Pratap Singh Gaekwad of Baroda
Encyclopedia
Maharaja Pratap Singh Gaekwad (29 June 1908-19 July 1968) was a Maharaja
of Baroda who succeeded his grandfather Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
at his death in 1939. He ruled for a period of twelve years, from 1939 to 1951, when he was deposed by the Government of India
and exiled to England
. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad
.
He founded the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
in 1949 as per the wishes of his grandfather, Maharaja Sayajirao, and settled the "Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee and Memorial Trust" which exists to date, and caters to the educational and other needs of the people of the former Baroda State
.
, where he and his second wife were welcomed into the salons of high society
. They spent a reported $10 million during their visit to America. The Indian Union did an audit of Baroda's treasury after the widely read news reports. The audit concluded that the Maharaja had taken several inappropriate interest free loans from Baroda's treasury. He agreed to pay the money back in yearly installments from his eight million dollar income.
When India gained its independence from Britain, it also absorbed the princely states. This was a thorny issue, as technically the Princes were independent rules and their states their private domain. The British withdrawal from power left a vacuum, which there were some legal rangeling that resulted in the maharaja and other princes to conceding their dominions to the new countries of India and Pakistan. Pratap Singh was so distraught after he signed the Instrument of Accession
, which integrated Baroda into the Indian Union, he wept in the arms of V. P. Menon
.
Pratap Singh first married a the daughter of a Sardar
of Kolhapur, Shanta Devi Saheb. He had eight children with the Maharani.
He ignored the anti-bigamy laws that his grandfather had imposed and in 1943 took for a second wife, a glamorous divorcée considered ill suited for the exalted role of his consort, HH
Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda
.
In 1943, Pratapsinhrao married Sita Devi of Baroda
. The couple had one son:
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Baroda who succeeded his grandfather Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
165454565Sayajirao Gaekwad III was the Maharaja of Baroda State from 1875 to 1939, and is notably remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule....
at his death in 1939. He ruled for a period of twelve years, from 1939 to 1951, when he was deposed by the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
and exiled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad
Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad
Lieutenant-Colonel Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Fatehsinghrao Prataprao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda was a former Maharaja of Baroda....
.
He founded the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, commonly referred as M. S. University , is a university in the city of Vadodara, in Gujarat state, India...
in 1949 as per the wishes of his grandfather, Maharaja Sayajirao, and settled the "Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee and Memorial Trust" which exists to date, and caters to the educational and other needs of the people of the former Baroda State
Baroda State
Baroda State was an Indian princely state in present-day Gujarat, ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty from its formation in 1721 until 1947 when it succeed to newly formed, India. With the city of Baroda as its capital, during the British Raj it was part of the Baroda Residency...
.
Biography
He was a hedonistic spend thrift who had a tendency to squander his state's money. He had inherited an estate that was conservatively valued in excess of $300 million (in 1939 dollars), which included an assortment of jewelry estimated value of $15 million. He went on a 1948 six week tour of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he and his second wife were welcomed into the salons of high society
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
. They spent a reported $10 million during their visit to America. The Indian Union did an audit of Baroda's treasury after the widely read news reports. The audit concluded that the Maharaja had taken several inappropriate interest free loans from Baroda's treasury. He agreed to pay the money back in yearly installments from his eight million dollar income.
When India gained its independence from Britain, it also absorbed the princely states. This was a thorny issue, as technically the Princes were independent rules and their states their private domain. The British withdrawal from power left a vacuum, which there were some legal rangeling that resulted in the maharaja and other princes to conceding their dominions to the new countries of India and Pakistan. Pratap Singh was so distraught after he signed the Instrument of Accession
Instrument of Accession
The Instrument of Accession was a legal document created in 1947 to enable each of the rulers of the princely states under British suzerainty to join one of the new dominions of India or Pakistan created by the Partition of British India.-Background:...
, which integrated Baroda into the Indian Union, he wept in the arms of V. P. Menon
V. P. Menon
Vappala Pangunni Menon CIS CIE , also known as V. P. Menon, was an Indian civil servant who played a vital role during the partition of India and the integration of independent India, from the period 1945-1950....
.
Family
His father was Yuvaraj Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad and his mother was Yuvarani Padmavati Bai Saheba. His father was heir apparent, but died at the age of 23, before he could ascend the throne. Yuvaraj Fatehsinghrao, was a disappointment to his parents. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III abstained from alcohol, but Fatehsinghrao was alcoholic. Which might have contributed to his early demise. Also the Maharaja was disappointed in his son's mediocre academic performance, which Sayajirao attributed to his children having so much wealth and too few goals.Pratap Singh first married a the daughter of a Sardar
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
of Kolhapur, Shanta Devi Saheb. He had eight children with the Maharani.
