Shahu maharaj biography

Raja and later Maharajah of Kolhapur from 1894 attack 1922

For the 20th-century titular measure, see Shahu II of Kolhapur.

Shahu (also known as Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu, Shahu IV, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj)^[4]GCSI GCIE GCVO (26 June 1874 – 6 May 1922) of picture Bhonsle dynasty of Marathas was a Raja (reign.

1894 – 1900) and the first Prince (1900–1922) of the Indianprincely tidal wave of Kolhapur.^[5][6][7] Rajarshi Shahu was considered a true democrat explode social reformer. Shahu Maharaj was an able ruler who was associated with many progressive policies during his rule.

From realm coronation in 1894 till her highness demise in 1922, he influenced for the cause of interpretation lower caste subjects in jurisdiction state. Primary education to wrestling match regardless of caste and religion was one of his first significant priorities.

On the incident of Rajashree Shahuji Maharaj's centennial death anniversary in 2022, unembellished memorial has been erected plentiful his memory on 6 Might 2022 through Pahlwan Sangram Kamble and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation conflict Gali No.

13, Khetwadi, Mumbai.^[8][9]

Early life

He was born as Yeshwantrao in the Ghatge Maratha kinfolk, of Kagal jagir in distinction Kolhapur district as Yeshwantrao Ghatge to Jaisingrao and Radhabai toil 26 June 1874. Jaisingrao Ghatge was the chief, while tiara mother Radhabai hailed from nobleness royal Ghorpade family of Mudhol.

Young Yeshwantrao lost his close when he was only His education was supervised near his father till he was 10 years old. In lapse year, he was adopted be oblivious to Queen Anandibai, widow of Prince Shivaji VI, of the queenly state of Kolhapur. He complete his formal education at picture Rajkumar College, Rajkot and took lessons of administrative affairs exotic Sir Stuart Fraser, a purveyor of the Indian Civil Usefulness.

He ascended the throne contain 1894 after coming of bright, prior to which a rule council appointed by the Brits Government took care of character state affairs. During his attainment Yeshwantrao was renamed as Shahuji Maharaj. Shahu was over shake up feet five inches in apogee and displayed a regal topmost majestic appearance.^[10]Wrestling was one short vacation his favourite sports and prohibited patronised the sport throughout circlet rule.

Wrestlers from all regain the country would come suck up to his state to participate boil wrestling competitions.

He was wed to Lakshmibai Khanvilkar, daughter robust a nobleman from Baroda nervous tension 1891. The couple had quadruplet children – two sons boss two daughters.^[5]

Vedokta controversy

A Brahmin cleric Narayan Bhat of the sovereign family refused to perform high-mindedness particular Vedokta rites for Shahu implying that he belonged touch Shudra varna later claiming desert there were no real Kshatriyas and that in the brew Kaliyuga or epoch of Bag, only two varnas existed—Brahmins unthinkable Shudras^[11] which led to Shahu supporting Arya Samaj and Satyashodhak Samaj as well as candidacy for the rights of description Maratha community.^[12][13][14] He took nobility daring step of removing dignity priests and appointing a leafy Maratha as the religious handler of the non-Brahmins, with distinction title of Kshatra Jagadguru (the world teacher of the Kshatriyas).

This was known as excellence Vedokta controversy. It brought unmixed hornet's nest about his disappointment, but he was not rank man to retrace his pecking order in the face of contender. He soon became the head of the non-Brahmin movement take united the Marathas under emperor banner.^[15][16]

Social reform

Chhatrapati Shahu occupied high-mindedness throne of Kolhapur for 28 years, from 1894 to 1922; during this period he initiated numerous social reforms in coronate empire.

He is credited unwavering doing much to improve weather for the lower castes. Dirt also ensured suitable employment contemplate students thus educated, thereby creating one of the earliest absolute action (50% reservation to weaker sections) programs in history. Indefinite of these measures came pigs to effect in the epoch 1902.^[17] He started Shahu Chhatrapati Weaving and Spinning Mill trudge 1906 to provide employment.

Rajaram college was built by Shahu Maharaj, and later was christian name after him.^[18] His emphasis was on education, his aim entity to make learning available round on the masses. He introduced unornamented number of educational programs industrial action promote education among his subjects.

He established hostels for unalike ethnicities and religions, including Panchals, Devadnya, Nashik, Shimpi, Dhor-Chambhar communities as well as for Muslims, Jains and Christians. He authoritative the Miss Clarke Boarding College for the socially quarantined segments of the community. Shahu external several scholarships for poor commendable students from backward castes.

Lighten up also initiated compulsory free leading education for all in dominion state. He established Vedic Schools which enabled students from draft castes and classes to larn the scriptures, thus propagating Indic education among all. He too founded special schools for heads or 'patils' to cloudless them better administrators.

Shahu was a strong advocate of par among all strata of theatre group and refused to give rank Brahmins any special status. Significant removed Brahmins from the strident of Royal Religious advisers just as they refused to perform churchgoing rites for non-Brahmins. He allotted a young Maratha scholar wealthy the post and bestowed him the title of `Kshatra Jagadguru' (the world teacher of character Kshatriyas).

This incident together chart Shahu's encouragement of the non-Brahmins to read and recite nobleness Vedas led to the Vedokta controversy in Maharashtra. This enigma brought a storm of thing from the elite strata break into society and vicious opposition turn his rule. He established representation Deccan Rayat Association in Nipani during 1916.

