ShrimantMaharajaSirPratap Singh Rao Gaekwad (29 June 1908 – 19 July 1968), who belonged to the Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas, was the ruling Maharaja of Baroda. He succeeded to the throne upon the death of his grandfather Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1939. In 1947, British India was partitioned into two independent dominions, and Pratap Singh acceded his state to the Dominion of India. By 1949, Baroda had been merged into India.
Pratap Singh retained his title and certain privileges, but in 1951 he was deposed by the government of India for allegedly irresponsible behavior. He then retired to Europe with his second wife, Princess Sita Devi of Pithapuram, and settled in Monaco. He died in 1968 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad, who had been officiating as Maharaja since 1951.
Pratap Singh founded the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 1949, as per the wishes of his grandfather, Sayajirao, and settled the "Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee and Memorial Trust", which still exists, providing for the educational and other needs of the people of the former Baroda State.[1]
He was a hedonistic spendthrift who had a tendency to squander his state's money. He had inherited an estate that was conservatively valued in excess of $US300 million (in 1939 dollars), which included an assortment of jewellery with an estimated value of $US15 million.[2] He went on a 1948 six-week tour of the United States, where he and his second wife were welcomed into the salons of high society. They spent a reported $US10 million during their visit to America. The Indian government did an audit of Baroda's treasury after the widely read news reports. The auditors concluded that the Gaekwad had taken several interest-free loans from Baroda's treasury which they considered inappropriate. He agreed to pay the money back in yearly installments from his income of $US8 million.[2]
When British India gained independence from Britain as two new dominions, both sought to absorb the princely states. This was a thorny issue, as technically the Princes were independent rulers and their states were private domains. The British withdrawal from India left a vacuum, with the British releasing the princes from their subsidiary alliances. However, most were militarily weak, and within about a year pressure from the new countries of India and Pakistan had resulted in most of the maharajas and other princes acceding to the one of the two. Pratap Singh was so distraught after he signed the Instrument of Accession for Baroda that he wept in the arms of V. P. Menon.[3]
Familyedit
His father was Fatehsinghhrao Gaekwad and his mother was Padmavati Bai Saheba.[4] His father was heir apparent, but died at the age of 23 before he could ascend to the throne. Fatehsinghrao was a disappointment to his parents. Fatehsinghrao's father, Sayajirao Gaekwad III, abstained from alcohol, but Fatehsinghrao was a heavy drinker,[5] which may have contributed to his early death. Sayajirao was also disappointed in his son's mediocre academic performance, which he attributed to his children having so much wealth and too few goals.[5]
Marriages and childrenedit
Pratapsinghhrao married twice. In 1929, he married Shantadevi (1914-2002), the daughter of Sardar Mansinhrao Subbarao Ghorpade of Hasur, in Kolhapur state. The couple had three sons and five daughters:[4]
Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad II (2 April 1930 – 1 September 1988), who succeeded as the Maharaja of Baroda. He married the only daughter of Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur. They did not have children, and therefore his brother Ranjitsingh succeeded him as Maharaja of Baroda.
Mrunalini Raje Gaekwad (25 June 1931 – 1 January 2015). Was given in marriage to Maharaja Anandrao II Puar of Dhar. No surviving issue.
Premila Raje Gaekwad (17 April 1933 – present). She was given in marriage to the Darbar Sahib (ruling prince) of Jasdan state in Kathiawar, a former Kathi Kshatriya state. She has one daughter and one son, the present Durbar Sahib of Jasdan, who is married to the daughter of Premila's brother Ranjitsinh, Maharaja of Baroda (see below)
Sarala Raje Gaekwad (1935–present). Renamed Sattvashila Raje Bhonsle upon her wedding, she was given in marriage to her first cousin, Raja Shivram Sawant Bhonsle, ruler of Sawantwadi state, who is the son of her father's sister. She has one son, the present Raja of Sawantwadi, and one daughter.