He ignored the anti-bigamy laws that his grandfather had imposed and in 1943 took for a second wife, a glamorous divorcée considered ill suited for the exalted role of his consort, HH
Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda
Sita Devi of Baroda
Maharani Sita Devi Sahib of Baroda, born May 12, 1917 in Madras, India, died February 15, 1989 in Paris, France. She was known as the “Indian Wallis Simpson. She was a colorful lady who led an extravagant life for over 40 years and was a member of the international jet set...
.
Marriages and Children
Pratabsinhrao married twice. In 1929, he married Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Shantadevi Sahib Gaekwad (1914–2002), the daughter of a Sardar of Kolhapur, Meherban Shrimant Sardar Mansinhrao Subbarao Ghorpade. The couple had three sons and five daughters:- 1. Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad IIFatehsinghrao GaekwadLieutenant-Colonel Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Fatehsinghrao Prataprao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda was a former Maharaja of Baroda....
, who succeeded as the Maharaja of Baroda. - 2. Maharajkumari Mrunalini Raje Gaekwad (25 June 1931-). Became HH the Maharani of Dhar and had a daughter.
- 3. Maharajkumari Premila Raje Gaekwad (17 April 1933-). Became the Rani of Jasdan and had a son and a daughter.
- 4. Maharajkumari Sarla Raje Gaekwad (1935-). Became HH the Maharani of Sawantwadi and had a son and a daughter.
- 5. Maharajkumari Vasundharadevi Raje Gaekwad (4 October 1936-). Became the Rani of Sandur and had three sons and a daughter.
- 6. Ranjitsinhrao GaekwadRanjitsinh Pratapsinh GaekwadRanjitsinghrao Gaekwad, is the younger brother of Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad. After Fatehsingrao Gaekwad died in the Breach Candy Hospital in Bombay on 1 September 1988 at the age of 50, he was succeeded as Maharaja of Baroda by his younger brother, Ranjitsinghrao Gaekwad, the current Maharaja of...
(8 May 1938-), who succeeded his brother as the Maharaja of Baroda. - 7. Maharajkumari Lalitadevi Raje Gaekwad (4 December 1939-). Married a Dr. Kirdatt and had issue.
- 8. Maharajkumar Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad (6 August 1941-). Married Asha Rajya Lakshmidevi (1946-), fourth daughter of GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Supradipta-Manyabara-Nepal-Tara Jyotirmaya-Subikhyat-Tri-Shakti-Patta Suprasidha-Prasidha-Pravala-Gorkha Dakshina-Bahu The Right HonourableThe Right HonourableThe Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...
Sir Arjun Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, KCVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
. He has one son and one daughter:- Maharajkumar Pratapsinhrao Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad (31 August 1970-). Married the daughter of General Suprasidha-Prasidha-Pravala-Gorkha Dakshina-Bahu The Rt Hon Pyar Jung Thapa, CAS of the Royal Nepalese Army.
- Maharajkumari Priyadarshini Raje Sahib Gaekwad (1975-) (Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Priyadarshini Raje Sahib Scindia, of Gwalior).
In 1943, Pratapsinhrao married Sita Devi of Baroda
Sita Devi of Baroda
Maharani Sita Devi Sahib of Baroda, born May 12, 1917 in Madras, India, died February 15, 1989 in Paris, France. She was known as the “Indian Wallis Simpson. She was a colorful lady who led an extravagant life for over 40 years and was a member of the international jet set...
. The couple had one son:
- Maharajkumar Sayajirao Gaekwad (8 March 1945-8 May 1985)
Titles
- 1908-1939: Shrimant Yuvaraja Pratapsinhrao GaekwadGaekwadThe Gaekwad or Gaikwad was a Maratha dynasty that ruled the princely state of Baroda in western India from the mid-18th century until 1947...
, Yuvaraj SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
of Baroda - 1939-1941: His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Baroda - 1941-1943: His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, GCIE - 1943-1944: MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of 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 - 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: ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
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
Honours
- Baroda Golden Jubilee Medal-1926
- King George V Silver Jubilee MedalKing George V Silver Jubilee MedalThe King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
-1935 - Baroda Diamond Jubilee Medal-1936
- King George VI Coronation MedalKing George VI Coronation MedalThe King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
-1937 - Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE)-1941
- Indian Independence Medal-1947