Madansinhji

Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri
Madansinhji Vijayaraji
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri; Madansinhji Vijayaraji
	Sawai Bahadur
Maharaja of Kutch
Reign	26 January 1948 – 4 May 1948
Predecessor	Vijayaraji
Successor	Monarchy abolished (state merged into India)
Titular Maharaja of Kutch
Reign	1948–1971
Titular head of Jadeja dynasty
Reign	1971–1991
Successor	Pragmulji III
Born	Meghraji; 12 October 1909
Died	21 June 1991 (aged 81); London
Spouse	Rajendra Kunverba
Issue	Pragmulji III
Dynasty	Jadeja Rajput
Father	Vijayaraji
Mother	Padmakunwar Ba

Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri Madansinhji Vijayaraji Sawai Bahadur (12 October 1909 – 21 June 1991) was the last official ruler of Princely State of Cutch from 26 February 1948 to 1 June 1948.[1][2]

Life-sketch

Madansinhji was born as Meghraji and was the eldest son of the Maharao Shri Vijayaraji and Maharani Shri Padmakunwar Ba Sahiba. He was called and named as Yuvraj Sahib Meghraji and was educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot. 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 became heir apparent with the title of Yuvraj Sahib Meghraji on 15 January 1942, when his father succeeded to the throne of Princely State of Cutch upon demise of his grandfather Maharao Shri Khengarji III.[3][4]

He was left to administer the state, whenever, his father Maharao Sri Vijayaraji Khengarji was away. In 1947, upon 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.[5]

He was President of Cutch State Council from 1943–1948. He acceded to the throne, upon death of his father on 26 January 1948 under the new name and style of Madansinji and ruled for a short period of till 4 May 1948, when the administration of Princely State was completely merged in to the Dominion of India.[2][5]

Madansinhji belonged to a new breed of royalty, who placed their education, contacts and skills at the disposal of the new India. As the last ruler of Kutch, he was very close to Jawaharlal Nehru. He joined Indian Foreign Service in 1953, served as Hon Minister-Counselor at London 1953–1956, Ambassador to Norway 1957–1960, and Chile 1960–1961. In 1962 his brother Himmatsinhji became the member of the Lok Sabha representing the Kutch community.[6]

On 1 January 1977, Maharao Madansinhji, the last ruler of Kutch, founded "Maharao of Kutch Aina Mahal Trust". 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 marvelous old palace called Aina Mahal.[7]

He was a tennis player, who was active in the 1930s. He represented India at the Davis Cup in 1936. In 1937, in Wimbledon, he met Franjo Kukuljevic, with whom he played doubles and from that point, they became lifelong friends.[8]

He died on 21 June 1991 in London and his eldest son Pragmulji III inherited title in pretence as scion of Jadeja dynasty as Maharaja of Kutch. There were some disputes leading to court case, which started during his lifetime and continued after his death towards his estate worth millions.[9]

Titles, styles, honours, and arms

Titles and styles

1942–1948: Maharajkumar Shri Meghraji, Yuvraj Sahib of Cutch
1948–1949: Honorable Colonel, Cutch State Infantry
1948–1991: Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Madansinhji Vijayraji Sawai Bahadur, Maharao of Cutch.

Honours

King George VI Coronation Medal, 1937

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References

Jadeja Rulers of Kutch – Lineage Archived 2011-06-13 at the Wayback Machine
Kutch Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine
WEDDING OF MAHARAJ KUMAR SHRI MEGHRAJJI SHAEB OF KUTCH
"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
INTERNATIONAL LAW REPORTS VOLUME 50
Museums of Kutch
"Meghrajji Bahadur's GS Performance Timeline & Stats". db4tennis.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
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.

Regnal titles
Madansinhji Jadeja Dynasty Born: 12 October 1909 Died: 21 June 1991
Preceded by Vijayaraji	Maharaja of Kutch 1948	Succeeded by Monarchy abolished (Merge within the Dominion of India)
Titles in pretence
Preceded by none	— TITULAR — Maharaja of Kutch 1948–71 Reason for succession failure: Royal titles & privy purse abolished by Government of India	Succeeded by Pragmulji III as titular Maharaja of Kutch since 1991

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[1] Jadeja Rulers of Kutch – Lineage Archived 2011-06-13 at the Wayback Machine

[B-2] Kutch Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine

[3] WEDDING OF MAHARAJ KUMAR SHRI MEGHRAJJI SHAEB OF KUTCH

[4] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[P-5] INTERNATIONAL LAW REPORTS VOLUME 50

[7] Museums of Kutch

[8] "Meghrajji Bahadur's GS Performance Timeline & Stats". db4tennis.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.

[9] 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.