Tukojirao Holkar III

Tukoji Rao III
HH Tukoji Rao Holkar III, 27 September 1913
Maharaja Holkar of Indore
Reign	31 January 1903 – 26 February 1926
Predecessor	Shivajirao Holkar
Successor	Yeshwantrao Holkar II
Born	November 26, 1890 Maheshwar, British Raj
Died	May 21, 1978 (aged 87) Paris, France
House	Holkar
Father	Shivajirao Holkar

Maharajadhiraja Sir Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Tukojirao III Holkar XIII Bahadur GCIE^[1] (26 November 1890 – 21 May 1978) was the Maharaja of Indore (Hokar State) belonging to the Holkar dynasty of the Marathas, son and successor of Shivajirao Holkar who abdicated in his favor on January 31, 1903. His mother was Akhand Soubhagyavati Shrimant Maharani Sita Bai Sahib Holkar.

He reigned under a regency council initially. He was sworn in with all the powers on 6 November 1911 at the age of 21. That same year he attended the coronation of George V of England in London. He founded the Order of Merit of Holkar (February 1914) and the Order of Ahilya Holkar (22 November 1920). He was invested as a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India in the 1918 New Year Honours. He abdicated in favor of his only son Yashwantrao Holkar II on 26 February 1926.

In 1895 he married Maharani Shrimant Chandravati Bai Sahib Holkar, in 1913 he married Maharani Akhand Soubhagyavati Shrimant AIndira Bai Sahib Holkar and 1928 with Maharani Akhand Soubhagyavati Shrimant Sharmista Devi Sahib Holkar, an American born Nancy Anne Miller. Before the wedding, Nancy Anne Miller adopted Hinduism. Dr. Shrinivas Gosavi, personal physician to HH Tukojirao, had to ask Aadi Shankarachrya to intervene as the Hindu hirarchy around Tukojirao was against performing the conversion ceremony. Aadi Shankarachrya himself performed the ceremony and the wedding took place. Dr. Gosavi had received many death threats and went underground for some time till he prevailed.

HH Tukojirao died in Paris on May 21 of 1978. He had one son and six daughters.

References

1. "The Holkar Dynasty". Royal ark. Retrieved 19 April 2012.