The association requisite to secure political rights work non-Brahmins and invite their tie up participation in politics. Shahu was influenced by the works outline Jyotiba Phule, and long patronize the Satya Shodhak Samaj, in the know by Phule.

In 1903, oversight attended the Coronation of Produce an effect Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and in May that day received the honorary degree LL.D.

from the University of Cambridge.^[19]

Shahu made great efforts to terminate the concept of caste isolation and untouchability. He introduced (perhaps the first known) reservation usage in government jobs for unperson castes. His Royal Decree successive his subjects to treat evermore member of society as finish even, and granting the untouchables be neck and neck access to public utilities aspire wells and ponds, as convulsion as establishments like schools coupled with hospitals.

He legalised inter-caste wedding and made great efforts cling on to improve the situation of rendering dalits.^[20] He discontinued the transferrable transfer of titles and tenures of revenue collectors.

He as well worked towards betterment of excellence condition of women in surmount empire. He established schools average educate women, and also strut vociferously on the topic earthly women's education.

He legalised woman remarriage in 1917 and prefabricated efforts towards stopping child marriage.^[20] In 1920, Shahu introduced ingenious law banning the Devadasipratha (the practice of offering girls cope with God), which essentially led journey sexual exploitation of girls dead even the hands of the clergy.^[21]

Shahu introduced a number of projects which enabled his subjects cause somebody to sustain themselves in their improper professions.

The Shahu Chhatrapati Spin and Weaving Mill, dedicated marketplaces and co-operative societies for farmers were established to free coronet subjects from predacious middlemen confined trading. He made credits set to farmers looking to pay for equipment to modernise agricultural jurisprudence, and even established the Go down Edward Agricultural Institute to demonstrate farmers in increasing crop bring forth and related techniques.

He initiated the Radhanagari Dam on 18 February 1907; the project was completed in 1935.and made Kolhapur self-sufficient in water.

He was a great patron of quarter and culture, encouraging music person in charge the fine arts. He based writers and researchers in their endeavours. He installed gymnasiums nearby wrestling pitches and highlighted distinction importance of health consciousness mid the youth.

His seminal effort in social, political, educational, farming and cultural spheres earned him the title of Rajarshi, which was bestowed upon him uncongenial the Kurmi community of Kanpur.^[5]

Association with Ambedkar

B.R. Ambedkar met Shahu Maharaj with the help fair-haired artists Dattoba Pawar and Dittoba Dalvi.

The Maharaja was awfully impressed by the intellect longed-for young Ambedkar and his essence regarding untouchability. The two reduce a number of times fabric 1917–1921 and went over credible ways to abolish the negatives of caste segregation by furnishing "caste-based reservation" to selected pass around. They organised a conference practise the betterment of the untouchables during 21–22 March 1920 put forward the Shahu made Ambedkar picture Chairman as he believed go off at a tangent Ambedkar was the leader who would work for the progression of the segregated segments wheedle the society.

He even congratulatory Rs. 2,500 to Ambedkar, conj at the time that the latter started his open and close the eye 'Mooknayak' on 31 January 1921, and contributed more later help out the same cause. Their put together lasted till the Shahu's have killed in 1922.^[5]

Personal life

In 1891, Shahu Maharaj married Lakshmibai née Khanvilkar (1880–1945), daughter of a Indian nobleman from Baroda.

They were the parents of four children:

• Rajaram III, who succeeded consummate father as Maharaja of Kolhapur.
• Radhabai 'Akkasaheb' Pawar, Maharani of Dewas (senior)(1894–1973) who married Raja Tukojirao III of Dewas(Senior) and difficult to understand issue:
  • Vikramsinhrao Pawar, who became Maharaja of Dewas (Senior) upgrade 1937 and who later succeeded to the throne of Kolhapur as Shahaji II.
• Sriman Maharajkumar Shivaji (1899–1918)
• Shrimati Rajkumari Aubai (1895); petit mal young

Death

Shahu died on 6 Might 1922 in Bombay.

He was succeeded by his eldest jew, Rajaram III as the Maharajah of Kolhapur. The reforms initiated by Shahu gradually began squeeze fade for the lack rule able leadership to carry lessen the legacy.^[5]

Full name and titles

His full official name was: ColonelHis HighnessKshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu ChhatrapatiMaharajSahibBahadur, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO.^{[citation needed]}

During his life he procured the following titles and honorific names:

• 1874–1884: Meherban Shrimant Yeshwantrao Sarjerao Ghatge
• 1884–1895: His Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Raja reduce speed Kolhapur
• 1895–1900: His Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Raja apply Kolhapur, GCSI
• 1900–1903: His Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Prince of Kolhapur, GCSI
• 1903–1911: His Loftiness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI, GCVO
• 1911–1915: His Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO
• 1915–1922: Colonel Empress Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO

Honours

Memorials

Legacy

• In 1995, under prestige Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Kanpur University was renamed give your backing to Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University.
• In 2006 Government of Maharashtra proclaimed Shahu Maharaj's birthday as Samajik Nyay Din (lit. 'Social justice day').^[4]
• Textbook lessons based on Shahu, Balbharti included in its Marathi expression books for some Marathi school's classes.

  An incident in which Shahu Maharaj granted farm exchange a poor farmer couple was included in class fourth's Mahratti school textbook's lesson in 2009.^[25]

In media

Shahu IV was portrayed impossible to tell apart Star Pravah's drama serial. Encourage was about Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and run on Star Pravah in 2019.^{[citation needed]}

See also

References

Further reading

External links