Shahu of Kolhapur
Shahu | |
---|---|
Maharaja | |
Bhosale | |
Dynasty | Maratha |
Father | Jaisingrao (Aabasaheb) Ghatge |
Mother | Radhabai |
Religion | Hinduism |
Shahu (also known as Rajarshi Shahu was considered a true democrat and social reformer. Shahu Maharaj was an able ruler who was associated with many progressive policies during his rule. From his coronation in 1894 till his demise in 1922, he worked for the cause of the lower caste subjects in his state. Primary education to all regardless of caste and creed was one of his most significant priorities.
On the occasion of Rajashree Shahuji Maharaj's centenary death anniversary in 2022, a memorial has been erected in his memory on 6 May 2022 through Pahlwan Sangram Kamble and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation at Gali No. 13, Khetwadi, Mumbai.[8][9]
Early life
He was born as Yeshwantrao in the Ghatge Maratha family, of Kagal jagir in the Kolhapur district as Yeshwantrao Ghatge to Jaisingrao and Radhabai on 26 June 1874. Jaisingrao Ghatge was the chief, while his mother Radhabai hailed from the royal Ghorpade family of
He was married to Lakshmibai Khanvilkar, daughter of a nobleman from
Vedokta controversy
A Brahmin priest Narayan Bhat of the royal family refused to perform the particular Vedokta rites for Shahu implying that he belonged to
Social reform
Chhatrapati Shahu occupied the throne of Kolhapur for 28 years, from 1894 to 1922; during this period he initiated numerous social reforms in his empire. He is credited with doing much to improve conditions for the lower
Shahu was a strong advocate of equality among all strata of society and refused to give the Brahmins any special status. He removed Brahmins from the post of Royal Religious advisers when they refused to perform religious rites for non-Brahmins. He appointed a young Maratha scholar in the post and bestowed him the title of `Kshatra Jagadguru' (the world teacher of the Kshatriyas). This incident together with Shahu's encouragement of the non-Brahmins to read and recite the Vedas led to the Vedokta controversy in Maharashtra. This dispute brought a storm of protest from the elite strata of society and vicious opposition to his rule. He established the Deccan Rayat Association in Nipani during 1916. The association sought to secure political rights for non-Brahmins and invite their equal participation in politics. Shahu was influenced by the works of
In 1903, he attended the
Shahu made great efforts to abolish the concept of caste segregation and untouchability. He introduced (perhaps the first known) reservation system in government jobs for untouchable castes. His Royal Decree ordered his subjects to treat every member of society as equal, and granting the untouchables equal access to public utilities like wells and ponds, as well as establishments like schools and hospitals. He legalised inter-caste marriage and made great efforts to improve the situation of the dalits.[20] He discontinued the hereditary transfer of titles and tenures of revenue collectors.
He also worked towards betterment of the condition of women in his empire. He established schools to educate women, and also spoke vociferously on the topic of women's education. He legalised
Shahu introduced a number of projects which enabled his subjects to sustain themselves in their chosen professions. The Shahu Chhatrapati Spinning and Weaving Mill, dedicated marketplaces and co-operative societies for farmers were established to free his subjects from predacious middlemen in trading. He made credits available to farmers looking to buy equipment to modernise agricultural practices, and even established the King Edward Agricultural Institute to instruct farmers in increasing crop yield 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 art and culture, encouraging music and the fine arts. He supported writers and researchers in their endeavours. He installed gymnasiums and wrestling pitches and highlighted the importance of health consciousness among the youth.
His seminal contribution in social, political, educational, agricultural and cultural spheres earned him the title of Rajarshi, which was bestowed upon him by the Kurmi community of Kanpur.[5]
Association with Ambedkar
Personal life
In 1891, Shahu Maharaj married Lakshmibai née Khanvilkar (1880–1945), daughter of a
- Rajaram III, who succeeded his father as Maharaja of Kolhapur.
- Radhabai 'Akkasaheb' Pawar, Maharani of Dewas (senior)(1894–1973) who married Raja Tukojirao III of Dewas(Senior) and had issue:
- Vikramsinhrao Pawar, who became Maharaja of Dewas (Senior) in 1937 and who later succeeded to the throne of Kolhapur as Shahaji II.
