Newalkar

Newalkar dynasty were Hindu Karhade Brahmins, who were the Maharajas of Jhansi from 1769 to 1858. Their family deity was goddess Mahalakshmi.[2][3] The Newalkars were sardars under Peshwa Madhavrao I, and later became Maharajas of Jhansi in Central India as an independent member of the Maratha Empire until 1818. Later, their kingdom became a princely state under the protectorate of British India.

Newalkar Maharaja of Jhansi
Jhansi Fort Hallway
Flag of Jhansi
Details
Style	Languages Sanskrit , Marathi , Hindustani and Persian ( local Bundeli )
First monarch	Raghunath Rao I (alias. Raghunath Hari Newalkar)(1769-1796)
Last monarch	Rani Lakshmi Bai as regent of Damodar Rao of Jhansi (4 June 1857 – 4/5 April 1858)[1]
Formation	1769
Abolition	5 April 1858
Residence	Jhansi Fort, Jhansi

The dynasty was founded with Raghunath Hari Newalkar[3], who joined the service of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire, and quickly rose to the ranks of Subedar.[4] The Newalkar Maharajas of Jhansi are a great patron of arts and music.[5] The name of the dynasty was associated with the title of the ruler, who was known informally as Newalkar Maharaja.

Newalkar Maharajas of Jhansi

The rulers from this dynasty are as follows:

1. Raghunath Rao of Jhansi (alias. Raghunath Hari Newalkar) (1769–1796)
2. Shiv Hari Rao (1796–1811)
3. Ramchandra Rao( born 1806, died 1835) (1811–1835) (Sakku Bai was regent at his minority)
4. Raghunath Rao III (1835 – November 1838)[6]
5. Sakhu Bai as regent of Krishna Rao II (November 1838 -5th January 1839)
6. Gangadhar Rao (1838–21 November 1853)
7. Rani Lakshmi Bai as regent of Damodar Rao of Jhansi (21 November 1853 - 10 March 1854, 4 June 1857 – 4/5 April 1858)[7]

Queens

Some of the known Queens:

1. Rani Padmabai (wife of Shiv Hari Rao)
2. Rani Sakhu Bai (wife of Krishna Rao and mother of Ramchandra Rao)(Gangadhar's elder sister in law )
3. Rani Janki Bai (first wife of Raghunath Rao III, and his Royal consort )(Gangadhar's younger sister in law )[8]
4. Rani Lachcho Bai (second wife of Raghunath Rao III)(Gangadhar's sister in law )
5. Rani Rama Bai (Gangadhar Rao's first wife)
6. Rani Lakshmi Bai (Gangadhar Rao's second wife and mother of Damodar Rao)

Other notable people

1. Raghunath Rao of Jhansi (alias. Raghunath Hari Newalkar)
2. Shiv Hari Rao
3. Shiv Rao Bhau
4. Krishna Rao I (father of Ramachandra Rao and husband of Sakku Bai)( Gangadhar Rao 's Brother )
5. Krishna Rao II (adopted son of Ramchandra Rao and biological son of Ganga Bai of Sagar who was a daughter of Sakku Bai)[9]
6. Ali Bahadur and Nasrat Jung (Raghunath Rao III and Lachcho Bai's illegitimate son)[10]
7. Raghunath Rao III ( The brother of Gangadhar Rao and Krishna Rao )
8. Sadashiv Rao (distant relative and nephew of Gangadhar Rao; executed in 1870)[11]( Rani Lakshmi Bai 's brother in law )
9. Vasudev Rao Newalkar , a cousin of Raja Gangadhar Rao
10. JhalkariBai ( women's army served Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi )[12]
11. Ghulam Ghaus Khan ( Commender in Chief of Jhansi )
12. Tatya Tope ( Rani Lakshmi Bai 's Guru )[13]

References

1. Guida M. Jackson; Guida Myrl Jackson-Laufer (1999). Women Rulers Throughout the Ages: An Illustrated Guide. ABC-CLIO. p. 227.
2. Proceedings and Transactions of the All-India Oriental Conference. All-India Oriental Conference. p. 153. The Nevalkar family belongs to Gautama gotra and to the Karhade sub-section of Maharastra Brahmanas.
3. Chapman 1986, p. 13.
4. Shiva Pujan Pathak (1987). Jhansi during the British rule. Ramanand Vidya Bhawan. p. 13. Raghunath Hari Newalkar (1769–1794) in whose family the Subedarship became hereditary, its last ruler being Rani Laxmi Bai.
5. Chapman 1986, p. 129.
6. "Maharajadhiraj Fidvi Badshah Jamjah Inglistan" i.e."faithful servant of the glorious king of England".--Edwardes, Michael (1975) Red Year". London: Sphere Books; p. 113
7. Guida M. Jackson; Guida Myrl Jackson-Laufer (1999). Women Rulers Throughout the Ages: An Illustrated Guide. ABC-CLIO. p. 227.
8. Chapman 1986, p. 15.
9. Roy 2006, p. 31.
10. Roy 2006, p. 30.
11. Mahāśvetā Debī (2000). The Queen of Jhansi. Seagull Books. p. 46. (page 46) Sadashiv Rao was the distant cousin (nephew) of Gangadhar Rao and the great grandson of Sadashivpanth.
12. "Manikarnika The Queen of Jhansi: Ankita Lokhande joins Kangana Ranaut's army as Jhalkaribai". indianexpress.com. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
13. "Manikarnika The Queen Of Jhansi: Atul Kulkarni joins the Kangana Ranaut starrer as Tatya Tope". The Indian Express.

Bibliography

• Chapman, Joyce Lebra (1986), The Rani of Jhansi: A Study in Female Heroism in India, University of Hawaii PressCS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Roy, Tapti (2006), Raj of the Rani, Penguin Books IndiaCS1 maint: ref=harv (link)