Ajay Kumar at 19:49, 23 July 2023

2023-07-23T19:49:53Z

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{{Short description|Last Maharaja of Kutch (1909–1991)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = [[Maharajadhiraj]] [[Mirza (noble)|Mirza]] [[Maharao]] [[Sri]]<br>Madansinhji Vijayaraji
| title = [[Sawai (title)|Sawai]] [[Baghatur|Bahadur]]
| titletext =
| more =
| type =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =

| succession = [[Rao of Cutch|Maharaja of Kutch]]
| moretext =
| reign = 26 January 1948 – 4 May 1948
| reign-type =
| predecessor = [[Vijayaraji]]
| successor = [[Instrument of Accession|Monarchy abolished]] (state merged into India)

| succession1 = Titular [[Rao of Cutch|Maharaja of Kutch]]
| moretext1 =
| reign1 = 1948–1971
| reign-type1 =
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =

| succession2 = Titular head of Jadeja dynasty
| moretext2 =
| reign2 = 1971–1991
| reign-type2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = [[Pragmulji III]]

| birth_name = Meghraji
| birth_date = {{birth date|1909|10|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bhuj]], [[Kutch]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1991|06|21|1909|10|12|df=y}}
| death_place = [[London]], [[England]]
| burial_date =
| burial_place =
| spouse = Rajendra Kunverba
| spouse-type = Spouse
| consort =
| issue = [[Pragmulji III]]
| issue-link =
| issue-pipe =
| issue-type =
| full name =
| house = [[Jadeja]] [[Rajput]]
| house-type = Dynasty
| father = [[Vijayaraji]]
| mother = Padmakunwar Ba
| religion =
}}

'''[[Maharajadhiraj]] [[Mirza (noble)|Mirza]] [[Maharao]] [[Sri]] Madansinhji Vijayaraji [[Sawai (title)|Sawai]] [[Baghatur|Bahadur]]''' (12 October 1909 – 21 June 1991) was the last official ruler of the [[Princely State of Cutch]], from 26 February 1948 to 1 June 1948.<ref>[http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/misc/kutch_tree.html Jadeja Rulers of Kutch – Lineage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165408/http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/misc/kutch_tree.html |date=2011-06-13 }}</ref><ref name=B>[http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/k/kutch.html Kutch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605032616/http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/k/kutch.html |date=2011-06-05 }}</ref>

==Early life==

Madansinhji was born as Meghraji and was the eldest son of [[Vijayaraji|Maharao Sri Vijayaraji Khengarji]] and Maharani Shri Padmakunwar Ba Sahiba. He was named [[Yuvraj]] [[Sahib]] '''Meghraji''' and was educated at [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot]].

He became [[heir apparent]] with the title of [[Yuvraj|Yuvraj Sahib]] Meghraji on 15 January 1942, when his father succeeded to the throne of the [[Princely State of Cutch]] upon the demise of his grandfather Maharao Shri Sir [[Khengarji III]].<ref>[http://www.colonialfilm.org.uk/node/4780 WEDDING OF MAHARAJ KUMAR SHRI MEGHRAJJI SHAEB OF KUTCH]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/about/media/releases/2007-07-06-before-midnight.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-04-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110801225449/http://www.bfi.org.uk/about/media/releases/2007-07-06-before-midnight.pdf |archivedate=2011-08-01 }}</ref>

He was left to administer the state whenever his father Vijayaraji was away. In 1947, upon the independence of India, it was he who, on behalf of his father, Maharao Shri Vijayraji (who was away for medical treatment at London), signed the [[Instrument of Accession]] of Kutch, on 16 August 1947, on his behalf, as Heir Apparent for the Princely State of Kutch.<ref name=P>[https://books.google.com/books?id=20yC9Lp4JtIC&dq=acceded+to+india%2C+kutch&pg=PA78] INTERNATIONAL LAW REPORTS VOLUME 50</ref>

==Maharao of Cutch==

He was President of [[Cutch State Council]] from 1943–1948. He acceded to the throne upon the death of his father on 26 January 1948 under the name and style of '''Madansinji''' and ruled for a short period until 1 June 1948, when the administration of the Princely State was completely merged into the [[Dominion of India]].<ref name=B/><ref name=P/>

