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{{Short description|Maharaja of Gwalior from 1843 to 1886}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Jayajirao Scindia
| title = [[Bahadur (title)|Aalijah Bahadur]] [[Imperial, royal and noble ranks|Rafi-us-Shaan]] [[Imperial, royal and noble ranks|Wala-Shukoh]] [[Maharaja]] [[Shinde|Scindia]] of [[Gwalior State|Gwalior]]
| more = See [[#Full name and titles|titles]]
| succession = 5th [[Maharajah of Gwalior]]
| image = Another photo of the Maharajah, date unknown.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| caption = Photograph of Jayajirao, {{circa|1870s}}
| reign = 7 February 1843 – 20 June 1886
| coronation =
| predecessor = [[Jankoji Rao Scindia II]]
| successor = [[Madho Rao Scindia]]
| spouse = Maharani Chimnaraje (in 1843) Maharani Laxmibai Gujar (in 1852) Maharani Babuibai Raje (in 1873) Maharani Sakhyaraje (in ?)
| issue = five sons and four daughters
| house = [[Scindia]]
| father = Hanuvant Rao Scindia
| mother = a sister of Shrimant Sardar Devrao Jadhav
| birth_date = 19 January 1834
| birth_place = [[Gwalior]]
| death_date = 20 June 1886 (aged 52)
| death_place = Jai Vilas Palace, [[Gwalior#Lashkar|Lashkar]], Gwalior
| burial_place = |
}}
'''Jayajirao Scindia''' [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]] (19 January 1834 – 20 June 1886) of the [[Scindia]] dynasty of [[Maratha Confederacy]] was the last independent ruling [[Maharaja]] of [[Gwalior State]] during the British rule from 1843 to 1886.<ref>[https://www.asian-voice.com/Opinion/Columnists/The-Scindia-of-Gwalior-in-the-Mutiny-of-1857 The Scindia of Gwalior in the Mutiny of 1857] ''Asian Voice''. Retrieved 30 August 2021</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:HH The Maharaja Sir Jayaji Rao Scindia of Gwalior, General Sir Henry Daly (Founder of The Daly College, Indore), with British officers and Maratha nobility in Indore, Holkar State, Central India. Circa 1879..jpg|thumb|left| HH Maharaja Sir Jayaji Rao Scindia of [[Gwalior State]], General Sir [[Henry Daly]] (Founder of The [[Daly College]]), with British officers and [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] [[nobility]] ([[Sardar]]s, [[Jagirdar]]s & [[Mankari]]s) in [[Indore]], [[Holkar State]], {{circa|1879}}.]]
Jayajirao was born as Bhagirath Scindia, son of Hanuvant Rao Scindia who was the younger brother of the then ruling Maharaja [[Jankoji Rao Scindia II|Jankojirao Scindia II]]{{cn|date=October 2024}} on 19 January 1834. The erstwhile Maharaja of Gwalior, [[Jankoji Rao Scindia II|Jankojirao II]], died in 1843 without leaving an heir leading his widow Tara Raje to adopt Bhagirath Rao. Bhagirath Scindia succeeded the Gwalior ''gaddi'' under the name of Jayajirao Sindhia on 22 February 1843 at the age of 9. Mama Sahib, the maternal uncle of Jankojirao II, was chosen as regent.<ref>[https://www.scindia.edu/house/ Scindia house] ''scindia.edu''. Retrieved 30 August 2021</ref>

==Early reign and campaigns against the British==
{{Main|Gwalior campaign}}

[[File:Jayajirao Shinde's darbar, Mural.jpg|thumb|Durbar of Jayajirao Scindia, {{Circa|1905}}]]
Dada Khasgiwale, the comptroller of the Scindia household overthrew Mama Sahib as the regent nearly leading to a civil war. The British East India Company decided to interfere by withdrawing their Resident Colonel Alexander Speirs and demanded the surrender of Dada Khasgiwale. A British force under Sir Hugh Gough started marching towards Gwalior, and crossed the [[Chambal River|Chambal]] in December 1843. On 29 December followed the simultaneous battles of [[Gwalior campaign#Battle of Maharajpore|Maharajpura]] and [[Gwalior campaign#Battle of Punniar|Panniar]], in which the [[Gwalior State|Gwalior]] army was annihilated. Khasgiwale was arrested by the British and was sent to Benares Jail where he died in 1845.

A treaty was then made, under which certain lands to the value of 1.8 million, including [[Chanderi District]], were ceded for the upkeep of a contingent force, besides other lands for the liquidation of the expenses incurred in the war, the State army was reduced, and a Council of Regency was appointed during the minority, to act under the resident's advice.

When in 1857, the Indian rebellion against the British began, as per the descendant of martyr Tatya Tope (Who fought against British in the war for Indian independence of 1857), Mr. Parag Tope in his book Operation Red Lotus, Jayajirao Scindia gave full support to Tatya Tope who acted as the link between Gwalior Durbar and freedom fighters in Kanpur and Jhansi, Jayajirao ordered his army to join Tatya and freedom fighters when they come to Gwalior, this way Jayajirao gave very significant covert support to the freedom fighters even after losing against British at Maharajpur and Punniar but by keeping his support covert Scindia ensured that if the rebellion failed British fury will not fall on the common people of Gwalior, this was an age-old Maratha policy of “Gupt-Yuddh” against enemy if you are weak (Scindia fought and lost against British at Maharajpura and Punniar and did not surrender without fighting like many other rulers). Maharani Tarabai Raje Scindia asked the Scindia treasurer martyr Amarchand Bainthia to open Scindia treasury for the freedom fighters.