Vasundharadevi Raje Gaekwad (4 October 1936 – present). She was given in marriage to the Raja of Sandur in Karnataka, Raja Murarrao Yeshwantrao Ghorpade, who was at one time a minister in the Karnataka government. She has three sons and one daughter, including the present Raja of Sandur.
Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad (8 May 1938 – 9 May 2012), who succeeded his brother as the Maharaja of Baroda. Married to a daughter of the Jadhav family, who are nobles of Gwalior state, he had one son, Samarjitsinh, who succeeded him as titular Maharaja of Baroda, and two daughters. The elder daughter is married to her cousin the ruler of Jasdan in Kathiawar (see above), while the younger daughter has been married twice. Her first husband was Uraaz Bahl, a nephew of the socialite Parmeshwar Godrej, and her second husband is a Bengali corporate executive settled in New Zealand.
Lalitadevi Raje Gaekwad (3 December 1939 – 1 March 2010). Was given in marriage to Dr. Amritrao Kirdatt of Dhamtari in Chhattisgarh, a Maratha nobleman. She has five children, being in order of birth Aditya Kirdutt, Kavita Mohite (daughter), Sarita Shreyas (daughter), Shailesh Kirdatt and Chirayu Kirdatt.
Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad (6 August 1941 – present). Married Asha Rajyalakshmi Devi (born 1946), fourth daughter of Arjun Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana of the Rana family of Nepal. He has one son and one daughter:
Pratapsinhrao Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad (26 August 1971 – present). He married Praggyashri, youngest daughter of Pyar Jung Thapa, former COAS of the Royal Nepal Army, and a member of the Rana family of Nepal; no issue.
In the early 1940s, Pratapsinhrao fell in love with a glamorous married woman, Sita Devi, a daughter of Maharajah Rao Venkata Kumara Mahipati Surya Rau Maharaja of Pitapuram, who was already married to the Raja of Vuyyur and a mother of three children. He married her in 1943, after she had secured a divorce from her husband by ingenious means. This was in defiance of the anti-bigamy laws that his grandfather had imposed, and Sita was considered ill-suited for the exalted role of his consort.[6]
The couple had one son, Sayajirao Gaekwad (8 March 1945 – 8 May 1985), who died unmarried.
1939-1941: His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda
1941-1943: His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, GCIE
1943-1944: Major His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, GCIE
1944-1945: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, GCIE
1945-1946: Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, GCIE
1946-1968: Major-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, GCIE
pratap, singh, gaekwad, this, article, tone, style, reflect, encyclopedic, tone, used, wikipedia, wikipedia, guide, writing, better, articles, suggestions, 2009, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, shrimant, maharaja, june, 1908, july, 1968, belonged. This article s tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia See Wikipedia s guide to writing better articles for suggestions May 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad 29 June 1908 19 July 1968 who belonged to the Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas was the ruling Maharaja of Baroda He succeeded to the throne upon the death of his grandfather Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1939 In 1947 British India was partitioned into two independent dominions and Pratap Singh acceded his state to the Dominion of India By 1949 Baroda had been merged into India Pratap Singh Rao GaekwadMaharaja of BarodaReign6 February 1939 19 July 1968PredecessorSayajirao Gaekwad IIISuccessorFatehsinghrao Gaekwad IIBorn 1908 06 29 29 June 1908Died19 July 1968 1968 07 19 aged 60 ConsortMaharani Shanta Devi SahibPrincess Sita Devi of PithapuramIssueFatehsinghrao Gaekwad II Mrunalini Raje Gaekwad Premila Raje Gaekwad Sarala Raje Gaekwad Vasundharadevi Raje Gaekwad Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad Lalitadevi Raje Gaekwad Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad Sayajirao GaekwadDynastyGaekwadFatherYuvraj Fatehsinhrao GaekwadMotherPadmavati Bai SahibaReligionHinduismPratap Singh retained his title and certain privileges but in 1951 he was deposed by the government of India for allegedly irresponsible behavior He then retired to Europe with