Although the princely state of Cutch had been merged with India, he held the title until the entitlements were abolished by the Government of India through the 26th amendment to the Constitution of India in 1971.<ref>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Karl J.|title=An atlas and survey of South Asian history|url=https://archive.org/details/atlassurveyofsou0000schm|url-access=registration|year=1995|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=978-1-56324-334-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/atlassurveyofsou0000schm/page/78 78]|quote=Although the Indian states were alternately requested or forced into union with either India or Pakistan, the real death of princely India came when the Twenty-sixth Amendment Act (1971) abolished the princes' '''titles''', privileges, and privy purses.}}</ref>

==Diplomatic career==

He joined the [[Indian Foreign Service]] in 1953, and served as Hon Minister-Counsellor at [[London]] 1953–1956, Ambassador to [[Norway]] 1957–1960, and [[Chile]] 1960–1961.<ref name=it>{{cite news |last1=July 31 |first1=UDAY MAHURKAR |title=The descendants of Kutch royalty fight for treasure |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/19910731-maharao-sons-fight-for-his-rs-20-crore-legacy-814652-1991-07-31 |access-date=4 July 2022 |work=India Today |agency=India Today |language=en}}</ref> In 1962, his brother [[Himmatsinhji M. K.|Himmatsinhji]] became the member of the [[Lok Sabha]] representing the Kutch community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.panjokutch.com/history/html/histo_7.htm|title = History -7}}</ref>

On 1 January 1977, he founded "Maharao of Kutch Aina Mahal Trust". The Madansinhji Museum was made under this trust. This museum has two parts. One part is the Kala Atari Picture Gallery and another part is a marvellous old palace called [[Aina Mahal]].<ref>[http://www.kutchforever.com/Museums.aspx Museums of Kutch]</ref> During Indo-China War of 1962, he donated his personal gold of 100 kg for the Indian Army, as a patriotic gesture.<ref name=it/>

==Sports career==

He was a tennis player, who was active in the 1930s. He represented India at the [[Davis Cup]] in 1936. In 1937, in [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]], he met [[Franjo Kukuljević]], with whom he played doubles and from that point, they became lifelong friends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.db4tennis.com/players/male/meghrajji-bahadur|title=Meghrajji Bahadur's GS Performance Timeline & Stats|publisher=db4tennis.com|accessdate=16 November 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==

He was married to Maharani Rajendra Kunverba, daughter of Lt.-Col. Umdae Rajhae Buland Makan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sir Madan Singh Bahadur of [[Kishangarh]] in 1930, and had issue.

He died on 21 June 1991 in [[London]], however, his body was brought back to India and cremated at Bhuj with all honors.<ref name=it/> His eldest son [[Pragmulji III]] inherited the title Maharaja of Kutch (in pretense) as a scion of the [[Jadeja|Jadeja dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Chatting up Shiva's descendant! dated March 9, 2005|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-03-09/ahmedabad/27837884_1_shiva-temple-lord-krishna-kutch|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103083422/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-03-09/ahmedabad/27837884_1_shiva-temple-lord-krishna-kutch|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> There were some disputes leading to a court case, which started during his lifetime and continued after his death regarding his estate, worth millions of rupees.<ref>[http://www.coastaldigest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11321%3Akutch-rulers-son-cannot-claim-fathers-riches-court-&catid=36%3Anational&Itemid=68 The erstwhile ruler said in his will that Prithvirajsinhji would not get anything from his riches if he did not withdraw a court case filed by him in 1980 over the division of property.] Kutch ruler's son cannot claim father's riches: Court.</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Jadeja|Jadeja Dynasty]]||12 October 1909||21 June 1991}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Vijayaraji]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Cutch State|Maharaja of Kutch]]|years=1948}}
{{s-aft|after=[[India|Monarchy abolished<br>(Merge within the [[Dominion of India]])]]}}
{{s-pre|}}
{{s-bef|before=none}}
{{s-tul|title=[[Cutch State|Maharaja of Kutch]]|years=1948–71|reason=[[Privy Purse in India|Royal titles & privy purse abolished by Government of India]]}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Pragmulji III]] as titular Maharaja of Kutch from 1991 to 2021}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:1991 deaths]]
[[Category:Maharajas of Kutch]]
[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Chile]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Norway]]
[[Category:Indian male tennis players]]

Madansinhji - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 19:49, 23 July 2023