Chhatrapati Shahu Bhosale^{[1, 2]}

1874 - 1922  (47 years)

• Name	Shahu Bhosale
  Title	Chhatrapati
  Nickname	Shahaji II, Yashwantrao Ghatge
  Born	26 Jul 1874	Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
  Gender	Male
  Died	6 May 1922	Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
  Person ID	I315	Maratha Empire
  Last Modified	5 Sep 2016

  
  

  Father	Jaisinhrao Ghatge,   b. 5 Mar 1857, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India ,   d. 20 Mar 1885, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India  (Age 28 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Radhabai Ghatge, (Motthya),   b. 1857,   d. Nov 1877  (Age 20 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Married	1864
  Family ID	F204	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Father	Shivaji Bhosale, IV,   b. 5 Apr 1863,   d. 25 Dec 1883, Ahmednagar fort, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India  (Age 20 years)
  Relationship	Adopted
  Mother	Anandibai Bhosale,   b. 1868, Satara, Maharashtra, India ,   d. 14 Sep 1903, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India  (Age 35 years)
  Relationship	Adopted
  Married	21 May 1878	Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
  Notes	Adopted Shahaji II after death of Sivaji IV. Adopted by H.H Rani Anandbai Sahib, widow of H.H. Raja Shivaji IV Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, 17th March 1884 and ascended the gadi on the same day as Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajashri Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur. Reigned under the Regency of his natural father until 20th March 1885, and thence under a Council of Regency until he came of age. Ref: RoyalArk
  Family ID	F223	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Bhosale Laxmibai,   b. 1 Jan 1880,   d. 12 Mar 1945, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India  (Age 65 years)
  Married	1 Apr 1891	Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
  Children	+ 1. Radhabai Pawar (Paur),   b. 10 Mar 1894, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India ,   d. 22 Sep 1973  (Age 79 years) + 2. Rajaram Bhosale, II,   b. 31 Jul 1897, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India ,   d. 26 Nov 1940, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  (Age 43 years)   3. Shivaji Bhosale,   b. 15 Apr 1899, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India ,   d. 12 Jun 1918, Miraj, Maharashtra, India  (Age 19 years)
  Last Modified	29 Dec 2015
  Family ID	F142	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 26 Jul 1874 - Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India Married - 1 Apr 1891 - Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India Died - 6 May 1922 - Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Notes

  Born as Yashwantrao Sarjerao Ghatage

  
  

• Sources

  [S11] RoyalArk Website, http://www.royalark.net/. Meherban Shrimant Yeshwantrao [Baba Sahib] Ghatge, Sarjerao. b. at the Royal Palace, Kolhapur, 26th July 1874 (s/o Radha Bai). Adopted by H.H Rani Anandbai Sahib Bhonsle, widow of H.H. Raja Shivaji IV, 17th March 1884 and ascended the gadi on the same day as H.H. Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajashri Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur [S23] WIKI.Shahu_of_Kolhapur, (Wikipedia), WIKI.Shahu_of_Kolhapur. Raja and later Maharaja of Kolhapur from 1894 to 1922 For the 20th-century titular ruler, see Shahu II of Kolhapur. Shahu Maharaja Portrait c. 1912 Maharaja of Kolhapur Reign 2 April 1894 - 6 May 1922 Predecessor Shivaji V Successor Rajaram III Born Yashwantrao Ghatge[1] (1874-06-26)26 June 1874 Kagal, Kolhapur State, British India, (Present-day Kagal, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, India) [2] Died 6 May 1922(1922-05-06) (aged 47) Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (Now Mumbai) Names Yashwantrao Jaisingrao Ghatge[3] Era name and dates British Era: 2 April 1894 - 6 May 1922[3] Regnal name Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj House Bhosale Dynasty Maratha Father Jaisingrao (Aabasaheb) Ghatge Mother Radhabai Religion Hinduism Shahu (also known as Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu, Shahu IV, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj)[4]GCSI GCIE GCVO (26 June 1874 – 6 May 1922) of the Bhonsle dynasty of Marathas was a Raja (reign. 1894 – 1900) and the first Maharaja (1900–1922) of the Indian princely state of Kolhapur.[5][6][7] 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 Mudhol. Young Yeshwantrao lost his mother when he was only three. His education was supervised by his father till he was 10 years old. In that year, he was adopted by Queen Anandibai, widow of King Shivaji VI, of the princely state of Kolhapur. He completed his formal education at the Rajkumar College, Rajkot and took lessons of administrative affairs from Sir Stuart Fraser, a representative of the Indian Civil Services. He ascended the throne in 1894 after coming of age, prior to which a regency council appointed by the British Government took care of the state affairs. During his accession Yeshwantrao was renamed as Shahuji Maharaj. Shahu was over six feet five inches in height and displayed a regal and majestic appearance.[10]Wrestling was one of his favourite sports and he patronised the sport throughout his rule. Wrestlers from all over the country would come to his state to participate in wrestling competitions. He was married to Lakshmibai Khanvilkar, daughter of a nobleman from Baroda in 1891. The couple had four children – two sons and two daughters.[5] 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 Shudra varna later claiming that there were no real Kshatriyas and that in the present Kaliyuga or epoch of Kali, only two varnas existed—Brahmins and Shudras[11] which led to Shahu supporting Arya Samaj and Satyashodhak Samaj as well as campaigning for the rights of the Maratha community.[12][13][14] He took the daring step of removing the priests and appointing a young Maratha as the religious teacher of the non-Brahmins, with the title of Kshatra Jagadguru (the world teacher of the Kshatriyas). This was known as the Vedokta controversy. It brought a hornet's nest about his ears, but he was not the man to retrace his steps in the face of opposition. He soon became the leader of the non-Brahmin movement and united the Marathas under his banner.[15][16] 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 castes. He also ensured suitable employment for students thus educated, thereby creating one of the earliest affirmative action (50% reservation to weaker sections) programs in history. Many of these measures came in to effect in the year 1902.[17] He started Shahu Chhatrapati Weaving and Spinning Mill in 1906 to provide employment. Rajaram college was built by Shahu Maharaj, and later was named after him.[18] His emphasis was on education, his aim being to make learning available to the masses. He introduced a number of educational programs to promote education among his subjects. He established hostels for different ethnicities and religions, including Panchals, Devadnya, Nashik, Shimpi, Dhor-Chambhar communities as well as for Muslims, Jains and Christians. He established the Miss Clarke Boarding School for the socially quarantined segments of the community. Shahu introduced several scholarships for poor meritorious students from backward castes. He also initiated compulsory free primary education for all in his state. He established Vedic Schools which enabled students from all castes and classes to learn the scriptures, thus propagating Sanskrit education among all. He also founded special schools for village heads or 'patils' to make them better administrators. 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 Jyotiba Phule, and long patronized the Satya Shodhak Samaj, formed by Phule. In 1903, he attended the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and in May that year received the honorary degree LL.D. from the University of Cambridge.[19] 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 widow remarriage in 1917 and made efforts towards stopping child marriage.[20] In 1920, Shahu introduced a law banning the Devadasi pratha (the practice of offering girls to God) , which essentially led to sexual exploitation of girls at the hands of the clergy.[21] 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 B.R. Ambedkar met Shahu Maharaj with the help of artists Dattoba Pawar and Dittoba Dalvi. The Maharaja was greatly impressed by the intellect of young Ambedkar and his ideas regarding untouchability. The two met a number of times during 1917–1921 and went over possible ways to abolish the negatives of caste segregation by providing "caste-based reservation" to selected people. They organised a conference for the betterment of the untouchables during 21–22 March 1920 and the Shahu made Ambedkar the Chairman as he believed that Ambedkar was the leader who would work for the amelioration of the segregated segments of the society. He even donated Rs. 2,500 to Ambedkar, when the latter started his newspaper 'Mooknayak' on 31 January 1921, and contributed more later for the same cause. Their association lasted till the Shahu's death in 1922.[5] Personal life In 1891, Shahu Maharaj married Lakshmibai née Khanvilkar (1880–1945), daughter of a Maratha nobleman from Baroda. They were the parents of four children: 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: Colonel His Highness Kshatriya-Kulaawatans Sinhasanaadheeshwar, Shreemant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO.[citation needed] 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 Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Raja of Kolhapur, 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 This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) 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 Star Pravah's drama serial. It was about Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and run on Star Pravah in 2019.[citation needed] 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. 1 2 "'सर्वांगपूर्ण राष्ट्रपुरुष' राजश्री शाहू महाराज यांची आज जयंती". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 5 January 2022. 1 2 "'सर्वांगपूर्ण राष्ट्रपुरुष' राजश्री शाहू महाराज यांची आज जयंती". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 4 January 2022. 1 2 3 4 5 "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. ↑ Ghadyalpatil, Abhiram (10 August 2018). "Rajashree Shahu Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, a reformer ahead of his time". 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 ↑ "Why the Kalaram temple-Kolhapur royal family dispute brings back memories of historical slights". India Today. 3 April 2023. ↑ Somanaboina, S.; Ramagoud, A. (2021). The Routledge Handbook of the Other Backward Classes in India: Thought, Movements and Development. Taylor & Francis. p. 94. 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. 1 2 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. ↑ "11" आंबोळीचे शेत. Marathi Balbharti class 4th Devnagari[Amboli's farm] (in Marathi) (Second ed.). Pune, India: Balbharti. 2009. pp. 33–37. Further reading Copland, Ian (1973). "The Maharaja of Kolhapur and the Non-Brahmin Movement 1902–10". Modern Asian Studies. 7 (2): 209–225. doi:10.1017/S0026749X0000456X. JSTOR 311776. S2CID 145214015. Omvedt, Gail (2011) [1976]. Cultural Revolt in a Colonial Society: The Non-Brahman Movement in Western India. Manohar Publishers. 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 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur. Shahu of Kolhapur Bhosale Dynasty (Kolhapur line) Born: 26 July 1874 Died: 6 May 1922 Regnal titles Preceded by Himself (as Raja of Kolhapur) Maharaja of Kolhapur 1900–1922 Succeeded by Rajaram III Preceded by Shivaji VI (as Raja of Kolhapur) Raja of Kolhapur 1884–1900 Succeeded by Himself (as Maharaja of Kolhapur) This information is sourced from Wikipedia, the leading online open-content collaborative (crowd-sourced) encyclopedia. Wikipedia and/or TransLiteral Foundations can not guarantee the validaity of content above and can not be held responsible for inaccuracies or libelious information within. Please see Wikipedia General Disclaimer.