his second wife Princess Sita Devi of Pithapuram and settled in Monaco He died in 1968 and was succeeded by his eldest son Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad who had been officiating as Maharaja since 1951 Pratap Singh founded the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 1949 as per the wishes of his grandfather Sayajirao and settled the Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee and Memorial Trust which still exists providing for the educational and other needs of the people of the former Baroda State 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 2 1 Marriages and children 3 Titles 4 Honours 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBiography editHe was a hedonistic spendthrift who had a tendency to squander his state s money He had inherited an estate that was conservatively valued in excess of US300 million in 1939 dollars which included an assortment of jewellery with an estimated value of US15 million 2 He went on a 1948 six week tour of the United States where he and his second wife were welcomed into the salons of high society They spent a reported US10 million during their visit to America The Indian government did an audit of Baroda s treasury after the widely read news reports The auditors concluded that the Gaekwad had taken several interest free loans from Baroda s treasury which they considered inappropriate He agreed to pay the money back in yearly installments from his income of US8 million 2 When British India gained independence from Britain as two new dominions both sought to absorb the princely states This was a thorny issue as technically the Princes were independent rulers and their states were private domains The British withdrawal from India left a vacuum with the British releasing the princes from their subsidiary alliances However most were militarily weak and within about a year pressure from the new countries of India and Pakistan had resulted in most of the maharajas and other princes acceding to the one of the two Pratap Singh was so distraught after he signed the Instrument of Accession for Baroda that he wept in the arms of V P Menon 3 Family editHis father was Fatehsinghhrao Gaekwad and his mother was Padmavati Bai Saheba 4 His father was heir apparent but died at the age of 23 before he could ascend to the throne Fatehsinghrao was a disappointment to his parents Fatehsinghrao s father Sayajirao Gaekwad III abstained from alcohol but Fatehsinghrao was a heavy drinker 5 which may have contributed to his early death Sayajirao was also disappointed in his son s mediocre academic performance which he attributed to his children having so much wealth and too few goals 5 Marriages and children edit Pratapsinghhrao married twice In 1929 he married Shantadevi 1914 2002 the daughter of Sardar Mansinhrao Subbarao Ghorpade of Hasur in Kolhapur state The couple had three sons and five daughters 4 Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad II 2 April 1930 1 September 1988 who succeeded as the Maharaja of Baroda He married the only daughter of Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur They did not have children and therefore his brother Ranjitsingh succeeded him as Maharaja of Baroda Mrunalini Raje Gaekwad 25 June 1931 1 January 2015 Was given in marriage to Maharaja Anandrao II Puar of Dhar No surviving issue Premila Raje Gaekwad 17 April 1933 present She was given in marriage to the Darbar Sahib ruling prince of Jasdan state in Kathiawar a former Kathi Kshatriya state She has one daughter and one son the present Durbar Sahib of Jasdan who is married to the daughter of Premila s brother Ranjitsinh Maharaja of Baroda see below Sarala Raje Gaekwad 1935 present Renamed Sattvashila Raje Bhonsle upon her wedding she was given in marriage to her first cousin Raja Shivram Sawant Bhonsle ruler of Sawantwadi state who is the son of her father s sister She has one son the present Raja of Sawantwadi and one daughter Vasundharadevi Raje Gaekwad 4 October 1936 present She was given in marriage to the Raja of Sandur in Karnataka Raja Murarrao Yeshwantrao Ghorpade who was at one time a minister in the Karnataka government She has three sons and one daughter including the present Raja of Sandur Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad 8 May 1938 9 May 2012 who succeeded his brother as the Maharaja of Baroda Married to a daughter of the Jadhav family who are nobles of