British punished Scindia by not returning Gwalior fort to them after crushing war for Indian independence in 1857 and gave back the [[Gwalior Fort|fort of Gwalior]] to Scindia only as late as 1886.

==Development work==
[[File:The Maharaja Scindhia of Gwalior with state officials.jpg|thumb|left|The Maharaja Scindhia of Gwalior with state officials]]
[[file:The Maharajah Scindia of Gwalior" (r.1843-1886) as seen in the Illustrated London News.gif|thumb|right|upright|"The Maharajah Scindia of Gwalior" as seen in ''[[the Illustrated London News]]'', {{Circa|1875}}<ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1800_1899/princes/gwalior/gwalior.html Princes of Gwalior] ''columbia.edu''. Retrieved 30 August 2021</ref>]]
In 1872, Jayajirao lent Rs. 7.5 million for the construction of the Agra-Gwalior portion of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, and a similar amount in 1873 for the Indore-Neemuch section of the Rajputana-Malwa railway. In 1882 land was ceded by the state for the Midland section of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway.

Jayaajirao constructed many new buildings like Moti Mahal, [[Jai Vilas Mahal|Jai Vilas Palace]], Kampoo Kothi, Victoria Hall, Gorkhi Dwar and Daffrine Sarai. He reconstructed the Koteshwar Mandir and constructed about 69 Shiva temples across his state. He gave Rs. 1.5 million for the reconstruction of Gwalior fort's boundary wall and the broken parts of Man Mandir, Gujari Mahal, and Johar Kund. In 1886 Gwalior fort and Morar cantonment, with some other villages, which had been held by British troops since 1858, were exchanged for Jhansi city.

==Honours==
In 1861, Jayajirao was created a Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India. His photos appeared in the London press and was regarded as the friend of the British Empire. In 1877, he became a Counsellor of the Empress and later on a GCB and CIE.

[[Image:Another view of the Maharaja.jpg|thumb|upright|left|a photo by Talboys Wheeler from The Imperial Assemblage, 1877]]

==Family==
Jayajirao married Chimnabai Kadam in 1843 and Laxmibai Gujar in 1852. Balwantrao Shinde was his eldest son from Laxmibai. Jayajirao married his third wife Babuibai Sawant in 1873 and fourth wife Sakhyabai. Jayajirao and Sakhyabai had a son, his fourth but only surviving son, named [[Madho Rao Scindia|Madho Rao]] (b. 1876) who succeeded him as ruler of Gwalior. One of his sons was [[Bhaiyya Ganpatrao|Shrimant Ganpat Rao]], who died in 1920.
<ref name="Royalfamily">{{cite web |title=RoyalFamily |url=http://www.royalfamilyofindia.com/gwalior/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603114242/http://www.royalfamilyofindia.com/gwalior/ |archive-date=2016-06-03 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref>

Ganpat Rao was a famous musician who trained [[Jaddanbai]], mother of actress [[Nargis]].<ref name="Jaddanbai">{{cite web|title=Culcutta Living City|url=http://cba1415.web.unc.edu/files/2014/04/20140512100459514.pdf|accessdate=18 April 2017|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419101528/http://cba1415.web.unc.edu/files/2014/04/20140512100459514.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Death==
[[File:Samadhi of Jayajirao Shinde.jpg|thumb|Tomb of Jayajirao Scindia]]
Jayajirao Scindia died in June 1886 at Jai Vilas Palace, Gwalior.

==Full name and titles==
His official full name was also ''General [[His Highness]] Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, [[Maharajadhiraj]] Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan [[Maharaja]] [[Scindia]] of [[Gwalior]]''', [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]]

*1835–1843: Shrimant Kumar Bhagirath Rao Scindia
*1843–1845: [[His Highness]] Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, [[Maharaja]] [[Scindia]] of [[Gwalior]]
*1845–1861: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior
*1861–1866: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, [[Order of the Star of India|KSI]]
*1866–1877: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]]
*1877–1878: General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], GCSI
*1878–1886: General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCB, GCSI, [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]]

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=Shreenath Madhavji : Mahayoddha Mahadji Ki Shourya Gatha |last=Neelesh Ishwarchandra Karkare |publisher=Neelesh Ishwarchandra ( Gwalior) |year=2014 |isbn=9789352670925}}
* {{cite book |title=Tawaareekh-E-ShindeShahi |last=Neelesh Ishwarchandra Karkare |publisher=Neelesh Ishwarchandra ( Gwalior) |year=2017 |isbn=9789352672417}}

==External links==
{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Scindia|Scindia Dynasty]]||19 January 1835||20 June 1886}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jankoji Rao Scindia II]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Gwalior State|Maharaja of Gwalior]]|years=1843–1886}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Madho Rao Scindia|Madhavrao II]]}}
{{end}}

{{MarathaEmpire}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scindia, Jayajirao}}
[[Category:1834 births]]
[[Category:1886 deaths]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Scindia dynasty|Jayajirao]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Maharajas of Gwalior]]

Jayajirao Scindia - Revision history

Legalwiki68 at 18:20, 11 February 2026