- Sriman Maharajkumar Shivaji (1899–1918)
- Shrimati Rajkumari Aubai (1895); died young
Death
Shahu died on 6 May 1922 in Bombay. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Rajaram III as the Maharaja of Kolhapur. The reforms initiated by Shahu gradually began to fade for the lack of able leadership to carry on the legacy.[5]
Full name and titles
His full official name was:
]During his life he acquired 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 of Kolhapur
- 1895–1900: His Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi GCSI
- 1900–1903: His Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI
- 1903–1911: His Highness 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 His Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO
Honours
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India(GCSI), 1895
- King Edward VII Coronation Medal, 1902[citation needed]
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order(GCVO), 1903
- Hon. LLD(Cantabrigian)[clarification needed], 1903
- Delhi Durbar Gold Medal, 1903
- King George V Coronation Medal, 1911
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire(GCIE), 1911
- Delhi Durbar Gold Medal, 1911
Memorials
- An eight-foot tall statue of Shahu was installed at the Parliament House, in New Delhi. Then the President, Pratibha Patil unveiled the statue on 17 February 2009.[22][23]
- President of India unveiled the statue of Shahu Maharaj in Pune on 28 December 2013[24]
Legacy
- In 1995, under the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Kanpur University was renamed to Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University.
- In 2006 Government of Maharashtra announced Shahu Maharaj's birthday as Samajik Nyay Din (lit. 'Social justice day').[4]
- Textbook lessons based on Shahu, Balbharti included in its Marathi language books for some Marathi school's classes. An incident in which Shahu Maharaj granted farm to a poor farmer couple was included in class fourth's Marathi school textbook's lesson in 2009.[25]
In media
Shahu IV was portrayed in
See also
- Bhosale Family
- Reservation in India
- Dalit
References
- ^ "Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj's Birth Anniversary: All You Need to Know About the Erstwhile King of Kolhapur". News18. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Ahead of the curve: Revisiting Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj's 1902 decision to reserve jobs for backward castes". Firstpost. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ a b "'सर्वांगपूर्ण राष्ट्रपुरुष' राजश्री शाहू महाराज यांची आज जयंती". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ a b "'सर्वांगपूर्ण राष्ट्रपुरुष' राजश्री शाहू महाराज यांची आज जयंती". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Shahu Chhatrapati Biography – Shahu Chhatrapati Life & Profile". Cultural India. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ "Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj (Born on 26th June)". Mulnivasi organiser. 6 May 1922. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ Date, Vidyadhar (22 July 2002). "Gov seeks total make-over of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj's image". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- Livemint. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Rajashree Shahu Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, a reformer ahead of his time". The Siasat Daily. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati Papers, Volume 4, p.43 [1]
- ^ "Why the Kalaram temple-Kolhapur royal family dispute brings back memories of historical slights". India Today.
- ISBN 978-1-000-46280-7.
- ^ Kashinath Kavlekar (1979). Non-Brahmin Movement in Southern India, 1873–1949. p. 63.
- ^ Mike Shepperdson, Colin Simmons (1988). The Indian National Congress and the political economy of India, 1885–1985. p. 109.
- ^ "Pune's endless identity wars". Indian Express. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati Papers: 1900–1905 A.D.: Vedokta controversy. Shahu Research Institute, 1985 – Kolhapur (Princely State). 1985.
- ^ Today, Nagpur (26 July 1902). "Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj gave reservation to Bahujan Samaj to the tune of 50% on July 26, 1902 for the first time in history of India". Nagpur Today : Nagpur News. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ "Rare photos, letters to offer a glimpse into Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj's life | Kolhapur News - Times of India". The Times of India. 25 June 2015.
- ^ "University intelligence". The Times. No. 36779. London. 28 May 1902. p. 12.
- ^ a b Lokrajya. Mumbai: Directorate-General of Information and Public Relations. 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ Mali, M. G.; Salunkhe, P. B. (1994). Chhatrapati Shahu, the Piller of Social Democracy (Print). Gargoti, Dist. Kolhapur: Education Department, Government of Maharashtra for President, Mahatma Phule Vishwabharati. pp. 23–432. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "President unveils statue of Shahu Maharaj in Parliament". Hindustan Times. No. 17 February 2009. PTI. 2009.
- ^ "Statue of Shahuji Maharaj unveiled | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 18 February 2009.
- ^ "President unveils the statue of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- Balbharti. 2009. pp. 33–37.
Further reading
- Copland, Ian (1973). "The Maharaja of Kolhapur and the Non-Brahmin Movement 1902–10". S2CID 145214015.
- ISBN 978-8-1-730-4927-9.
- Entry regarding Maharaja Shahu Chhatrapati on the website of Indian Post
- A brief Life Sketch
- Dr. J. P. Dodamani (2018). (Transl. Kannada). Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati