother Radhabai
Religion Hinduism

Shahu I (also known as Rajarshi Shahu or Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj) GCSI GCIE GCVO (26 June 1874 – 6 May 1922) of the Bhonsle dynasty, was the Raja 1894-1900 and first Maharaja (1900-1922) of the Indian princely state of Kolhapur.

The Maharajah of Kolhapur in 1894

Accession

H.H. Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj seated with palace servants

Shahu was born on 26 June 1874 as Yeshwantrao Ghatge, eldest son of Jaishinghrao Ghatge, chief of Kagal (senior) by his wife Radhabai, a daughter of the Raja of Mudhol. He was adopted by Anandibai, widow of Raja Shivaji IV, in March 1884. Several generations of inter-marriage had ensured that Shahu's family was connected intimately with the ruling dynasty of Kolhapur, which is apparently what rendered him a suitable candidate for adoption, despite his not being a male-line member of the Bhosale dynasty. He was educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot. A council of regency was appointed by the British government of India to oversee affairs of state during Shahu's minority and during that time he was tutored in administrative affairs by Sir Stuart Fraser. Shahu was invested with ruling powers upon coming of age in 1894.

Vedokta controversy

When the Brahmin priests of the royal family refused to perform the rites of the non-Brahmins in accordance with the Vedic hymns, he took the daring step of removing the priests and appointment a young Maratha as the religious teacher of the non-Brahmins, with the title of `Kshatra Jagadguru' (the world teacher of the Kshatriyas). This was known as the `Vedokta' controversy. It brought a hornet's nest about his ears but he was not the man to retrace his steps in the face of opposition. He soon became the leader of the non-Brahmin movement and united the Marathas under his banner.[1]

Social reform

Group at Residency including the Maharaja of Kolhapur

Shahu Maharaj is credited with doing much to further the lot of the lower castes, and indeed this assessment is warranted. He did much to make education and employment available to all: he not only subsidized education in his state, eventually providing free education to all, but also opened several hostels in Kolhapur thereby facilitating the education of the rural and low-caste indigent. His educational institutions include Victoria Maratha Boarding School, Miss Clarke Boarding School and Deccan Rayat Sanstha. He also ensured suitable employment for students thus educated, thereby creating one of the earliest Affirmative action programs in history.He started Shahu Chhatrapati Weaving and Spinning Mill in 1906 to provide employment. Many of these measures were effected in the year 1902. Rajaram college was built by Shahu Maharaja and afterwards it was named after him.

In 1903 he attended the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and in May that year he received the honorary degree LL.D. from the University of Cambridge.[2]

Personal life

H.H.Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj sitting amongst crowds watching a wrestling match

In 1891, Shahu married Lakshmibai née Khanvilkar (1880–1945), daughter of a Maratha nobleman from Baroda. They were the parents of four children:

Chhatrapati Shahu of Kolhapur died on May 6, 1922. He was survived by his wife, his elder son Rajaram and his daughter Radhabai.

Full name and titles

His full official name was: Colonel His Highness Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO.

During his life he acquired the following titles and honorific names:

Honours

Legacy

Once the late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, "Dams are not just constructions of cement and concrete, but in fact are places of pilgrimage in the modern India." This was not the first vision towards this development as Kolhapur’s King Shahu Maharaj realized it almost 100 years before and decided to construct Radhanagari Dam on 18 February 1907. The place of the dam was decided and construction of houses for labourers and officials was started which took almost two years, so the foundation stone for the dam was laid down in 1909.

Radhanagari Dam was completed in 1935 and since 1938 has been working at full capacity. Over the years Radhanagari Dam has provided water for irrigation; after Indian independence, the nearby forest area was converted into the “Dajipur Reserve Forest” and some tourist facilities started to attract the tourists from all over India.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shahu IV.

References

  1. ↑ "Pune’s endless identity wars". Indian Express. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "University intelligence" The Times (London). Wednesday, 28 May 1902. (36779), p. 12.
Shahaji II
Bhosale Dynasty (Kolhapur line)
Born: 26 July 1874 Died: 6 May 1922
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Himself
(as Raja of Kolhapur)		 Maharaja of Kolhapur
1900–1922 		Succeeded by
Rajaram II
Preceded by
Shivaji IV
(as Raja of Kolhapur)		 Raja of Kolhapur
1884–1900 		Succeeded by
Himself
(as Maharaja of Kolhapur)
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