Gwalior state he had one son Samarjitsinh who succeeded him as titular Maharaja of Baroda and two daughters The elder daughter is married to her cousin the ruler of Jasdan in Kathiawar see above while the younger daughter has been married twice Her first husband was Uraaz Bahl a nephew of the socialite Parmeshwar Godrej and her second husband is a Bengali corporate executive settled in New Zealand Lalitadevi Raje Gaekwad 3 December 1939 1 March 2010 Was given in marriage to Dr Amritrao Kirdatt of Dhamtari in Chhattisgarh a Maratha nobleman She has five children being in order of birth Aditya Kirdutt Kavita Mohite daughter Sarita Shreyas daughter Shailesh Kirdatt and Chirayu Kirdatt Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad 6 August 1941 present Married Asha Rajyalakshmi Devi born 1946 fourth daughter of Arjun Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana of the Rana family of Nepal He has one son and one daughter Pratapsinhrao Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad 26 August 1971 present He married Praggyashri youngest daughter of Pyar Jung Thapa former COAS of the Royal Nepal Army and a member of the Rana family of Nepal no issue Priyadarshini Raje 1975 the present Maharani of Gwalior as wife of Jyotiraditya Scindia Maharaja of Gwalior She had one son and one daughter In the early 1940s Pratapsinhrao fell in love with a glamorous married woman Sita Devi a daughter of Maharajah Rao Venkata Kumara Mahipati Surya Rau Maharaja of Pitapuram who was already married to the Raja of Vuyyur and a mother of three children He married her in 1943 after she had secured a divorce from her husband by ingenious means This was in defiance of the anti bigamy laws that his grandfather had imposed and Sita was considered ill suited for the exalted role of his consort 6 The couple had one son Sayajirao Gaekwad 8 March 1945 8 May 1985 who died unmarried Titles edit1908 1919 Shrimant Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad 1919 1939 Shrimant Yuvaraja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad Yuvaraj Sahib of Baroda 1939 1941 His Highness Farzand i Khas i Daulat i Inglishia Shrimant Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur Maharaja of Baroda 1941 1943 His Highness Farzand i Khas i Daulat i Inglishia Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur Maharaja of Baroda GCIE 1943 1944 Major His Highness Farzand i Khas i Daulat i Inglishia Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur Maharaja of Baroda GCIE 1944 1945 Lieutenant Colonel His Highness Farzand i Khas i Daulat i Inglishia Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur Maharaja of Baroda GCIE 1945 1946 Colonel His Highness Farzand i Khas i Daulat i Inglishia Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur Maharaja of Baroda GCIE 1946 1968 Major General His Highness Farzand i Khas i Daulat i Inglishia Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur Maharaja of Baroda GCIEHonours editBaroda Golden Jubilee Medal 1926 King George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 Baroda Diamond Jubilee Medal 1936 King George VI Coronation Medal 1937 Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire GCIE 1941 Indian Independence Medal 1947 nbsp Maharajah of Baroda presenting shield at RAF Camp Baroda in January 1946 nbsp Maharajah of Baroda third from lef at RAF Camp Baroda in January 1946 See also editSita Devi Maharani of Baroda Kirti Mandir VadodaraReferences edit Founder of MSU Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda website Archived from the original on 9 July 2011 a b The Maharajahs by John Lord 1971 Random House ISBN 0 394 46145 2 Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre Freedom at Midnight New York Simon and Schuster ISBN 0 671 22088 8 p 214 a b Baroda Indian Princely States Archived from the original on 10 February 2009 Retrieved 15 January 2024 a b Lucy Moore Maharanis a family saga of four queens New York Penguin 2006 pp 77 91 ISBN 0 14 303704 8 Tribune India profile 13 August 2006 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pratapsinhrao Gaikwad Pratap Singh Rao GaekwadGaekwad dynastyBorn 29 June 1908 Died 19 July 1968Regnal titlesPreceded bySayajirao Gaekwad III Maharaja of Baroda1939 1951 Succeeded byFatehsinghrao Gaekwad Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad amp oldid 1197282611, wikipedia, wiki, book, 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